Thursday 26 June 2014

[www.keralites.net] 6 Pillars of Character

 



The CHARACTER COUNTS! approach to character education doesn't exclude anyone. That's why we base our programs and materials on six ethical values that everyone can agree on — values that are not political, religious, or culturally biased. Use the points below to help young people understand the Six Pillars, and use the mnemonic devices at right to help them remember. 
Be honest • Don't deceive, cheat, or steal • Be reliable — do what you say you'll do • Have the courage to do the right thing • Build a good reputation • Be loyal — stand by your family, friends, and country 
 

Respect

Treat others with respect; follow the Golden Rule • Be tolerant and accepting of differences • Use good manners, not bad language • Be considerate of the feelings of others • Don't threaten, hit or hurt anyone • Deal peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements 
 

Responsibility

Do what you are supposed to do • Plan ahead • Persevere: keep on trying! • Always do your best • Use self-control • Be self-disciplined • Think before you act — consider the consequences • Be accountable for your words, actions, and attitudes • Set a good example for others
 

Fairness

Play by the rules • Take turns and share • Be open-minded; listen to others • Don't take advantage of others • Don't blame others carelessly • Treat all people fairly
 

Caring

Be kind • Be compassionate and show you care • Express gratitude • Forgive others • Help people in need 
 

Citizenship

Do your share to make your school and community better • Cooperate • Get involved in community affairs • Stay informed; vote • Be a good neighbor • Obey laws and rules • Respect authority • Protect the environment • Volunteer

 

Junaid Tahir 
www.DailyTenMinutes.com

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Posted by: Junaid Tahir <mjunaidtahir@gmail.com>
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[www.keralites.net] 6 Types of People Build Your Mental Toughness

 



 
As the saying goes, "It gets lonely at the top."   There are many reasons that one feels isolated and at times lonely when they have reached the pinnacle of success.    For one thing, everyone wants to be your friend; but since you can't make time for everyone – only a select few get invited into the circle.   What's my point?  Accepting success and failure once you have reached the highest levels of success requires the same mental toughness it took to get there.   As has been proven throughout history, the higher you climb the more quickly the naysayers want to bring you back down.   Envy and adversity become the most common invaders you must manage – and all the while you need to remain  mentally tough,  and not allow the noise to cloud your mind and control your actions.

Mental toughness defines the leadership game.    You need wide-angle vision to continuously navigate the terrain that awaits you with each big decision you make and vision you cast.   The tension points of leadership can be extremely exhausting and pressure-packed.   Nevertheless, the leadership journey must continue and your demeanor must appear unfazed as if it were business as usual.


Mental toughness is acquired over time
.   To be mentality tough means that risk is your best friend, that innovation comes second nature and that you have grown accustomed to anticipating crisis and managing change.   Mental toughness is also a by-product of experiencing failure and knowing how to rebound.    As Rick Newman noted in his book, Rebounders, "Setbacks can be a secret weapon. They often teach vital things you'll never learn in school, on the job or from others." 

As I have learned from my own experiences, mental toughness begins when you can separate your emotions and remain focused on what matters most.  And this is never more true than when you are being ambushed by one of the following six negative members of your audience:


1.       The Doubters

These are the skeptics who want you to fail and believe your ideas have no merit.  They are the pessimistic ones waiting on the sidelines – wanting things to go wrong and salivating to witness your hardship.

2.       The Leeches

These are the people who lack creativity and originality.  Leeches will stay close to your every move just  so they can steal your ideas.   They enjoy asking you lots of questions and are aggressive in requesting one-on-one time to pick your brain for wisdom that they can use for their own personal benefit.    The sibling  of the leech is the loafer, and you can learn more about both types here.

3.       The Critics

These are the people who are always finding ways to disrupt your confidence by telling you that your vision is wrong.  They are quick to inform you that your knowledge of the marketplace is not realistic as they attempt to throw your thinking off kilter.   The critics are a legitimate challenge because they possess valid insights of the landscape you are competing in – yet they lack the hands-on battle wounds to justify their criticisms.   They are the prototypical "know-it-alls" who believe that they are always right and that their "written credentials"  allow them to have a voice in the matter.

4.       The Envious

These are the people who wish they had your courage, but instead waste their energy by poking fun at your efforts to create impact.    Envious people make your job more difficult as they attempt to slow down your execution by trying to convince themselves and others that your work isn't important.   Most envious people are those  who wish they were more like you, and thus remain bitter because they don't trust themselves enough to be unique in their own ways. Because we live in a dog-eat-dog world, envious people would rather find joy in making your life difficult rather than using their valuable time to make a difference in the world.   Read more about how envy destroys careers here.

5.       The Victims

Victims believe they haven't had a good break in life and thus feel that something is owed to them for their misfortune.  They would rather spend their time trying to make you feel sorry for them.  They are quick to ask for favors, but slow to reciprocate.   They are the manipulators and want others to feel their pain – though they are rarely motivated to take initiative.  
 
Move up http://i.forbesimg.com t Move down

6.       The Noise

These are the voices that are drowning in mass confusion and just want to be heard.   They are loud and obnoxious and crave attention.   Unlike the victims, they have no real ambition and live with no purpose.  


Leadership is a journey of mental toughness.  Without it, you can't effectively think, act and innovate.  You can't motivate or inspire the best in others.   If you can't handle the aforementioned six types of people, you should think carefully if you are ready to assume a leadership role.  It's a mandatory responsibility that is not outlined in the job description
http://www.forbes.com/sites/glennllopis/2012/07/23/6-types-of-people-build-your-mental-toughness/2/


 

Junaid Tahir 
www.DailyTenMinutes.com

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Posted by: Junaid Tahir <mjunaidtahir@gmail.com>
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[www.keralites.net] Meet a postman who has been extending a healing hand to cancer victims and families

 

Meet a postman who has been extending a healing hand to cancer victims and families who have lost their only earning member to cancer.

Extraordinary Indian S Babu

Ordinary people can do extraordinary things. This postman has walked that extra mile every day to save people's lives, even as he delivered letters in his neighbourhood.

A saviour for many cancer patients, S Babu works at the Kowdiar post office in Thiruvananthapuram. His goodwill and sincere efforts have saved the lives of countless patients in Kerala's capital city.

For the last four years, the 56-year-old postman has been extending a healing hand to cancer victims and some families who have lost their only earning member to cancer.

"People have great regard for him. It is great to see how he leverages the opportunity of meeting people while on the job for a noble cause," says Sobha Koshy, chief postmaster general, Kerala circle.

"With their support, he reaches out to poor cancer patients. It is a unique gesture where a person makes his work more meaningful and, at the same time, helps humanity at large. His goal is to give back to society," adds Koshy.

Besides donating funds and arranging meals for poor cancer patients, Babu has actively taken part in organising a free cancer diagnosis camp in Thiruvanathapuram.

"It is shocking to see how poverty forces many patients to skip meals during cancer treatment. Though the government offers a 20 per cent discount in treatment expenses to BPL (Below the Poverty Line) citizens at the Regional Cancer Centre, many can't afford the treatment or eat food during treatment. It is heartbreaking to see their plight," says Babu.

 

A tragedy led Babu to work for cancer patients. His sister Florence, who worked as a nurse in a maternity hospital, was diagnosed with breast cancer.

During his visits to the hospital to meet her, he saw the trauma of other cancer patients, how they suffered without money to buy food or medicines.

"It was depressing to see my sister lose the fight to the dreaded disease. Her loss is irreparable, but she is my inspiration to do everything possible for critically ill patients who cannot afford medical treatment," says Babu.

Babu's parents had read about Florence Nightingale and wanted one of their daughters to be like her. Babu's sister was a caring person who lived up to her name and her parents' expectations. She used to set aside 30 per cent of her salary for charity, besides helping people get medicines and food whenever she could.

Even when she was undergoing treatment, Florence continued to help poor people who could not afford treatment.

Florence died within a year of being diagnosed with cancer; she was just 45.

 

As a postman, Babu has a rigorous daily routine. He has about 1,000 houses on his 'beat' (area of work). He visits atleast 500 houses every day.

On the performance chart in the post office, Babu has a 100 per cent score.

He says he finds the job a blessing as it gives him the opportunity to interact with people and encounter some good Samaritans.

"Besides being a good worker, Babu is a socially committed person. He has a good rapport with his customers and they consider him an esteemed member of their family," says Koshy.

Babu discovered there were many more people keen to help, so the Santhawnam Charitable Society was formed. This trust has 124 members, who are actively involved in supporting critically ill patients.

He came across several senior government officials like M S Mathews, former additional secretary of the housing board (who is now the president of the Society) and John Koyilparambil, former chief conservator of forests, who were keen to lend their support to his cause.

The Society has offered financial aid worth Rs 1 million since 2007 to poor cancer patients. It gives a donation of Rs 25,000 every quarter to the Regional Cancer Centre at Thiruvananthapuram.

The donations the Society receives are voluntary.

Every month, Babu keeps aside a part of his salary for charity work. The staff at the post office in Kowdiar offer him a sum of money every month.

"We need more generous people. Rich people hardly think of helping the poor. However, you need not be rich to help. Even Rs 100 from each person can make such a big difference," says Babu.

"People's active participation can help millions of people in need. You just need to have a helping mentality," he points out.

The Santhawnam Charitable Society gets many applications seeking help, but the lack of funds stops it from reaching out to all critically ill patients. The Society has currently only Rs 30,000 in its bank account.

Ravi


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Posted by: Ravi Narasimhan <ravi.narasimhan.in@gmail.com>
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