I read an ancient Arabic story the other day about a merchant traveller with his caravan on his way to Baghdad. Half way to his destination the merchant encounters Pestilence who informs him that he too is on his way to Baghdad. Pestilence’s reason for travelling there is to kill five thousand people. Having deliveredContinue reading “The Antidote to Fear: Trust”
Category Archives: Weblogs
How Nothing Creates Performance and Beauty
I was with some friends the other day, including Ginny Richards, and she had just played the piano superbly well. We were discussing how it is that some people play the piano – or instrument or sing – so expressively, and others, who may be technically proficient, make it all sound so dead. There isContinue reading “How Nothing Creates Performance and Beauty”
The Real Meaning of Christmas
I love Christmas, and I am especially looking forward to it this year because, as some readers of my articles may have deduced, I have been seriously ill and in hospital for three months. At one point it looked as if I wouldn’t make Christmas at all; and then as if I’d still be inContinue reading “The Real Meaning of Christmas”
Pedagogy and Motivation
I was asked an interesting educational question recently about motivation and pedagogy: to wit, what pedagogy is used to create classroom strategies that each motivator prefers? Pedagogy is a word that one doesn’t encounter as frequently as one did, say, in the Seventies; what does it mean? Pedagogy is the science of teaching, of instruction,Continue reading “Pedagogy and Motivation”
Visiting the Underworld with Orpheus
When I was a child I was fascinated by myths, and especially those concerning the underworld, what we sometimes call journeys into hell. It is difficult to account for why these sort of stories appeal, although now – at the later end of my life – it’s all very clear: having been to hell –Continue reading “Visiting the Underworld with Orpheus”
Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
As we passed a church on the way to Bournemouth Rail Station the other day I saw a fantastic advertising poster. It said: “The B.I.B.L.E – Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth! What a concept, what an acronym! In today's Western society there is – despite the relentless barrage of bad news, war and mayhem –Continue reading “Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth”
Coaching, Mentoring and Spirituality
Sometimes in mentoring and coaching the question of spirituality comes up with a client; it is not necessarily the issue they engaged you for, but the conversation spirals in that direction, and you are faced with that awkward moment of deciding whether to explore it with them or leave well alone. I think it isContinue reading “Coaching, Mentoring and Spirituality”
My Life After Death – a Vision
There are two stultifying views of life after death that must be refuted. The first is that there is no life after death; this view, promoted by atheists and humanists, is a desperate appeal to deny the collective wisdom of mankind from time immemorial that has decided otherwise. Even reincarnation is a way of lookingContinue reading “My Life After Death – a Vision”
Why motivation is NOT often in the work place
It is not an original observation to say that in most work places we look we find that most people are not highly motivated. In many cases they are not motivated at all. They need to work and their commitment to and engagement with their employer extends no further than the next pay cheque. ThisContinue reading “Why motivation is NOT often in the work place”
Imaginary Beings, Numbers and God
The imagination is one of the most powerful faculties of the mind or indeed of human beings generally. It was the poet W. B. Yeats who said: “The imagination has some way of lighting on the truth which reason has not … and its commandments are the most binding we can ever know.” But thenContinue reading “Imaginary Beings, Numbers and God”
The Mapping Motivation Series 