How Successful People Win Against the Hardest Things in Life

Challenges are the ultimate test of character. Winning over them is like winning at life. While some struggle, others seem to have them figured out. Here are four of the many challenges in life and the steps that successful people take to win over them:

Change

Change is something that you just have to accept. It’s especially overwhelming when you’re not the one who initiated it. But successful people seem to breeze through changes. They’re the ones who can look back and say that change had been for the better, for the most part. This attitude or perspective makes them more receptive to change. It makes them actually excited about it.

Reflect on the following questions. These will help you break down your thoughts and let you come up with specific action plan to embrace change:

What’s changing in my life that I’m currently resisting?
Why am I resisting that change?
What am I afraid of with respect to change?
What am I afraid might happen to me?
What’s the payoff for my keeping things the way they are?
What’s the cost I’m paying for keeping the things the way they are?
What benefits might there be in this change?
What would I have to do to cooperate with this change?
What’s the next step I could take to cooperate with this change?
When will I take it?

Risks

To the uninformed, risk accompanies danger and loss. But to those who know how to play the game, risk results to gains. The higher the risk, the higher the return.

The thing is you need to be critical on the kind of risk to take. Learn to take calculated risks. These risks are taken after careful consideration of the advantages and disadvantages. Information, therefore, is essential. Of course, nobody has all the answers. So, this also requires a leap of faith.

Know that not every risk is worth it so be very clear on why you’re taking it. Evaluate your current situation – who you are, what you have, what’s out there, who can help you. Be brutally honest on your willingness to pay the price and for how long you can hold out. Be prepared to make adjustments. Play to win.

Denial

Often, denial results from fear. You’re scared to face the truth. You refuse to accept that you made the wrong choice, or your partner’s cheating on you or one person is capable of doing such a thing. Successful people work to find out the causes of these situations, instead of coming up with excuses on why they happen. You got to be good at recognizing bad situations and then decide to take action. Often, our conscience or gut-feel gives us a hint that something’s wrong. It may be good to see if this feeling has basis.

Your answer to these questions may help you get out of denial:

What’s not working?
What caused this situation? Or how did I/we get into this situation?
What do I/we need to solve or get out of this situation?
What actions do I/we need to take for the situation to work the way it’s supposed to?

Hate and Forgiveness

To let go of hate and resentment is never easy. These negative feelings take so much of your energy. But forgiveness takes even more than that.

You need to have the strength to be the bigger person. Make love the deeper, stronger feeling every time. Try to stand in the shoes of those who hurt you and walk around in them so you understand where they’re coming from. Because to forgive is to give up the negative feeling for yourself – never for whoever or whatever that’s hurt you.

The following steps are all integral to forgiving:

Acknowledge your anger and resentment.
Acknowledge the hurt and pain it created.
Recognize the fears and self-doubts that it created.
Own any part you may have played in letting it occur or letting it continue.
Acknowledge what you were wanting that you didn’t get, and then put yourself in the other person’s shoes and attempt to understand where he or she was coming from at that time, and what needs the person was trying to meet – however inelegantly – by his or her behavior.
Let go and forgive the person.

I used Jack Canfield’s The Success Principles as reference for this post. The book aims to help you achieve your goal in whatever aspect of your life. It features real-life situations and inspiring stories to demonstrate each principle. They’re very easy to relate to and understand. For more success tips, do check it out on National Bookstore, Amazon or ebay.

How about you, what challenges are you facing right now and how do you go around them?

As always, thanks for dropping by!

ONE MINUTE MANAGER SPEAKS ON HOW TO TREAT PEOPLE BETTER

The One Minute Manager has arguably oversimplified management principles and focused a bit too much on dealing with subordinates at work. Yet, it’s allegorical style and use of ordinary words rendered it a very easy read. The principles presented are also practical and adaptable.

It rests on the idea that people and results go hand in hand. This means that how you treat your people greatly impacts your bottom line. Therefore, it’s extremely important to deal with them in the proper way. The book highlights the significance of setting goals/expectations and how to give out praises and reprimands.

If you’re in a middle management position, I recommend grabbing a copy of this book. You’ll find that the scenarios presented are relevant and it wouldn’t take too much of your time.

A word of caution though. Never take the title of this book literally. The One Minute Manager is just an expression, an attempt to put away the idea that a management position is one of the most complex and difficult there is. I’d like to think that this book is a sort of initiation, an intro that touches mostly on how to deal with people.

Here are the three most important points in the book that can help you become a One Minute Manager:

The One Minute Goal Setting

First, set expectations clear and straight. Goals need to be brief and mutually agreed upon. It must only have 250 characters or less and can be read in a minute. Identify the behaviors that will lead to the achievement of the goals. Review the goals time and again and check whether the behaviors matches the goals.

Set Clear Expectations — Be upfront with your people.

The One Minute Praise

Your people want to know how they’re doing at work so it’s important that you give them immediate feedback. Try to catch them when they’re doing things right. Specify the good behavior and commend them for it. Pause a bit so that the good feeling sinks in. Gestures like shaking hands or touching the shoulders may be good ways of reinforcing your message. But take care that the gesture makes your people comfortable and your touch, sincere.

How to Properly Train People — Catch your people doing things right.

The One Minute Reprimand

Giving out reprimands has two parts. First part includes reprimanding people immediately. Specifically point out the bad behavior and express how you honestly feel about it. Let there be an uncomfortable silence in between so that the situations sinks in.

The second part include reaching out to person and sincerely expressing you’re still on their side. Make them understand that this is about their work performance and not them as a person. Finally, when the reprimand is over, it’s over. Don’t ever bring it up again.

Behavior does not equal worth. — A person’s behavior does not equal his or her worth.

Though it’s hardly a quick-guide to all things management, The One Minute Manager by Kenneth Blanchard Ph.D. and Spencer Johnson M.D. shows you practical steps on how to deal with people better. Parents also have found the principles useful when raising their children.

Check the book on Amazon and Goodreads.

As always, thanks for dropping by!

NOTES TO SELF ON HOW TO DO BETTER IN 2017

2016’s coming to an end. Though not without challenges, it must have brought you something that you’re thankful for. You may have gained work, new friendships, a special someone or a family. As you get ready for the coming year, it’s always good to think about the things you may want to do better in 2017.

Here’s my list, albeit not conclusive nor specific. I consider them my guidelines or my notes to self for 2017. I hardly keep in line with my resolutions as most people do. But if I just remember the why’s or it’s value for me, I tend to honor them more.

Sleep better.

And make this a priority. Staying up late and arguing you’ll just catch up on it can cause trouble in the long run. So when it’s time to turn in, do just that. Cultivate a sleeping habit. Dim the light. Play a mellow tune. Surround yourself with fluffy pillows. ~~Sleep with someone, if that makes it any better.~~ Say your prayers. Let the next hours be a pause after all the hours of frenzy movements. Respect this time that you get to do the best form of preparation for another day.

Eat better.

This goes beyond satisfying your hunger or eating healthy foods. These days when everything seemed to be on fast forward, eating has become a dine and dash activity. How about relishing the food a little more? Eat in a way that enriches you. Dine with a friend. Cook for other people. Try food from other places – it’ll always reveal something about yourself and that town’s culture. Eat slowly when you can. Share when you can. Respect this time that you get to take in physical blessing.

Work better.

Work all the time that you work. Set time to get ready for the things you’re going to do for the day. Let others know about your priorities so that when they interrupt, they’re certain about the time you can spare for them. You can always reorganize tasks as needed but you’ll only get to do this if you’ve got the preparation right. Also, work smart. What can you delegate? Are there tasks that you can automate? Which tools do you need to make your work smoother and easier? Please understand that work culture varies from company to company, country to country. Usually, you’re only paid for 8 hours. So, unless it’s necessary to go beyond that, don’t render overtime. Remember that you got to have a life after work, too.

Work all the time you work. — Prepare to do your work and stick to your priorities.

Communicate better.

Yes means yes, no means no. It’s not always easy to speak your mind, but still you gotta try. Write it down, gesture if you must, but you gotta make your point across and clearly. Listen, understand, respond. At work, present your ideas as follows: What?- So What? – Now What? So be brief, yet concise. It’s because one, people have short attention span and two, they got their own lives, too.

Think better.

Thoughts become things. It means that whatever you conjure in your mind can happen. So make it a habit to think positive thoughts and see to it that they outnumber negative ones. The ability to anticipate outcomes is good, but if you lean too much on the negative, you may not want to start anything at all. Be cautious of your optimism as well. Try pragmatic, but entertain the bizarre because it’s important that you be creative, too! So read. Ask questions. Pick the brain of experts. You may watch their interviews or pore over their essays. You may find TedTalk awesome, too!

Dream better.

I’m talking about conscious dreams, the ones with timelines, those dreams which you strive so hard for. Have you achieved them yet? If yes, good for you. Make them bigger. Or get ready to start on another dream. If you haven’t achieved them yet, try harder. After all, your dreams must be enormous. They must scare you, inspire you and move you. So, don’t settle for anything less. Keep striving. Ask for help. Share it with others. The Universe is always listening and its conspiring to make your dreams come true.

Laugh better.

I believe laughter is the sound that your heart makes when it overflows with gladness. It can also be your soul calling out for celebration. Laugh at yourself for it makes you grow. Laugh with others as it develops kinship. Expose yourself more to things that at least bring you smiles. Share these things to others when you can. Allow yourself the opportunity to show others how please you are at the moment.

Laughter at Mind Catalog — Make sure to laugh better and often.

There you have it! My list of what I want to do better in 2017. I thought of adding reminders in line with live better or love better. But all these, when observed faithfully may already lead to those. So, if you got any other notes to self that will make you do better in 2017, feel free to share and put them in the comments below.

Again, thanks for dropping by!

Why You’ll Fail to Have the One Great Love of Your Life

You tell yourself time and again that the next one would be the right one. That this time, you know better. This time, for sure, will be your great love forever. But two next ones have passed and you’re still left bruised and broken. “The bastards”, you think. Then you start asking yourself, “Is it me? What’s wrong with me?”

You’ll brush that thought off. You tell yourself to look forward, always onward. There lies the future after all. The one future you’re going to cherish with the greatest love of your life. And this thought gives you hope, the strength to take on another chance.

After a while, the night goes longer, the darkness starts creeping into your heart. Will this one stay or is this one the same as all the others? You start praying… please let this person be the one. Let this one stay. Let this person love me forever.

Still you doubt, because so much like that future you look forward to, you know nothing’s for certain.

And that’s why you’ll fail to have that one great love of your life.

You fear all the ways that you can fuck this up.

You may start to love the person less. It must be all about you now. Bruised and broken remember? Time to protect yourself and hide away. It wouldn’t make any difference if this person leave or stay.

You may love the person more. You’ll give it all you got. What of bruised and broken heart? You’d like it to be unconditional, all-consuming. For if this person ever leaves, you’ll be nothing but a shell of who you used to be. And that’s not living at all.

Or you may finally pool that little courage you have and decide to be smart about it. Start learning about yourself – your mistakes, your triumphs. The people you’ve had before – what are they like, what did they give you, what did they do to you? Perhaps you can teach your heart. No matter how stubborn it gets, you still own it and whatever you own, you can influence. Start healing on your own. Leave the notion that someone’s going to save you. That person’s not coming, baby. You only have you. So, take care of yourself. Make it so that you feel you’re whole again, confident again, strong again. Just about ready to replace doubt with trust.

And if you should fail, know that the Universe has a humor, too. And yes, it may be playing a cruel joke on you.

Mentors Preach: Lessons Practiced at Work… and Life

It’s said that if you want a great career, look for a boss, not a job. I’ve been blessed to have worked with brilliant mentors in recent years. Though none of them is perfect, all of them contributed to what I know now. I will only have my gratitude to offer them.

Here are some of those important lessons I learned from my mentors, both useful at work and in personal life:

Do one thing at a time.

This means you got to learn how to properly prioritize your tasks. Everyday is a cycle of work that’s left undone from yesterday and tasks assigned to us today. It’s not uncommon to hear some coworkers complain over workloads and new projects. Multitasking has also been a common practice. I feel blessed that I got to work with a boss who recognizes the value of time. He’s also one to meticulously screens the quality of work. When tasks stack up, he’ll often say, “Drop everything and work on the first item on your list. ‘Cause if you’re finally done with that, then you can stop thinking about it. And you can put your whole attention to the next item.”

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Do not fall in love easily.

“Sometimes, when we love something or someone, we’re content to let them be the way they are. It seems to us that they’re already perfect. But that’s loving blindly and that’s not helping them. Always challenge what you’re seeing right now. Identify what’s working. Ask what’s not working and how the change can be facilitated.” In effect, these statements best describe how branding/rebranding works. And to be working with such an excellent brand person is truly a great experience. These words ring true to our personal lives and a wide range of other industries as well.

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You can be good leader and a kind leader at the same time.

Though not in the exact words, Bob Davids said, “If you push people, deep inside, you wouldn’t know where they will go. But if you’ll show them how it’s done, then they’d follow you…And whenever you give power to your subordinates, that power comes back to you in the amount that’s always greater than what you’ve given away.” This sums up my experience with this particular mentor. She guided, encouraged and trusted me to do the things that I myself didn’t think I can do. Of course it wasn’t always perfect and there were times when I’ve been all over the place, but my mentor’s patience and generosity carried me through.

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Sincerity goes a long, long way.

When I thought people whose names are as good as VIP pass only exist in fiction, there’s actually this very cool guy who’s just that. Of course, it took him much time before he gained this advantage. He told me, “Initially people would only do business with you if they perceive you as the better deal, but that’s just the start. What you must do is to sustain that initial contact and continue to establish the relationship – be reliable, be trustworthy, genuine and concerned. It’s a tricky world out there and while you must do your job, you should also learn how to play it cool and enjoy yourself.” And yes, guys, he acts as he preaches.

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Dedication takes you places.

Most of our superiors have been in the company for at least three years. The amount of time that they’ve put into the job may be tracked, but the dedication that they’ve put in along those minutes is definitely immeasurable.

I’ve met a Manager who’s been with a 48-year old company for 32 years and another who chose to work during weekends to deliver reports on Monday.

I think people with this amount of dedication also has a great sense of accountability, not with just the output but with the people working under them. They are also usually the people who occupy the higher ranks. We always complain that we’re overworked or the tasks just keeps piling up. But not everyone in the higher rungs passes down the work, some of them shoulder the bulk of the load themselves. They may even have made greater sacrifices. These mentors taught me that I should be thoroughly responsible and dedicated to my tasks and that I can always give just a bit more to go the extra mile.

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You may also have other lessons from your mentors, feel free to share them in the comment section below!

How to Practice Gratitude that Unlocks Your Happiness

I believe gratitude and happiness are inseparable.

Gratitude is thankfulness, the acknowledgment of the positive things and great opportunities that you have and expect in your life. And happiness, arguably, is that wonderful, warm sensation in your heart that lets you know something you wanted or planned for is finally happening.

And so, if you can acknowledge even the littlest of things that you’re thankful for, you can’t help but be happy.

Sounds simple, right? But most people remain unhappy.

Be thankful for the little things.

Often, you tend to overlook the little things in life that can bring you happiness. These are trivial, sometimes mundane events or things that you don’t even consider. But when you start to be conscious about all the things around you, you may discover a lot of things that you can make you happy, or at the least, smile.

List all the things that you’re thankful for. You might be surprised how your happiness is consists of small, every day things that you usually take for granted.

Think of your favorite weather, the smile you received from a stranger, or that kind guy who offered you a seat on the ride home. These simple, usual events are your simple blessings each day. And if only you acknowledge these as such, then you might just realize that life is easier, more bearable because you get these little miracles every day.

Be thankful for the big things.

Of course, bigger blessings are hard to ignore, especially the ones that you really worked hard for. But still, most people forget to give thanks. They feel entitled. They think that because they worked for it, they only deserve it. It’s all on them.

And maybe this is one reason why most achievers lead an abundant, but unhappy life. They forget about gratitude.

Gratitude begets happiness. — Gratitude unlocks happiness. Never forget to be grateful.Photo Credit: symphony of love via photopin cc

You shouldn’t forget that great things can’t be achieved alone. You may have been the leader or the main man for a really successful project or business venture, but you could have never been at the top without the people who helped you, supported you and prayed for you.

I believe in hard work, in discipline and focus. But I don’t believe that you can get to where you want on your own. There will always be people who you’ll need to ask help from or those who will offer you their help. And for that, you must be thankful.

Acknowledge the hardships for they made you stronger. Recognize your team because they supported and strengthen you. Thank the universe because it conspired to make you successful.

Be grateful for the success of others.

We’re echoes of each other. And the more we support other people to achieve what they want, the more that we make ourselves capable of achieving our own goals and dreams.

Be happy for others. — Be grateful for the success of others. Photo Credit: tedeytan via photopin cc

Instead of being envious or holding grudges or blaming fate, it maybe better to say our thanks that our brothers or sisters finally achieved their dreams. Tell the Universe, or your God or whatever deity you hold the highest respect for, that you’re ready to receive yours.

Practice gratitude. Achieve happiness.

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What’s it like to be a Store Manager?

I met Kris Herbert delos Reyes during my very short stint in a BPO company. We’re both management trainees.

Kris has long been a manager of different popular food and clothing stores in the country. He’s got an aggregate seven years of experience in store operations and leadership.

I’m really inspired by the man, because he’s not only smart, he’s very humble, too. And I got him to share his experience with us so that anybody there who wants a store management position one day may get to know what it’s like.

Dream or circumstance?

When asked if he really aspired for this position, he explained, “It was never my plan to be in store operations. I was a graduate of Psychology and I expected to be a part of the Human Resource industry. But the need for male HR employees is very low, so I decided to look for other options.”

Daily Duties

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As a store manager, you’ve got three major duties. According to Kris these are:

1. Overall supervision and managing of daily store operations.

This means you got to check on your goods or services, your employees, and reports. You also have to oversee customer relationship.

2. Make sure that standard procedures are being observe or implemented.

Every store communicates and reports to the company’s head office. The store receives instructions on displays, promos and updates with regards to the products, services or customer interaction. So, the manager needs to make sure that his store is compliant.

3. Make sure to hit your numbers.

In other words, if sales target for the month is a million, then your figures at the end of the month must be a million or more. If not, you got to present the reasons your store didn’t meet the target and propose actions on how to achieve it.

Upside, Downside

When asked what he liked most about the job, Kris says, “I get to influence other people and help them become more productive employees of the company.” He finds fulfillment whenever he sees his crew get promoted or deliver better results.

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But as manager, you got to be accountable for everything – every little thing in the store. And this is what Kris finds to be very challenging. He adds, “Anything that affects store performance reflects how efficient and effective you are as a manager.”

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So no matter if it’s the hours of operations, the weather or changing customer tastes, you got to know how to make it work.

One thing a store can’t survive without is…

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Teamwork. Everybody’s role is important. Some may argue that some people have easy or difficult task but, the thing is, each must perform at the best of his/her ability and assume responsibility. I always tell my crew, “Gawin nating madali ang trabaho ng isa’t isa.(Let’s make each other’s job easy [by doing our part].)”

“When you sell service, you sell a relationship.”

That’s what Kris’ Operations Manager (OM) used to say to them. He went on, “Competition will always be there. And you just can’t rely on brand to hit the target. It’s not really a priority to customers anymore. Customers go where they feel welcome, where there’s genuine concern for what they truly need. It may sound sappy, but customers really want service that comes from the heart.”

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So in this consumer driven market, Kris thinks that the trend will shift from being brand-centered to service-oriented.

I want to be a store manager!

If so, Kris has this advice for you:

Strong leadership skill is indispensable. You got to be highly analytic and logical. Most of all, you got to be a risk-taker. You should have the courage to speak for your crew and your store performance. Most of all, you got to be people-oriented. Treat your crew fairly and let them know that they are important.

The writer thinks that a store manager must also be an excellent juggler. So much to do, so much to think about but you got to keep your balance. 🙂

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So there ends our interview with Kris. Hope this gives you a glimpse on the career of a store manager.

If it so happen that you’re a store manager or aspiring to become one, let us know what you think about this post. Thanks for reading!

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What to Do After You Made a Mistake?

From a beginner’s point of view, mistakes are necessary evil for development and growth. It is usually by mistake that you learn what really needs to be done and what’s the smartest way of doing it. Mistakes are learning opportunities in disguise and how you deal with it can either make or break you.

Here are some tips on dealing with mistakes from Schragis and Frishman’s 10 Clowns Don’t Make a Circus. I also added some of my own thoughts:

1. When you did a mistake, find the time to calm down, cool off and think it over.

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In real life, this may not be easy to do. You got your deadline coming up and you’re left with so little time to correct your mistake or lessen it’s negative consequences. But always remember to take a breather and find time to clear your head. Go out of the office or have a water or coffee break. Use this time to think things over. Admit that you made a mistake, own up to it and then try to come up with solutions. Before you go back to your work, make sure you know exactly where the error lies. Ask yourself the following questions:

What exactly did I do wrong?
Is there anything that I could have done to prevent this mistake? If yes, then what is it?
If there’s no way of seeing this mistake coming, what should I do to prevent this from happening again?

2. Ask your boss or coworkers for feedback. As Schragis and Frishman said, “Make it clear that you’re open to constructive criticism.”

Listen. Be open to feedback. — Photo Credit: highersights via photopin cc

It’s not only the quality of our outputs that matters, it’s also about how you work. Whether you work alone or with a team, how you interact and take criticisms say much about you as a professional. Getting feedback from your superiors can really be helpful. You can ask:

What are the things that I need to improve on?
What do you suggest I do to avoid the same mistake?

3. Don’t be sorry. Be better.

Try one more time. — Photo Credit: Celestine Chua via photopin cc

Owning up to your mistake is one thing, but moving on from that sad place is another. It’s okay to feel a little sorry but you got to remember that this mistake is trying to teach you something so that you can be better. Whenever you’re struck down, come back stronger, smarter than before. Never apologize for something that you can’t possibly know and be thankful for the opportunity to learn.

What's biggest mistake ever? — Photo Credit: steffy. via photopin cc

Remember that mistakes can be a great source of experience and wisdom. But too much of the same mistake says much about your ability to learn. Learn from your old mistakes and keep them from happening again. Go out there and do your thing, but see to it that you make a different mistake next time.

How about you, how do you deal with your mistakes? Please tell us about it on the comments below. Thanks for reading!

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What’s your ultimate feel-good song?

It’s Friday! Most of you are probably looking forward to the weekends. Your plans may even include partying or booze! But it’s also the last day of the workweek for most of us. And during the days when everything seems to be piling up and the work atmosphere’s so full of pressure, don’t you wish you can have a break and get away from it all, even just for a moment?

I asked around about some of the feel-good songs that can turn every challenging day to something fantastic! The type of song that even just a bit of it’s message or melody can put life back into you. You may want to check out the interesting playlist I’ve come up with.

#1 BEST DAY OF MY LIFE BY THE AMERICAN AUTHORS

You can’t help but sing-along to this song. Melody’s light and the lyric’s all about having a grand time!

I’m never gonna look back
Whoa, I’m never gonna give it up
No, please don’t wake me now
Oo-o-o-o-oo
This is gonna be the best day of my life
My life
Oo-o-o-o-oo
This is gonna be the best day of my life
My life

#2 ALL ABOUT THAT BASS BY MEGHAN TRAINER

Nothing like a song about self-love. Come on, this song will make you want to snap your fingers and move your head along. And even before the song ends, you’ll definitely agree that every inch of you is perfect from the bottom to the top.

#3 HAPPY BY PHARRELL WILLIAMS

Gru = Happy. Happy = Gru. I don’t know how to erase that connection in my mind. But this song is perfect!

#4 TIMBER BY PITBULL FT. KE$HA

Why do we look forward to Fridays, again? This song’ll tell you. Reminds you about everything that’s good about this particular day of the week.

#5 PACK UP BY ELIZA DOOLITTLE

Yeah, this song is perfect when human nature threatens to get the better out of you.

Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag
And bury them beneath the sea
I don’t care what the people may say
What the people may say about me
Pack up your troubles, get your old kit bag
Don’t worry about the cavalries
I don’t care what the whisperers say
‘Cause they whisper too loud for me

#6 I DO ADORE BY MINDY GLEDHILL

Well, you’ll definitely enjoy this light and easy song. Especially when you’re in a great relationship! It’s like when you want to paint everything around you pink and bright, just put this on the background and you’re done!

#7 LIVING IN THE MOMENT BY JASON MRAZ

My personal favorite, yay! Easy to the ears, positive message. I just love this song. And I think we should all live by what it says. Just learn to enjoy every second and live in the moment.

I’m letting myself off the hook
For things I’ve done
I let my past go past
And now I’m having more fun
I’m letting go of the thoughts
That do not make me strong
And I believe this way
Can feel the same for everyone

#8 CHANDELIER BY SIA

Most of us expects that a feel-good song should be light and easy to the ears, but others dig the sincerity and strength of the music more than anything else. And that’s how they get their inspiration back.

I’m gonna live like tomorrow doesn’t exist
Like it doesn’t exist
I’m gonna fly like a bird in the night
Feel the my tears as it dry

#9 TURNING PAGES BY SLEEPING AT LAST

Slow, calm, and easy.

#10 CLOSE TO YOU BY THE CARPENTERS

Still, some prefer a melody that’s familiar, comfortable. Maybe this helps them feel at ease or keep them centered. Carpenters – classic and sweet.

BONUS: UNWRITTEN BY NATASHA BEDDINGFIELD

Hope, motivation, courage, confidence. All these in this very beautiful song.

Enjoy the music and stay positive! Tell us your favorite feel-good song on the comments. Happy weekend everyone!

Featured Photo Credit: Silvia Viñuales via photopin cc

Byôbu and Japanese Art

I just purchased an old book called 10,000 Years of Art by Phaidon. It chronicles art pieces the world over, from the earliest stencils on cave walls to the varied and contemporary types of art that we see today. The feature that I loved most about this little handbook though, is that you get to see art from different places around the world adjacent to one another. So you know that when Vermeer was painting the The Milkmaid in Netherlands, the Chinese were busy with their landscape painting while pear-shaped bottles with long necks were popular in Iran.

I took up a very basic course of Art Appreciation back in college. And though the course followed a chronological timeline of important milestones in humanities, only western art imprinted on my mind. I’m not sure whether we had a discussion on how to appreciate eastern art (or art that came from this part of the world) but there is really little that I know about the brilliant works that has sprung from here. And this book somehow gave me an idea on the wonderful craftsmanship and creativity from our part of the world.

Today, we start off with the Japanese screen panel art. Some pieces featured here date back as early as 1540, around the same time Mannerism and Northern Renaissance were sweeping Europe with works like the Hall of the Giants by Giulio Romano in Italy, Salome with the Head of John the Baptist by Lucas Cranach the Elder in Germany and the Saltcellar by Benvenuto Cellini in France.

The latest featured piece dates back in 1710, 40 years before Mr. and Mrs. Andrews was painted in Rococo style by Thomas Gainsborough in United Kingdom.

Byôbu, the Japanese term for folding screens, functions both as furnishing and decoration. It literally means protection against the wind. When used outdoors, it can function as portable walls, demarcating space and shielding revelers from prying eyes.

This first piece of art, called Wagtails, Pine and Waterfall, is the work of Kano Motonobu (1476-1559). It was done during the late Muromachi Period, the same period when the tea ceremony, flower arranging and other art of all kinds began to flourish in Japan.

What’s most interesting about this work is the contrast provided by the upward path of the old pine and the forceful downward fall of the water behind it, while the wagtails and other birds stand in silent awe. The combination of vitality with permanence and grandeur presented in the panel are qualities most denoted from the Kano school imagery.

Pine Forest, Hasegawa Tohaku — Ink on papaer, 170 x 350 cm / 5 ft 1 in x 11 ft 5 in, National Museum, Tokyo

We jump over a 40-year period to this work of Hasegawa Tohaku ( 1539 – 1610) called Pine Forest. Such great technique he has to achieve such sublime subtlety. I may not be familiar on how to use India ink or the intricate steps this artist had to take to come up with this (Phaidon gave it in detail), but this is really beautiful.

So as this work borne out of collaboration between Tawaraya Sotatsu and Hon’ami Koetsu called Cranes. Sotatsu defied convention by radically simplifying the forms of the bird so that they appear identical, but each bird retained a unique, lively and varying positions.

Cranes by Sotatsu and Koetsu — Ink, silver, gold pigment on paper, 34 x 136 cm / 1 ft 1 in x 44 ft 5 in, Kyoto National Museum, Kyoto

These two works, one a folding screen and the other a narrative hand scroll, were created during the Momoyama period where both lavish and rustic simplistic styles of art found supporters from different tiers of society.

In 1670, Tosa Mitsuoki (1617 – 1691) created Spring Cherry with Poem Slips. This features colorful painting style contrasted with the monochrome Chinese ink style as seen in Wagtails, Pine and Waterfall. A lengthy analysis and description of this work can be found here.

Last but definitely not the least, we have Ogata Korin‘s Flowering Irises. Dubbed as the most popular-almost overfamiliar-design in all of Japanese art, this piece is created using only three colors – ultramarine, copper blue and malachite. And the most splendid thing is that no petal nor leaf share the same stroke. This image is only a screen grab from Columbia.edu where you can find detailed explanation for each highlighted part of this byôbu.

Japanese art are not limited to folding screens or hand scrolls, of course, and there have been many significant art pieces made before all these. But aside from Ukiyo-e, these really captured my attention. Maybe I will post about the art in Late Edo period but that’s for another day. I hope you learned much from this post as much as I had while scouring the net for more information. May your appreciation for these work of art deepened.

Ja ne!