A Tribute to Mr Lee Kuan Yew

"....... he captured attention because he has the ability to speak as if he was personally talking to you..."

It has been a few days since the Founding Father of the Republic of Singapore, Mr Lee Kuan Yew, passed away. The whole of Singapore has been seen mourning in all sort of ways, in particular, visiting the Parliment building to pay Mr Lee a last visit.  I am not very demonstrative person by nature, but reading about news and posts and tributes contributed by friends online, I do feel a sense of lost and sadness inside me. However, the best way I think to pay tribute to someone who has passed away, is to remember the good of the person and to think about how it could have an impact on you and would affect you in a positive way.

On a personal level, I could feel deeply the impact of Mr Lee's leadership quality demonstrated largely by the way he communicated with people. When Mr Lee gave his speech, he captured attention because he has the ability to speak as if he was personally talking to you. Mr Lee has this ability and charisma to appeal to the general public on a personal level when he was speaking. I always remember that when I am giving my lecture to large group of students in front of me, that it is a skill to learn to speak and deliver speech with a personal touch that appeals significantly to large audience, on a personal level to each and everyone attending my lecture. On a different level, the fact that Mr Lee pushed Singapore towards international competition, with an aim to be made known globally for trades and others (largely for survival) and then by having English Language as the first language benefited so many that were borne in my generation. I was borne only 5 years after Singapore gained Independence. Having this language skills and abilities open doors for my subsequent career in my later life and more so when I then decided to seek advancement aboard.

It is no surprise why foreign countries such as New Zealand are having their flags lowered half-mast on 29th March 2015, to mark the funeral of the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. Indeed, in the eyes of the Western world, it is a "miracle" that Mr Lee's formula and model survives and bring prosperity to a small nation. Who can blame the West for thinking so, it was then been based on their formula anyway. Therefore, more so, their value and belief should work to bring miracle (as defined by the West) for economic survival. The fact that even Bill Clinton (with his U.S. Delegation) had planned to come to Lee Kuan Yew Funeral says something, that some Western leaders are convinced and bought into Mr Lee's idea of the model to grow an economy into prosperity .

Mr Lee's style however is not without criticism. One of the most commonly mentioned issue is the freedom of speech that was seen absence or not as well practiced in the media. This is interesting, because to quite an extent, this has affected the way people share and express their views on the media platform. Having said that, freedom of speech, however, is also not without its problem. The recent shooting of Charlie Hebdo arising from some humorous posts published, which some saw as "offensive" and hence provoking anger, had given the West something to (re)think about the serious implication of "free speech". It makes one wonder is there anything "free" here or are there unknown underlying prices that are to be paid. However, the recent opening of social medium outlets such as facebook and others had given Singaporeans a good platform to practice "free speech". However, sometimes this turns out to be an outlet for people to voice their angers as well, which is very unhealthy. In a country where free speech is not quite practice in the mainstream media (yet!), I suddenly recalled listening and hearing to Mr Lee's speech, sometimes it makes me think, what is important when you express your view, perhaps what is important when you speak, speak truthfully (rather than "freely") because your utimately aim is to convince others, and even to the extent of winning others to believing your vision into building a nation. He may be regarded as someone who is good in marketing, but marketing a vision to build a nation? You cannot NOT give that a second thought about what's additional skill and talent that involve! That is the spirit of Mr Lee, something that I will remember in me for a very long time, however the future may be. To me, it is already a blessing to be borne during his time, simply for what he had done for my generation.

Rest in Peace, Mr Lee!

Losing my "mind"

"... and my 'reflection' finds it back"

"Sitting still and do nothing" (i.e., meditation) for 25 to 40 minutes a day helps me to re-charge. It helps me practice 'awareness', and enable me to take 'precaution' or 'preempt' it to prevent it from affecting me. I had a few challenges last few days and dealing with them helped me gain new insights into what other effect 'meditation' could have.

Last Friday was one of those few days that I worked till quite late in my office. It was until about 7.30 pm that I left my office, after realising all my days' hard work to install CPLEX on the Linux OS still didn't work out quite well. It certainly didn't feel like a productive day. That night, I still tried and do a bit of meditation, though it was cut short to only 10 minutes, since it was late and I don't like to have my dinner too late. Anyway, I didn't feel my level of concentration was good, though it didn't affect me to large extent, I kind of feel 'something not right' throughout my meditation

On Saturday, i.e., the following day, I still felt I could 'do better' in term of the focus of my mind. Saturday should not be considered as a 'bad' day because I was getting on with my other research and it actually made progress. In addition, the weather was good. Saturday was a bright sunny day, and the more I should feel 'brighten up', but I didn't. After some reflections, I conclude that I was perhaps still held 'in the past' on my Friday's work commitment to the software installation, which failed. I was 'held back' to the extent I still hung myself in that and not moving, though not necessarily mean I would be stressed up. It is just that I had not 'let go' of it. My mind was as if in a 'stagnant' state. Other than that, constantly replying and looking out for students' emails during this period, arising from the examination, also put me off thinking in term of 'living the present moment'. This was because I was at times shocked and angry with students' excessive demand of what they want from me. And that didn't help.

As I began to see what's holding me back, I began to see that I should learn to 'let it go'. I guess I missed out one important step when dealing with myself over the matter, and that is 'acceptance'. My theory is that, due to the lack of 'awareness', I failed to see 'what's missing' and acknowledgement and acceptance were being pushed out of the way. As I began to "see" this in my meditation today, I then slowly channel my thoughts and focus onto the present moment. For example, feeling the joys (at least inner joy) of the good weather and involvement of housework routine, which are all good experiences. I learnt that if my head is occupied with something, I would immediately lose touch with my surrounding, and is even harder when I subconsciously occupied with things that was not to my knowledge. Therefore, constant reflection in daily life does serve some good purpose. And this has worked well for me today! :D

Making sense of 'Positive Thinking"

"As human, how fragile and yet resilient we all are..."

A chat with my research student brightened my mind the other day, as I began to make sense of the rationale of 'Positive Thinking'. It could be all explained using Logical thinking and the principal of mutually exclusivity. 

If you see the future is made up of many possibilities, then here we are now/at present moment is just one of the many possibilities that took place in our life from the past. Put it simply, it is by chance where we ended up at the present moment, even if we had tried very hard to reach the point of where we are now, you cannot deny each and every step you took since you were borne cannot all be explained simply by your 'effort". For example, the fact you are borne to be a certain race is definitely by chance, not choice. If you can appreciate that, then it become easier to proceed.

If whatever that happened to us was by chance, then the happening of one event would exclude the happening of another. It is reasonable and realistic to assume that there bounds to be in most cases two likely outcomes, the positive and the negative ones. It is, however hard to value or weigh the negatives and the positives. Human tolerance may help weigh negative outcome and made things easier. Tolerance levels, however, differ from people to people

Therefore, since we have no choice about possibilities in our life that could take place and if it looks like things most of the times happened by chance, and more importantly there would definitely be good and bad outcomes of all possibilities, so isn't it better to be positive? To me that makes sense. Looking at the bigger picture, if you reflect upon your life since you were borne, you would realize as humans, how fragile and yet resilient we all can be. So, just be positive! :D

Comfort Zone is not that bad

"There is light in the comfort zone. There is life there. Stay and enjoy."

Recently there is a nice little video that I kept seeing friends sharing on fb. It is called 'it depends on what you believe'. It's about the process of having a dream and the barriers underlying it, which the narrator broke it down into the panic, comfort and the learning zones. It aims to tell people why sometimes "moving forward" seems so difficult. I then reflected upon my achievement so far in this life and asked if I ever was trapped in those zones. I guess perhaps I had, but it seems not in that linear order.

The most appropriate that relate to my 'dream' should be how I got out of Singapore more than 10 years ago. I, however, cannot say that is my 'dream' or there is a known 'zone' I was trapped in, comfort or learning zone. Obviously like all young people in their early twenties, just out of the University, you have dreams, you want to achieve so much in such a short period of time. And yes, what's the past that others expect of you or what they suggested to you affected your perception of a 'dream' to chase after. I guess I was quite affected by what one of my closest Uncle always believe, to excel in a job/career in "marketing". I was always aware that I was under the 'influence' (which not necessarily a bad thing, it could be a "good" guide) but on the other hand, on the look out to 'take control', so as to do things that is truly from my perspective. Being younger at the time, what actually move me forward is the fearless sense of 'I can always start all over'.

In my earlier years of struggle to make a career in Singapore, which is almost similar to this case, except that I didn't get myself into depression, perhaps I understand the value of knowing people. I guess it is hard not for people to attach any motive behind for knowing important people in their life. That is because that seems to be the 'short cut' to luck if the 'right' people turn up. To make it short, I did had my 'opportunity' knocking my door because I knew some 'right' people, though that was not the outcome I had expected. Perhaps it's the personalities, how you relate to people bring you some good vibes which could dynamically transform into all sort of possibilities, and yes, my personalities also expose me to both 'good' and 'bad' people, which I had learned about only after a few years, still I am thankful for the 'good' people I met along the way.

Sometimes, no matter how hard one try to make things happen and if they had not, we should ask ourselves honestly if some changes are necessary. If so, how fast such changes should come. Perhaps we may be so accustomed to the 'status quo' that we won't want to have any changes, which is what the video labelled as 'comfort' zone. I actually strongly think we can still see 'light' at the end of the tunnel in the comfort zone and live with it, as long as we know what we want and what to expect (expect the "realistic things" of course).

"Reaching out to your dream" means different things, in different stages in our life. There is no need to think "too big" especially if you are in the earlier stage of your career. Just do ONE THING, do it well and you know where it leads you to. Simply because you need a process experiencing your true competence. For me, I didn't have much experience finding a role or career that allow my competence to show fully in my earlier years, and I had then become experimental, aiming to locate where my strength lie. Having that in mind, you would find your strength one day and a job that suit you and then you  started to think about your dream. In the current stage of my life, having been through all that, "dream" is still relevant, but comfort zone seems more valuable. I am more than happy to just stay it this way for very long time because I simply enjoy it. Being there, done that, bought the T-shirt, like they all said.

Happiness and Luck

"Can you trade happiness for luck?"

Researchers never stop their quest on humans reasons for happiness. And the latest findings appear to, shockingly, claim that "Happiness is thinking you’re getting luckier than your friends." Some claimed that such happiness that derived by 'comparing with others', is going to cause unhappiness. The research findings didn't reveal how people would react if they know their peers are 'luckier' than they themselves. Will that make them unhappy?

Actually, It's quite natural for humans to compare with others. We always like to think of ourselves a little better than others, even in actual fact, it is not the case. It's the little thing that make us feel a bit better, and it is a 'good feeling'. I guess it is no harm having a bit of 'stroke' on our ego at times, as long as it is not harming others. Obviously, it is quite likely that, if we are not careful, we may lose our composure and over-reacted to the fact that we are a lot better and luckier than our friends, and that won't be in our favour, especially if we lost ourselves in front of our friend.

Reading the findings make me think once again about the nature of happiness, which in my opinion, should come from within. The appreciation, understanding and accepting of oneself. There is calm, peace and then happiness will eventually emerge. I would call this type of happiness comes with an underlying sense of purity. While feeling happy out of comparison with others, is out of the fact that our ego is being 'stroked'. I think both type of happiness are entirely different, but they do genuinely serve some good purposes.