#genyhub

Gen Y Hub

its an online media hub which includes digital magazine, videos and a social community of bloggers. I have found this sight  a useful source of information,with articles relating to careers, health and fitness, lifestyle, technology, entertainment and current events. it has articles concerning practically everything so you can almost garuntee you will find something of interest to you.

I have a keen interest in marketing. Especially currently in my job, I have the freedom to dictate the various marketing methods but the bottom line is to get high number of attendees. So somehow or rather, for the past few years, numbers become an indicator of success to me.

Why am I talking about this? Because recently I am facing a fear of people asking me, “Why are you still doing YWork? There’s only 50 odd people in the group. Aren’t you wasting time?” 

Yup. Fear. Fear that I am unable to deal with the embarrassment. Fear that my content is probably not ‘sexy’ enough to attract thousands and become an overnight success like William Hung or Susan Boyle.

Indeed, in an interview today for the community, I was asked along such thread of question.  So what is my response?

Numbers to me are not really important. Yes, it shows how successful the group is. With numbers then it can grow and influence more. But I am more concerned if my community members get good and inspiring content. Even if its small group, I will just need a few of them to be seeded with strong positive beliefs of themselves. From there, let them grow in person and in spirit, and spread out their influence.  These are the advocates that I wish to have. These are the changes I rather see, than changes in numbers. Numbers will then come later. And even if it is just one person in the group, I will still ‘serve’ the community with my spirit. 

When was the last time you ever play (gaming, reading, crafting, and sports)? Last week? Yesterday?

Were you fully concentrating in those moments of play? Or were your mind flooded with thoughts of work, worries about assignment, or the household chores?

So if you were and are always disturbed by these thoughts during your playtime, you are not alone. It is totally valid, because we are always trying to make ourselves productive. We have been taught by media, schools or business books to always be on the ball; make every second counts; no time-wasting; work till wee morning. And if we are tired as a result, it means good; it means that we are working!

We, therefore, are afraid to play too. We have been taught from young that playing is not productive or enriching. It is a naughty behavior. We also assume that by playing, we are not resting. So we rather sleep to recharge. We ended up only either working very hard, or sleep very much. So much for our typical weekends. And the funny thing is, we get more tired after sleeping.

So does that mean we do not sleep? But if we do not sleep, what shall we do? Work some more? Actually to recharge more meaningfully, sleep is not the only way out. Play does.

Dr. Stuart Brown mentioned in this book – Play: How it shapes the brain, opens the imagination and invigorates the soul, that play is apparently without purpose. This means that you are playing for the sake of playing. No other thoughts of work, school and home stuff. You are in a state of flow, fully engaged with the process. The benefits of play are that it strengthens our empathy, builds connections, and brings about creativity. Playing helps us to build up the capabilities and resilience through the play thing we are doing, increases personal mastery.

Do you remember those times when you met a bottleneck doing crafts, figuring out how to piece the puzzles or climbing up the wall-mountain? Were you not fully concentrating on the challenges and brainstorming ways to win over it? It was tedious and frustrating, yet an enjoyment to be in the situation, right? Once you have overcome with it, you do not feel tired, but invigorated by a sense of achievement and alive-ness, right?

I am not against resting such as sleeping or napping. They are essentials. We need to be quiet at times. Otherwise, over-playing ends up being the same as over-working. What I hope we can understand that playing is as recharging as resting and that playing is enriching to the body, soul and mind.

Do you know the particular region of your brain that is activated (under fMRI scan) when I asked you to lift and see your right hand, is the same region that is activated when I asked you to imagine seeing your right hand?

So what does that tell you? Your mind cannot differentiate what is real from what is being imagined! Recall the same exact physiological and emotional upturn when you are looking forward to buy a new toy, and when you got a hand of it, during your childhood days? Or your imaginary playmate?

Sounds creepy right? Let me throw you one more ‘creepiness’ – Your mind does not like discrepancy! This means, if you imagine in your mind the possibility of Scenario A to happen you have a much higher chance to make Scenario A happen, yourself! So all these creepiness mean that you can get hold of your day at work, by first starting off with IMAGINATION!

You may be skeptical about how imagination can salvage your day. Come on, it does not salvage your day. If you are ill, imagining that you are well and still go to work, will not make the illness go away. But what imagination does, is to provide you with the energy, resilience and positive outlook for the day. You are still going to meet with obstacles at work. You are still going to experience negative emotions.

There was once I had to present at a board meeting. Mind you, I was a small fry and to present to a board, that would need a lot of courage and preparation. I was sitting alongside, waiting for the team leaders to come in, one by one. As time ticked off, I was very nervous. I was speculating all types of scenarios – mostly bad scenarios – ‘What if I could not answer them this?’ ‘What if I talk randomly?’

As I was caught in this train of negative speculations, I recalled on the power of imagination (shared by Prof Tal Ben Shahar in his online video). Immediately, once I was aware of my fears, I closed my eyes and imagined the utopia or perfect scenario of my presentation. Fast forward, I presented. Still had some stammering moments and pounding heart. By right after the presentation, some came to me and praised my clear and strong-proof presentation.