#positive development

Photo Credit: Laura Tancred (Pexels)

In life, there's a special kind of competition that doesn't involve others but focuses on becoming a better version of yourself. It's like racing against your own reflection in the mirror, striving to reach new heights and be the best you can be.

Understanding the Challenge:

Competing with your higher self means setting personal goals and challenges to surpass the person you were yesterday. It's about looking at your own strengths and weaknesses, and deciding to make positive changes for your own growth.

Why It's a Friendly Competition:

This kind of competition isn't about beating someone else; it's a friendly contest with yourself. It's a journey of self-improvement where you cheer for your own progress, celebrate small victories, and learn from mistakes.

Setting Personal Goals:

To compete with your higher self, start by setting achievable goals. These could be about learning new things, being kinder, or improving a skill. The key is to challenge yourself in areas that matter to you.

Celebrating Small Wins:

Every small success is a step closer to your better self. Celebrate those moments – whether it's finishing a book, learning a new recipe, or simply being more patient. These victories make the journey exciting and motivate you to keep going.

Learning from Mistakes:

Competing with your higher self isn't about being perfect; it's about learning and growing. When things don't go as planned, view it as an opportunity to understand yourself better and make improvements for the next time.

Being Your Own Cheerleader:

In this competition, you are both the player and the biggest fan. Encourage yourself when things get tough, appreciate your efforts, and remember that every step forward, no matter how small, is a win.

Seeing Progress Over Time:

As you continue this friendly competition with yourself, take a moment to reflect on your progress. Notice the positive changes in your habits, mindset, and overall well-being. Seeing how far you've come is a reward in itself.

Conclusion:

Adversities that Disrupt Positive Development among Emerging Adult Students in Universities in Cameroon A conceptual review

by Delbert Akom Afumbom "Adversities that Disrupt Positive Development among Emerging Adult Students in Universities in Cameroon A conceptual review" 

Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-4 | Issue-1 , December 2019, 

URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd29545.pdf  

Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/humanities-and-the-arts/psychology/29545/adversities-that-disrupt-positive-development-among-emerging-adult-students-in-universities-in-cameroon-a-conceptual-review/delbert-akom-afumbom

ugc approved journals for social science, management journal, paper publication for engineering

As summer is quickly coming to a close, it is time to squeeze in some last minute vacations and soak up as much sun as you can before the brutally cold New England winter sets in! There is no better feeling than shutting down your laptop, packing up your bags and transitioning from work mode to vacation mode. Going on a quality vacation and taking the time to unwind and relax is crucial for our health and wellness. The workplace benefits that result from vacation time include;  higher productivity, stronger workplace morale, and so many other positive benefits. So, if you haven't taken some time off yet this summer, now is your chance! So… what will your vacation look like? Are you going to fly off to some remote island and stay at a luxury resort,  maybe you will book a trip to visit ancient ruins, go on a hiking excursion, or maybe you will board an enormous cruise ship and sail through the ocean for a week or so… The options are endless!

But… Have you ever stopped to think about what side-effects these travels may have? Or how your relaxing vacation may not be so relaxing for our environment and the local culture and economy of your destination?

Tourism is a HUGE industry, and it is only getting bigger. Although there are many positive results from the booming industry, for example, the amount of jobs it creates (one out of every nine jobs in the United States depend on travel and tourism). But there are imperfections! The main issue of concern is that as more countries develop their own tourism industry, the more it will create harmful impacts on our natural resources, consumption patterns, increase in pollution, and put more pressure on social systems.  Right now, the tourism industry is not able to sustain itself… So what can be done change this for the better?

  Sustainable Tourism:

Tourism that meets the needs to present tourists and host regions while protecting and enhancing opportunity for the future. Rather than being a type of product, it is an ethos that underpins all tourism activities.  - The United Nations World Tourism Organization (WTO)

  To help combat the negative effects of tourism, there has been a dramatic increase in something called Sustainable Tourism. The definition above is from the United Nations World Tourism Organization. They continued to explain that sustainable tourism is, "integral to all aspects of tourism development and management rather than being an add-on component. The objective of sustainable tourism is to retain the economic and social advantages of tourism development while reducing or mitigating any undesirable impacts on the natural, historic, cultural, or social environment. This is achieved by balancing the needs of tourists with those of the destination".

In my mind, those last two sentences really sum up the true essence of sustainable tourism! This broad definition is not just referring to the natural environment… It is opening the window of protection to the communities and cultures that are affected by the tourism industry. Think about all of those huge resorts that bought up beach front property in the many islands around the world. A majority of those resorts are not owned by native people. They are outside corporations coming in and setting up shop in small, and usually poorer, countries. So what does this mean? Well, most of that money does not stay in that country. Or what about the sight-seeing tours that over-use the natural landscape, causing extreme deterioration to the eco-system? To partake in sustainable tourism, you aim to go to local businesses and help spark the economy at that specific destination, and respectfully enjoying the environment  while protecting and preserving it.

I had the wonderful chance to go on a trip that was dedicated to Sustainable Tourism! I went to Costa Rica (which is like the HUB for sustainable tourism, eco-tourism, adventure tourism, and all the other new innovative ways to travel). My time in Costa Rica was dedicated to learning from local businesses and organizations and what efforts they are doing to practice eco-friendly tourism within the country. I felt that this experience was extremely impactful because it vacations are typically dedicated to your relaxation and your personal enjoyment, but when you immerse yourself within the local communities you learn about the damages that they face as a result. I made it a point to ask them for their honest thoughts and what changes they have seen and experienced directly from the tourism industry. I wanted to share one particular conversation… While in the Osa Peninsula, we (the class I went with) took a kayaking trip through one of the pristine mangrove forests along the coast. Our tour guides were a father and son duo who were both born and raised right there in the local town. During the trip through the forest, I purposely slowed down and let my classmate paddle ahead of me, so I could enjoy the quiet and let the beauty of the forest surround me. During this time the tour guide (the father) seemed to be doing the same thing! It was clear that this was his favorite thing to do, watching him paddle through the dense roots of the mangroves it looked like it was as easy as walking for him. After a few moments of silence, I began to ask him about his childhood and what this landscape meant for him. His eyes lit as he told me all about the mangroves and spending time in the gorgeous places throughout Costa Rica! His deep connection and appreciation of the land were undeniable. I then began to ask him what changes he saw throughout his life. His tone changed as he told me about the loss of natural resources and the lack of respect people had for nature. He almost seemed defeated by and sadly accepting of the ecological changes that took place. He explained that new efforts were underway to help restore the land, but I got the feeling that things would never be how they once were. As we were talking we heard a motorboat blaring music speed by off in the distance, disrupting the fragile ecosystem and the animals that live within it. He explained that too many people try and take what they want from nature, and it just can't keep up. This conversation always stuck up to me because it was different than the typical interaction you may have with tour guides. Instead of rattle off all the great and interesting facts about the land, he shared with me the more personal connections he had with the land. Being out in the mangroves wasn’t a job for him… it was his life. He built his career around the places he loved, and ensured that his practices would help the land and not hurt it. The tours him and his son gave we focused on education, respect, and appreciation of the environment. They wanted to provide a safe and respectful way to let tourists enjoy the mangrove forests!

This gentleman was just one of the business owners I interacted with during my time in Costa Rica. This experience in Costa Rica exposed me to the many ways you can part-take in sustainable tourism, but more importantly, it let me have these conversations with men and women who see the negative effects of tourism. It was amazing to get to see and experience the new ways they try and approach tourism. If you are not careful, tourism can easily damage the natural landscape (litter, erosion, disturbance, etc.), pollution can skyrocket, local economy can change with the influence of tourists (everyday goods can become too expensive for locals), and the tourism jobs tend to be seasonal, low paying, and long hours! But by being mindful on how you travel, you can easily avoid the negative effects of tourism! Here are ideas/tips on who you can make your vacations sustainable

 ·        Educate yourself on the places you are visiting and the people who live there

·        Respect and honor cultural traditions

·        Support the local economy (local, small-scale hotels, restaurants, and attractions)

·        Support companies/organizations with strong environmental policies

·        Fly less or offset your carbon emissions for the flight

·        Incorporate educations on local culture and environment

·        Interact with the local community

·        Travel during off-season to prevent an overpopulation of tourists

·        Be a TRAVELER, not a TOURIST

·        Give back

 I hope some of this information could give you a fresh look on tourism, and maybe some new ideas for how you want to take your next vacation! To be a responsible traveler you want to understand how your vacations and trips will impact the greater area and make sure the only footprints you are leaving are the ones on the sand!

   Useful links --

http://sustainabletourism.net/sustainable-tourism/travel-tips-responsible-travel-tips/

http://www.rainforest-alliance.org/faqs/difference-between-eco-tourism-green-sustainable-travel

http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/students/ourchallenges/tourism/impactsoftourism

https://greenglobaltravel.com/what-is-ecotourism-10-simple-steps-to-more-sustainable-travel/

  Pictures from my trip! 

Kayaking through the Mangrove Forest off of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica  

Rainbow over the mountains in Monteverde, Costa Rica 

Me (in my cool garbage bag poncho) at the Monteverde Cloud Forest 

Pertinent to course you might have heard about meditation and the various types and benefits as respects meditation, save in case you haven't, hereabout is a pointer. Meditation can have a tremendous numeral effect forwards your body and mind, and the best type of meditation is the topic of our article, Holosync meditation, so keep diplomatic text to know ever more to and fro he and its features.<\p>

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