Arguably the two most important ‘needs’ at this particular point in human history are the need to keep the faith in the face of current adversity, and the need to continually keep pace with the ever-expanding body of information and knowledge. Adversity is often a catalyst for growth. It builds character and competence. It presents the perfect backdrop to plough depths of uncertainty until we win the mental war, to dig deeper, until we discover ‘the Shiny Stuff’ buried inside each of us – BRILLIANCE.
In fact, I feel like if Brilliance were a human being, it would be the sort of person who would:
- Take inspired risks’
- Put in the work,
- Provide solutions’
- Add value to others; and
- Shine their light beyond themselves, so others might see.
How do I know this?
Well, because the Brilliance of Light is certainly generous; it neither hides nor does it encourage or permit others to hide! Where there is uncertainty and doubt present, fear is often not too far away. Fear: False Evidence Appearing Real.
Question: how do we interpret FEAR: ‘Fear Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise’?
Another question: are we braced for impact, expecting the worst, or are we reaching out, ready to receive and embrace?
Our posture determines our personal choices pretty much all of the time.
Personally, I made a deliberate choice to stay productive in lockdown, and I’m proud to say I even broke new ground - and started a new home-based business during lockdown!
I’ve found ample opportunities to do what I do best – inspire, motivate and encourage many people with The Shine Philosophy, which is a strategy for living a purpose-driven life, as it encourages us to look inward, to connect with our inner greatness and to showcase our brilliance.
I’ve also tried to not just to keep things moving, but to maintain clarity and focus on my pursuits and my goals. I have tried to inspire myself and others to take maximum responsibility for our personal, career, mental and all-round wellness.
Truth is, staying on top of things and breaking new ground is not something peculiar to me – most people I know started new initiatives, moved their businesses online, birthed new ideas, reinvented themselves to take advantage of the opportunities offered by this ‘strange season’. Ultimately, it’s all up to us to make the choice – because afterall, we’ve got the POWER, to Start, Harness, Identify, Network and Express our dreams and our personal brilliance!
They say Happiness is a choice, and I say everything is a choice, EVERYTHING - including the way we perceive and interpret things, which ultimately has an impact on our posture.
Admittedly, a lot has changed and is still changing around us this year, but the desire to achieve total wellness, financial freedom and empowerment has not changed – it is more relevant now more than at any time in human history. As the pandemic rages on, and businesses either crumble or are downsized, and economies go in recession, the ability of the human mind to conceive ideas, connect dots, create value and birth innovations – has not changed.
The desire to build sustainable businesses in today’s economy, to stay relevant through the learning of new experiences that enable individuals upskill and reskill in diverse areas, has not changed either.
Through the New Normal, life must go on. The show must go on, as human beings still crave and seek success in diverse ways. We are all still interested in personal growth, career, business, fashion & style, wealth and wellbeing, and we will be, as long as we still breathe. The show indeed must go on.
Of course, we all need help from time to time, which is why, I have absolute confidence in recommending the 5 strategic Shine Steps to anyone who needs a ‘jump-start’, to get them moving tin the direction of their goals again. They simply need to follow the 5 S.H.I.N.E. steps, i.e. (S)tart, (H)arness, (I)dentify, (N)etwork and (E)xpress. This is the best route to achieving ‘Personal Brilliance’ and Shining.
Light shows up brighter and is most effective in the midst of darkness. Inspite of this present darkness, we must keep on Soaring Higher Into New Expressions – this is, or should be, our daily quest.
“To SHINE is for each one of us to esteem ourselves highly enough, to turn on our inner light, to be guided strictly by our own internal glow, and then reach out – and operate at the highest level of our brilliance, every day, in every way.” – Clara Rufai
About This Contributor...
Clara Rufai - The Shine Strategist is a Corporate Lawyer and senior Compliance Manager. She is the Editor-In-Chief of SHINE Magazine, President of the Shine Zone and Host of the Shine Capsules podcast. She is also the Convener of the Leap and Shine Conference, and Creator of the Shine Legacy Awards.