Beautiful soul

The beauty of many things outside can be seen through our eyes, while the beauty of a soul can only be felt through our heart.

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Book Review: The Oz Principle

The Oz Principle: Getting Results Through Individual and Organizational Accountability
Roger Connors, Tom Smith, and Craig Hickman
Portfolio/Penguin Group (2010)

As human beings, it is natural for us to easily fall into the blame game and possess a mindset that we are victims of our situations or circumstances. In The Oz Principle, the authors Connors, Smith, and Hickman use the metaphor of the characters in the Wizard of Oz story to illustrate how people use their sense of victimization to justify inaction, excuse ineffectiveness or poor performance, and slow down their own progress.

The authors also point out that everyone within an

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My speech as a new elected VPM of Otemachi Toastmasters Club

Hi everyone!  

Being a member of Toastmasters International, especially a member of Otemachi Toastmasters Club is something that I always feel proud of. I remember when I visited Otemachi Club for the first time, I was warmly welcomed by our current Vice President Membership (VPM) TM Hinako and by all amazing members and I immediately felt the chemistry that this is the right club for me and here I am with the club for almost one year now. 

Before I decided to run as a

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Sense of Purpose: The Key to Living our Best Life – Third Toastmasters Speech

If you were to ask me what my most fulfilling and memorable life experiences were, I could tell you they were volunteering experiences.

During my stay in Japan, I have been participating in various volunteering activities, one of which organized by an NPO called Ganbaro Miyagi which provides mental care support for children under one of their disaster recovery projects called International English Camp. As a volunteer, I was able to help children learn and have fun through different activities that allowed them to develop their sense of proactiveness, independence, and awareness to the outside world.

I also used to

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Happy New Year 2021!

Dear friends,

Today is the last day of 2020 and I am delighted to reach out to all of you to reconnect and also to conclude this year together. No matter where you are living right now, my thoughts are with you during this unprecedented time and I hope you are all settling into the “new normal”, staying safe and well.

This year has been a trying year for many of us as our lives have been affected in many ways by the impact of the global COVID-19 pandemic. However, I believe some of you are still able

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When a man is unable to express his thoughts…

Came across a Youtube video of an interesting talk by Jonh Bowe, the author of “I Have Something to Say: Mastering the Art of Public Speaking in an Age of Disconnection“. In a part of his speech, he raised a quote by Ralph C. Smedley (the founder of Toastmasters International) which resonated with my current communication challenge and the reason I join Toastmasters.

When a man is unable to express his thoughts to his fellows, to express himself vigorously and comfortably in his business and social life, he lives a diminished existence. The greater part of his

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Everybody needs a little sunshine…

It’s been a while and hope everyone is well and healthy. During these unprecedented times, some of us probably feel anxious and overwhelmed by all the uncertainty. Therefore it is essential for us to find ways to lift our spirits and mental well-being.

One of my favorite restorative activities is forest bathing or Shinrin-Yoku (森林浴). Spending some mindful time in the forest helps me to recharge and reconnect myself with nature. It also brings me a calm and peaceful state of mind.

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