John's Blog

  The Power of Authenticity in Personal Development In the journey of personal development, one of the most transformative qualities you can cultivate is authenticity.  What does it mean to be authentic, and how does it fuel your growth? For beginners stepping into the world of self-improvement, understanding and embracing authenticity can unlock a path to true fulfilment and self-awareness. Why Authenticity Matters in Personal Development Being authentic means staying true to who you are—your values, beliefs, and feelings—even in the face of societal pressures or expectations.  It’s about showing up as your genuine self in every aspect of your life.  Here’s how authenticity can supercharge your personal development: Clarity of Purpose : Authenticity helps you align your actions with your true desires, eliminating confusion about what you want to achieve. Improved Relationships : When you’re genuine, you attract people who resonate with your true self, fostering deep...

Another Self Indulgent Post by John Usher Uncle Ben phoned me before eight this morning.   I thought it unusual and was concerned. I stepped out of the occupied training room and answered the call. "If you don't talk to her today, I will find her and tell her what a fool you are," boomed his stern voice. "You read the blog!" I started to laugh.

A Self-indulgent post by John Usher She stepped through the door and awoke the dragon. The conversation stalled as she entered the training room. She was awkward and uncomfortable. Although, thinking back, it was probably because I was openly staring. She introduced herself bluntly and sat down in the front row. Delicious eyelashes generously framed big, curious, beautiful eyes.   I instantly realised that I was in pain.

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3 Simple Ways to be a Genie Recently I became aware of how many times people use the saying “I wish” in daily conversation, and that set me off thinking... What exactly would it take to be a bone-fide, wish-granting Genie? But, before you think I have gone off the deep end, please know; I am fully aware that no one is about to turn into a tongue-in-cheek, spell-casting, flying-carpet-riding, magic-lamp-dwelling, blue Genie on the basis of this article. But I do want to be more than just a wish-maker. I want to be able to make wishes come true.

An interesting phenomenon occurred amongst the 'WWJD'(What Would Jesus Do?) bracelet owners. The point of the bracelet was for the person wearing it to be reminded to consider what Jesus would do in the same situation that faced the bracelet owner. Those that stopped to ponder the question seemed to access what they themselves felt, the emotions experienced in the situation at that moment, and compared it to a set of values they believed were God-given, or at the very least - the moral high-ground. With personal religious feelings aside, one has to acknowledge that this practice assisted the individuals to experience authenticity on a very personal level. Consider that, although knowing who we are, what our values are and what we want out of life is important, being authentic requires us to weight those things against how we actually feel in the moment. 

 I like to think of my self as an artist.  I write, I photograph, I paint and sometimes I do sculptures. This photo is of a sand sculpture I did on a  public beach in Belito, South  Africa. Of all the art forms writing is my most productive, but sand sculpture is the one that really makes me drool.

“I “I have not had sex with another person from the time we started dating until we got divorced. Can you say the same thing?” Smugness dripped from her words as she leered down at me from her moral high ground.  A strange question, I felt, considering we had been divorced a while. A strange question, I felt, as the topic of infidelity never came up through our entire relationship.