How I Work Hard and Live Well: Staying Productive Without Burning Out
Habits That Fuel Success: My Daily System People often ask me how I manage to stay motivated and avoid burnout despite working long hours and juggling multiple projects. Over the years, I've developed a system that allows me to be productive while still living a fulfilling life. Here's an inside look at how I make it work. I) Waking up at 4.30 am I realise that most people think 4:30 am is absurdly early, but it's been revolutionary for me. I used to feel hurried when I woke up, already behind on emails, and like I was plunging into
Ikigai vs. Workaholism: Why I’ve Given Up Perfectionism and Workaholic Tendencies
1) Facing Challenges Head-On Throughout my career, I've always faced problems head-on. Confronting challenges directly is part of who I am. However, there was a time when my dedication to work tipped into workaholism. I wasn't running away from personal issues or avoiding complex relationships; I tackled those as they came. 2) Sustainable Pace: When Perfectionism Becomes a Shield My workaholic tendencies were more a reaction to external obstacles: authorities who seemed intent on hindering my progress and colleagues who, perhaps out of envy, spread misinformation or tried to undermine my efforts. 3) The Cost of Chasing Flawlessness I
Building Bridges in Mental Health: The Journey and Vision Behind Willingness
Reflections on the Path to Willingness Looking back on the road since establishing Willingness in 2011, I am filled with gratitude and a tremendous sense of accomplishment. The journey has been filled with challenges, lessons, and unexpected moments of growth. As a student, I noticed that mental health treatments in Malta were sometimes disconnected, particularly in the private sector, with limited coordination and inconsistent client experiences. Creating a Collaborative Approach to Mental Health At that time, clients faced a fragmented system with isolated experts. This made comprehensive care hard to access, navigate, and trust fully. That experience led me
The Art of Enough: Lessons on Contentment from the Fisherman and the Businessman
Once upon a time, in a small, serene fishing village in Mexico, there lived a fisherman with a simple routine. Each morning, he set out in his modest boat and sailed into the open sea. By midday, he returned with just enough fish to feed his family and sell a few to his neighbours. With his needs met, he spent his afternoons relaxing, enjoying meals with his family, and chatting with friends. In the evenings, he played guitar and watched the sunset, satisfied with his day's work and content with life. One day, a wealthy businessman from a bustling
The Camel Driver and the Sandstorm (Middle East)
A camel driver once found himself caught in a desert sandstorm. Blinded and lost, he didn’t know where he was or if he would survive. However, instead of panicking, he covered himself and his camel and waited out the storm. When it finally passed, he could see the horizon again and found his way. He learned from this experience to stay calm during difficult moments, knowing they will pass. Lessons The account of the camel driver trapped in a desert sandstorm offers valuable lessons on resilience, patience, and mental fortitude. These are some important lessons: The Authority of Waiting:
Healing Over Answers: Life Lessons from The Story of the Poisoned Arrow
Self-inflicted Delay in the Tale of the Poisoned Arrow In the Buddhist tale "The Poisoned Arrow," a man suffers a wound from a poisoned arrow during a battle. Writhing in pain and nearing death, he arrives at a healer, who begins preparing to remove the arrow and treat the injury. However, before the healer can proceed, the man interrupts with a barrage of questions. The Questions That Obstruct Healing Immediately, he demands to know who shot him and why. Curiously, he asks the attacker’s caste, their upbringing, and place of origin. Then, he questions the type of bow and
The Ant and the Grasshopper : A Tale of preparation and responsibility
Once upon a time, on a warm and sunny day in a meadow, a busy little ant was working tirelessly, gathering wheat grains for winter storage. She knew the cold months were coming and wanted to be prepared. Meanwhile, as she carried one grain after another back to her nest, a grasshopper sat nearby, watching her with amusement. The Grasshopper, relaxed and carefree, spent his days singing, playing, and enjoying the sun. When he saw the ant working, he chuckled and called her, "Why are you working so hard dear ant? There's plenty of food right now, and winter
Lessons on Contentment and Self-Worth from The Dog and His Reflection
Once upon a time, a dog came upon a juiced bone. Thrilled with his gift, he gripped it securely in his teeth and hurried off to savour it quietly. He passed a little bridge across a quiet pond on his route. He peered down and saw his reflection in the water below, but he didn't realise it was only a reflection. Instead, he considered it another dog with an even larger, juicier bone. Greedy, the dog concluded he also wanted that other bone. Hoping to frighten him off and grab his bone, he opened his lips to bark at
Letting Go: Lessons from the Two Monks and the River
Once, two monks—an older and a younger one—travelled together. Along their journey, they came to a river with a strong current. A woman stood by the river, unable to cross alone. She asked the monks if they could help her. Without hesitation, the older monk picked up the woman, carried her across the river, and gently set her down on the other side. However, this action shocked the younger monk. They were, after all, monks who had taken vows not to touch women. He held his tongue initially but couldn't stop thinking about it as they continued their journey.
Trust and True Nature: Lessons from the Scorpion and the Dog
Once upon a time, a scorpion who could not swim wanted to cross a river. He saw a dog nearby and asked, "Will you carry me across the river on your back?" The dog was cautious. "You are a scorpion," he replied. "You would sting me if I let you on my back, and I would drown." The scorpion shot back, "Why would I sting you? If I do, we'll both sink and die. Trust me." Reluctantly, the dog accepted, and the scorpion ascended his back. Everything appeared good as they started across the river—until they reached the centre.
