Resilience Leadership

I came across a fine example of Resilient Leadership through the story of Sir Ernest Shackleton's Expedition to the South Pole. 

What an incredible story of leadership!

In a nutshell, about 110 years ago, Sir Ernest Shackleton started his expedition in the year 1914 from the coast of the Weddell Sea, traversing the South Pole and ending up at the Ross Sea. His aim to cross Antarctica was halted due to the sinking of his ship 'Endurance'.

Despite the dire circumstances, Shackleton and his crew survived by camping on the ice and eventually reaching Elephant Island. Shackleton then led a small group on an 800-mile journey in a lifeboat to South Georgia to seek help. All 27 men crew got trapped for 1.5 years on Ice and remarkably were rescued without any loss of life. 

Shackleton’s leadership and the crew’s resilience have made this story a legendary tale of survival and determination.

Ernest Shackleton’s leadership during the Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition is a powerful example of resilience. Here are some key points on resilience leadership inspired by Shackleton:

1. Optimism in Adversity: Shackleton maintained a positive outlook even when faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges. His optimism helped keep his crew’s morale high.

2. Adaptability: When the Endurance was trapped and eventually crushed by ice, Shackleton quickly adapted his plans. He shifted focus from the original mission to ensuring the survival of his crew.

3. Decisive Action: Shackleton made tough decisions swiftly, such as abandoning the ship and setting up camp on the ice. His decisiveness prevented panic and provided clear direction

4. Empathy and Compassion: Shackleton was deeply concerned about the well-being of his men. He ensured they were well-fed, kept spirits high, and addressed their individual needs

5. Leading by Example: Shackleton led from the front, sharing in the hardships and working alongside his men. This earned their respect and trust

6. Persistence: Despite numerous setbacks, Shackleton never gave up. His persistence in the face of adversity was crucial in keeping the team motivated and focused on survival

7. Effective Communication: Shackleton kept open lines of communication with his crew, ensuring everyone was informed and involved in decision-making processes

8. Resourcefulness: Shackleton made the best use of available resources, whether it was rationing food or improvising equipment, to ensure the crew’s survival

These points highlight how Shackleton’s resilience and leadership were instrumental in overcoming extreme challenges and ensuring the safety of his entire crew.

I am truly inspired by his unbelievable resilience!

Source:Leadership Lessons From the Shackleton Expedition - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

PANGARCHULLA PEAK

I must say the most beautiful place in India is visiting and experiencing the mountain villages in Uttarakhand, INDIA.

                                       

                                                                               

                                        

This June, we explored mountain villages, lush green forests, and meadows. After passing through all these, we caught a glimpse of the stunning Garhwal Himalayas.

                                            

Akshaj and Mohisha enjoyed the trek, plucking and eating wild strawberries and jamuns, and drinking water from the Jharnas of the Ganga River along the way. Meeting villagers and listening to their wonderful stories added to the experience.

                                            

Being close to nature and its enthralling beauties must be one of life’s goals, as it helps rejuvenates one’s soul.

 

😊 SMILE

 

Dried Flowers

Dried flowers are seen to represent endurance, strength, and resilience in the face of adversity.

 

‘Do it anyway’:Mother Theresa poem

 

This poem encourages you to stay true to your values and principles, to act with kindness and honesty, and to focus on your own actions rather than worrying about the opinions of others.

“It was never between you and them anyway,” emphasizes the importance of staying true to yourself and to your higher purpose, even when others may not understand or support it.

Manjummel Boys

A Wonderful movie about FRIENDSHIP and HOPE

Manjummel Boys:  Find a way not an excuse.

“Yesterday, I watched ‘Manjummel Boys,’ and I must say it is an incredible movie that showcases the true story of the Manjummel boys, their friendship, and the hope that clung to them as they tried to rescue their friend who fell in the GUNA cave. Despite having no chances of survival, they held onto HOPE and proved it to be a powerful weapon.”

A heartfelt thank you to the director and crew for bringing this true story of a real- life incident into a beautiful movie.

#Manjummelboys #guna #gunacave #kodaikanal #kochi #kerala

Random act of kindness

I heard about this ' Random act of kindness' during one of the Raja yoga workshops I attended long ago, but I never delved deep into it. Here I am now actively exploring this topic.

                                            Pic source- www. lindsey.com

What is this random act of kindness?

It's a selfless help which we do spontaneously, without any expectation from the other person.  These might be small or large, but the idea is to spread positivity and to learn ourselves and to teach our children that there is still humanity left in the world and that human touch creates miracles in this world where the impact of social media and digitalization is at its peak.

By doing so, we can boost our well-being and happiness.

For example, 

• Write a thank you note to people who helped you or motivated you or just for being there with you when u needed the most, for anything which made a difference in your life. One needs to cultivate this habit of gratitude in one's life which gives immense happiness and satisfaction in our lives.

• Hold the door open for the others to enter.

• Smile while you are walking, greeting and observe your feelings while doing so.

• A friend of mine offered help to a stranger whose car was stuck in the middle of the road by pushing his car to the side and allowing the traffic to go smoothly.

• My friend Shalu, whenever I need any information related to children's exam, books, courses, things to buy, or anything else, I'll just give her a call, and everything will be on the platter. She is just a phone call away.

• While we were on our way to Al Sharqiyah, Oman, our car tire got punctured. We attempted to replace it, but somehow it didn’t work. At that very moment, an Omani gentleman dressed in his traditional white attire appeared out of nowhere and graciously assisted us in changing the tire, despite soiling his pristine clothes. His selfless act exemplified the true meaning of a ‘random act of kindness,’ without expecting anything in return.

• Lending an ear to a friend, family member, colleague, or anyone who wants to share their problems, feelings, or whatever they are going through is essential. As Sudha Murthy wisely said, ' We can't solve everyone's problem, but just by being fully present and listening, we can help alleviate half of their burden'. Listening attentively and empathetically can indeed make a significant difference in someone's life.

• Offer a compliment to your friend, colleague or family member.

• Volunteering 

There are many simple ways to make someone's day better, be it friends, family members or strangers. Another interesting fact is that there is a feel-good chemical Dopamine which gets releases in our brain when we perform this random act of kindness to someone.

For me, offering a small help to others in my capacity and seeing a SMILE on their faces fulfils my heart.

One random act of kindness per day can make a significance difference in the world. Let us do our part to make the world a beautiful place😊