I may be still limited in the types of volunteer work people may find themself committed in; let's see, Children, Young people, 'Strayed' people, Old people, Dying people (chants and last wishes), animals, environment, what else? Of course within those sets are many more subsets that can really be quite unimaginable.
On a sideline, India has the highest number of NGO/NPO in the world, not sure whether it is in absolute of per capita terms, but it's amazing. Ask a normal guy on the street who they admire, at least 7 will say Gandhi. The question itself isincredible. Can you imagine yourself being asked on the street by a stranger: who doyou admire? Huh? What for I admire anyone, is the correct answer God/Jesus/ Prophet Muhammad/Buddha?? Oh no. No one thinks of such questions isn't it? My YEP team mate was asked by a 12 year old girl in the village of Hollavanahalli in Kotaragare in Bangalore, India. Wth...
If you have not read the implication, it is your beliefs and values.
So, we know that we find ourselves sometimes more concerned for children, animals, elderly, but besides just noting the number of occurrence in being concerned, how do we know if that is really the 'field' that we would be interested in? The proposition that I would like to put across is that your experiences could be a factor. Freudian``... I do think there's a connection. Anyway, the irony is, you most likely won't know if your cause is really for you if you have not given time for it.
Yet for most 'first-time' ('' because every volunteer should relive the mentality of a first-time once in a while) volunteers, the cause might not be so important; the company is. So the cause now becomes your friend! Interesting and not so nobly noble now, is it?.. Hey hey, but that's a good cause, and an important one, too!
padfoot remarked that I inspired him in the previous comment; fact is, he inspires me, too! That's how it is, your cause for volunteering is not too far away.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Motivation - Inspiration
This imbalance of terminology popped into my head this morning, making me inclined to share. This two terms seem similar. I am motivated to go for Kidsread; I am inspired to go for Kidsread. It's obvious that inspiration is the 'stronger' verb. How different exactly?
This example might be apt.
i) There's a soccer ball, and I identified a goal post, so I want to kick the ball into the post.
ii) There's a soccer ball at my feet, I'd seen star players kicking the ball into the post, so I believe I can kick the ball into the post, too.
The source of motivation arise from the gap between the reality of the soccer ball at the feet and the 'hope' of the ball in the post.
The source of inspiration arise from the believe of being able to perform as others have.
The difference is in the initiatial perception. Inspiration demands actions that arise from the spark of an event, person, or idea, often followed by a strong sense of belief. Motivation is more self-construed.
A volunteer will need alot of inspiration. Not a single explosive kind, but continuous sparkles of firework to last as long as it is able to keep the volunteer at work. This is the hard part- when the days are dry, a committed volunteer will have to find his/her own source of inspiration. The simple things of smile, peers complimenting each other... Unfortunately, if one tries to wait for inspiration to drop from the sky, then volunteering is mostly a thankless job. Not to be discouraged, most things in life are thankless anyway. So a volunteer learn to actively search for signs of thanks. really..
Motivation: A psychological concept with no single universally accepted definition, but which organisational sociologists aver concerns the determinants of intent, effort and tenacity, factors that push or pull us as individuals to behave in a particular manner.
Inspiration:a product of your creative thinking and work; "he had little respect for the inspirations of other artists"; "after years of work his brainchild was a tangible reality" a sudden intuition as part of solving a problem divine guidance: (theology) a special influence of a divinity on the minds of human beings; "they believe that the books of Scripture were written under divine guidance" arousing to a particular emotion or action inhalation: the act of inhaling; the drawing in of air (or other gases) as in breathing
Well, seems like the dictionary definitaion and derivations of these two words wasn't the same as what I had conceived them to be..
But I guess this is part of the learning process of a volunteer's day..
On a last note, people not only need motivation, they need inspiration. Few will be able to keep on motivating themselves, almost all will need encouragements and sparkles.
This came to my mind about our PM and those in high-post public service. I wonder if any journalist have asked them why they wanted to serve the country. And, being Lee no. 2, criticisms are flaring in the country, this certainly is not good encouragement. But then again, I'm only interested in observing politics..
Inspire you and you will inspire me! SmileUp!
This example might be apt.
i) There's a soccer ball, and I identified a goal post, so I want to kick the ball into the post.
ii) There's a soccer ball at my feet, I'd seen star players kicking the ball into the post, so I believe I can kick the ball into the post, too.
The source of motivation arise from the gap between the reality of the soccer ball at the feet and the 'hope' of the ball in the post.
The source of inspiration arise from the believe of being able to perform as others have.
The difference is in the initiatial perception. Inspiration demands actions that arise from the spark of an event, person, or idea, often followed by a strong sense of belief. Motivation is more self-construed.
A volunteer will need alot of inspiration. Not a single explosive kind, but continuous sparkles of firework to last as long as it is able to keep the volunteer at work. This is the hard part- when the days are dry, a committed volunteer will have to find his/her own source of inspiration. The simple things of smile, peers complimenting each other... Unfortunately, if one tries to wait for inspiration to drop from the sky, then volunteering is mostly a thankless job. Not to be discouraged, most things in life are thankless anyway. So a volunteer learn to actively search for signs of thanks. really..
Motivation: A psychological concept with no single universally accepted definition, but which organisational sociologists aver concerns the determinants of intent, effort and tenacity, factors that push or pull us as individuals to behave in a particular manner.
Inspiration:
Well, seems like the dictionary definitaion and derivations of these two words wasn't the same as what I had conceived them to be..
But I guess this is part of the learning process of a volunteer's day..
On a last note, people not only need motivation, they need inspiration. Few will be able to keep on motivating themselves, almost all will need encouragements and sparkles.
This came to my mind about our PM and those in high-post public service. I wonder if any journalist have asked them why they wanted to serve the country. And, being Lee no. 2, criticisms are flaring in the country, this certainly is not good encouragement. But then again, I'm only interested in observing politics..
Inspire you and you will inspire me! SmileUp!
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Managing new volunteers... Mentoring
Doris had just updated us that 25 sec 4 graduates had given their names to volunteer for mentoring. This piece of news is highly invigorating in this season of assignments. Even if half of them eventually commited, 25 people's life could be touched because each of them will have a mentee. I'm proud because I had spoke to the sec 4s on the stage on their graduation day. (Probably my public speaking (/convincement) skills have improved? Hahahahah)
The challenge now is to present to them the mission of mentoring intimately and inspire them to be involved. I tried and experienced personally a few ways to relate to issues. Logically, affectively, infectively. I hoped the classification is fair. My definition of infectively is in the 'demonstrating by example' sense; it is passive as opposed to affectively, where a conscious effort was made to consider the audience' state of mind and appeal accordingly. Logically would of course be using the logic approach, explained simply by 'if there's good to be done; why should you not be involved?'
Thinking back now, I'd used all 3 approaches in all works i'd done..
In YEP vietnam, I would classify my approach as more infectvely (though I prob failed to infect very much); in Kidsread, the strategy was guided by logic, in the talk to the sec 4s recently, it was affective, cos i related myself to their graduation mood.
Being very Singaporean, very economist-ic, I would be inclined to propose employing the 3 approaches concurrently in any work, but... (can't name them off-hand now, time for dinner too.. Commentors any contribution?)... it really doesn't work that way, simply because any work comes from the heart, that feeling is the guiding lamp, the faith. Therefore as much as one might like to apply the systematic approaches of management, the spirit will seem to become lost and just feel something is not right. Take it from the heart.
The challenge now is to present to them the mission of mentoring intimately and inspire them to be involved. I tried and experienced personally a few ways to relate to issues. Logically, affectively, infectively. I hoped the classification is fair. My definition of infectively is in the 'demonstrating by example' sense; it is passive as opposed to affectively, where a conscious effort was made to consider the audience' state of mind and appeal accordingly. Logically would of course be using the logic approach, explained simply by 'if there's good to be done; why should you not be involved?'
Thinking back now, I'd used all 3 approaches in all works i'd done..
In YEP vietnam, I would classify my approach as more infectvely (though I prob failed to infect very much); in Kidsread, the strategy was guided by logic, in the talk to the sec 4s recently, it was affective, cos i related myself to their graduation mood.
Being very Singaporean, very economist-ic, I would be inclined to propose employing the 3 approaches concurrently in any work, but... (can't name them off-hand now, time for dinner too.. Commentors any contribution?)... it really doesn't work that way, simply because any work comes from the heart, that feeling is the guiding lamp, the faith. Therefore as much as one might like to apply the systematic approaches of management, the spirit will seem to become lost and just feel something is not right. Take it from the heart.
Thursday, November 02, 2006
Smoking, puff puff!! song....?
Yea..
I don't know if giving a try at smoking had been a right thing to do. My first was a cigarello, in India, Romeo y Julieta. Cool right?
I saw one of my mentee smoking today. I was in the car waiting for the red light. They were crossing the road and saw me, he brought the cig to his mouth to suck anyway. It obviously was his way of showing me he smokes.
I cant really fault him, I'm a smoker sometimes too. Don't think I can be classified closet smoker, cos i don't do it in the wraps. Cigar was ok, but cig maeks u choke on the first try. But cigar kinda make me quite sick now. It's too strong. I still savour the first few puffs nonetheless.
Well, I said I'm unsure if I'd been right to start cos cig really is the fastest substance to 'calm' u down, by getting you high. a kind of anti-depressant, wad do we expect.. And during times of extremes stress, or relief, it's a great delivery method..
Something's wrong actually. cos by using drugs like cig, it's actually degrading your human status. C'mon, you mean there's fresh air out there, exercises, ppl to talk to, which all can help to relief stress or enhance pleasure, but one would rather depend on a drug??! That's second-class humans! Personally, I'm more disgusted by the fact that getting hooked represents a weak mind! WEAK!
~ ( C'mon, don't talk as if you are a saint..)
No matter, I don't think it's a crime to smoke, it's a personal choice. The health effects are well-known; the psychological bearing is less thought and discussed; I can't think of any moral issues involved here..
Implication for my voluntary work, mentoring in this case, is the provision of the above information to the young minds.
I envision a session where a guest-smoker-speaker is invited to share his experience of first puff; subsequent effects on him; decision to continue smoking. Then, mentees can ask questions, have a lively discussion of smoking; debating why one should/ should not smoke. Importantly is to have a pro-active inquiry into smoking.
I believe smoking is a choice. Of cos i'm not addicted, so I can't be sure, but I have smoked over very short periods and I know I can control. There are some withdrawal symptoms defintely, but that's when I know I have the control. To give in is to be weak! Second -class!
Little pig, little pig, let me in.. or
I'll huff and I'll puff & I'll blow you house in.
I don't know if giving a try at smoking had been a right thing to do. My first was a cigarello, in India, Romeo y Julieta. Cool right?
I saw one of my mentee smoking today. I was in the car waiting for the red light. They were crossing the road and saw me, he brought the cig to his mouth to suck anyway. It obviously was his way of showing me he smokes.
I cant really fault him, I'm a smoker sometimes too. Don't think I can be classified closet smoker, cos i don't do it in the wraps. Cigar was ok, but cig maeks u choke on the first try. But cigar kinda make me quite sick now. It's too strong. I still savour the first few puffs nonetheless.
Well, I said I'm unsure if I'd been right to start cos cig really is the fastest substance to 'calm' u down, by getting you high. a kind of anti-depressant, wad do we expect.. And during times of extremes stress, or relief, it's a great delivery method..
Something's wrong actually. cos by using drugs like cig, it's actually degrading your human status. C'mon, you mean there's fresh air out there, exercises, ppl to talk to, which all can help to relief stress or enhance pleasure, but one would rather depend on a drug??! That's second-class humans! Personally, I'm more disgusted by the fact that getting hooked represents a weak mind! WEAK!
~ ( C'mon, don't talk as if you are a saint..)
No matter, I don't think it's a crime to smoke, it's a personal choice. The health effects are well-known; the psychological bearing is less thought and discussed; I can't think of any moral issues involved here..
Implication for my voluntary work, mentoring in this case, is the provision of the above information to the young minds.
I envision a session where a guest-smoker-speaker is invited to share his experience of first puff; subsequent effects on him; decision to continue smoking. Then, mentees can ask questions, have a lively discussion of smoking; debating why one should/ should not smoke. Importantly is to have a pro-active inquiry into smoking.
I believe smoking is a choice. Of cos i'm not addicted, so I can't be sure, but I have smoked over very short periods and I know I can control. There are some withdrawal symptoms defintely, but that's when I know I have the control. To give in is to be weak! Second -class!
Little pig, little pig, let me in.. or
I'll huff and I'll puff & I'll blow you house in.
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