Carpe Diem 一期一会: October 2013

Friday, October 25, 2013

5 Beautiful Years in Bukit Merah

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Owndays

Owndays x Maomi Yuki collaboration glasses, see you tomorrow.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

一日禅: 淡泊心境欣赏生活

春有百花秋有月，夏有凉风冬有雪.

若无闲事挂心头便是人间好时节.

保持淡泊心境，欣赏体验生活，品味感悟人生，便是一种超然脱俗的幸福。那来自一瞬间幸福，便可以常驻心间。

来源：凤凰网华人佛教综合

Under Paris Skies

One CD that i contemplated to buy in That CD Shop - Under Paris Skies by La La Collette

10 Steps To Confident

Read a good article from Wall Street Journal, thought of sharing it here.

The good news is that confidence can be learned, like any career skill. Here are 10 steps that can have you operating from a place of power:

1) When in doubt, act. It’s the difference between running and stagnant water. When you’re stagnant, doubt and insecurities breed like mosquitoes. Dale Carnegie wrote that “inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.” Fear of failure can paralyze us, as we almost always overestimate the consequences. Build your confidence instead by taking action, often.

2) Do something outside your comfort zone each day. If we don’t stretch our comfort zones, they shrink. Constantly challenge and improve yourself, and you’ll become comfortable doing new things—and you will establish your identity (both to yourself and others) as someone who takes risks. Each new thing you try adds to your knowledge and skill base, and provides you with a foundation of competence. This is the bedrock of any successful career.

3) Put the focus on others. Choose to be conscious of others instead of self-conscious. Ask people questions. Turn conversations into a game where you try to find a connection with the other person. Give compliments generously, and volunteer to help others when you can. Looking for the best in others will help you see it in yourself.

4) Cultivate mentors. Their advice and connections are invaluable, plus you will make better decisions about opportunities thanks to their objective assessments of the pros and cons. And you will be much more willing to take risks knowing you have supporters who will help you get back up on your feet if you fail.

5) Keep self-talk positive. It’s hard to feel confident if someone puts you down all the time. It’s impossible if that naysayer is you. Watch how you talk to yourself. Is it how you would talk to a friend? If not, then make a change.

6) Eliminate negative people from your network. You absolutely need to invite and be receptive to constructive criticism if you want to grow as a professional and as an individual. But recognize that some people will never be happy with you or with life, and it is a waste of time to try to convince them of your worth. What’s more, their sour outlook on life is contagious. Learn to identify these people quickly, and move on.

7) Take care of your health. Make time for exercise, and get enough rest. Your body must be physically ready to take on challenges.

8) Do your homework. Keep up-to-date on the news in your industry, and know your company and department inside and out. If you have a challenging task ahead, prepare and practice in your mind. Nothing builds confidence like knowledge and preparation.

9) Watch your body language. Your posture and overall appearance affect both your mental state and how others perceive (and thus respond) to you. If you want to be a leader, you have to dress and act the part. Stand and sit up straight, make eye contact, and remember to smile. Wear the professional clothing of your industry. Eliminate the telltale signs of nervousness: excessive twitching, closed-off posturing (crossed arms and legs, hunched shoulders), and shallow breathing.

10) Practice gratitude daily. In a recent study of how successful people spend the first hour of each day, the No. 1 response was investing time in thinking about the things for which they are most grateful. Starting your day by saying “thank you” for the good in your life makes it more likely that you will approach the day’s challenges with the proper perspective.

Like public speaking or leadership, confidence is a professional skill that can be improved. According to Dr. Peter Buckley of Georgia Regents University, “As you add experiences, you’re more likely to gain confidence. And with confidence, you will embrace new experiences.” Start growing your confidence today.

Becky Blalock is the author of the new book, “Dare: Straight Talk on Confidence, Courage, and Career for Women in Charge.” You can take a free quiz to measure your current confidence level at her website,BeckyBlalock.com.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

丁噹: 手掌心

Lemon Tea Boutique Hotel Bangkok

Managed to squeeze in a 5D4N trip with colleagues to Bangkok before starting my new appointment.
Lemon Tea boutique hotel was Mel's recommendation, new hotel, located near shopping heaven platinum.
Hope it is good!

Restaurant Week: Blue Bali

Much anticipated Restaurant Week is finally here. The husband said he is sicked of European cuisine on restaurant week, so i picked something Asian this time round. Blue Balli on Cluny, a romantic sanctuary, a popular spot for couple proposal.

We are dinning on top of this humongous water feature.

Starter: Soto Ayam, clear chicken soup.

Starter: Gado Gado, Indonesian salad, boiled vegetable mixed with herb and peanut sauce.

Starters are good but their juice are from Syrup which is a little shocking for the price paid. Although there is a 50% off for juices on restaurant week, still i felt over charged to be paying around $10 for two syrup juice after discount.