“The journey is a continuing one.”
In the early chapters of the book “Organization and Education Development Reflecting and Transforming in a Self-Discovery Journey,” the author Suresh Nanwani gives the impetus behind his decision to write a book and chronicle a journey of self-awareness and self-discovery. In his own words—“I explain this reasoning to my readers to give them a glimpse of my thoughts. Consequently, the impetus for writing this book draws from the encouragement offered by my Dissertation Committee, suggesting that I consider translating this research into a book. They believed that the insights would be “useful as reference for those who are and will be embarking on a similar journey of self-awareness and self-change” as the experience would “help nourish the souls and the minds in creating a culture of reflective practitioners.” As a tool in his research study, the author examines Organization Development theories and comes up with a viable theoretical framework.
For the last chapters of the book, we shall examine how the author addresses the third and fourth research questions, namely: 3. What are the top three discoveries I gained from my practice of the three values and 4. What model can I craft toward becoming (1) a fully integrated person and (2) a better professor?
As to the third research question, the author comes up with the following top three discoveries:
1. Know yourself: Keep searching for answers to improve oneself, for example—know oneself, maintain calmness and patience when stressed, and exercise more mindfulness.
2. Share yourself: Keep practicing these three core values (integrity with honesty, professionalism with good organization, and spirituality with open-heartedness and acceptance, as these traits manifest strongly from the results of the research and analysis).
3. Love yourself: Continue to be appreciative, creative, and positive in living life.
In the penultimate chapter, the author gives general conclusions on his journey; thus, to quote, “First, I found out that I had more positive experiences in work than in leisure due to more challenges at work. I also realized I had to improve the quality of my after-work life – by doing activities such as brisk physical exercises (like walking or swimming) – to enjoy these positive experiences x x x Second, (citing Mirvis) more action research publications provide the impetus for “more artsy, spiritual, and/or off-the-wall publications” in journal publications such as the Journal of Applied Behavioral Science. Third, and more importantly, an awareness of tapping the right and left sides of the brain can be realized. This journey has given me an opportunity to apply my left brain skills (focusing on language, logic, and mathematics) used in traditional business skills of planning and organizing, and right brain skills for tapping a person’s unconscious yet parallel mental processes.” Awareness of both sides makes one complete, the author concludes, quoting Shelton.
And in the final chapter, the author applies his research to the 2020 crisis that transformed the world and billions of people, while at the same time trying to answer the question through different lenses such as whether the research methodology and model used is applicable in current times. A second lens considers the impact of COVID-19 on OD models and discusses whether these models can be adapted at the personal level by adding new values to OD. The third lens adopts a positive stance: To view the pandemic as a crisis of opportunity, as suggested by Yuval Harari, and become introspective concerning conventional pre-Covid-19 and post-COVID-19 mental maps. And as to whether pandemics and related crises can unleash the best in us by delving into a review of literature, including plays and poems (past and present) that demonstrate how we can meet these crises through solidarity in building social bonds in communities.
In sum, my friend Suresh Nanwani’s book teaches us that the journey toward self-awareness and self-discovery is a continuing one and can be undertaken by any person at any stage in life. In short, it is never too late to learn, recreate and rediscover oneself. The journey that the author took to know and learn more about himself is a very positive approach to living. The research study goes contrary to the belief that education and learning about new things, including oneself, lessens in importance with age.
Nanwani’s example teaches us that knowing and improving oneself transcends age, experience, and background. All persons from different walks of life have the capacity for rediscovery and recreation, to harness capacities and attain potentials to their fullest.
The phrase “know thyself” inscribed on the frontispiece of the Temple of Delphi but is often attributed to the philosopher Socrates, invites man to examine himself. Yet, as the author suggests, knowing oneself may not be enough, although this is important, for each one of us is not only duty bound to examine oneself but, in tandem to introspection, every person must also strive for continuous self-improvement and reinvention.
Nanwani’s book is most helpful in enabling each one of us to gain a more solid moral foothold in the slippery slope of this pandemic.
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