Date : December, 03 , 2009 Publication : StarThe Page Number: 20
Seed of greatness in Demartini told the warders that if they weren't inspired by ARLIER this year, he their Jobs and making a differtalked to hundreds of ence, they were dead weight. police officers to inspire "It's important to love what them in their fight against you do and do what you love," crime. Now behavioural spe- vision in him to conquer his Demartini gave them a he said. cialist Dr John Demartini has dyslexia, study and share his mantra to say every day - the "When you can't wait to go gone to the other side of the knowledge on human behav- same mantra his mentor had to the work in the morning, (high-security) fence to reach iour with people so that they, given him 38 years ago: "I am a people can't wait to get your out to criminals. too, can live inspired lives. genius and I will apply my wis- service. And this week he told more When one offender used the dom." He backed it up by say"You can make a real differthan 1000 prisoners at Kru- opportunity to say he was inno- ing: "There is a seed of great- ence to the prisoners' lives gersdorp Prison: whatever you cent, his fellow inmates started ness inside each and every one by believing in them, dissolvhave done or not done, you are jeering. Demartini stepped in, of you. Believe in yourself and ing their hurt with your wisworthy of love. quickly explaining that there so will the rest of the world." dom or merely laughing at In a stark, grey concrete were no mistakes In life and Demartini continued by say- their jokes." hall, Demartini asked: "How that his time in a correctional ing: "The greatest gift you However, he warned against many of you would like to do facility was an opportunity could give yourselves is to perpetuating the prisoners' something extraordinary with "Don't resent being here, expand your own minds. There feelings of entitlement, which your lives?" ask how this situation serves is no place of constraint in he said would lead to iurther A thousand hands flew up. you and use the time wisely so your mind. When the student is crime. The prisoners, all in orange you can live your dream when ready, the teacher appears." "Instead, encourage them to overalls, hung on his every you get out. Afterwards Demartini said: become empowered." word as he explained that "If you see this as a prob- "I have spoken in prisons in Correctional Services Area everyone dreamt of doing lem, you will never see a solu- many countries in the world, Commissioner Mantombi something extraordinary with tion. It's not what happens to but this was way more inspir- Mbebe said the prisoners were their lives. you - it's how you perceive it." ing than any talk I have ever looking for hope. "If we are not "When you have a big Then they asked: How do given. There were genuinely inspired, how can we help enough dream, the whys take you break the cycle of crime? people in there that want to them? Dr Demartini gave us care of themselves. Those "If you hang with the same change their lives." were wise and inspiring meswith a vision flourish and people, doing the same things, He promised to send them sages." those without perish," said letting peer pressure run your copies of his books and DVDs In the past two years, police Demartini. life, instead of following your and said he would return - "if officers have flocked to hear He told them that being dreams, you are unlikely to you will have me" - which Demartini share his wisdom on there, speaking to them, was break the cycle," replied brought thunderous applause. how to link their jobs to their part of his dream. To do for oth- Demartini. Before he addressed the highest values so that they can ers what one man did for him "You're Tree' to change your prisoners, he spoke to about 120 add more value as protectors of when he was 17, triggering a life and do things differently." our society. prison warders. STAFF REPORTER
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even prisoners
Behavioural specialist tells offenders they're free to change their lives
Size=181X406mm Circulation: 162935 Readership: 162935
REDEMPTION: Inspirational speaker Dr John Demartini tells prisoners that they can get on the straight and narrow.