Norkem High teacher releases new book to reach ‘optimal living’
After two of his businesses went down the tubes, Dhlamini went back to school at the age of 42.
THERE are many defining moments in life that can make or break a person. And while some people end up in disarray, those who are relentless, like James Dhlamini, are able to ride the punches and live on to tell the tale.
The 55-year-old from Kempton Park has compiled all his tactics for survival in his newly released book, Optimal Living, The Hidden Elements of Being.
Dhlamini’s book details the strategies he used to overcome the most difficult scenarios in his life.
He said he wants to share and empower ordinary South Africans with the information to help them turn over a new leaf.
After seeing two of his businesses go down the tubes in 2004, Dhlamini went back to school at the age of 42.
Since then he has achieved various feats in academia.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in pychological counselling from Unisa, a certificate in logotherapy, and has completed courses in advanced business and life coaching at North-West University.
Dhlamini is also a seasoned public speaker who was formerly president of the Modderfontein branch of the public speaking organisation, Toastmasters International.
He said Optimal Living explores many subjects that people have in common, and can be used by people to draw meaning from any event in their lives.
Dhlamini drew his own inspiration from Victor Franklin, author of A Man’s Search for Meaning.
“Once upon completing my psychology course, I was then fascinated by a certain school of thought by Victor Franklin,” he said.
“I have discovered that his teachings are used widely across the world, and for that reason I pursued logotherapy at Unisa.
“As I was studying it, Franklin’s teachings, ways and perceptions of life inspired me to reduce the big theories to the understanding of the layman.”
According to Dhlamini, although most things people go through are explained in scientific books, the theories are not accessible to ordinary people.
“I often think that if I had not pursued my studies, I would not have come across this important information. So I thought, I need to break everything down so that I can help those who may not be academics themselves.”
Dhlamini, who is currently an educator at Norkem Park High, said his book will help people to find meaning in their own struggles.
“This is also because, before all this, I struggled as a man before I got to the starting point that I started at 42,” he said.
“There was a life I went through, through which I learned a lot.”
Dhlamini plans to write additional self-help books, based on parenting and teaching, to contribute further to the well-being of society.
