Personal Growth
Category
You Choose…
Indeed, in these tough economic times it can be truly difficult and painful for many of us. And while our economy appears to be healthy in some areas; contrasting with the turbulent emotions beneath our surface, especially for those feeling deprived or those dealing with loss. And while most of us make an attempt to put on a happy face, we often feel exhausted in the end, clearly a symptom of something amiss.
Who Knows???
We know that life flows in cycles and should expect famine and bounty, heartache and joy, sickness and health and success and failure. In fact, it is typically during the darkest moments, such as death and loss, that transformation takes place.
Connected, dis-con, no range, no load or low batt?
During the past two decades, modern technology has evolved into more than most ever imagined it could. Technology has become so important in our daily lives that most people would find it difficult to go through the day without using some form or another. Majority of people are always looking for the newest piece of technology that will help make their lives easier. Computers and cell phones have made such an impact in our daily lives that most would find themselves lost without them.
Carrot, Egg or Coffee
A story was told about a young woman who went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to survive and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as one problem was solved, a new one arose.
We’re All Alone…
’I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.’ – Eartha Kitt. Think about this: “Who is blind? One who sees only himself. Who is poor? One who is troubled with so many desires. Who is rich? One who is contented with what he has. Who is happy? One who knows God and who knows that he is loved.”
Lying…
With all the lying going around, please remind our children that it is still a sin to tell a lie! Please tell and retell to your children the message that lying is bad, and that to prevent others to tell the truth is also very bad! These are the exact words of Jose Rizal (Philippines National Hero) in regard to this tendency of religious observers (from Rizal’s “The State of Religiosity in the Philippines”).
Right & Wrong
“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” – Shakespeare in Hamlet. What makes something right as opposed to something wrong? What makes one action the right or good thing to do while another action is the wrong or bad thing to do? Is there an over-all standard set of ethical guide lines that all human beings naturally carry? Or does it depend on the culture, society, and family that you are born into. Where do people’s ethics and morals come from? Why is it that so many people can and do, act outside of those ethics on such a common basis?
Feeling Discontent…
“Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see life with a clearer view again.” – Alex Tan. We all have those times in our lives when we cannot seem to find a way to feel better about things. We may be feeling down because we can’t have what we want in a job, relationship, or some other area of our life. And no matter what we do it seems we just feel sad and discontent.
“ME”
Through our lives we are conditioned into an EGOIST state of mind where we view ourselves as somehow separate from the rest of the world but at the same time the CENTER of it. It is an illusionary state in which we identify with a set of concepts, feelings, opinions, and judgments about past experiences. Then wrap it all into a big ball convince ourselves that our big ball of “nothingness” is a rock solid substantial thing, it is our own little shadow “reality” in which we root our identity, and we name it “ME”.
Sometimes it’s time… time for a change!
Each of us has a set of values, which provides a structural foundation for our life. With fundamental principles such as “integrity,” “honor,” “providence” and “kindness,” many details of day-to-day living come into proper perspective. I reflect and recall the times when I made decisions that altered my life. Deciding on family issues, a job, and business, or journey. Some of these decisions have led to ‘happiness,’ some to ‘sadness.’ Others, thought major at the time, appear insignificant in later life. Numerous I thought difficult; several I barely recognised, yet turned out to be central.
Karen’s Secret
The story is told about a young lion that asked his mother: “Where is happiness?” The mother lion responded: “On your tail.” Upon hearing this, the young lion started chasing his tail, and spent the whole day doing so. Seeing the young lion tired and exhausted, the mother lion said: “Son, you don’t chase happiness. Just keep moving forward, and your happiness will follow.”
No One Loves the Truth… it’s ME
“You must shatter the vase to spread its perfume, and smite the rock to get the spark!” (El Filibusterismo) Dr. Jose P. Rizal “Better to hurt me with the truth rather than comfort me with your lies.” Truth can hit us hard. The truth hurts, but it is better to experience closure with pain rather than a never-ending agony, or a guessing game.
Pain has never been embraced nor welcomed in life…
We all know that pain has never been embraced or welcomed in life, yet it is the very thing that will quicken us. What hinders you today will be your strength tomorrow for what is light without dark? Good without evil? If either did not exist, would we learn?
Hang in there…
It is not enough to just exist. We must GROW, and PERSIST. Yes, we must remain in God and bear fruit. We must not just be “living branches.” We must be fruit-bearing branches. For those who are still alive, and who perhaps are living abundant lives, the question remains: Am I living a fruitful life? Have others benefited from my life?
OMG, It’s My Birthday!
“The most extensive knowledge does not necessarily know it; reasoning will not make men wise in it. The sages have decided against both these methods … By non-action everything can be done.” (Tzu, 1968). I don’t know about you, but I’m getting sick of pretending to be excited every time it’s somebody’s birthday, you know what I mean? What is the big deal? How many times do we have to celebrate that someone was born?