What a brilliant time to be alive...
Category: Self
Pride Rice
I’m not gay. But I’m pro-Pride. More importantly, I am pro-person.
6 reasons for my morning routine
I'm not always a morning person, but I have a routine I stick to - because I want to use my abilities to make life good for myself, for others, and even my things.
YOLO revisited
We can go beyond seeking the experiences that grant us self-fulfillment, and seek the visions including others in them, beyond our loved ones. Now that's YOLO.
4 Life Lessons I’ve Picked Up Binge-Watching The Try Guys
The Try Guys have taught me more about confidence in one month than twenty-six years of life.
[The Who Goat] Too young? Too old? No such thing
You're never too young or too old to make a difference and to live your purpose! What matters is that you are open to it when that time comes, now or later.
[The Who Goat] Late bloomer? So, what?
There will be early birds, and there will be late bloomers, especially in higher purpose. But late bloomers are no less worthy than others and can, in fact, bloom the most beautifully. This is essential in understanding purpose.
[The Who Goat] How is it all about balance?
It's not always easy to remember that living a purposeful life entails balance. It's all about balance, keeping yourself in check, and keeping yourself grounded in your purpose. Otherwise, you risk taking things too far at the expense of others or of yourself.
5 “new” resolutions
For many people, New Year calls for New Year's resolutions. Here's an interesting way to look at it differently but purposefully: five "new" resolutions you might want to write down and act on.
Can purpose be taken too far?
Living a purposeful life can have negative aspects or results - which is the result of taking things to the extreme. Everything should be kept in moderation, and there are times when we should "give it a rest": we ourselves should take the time to rest ourselves and the things we do.
Your personal life bible
For us who like to read, there will be that one book that seems to have such an impact on our lives it's become our guidebook to living a meaningful life: our Personal Life Bible. What's yours?
Getting out of your comfort zone: A key to true living
Get out of your comfort zone! For many of us, true purposeful living may and will entail a complete change of a way or two of how we do or see things. Do so. It might be very difficult at the start, but that's the point - you grow for the better in the process.
Staying healthy: Why and why?
It is important to stay healthy for various reasons obvious and not so. But it is even more important to remember why you are trying to stay healthy, and to keep your health habits in moderation - so that they become means towards an end and not an end in itself.
Personal social responsibility: A commitment
The Personal Social Responsibility Commitment (PSRC) by the Benita & Catalino Yap Foundation, which promotes making CSR a lifestyle, echoes TDA's own values. Click to read the Commitment in its entirety.
Why purpose is vital
It's not about what we do but why we do something. The key question to ask always is "WHY": It's always about the purpose for doing things. But this purpose has to be rooted in truly life-giving soil: the soil of consciousness and service.
The truth about beauty
How did there come to be a standard of beauty - and who said it has to be thin and white? I believe in true beauty: when you are living out your purpose, when you are living a life of love and of service.
Reflection: Much needed, yet undervalued
Reflection is crucial for the purposeful liver - or for anyone, for that matter. It allows us to think deeply, to truly think beneath the surface and beyond ourselves, and to keep ourselves in check vis-à-vis our purposes - an extremely important thing to do especially in today’s hyper-paced world. And for Christians, it allows us to talk and commune with our God.
The first you, not the next someone
Your individuality is the key to your purpose, and it is uniquely you - while you cannot be like anyone else, nobody can be like you either. Don't strive to be like anyone else (except for Christ), but be an unbeatable you!
Dream on, and dream!
Your dreams may be one way God - or your Higher Being - is speaking to you, and thus one way you can realize and live out your higher purpose or your Reason. Take time to look at them, and more importantly, follow them.
Criticalness, reading, and the brain all go into a bar…
Not only can reading contribute to social responsibility and development, it's actually also physiologically good for you! This is especially when critical reading is applied - and it goes hand-in-hand with critical thinking!
Why?
The key to understanding everything, especially about yourself, is all about asking WHY. It leads to a deeper appreciation of your thoughts, words, and actions - and thus empowers you to live a better life well anchored on something eternal. Our entire beings are put into perspective: our underlying reason and purpose.
The year that defined me – and how it can define us all
2014 was the year that defined me, for it shaped my beliefs, and it did so for good. Much of it is rooted in my experiences in the Benita & Catalino Yap Foundation (BCYF), and here I present my reflections from them as an excerpt from the forthcoming book 'Conversations with the Chairman'.
Never forget: Contingency!
A key part of responsible planning - for anything from business to travel - involves contingency planning, or anticipating possible problems or deviations and formulating solutions addressing them. Since we are never fully in control of things - only God being so - it is reasonable and responsible to assume that things can and will not proceed according to plan - and that thus we as responsible persons must be prepared for that.
The race or the call
Would you choose to race, or to accept a call? And would the race be worth it, or not? I do know the call is worth it. I invite you to reflect on answering your vocation as opposed to being engaged in careerism.
The Gospel According to You
What is the Gospel According to You? Only you can say, for it is YOUR story of love and peace shaped uniquely through YOUR lens. You are you, and there never was, is, and will be anyone like you.
What Christians can learn from The Secret
The Secret is actually very Christian - and the author and her collaborators even say so themselves. Positive thinking and the attitude of gratitude are actually traits we are called to embody as true Christians, through living a life of love and service to God and to others as our way of expressing thanks for all God has done for us. We indeed have the freedom to think our ideal lives into existence - but also the duty to keep it rooted in God and His purposes.
The importance of orderliness
Orderliness and being organized is important as opposed to chaos and disorder. God Himself is a God of order, and from a practical viewpoint, it makes things simpler and smoother for us and others.
4 ways to ensure punctuality
We've all been late for something at least once. Tardiness is actually not living out consciousness and responsibility because it wastes time and ruins schedules - of both the other parties and the tardy party. Here are four suggestions to be more punctual.
Tying shoelaces: An essential life skill
Know how to tie your shoelaces! Shoelaces are so ubiquitous that it has practically become a life skill to learn how to use them properly. They're a time-tested and time-honored way of lacing up shoes of all kinds, especially your office or dress shoes, boots, and athletic shoes.
Everything in moderation
It is dangerous to focus on perfection or to be perfectionist - dangerous to our health, to our growth, and even to our faith. Perfectionism is different from excellence, the latter of which is what we should strive for - and the key to that is moderation.
Worrying vs. Meditating
Worrying is focused thinking on a problem, which brings anxious and troubled feelings. Meditation, on the other hand, is focused thinking on something good, something peaceful - one of the highest examples being the Word of God. I invite you to stop worrying and start meditating!
Lectione gaudium
There is much joy to be elicited from reading. It is a free and pleasurable (if you let it be) vacation and medicine - a vacation for mind and soul, and a medicine for soul and society. Today, many take it for granted, and correspondingly, the Social Cancer is still strong and spreading. Take up a book today, read, learn, and act!
Better Over Good
I invite you to contemplate on choosing the better option over the good option in everything you do. Knowing that one can live better should be reason enough to reflect on this. Furthermore, God left no stone unturned in sending His only Son to die for our sins so that we may be saved; in return, we, too, owe it to Him to consider Better Over Good.
What is to truly travel?
What does it mean to truly travel? It is adapting an open and mindful mind while staying true to yourself, as opposed to being unaware, intentionally or not, of the ways around you. The latter leads to a less-than-fulfilled experience, while the former makes you grow and appreciate more - one step closer to practicing true personal CSR.
Toolbox: 8 steps to create your daily schedule graphic
A follow-up to the previous post, this one teaches you how to create your daily schedule graphic, or schedule wheel, in 8 easy steps.
Create a regular schedule for good time management
Having a regular schedule daily and weekly, even if you're not a student anymore, contributes significantly to productivity, efficiency, and effectivity. It enables you to practice good time management and get more things done without losing your head. Try making one visually and set it somewhere you can see easily!
Individuality through painting
The arts are one of the best ways for us to showcase our individuality and uniqueness. And this is not to be ashamed of if your work is considered inferior to another, for that's a standard by men. Using your talents with all your heart for the glory of God is invaluable, no matter the result
“In case”: Why getting ready ASAP in the morning is important
Being responsible is to be prepared always, and that applies even on the most basic of levels: getting ready in the morning. First things first, we should be ready - all dressed up and groomed to face the day - for anything from the simplest of errands down the block to something as urgent as a fire.
2 situations where Making The Most works wonders: An overview
Your space at home and your bag's (or suitcase's) space could be lacking in size, but that doesn't mean it's useless. Knowing how to Make The Most of that space can actually get you very far with even a small apartment or a carry-on-sized bag. We seek to OPTIMIZE rather than MAXIMIZE.
Simple living: Part 2
In this follow-up to the first Simple Living post, I discuss how simple living is not as austere or dull-sounding as it might be to some. It's all about living SMARTLY. Click on and read.
Simple living: Part 1
In the rush for the latest or most expensive product, people sometimes stretch themselves beyond normal - only to repeat the process again the following year. It's exhausting, if you ask me. Read on about my thoughts on living simply in this two-part post.
My 3-Point New Year’s Resolution
Happy New Year! Here, I give a three-point New Year's Resolution. Read on to find out what it is.
Say thank you then read
Gratitude is not only the greatest of values, but the parent of all others. (Cicero) Being a Chinese-Filipino living in the Philippines, we don't celebrate Thanksgiving. However, there's a lot to be said about this special holiday and the meaning behind it: Rooted in religious tradition but also celebrated secularly, Thanksgiving is meant to commemorate… Continue reading Say thank you then read
The Heroes in Us
This is a cross-publication of my editorial on CSR Bookshelf for yesterday, Monday, 25 August 2014, Philippine National Heroes Day for 2014.
Today, we celebrate a national public holiday whose significance is very, very special to us as a nation, as a people. Although they are not the de jure subjects of the holiday, thanks to the efforts of some of the people we honor this day, the events that led up to 12 June 1898 began. As such, we commemorate them as our national heroes. Today is National Heroes Day.
National Heroes Day was first signed into law through the national legislature’s Act No. 3827 on 28 October 1931, to be celebrated as an official, national holiday on the last Sunday of August. During President Corazon C. Aquino’s term, her 1987 Administrative Code adopted this in the list of regular holidays and nationwide “special days”. In 2007, President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo signed Republic Act No. 9492, which made our Heroes’ Day fall on the last Monday of August.
To us, the millennial youth of the…
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NEWSFLASH: A New Kind of Bucket List
Do you have a bucket list? What are the items listed in it? A lot of us would write ours to contain things we want to do before we die, such as visit so-and-so or do such-and-such with who-and-who. The goal? To maximize the experience one gets from life before it's all gone forever (or, rather,… Continue reading NEWSFLASH: A New Kind of Bucket List
I Choose to Be Happy!
So many things can keep us down in the dumps - even and ESPECIALLY those that we stand or believe we're purposed for. You can choose to stay sad or angry, or you can choose to be happy. What do you choose?
Ang Libreng Bakasyon at Gamot
"Sa pagbasa ng isang magandang aklat, dapat mag-iwan ito ng maraming karanasan sa iyo, bukod pa sa kaunting pagod. Dapat kang mabuhay ng iilang buhay habang binabasa ito. (A great book should leave you with many experiences, and slightly exhausted. You should live several lives while reading it.)" -William Styron, manunulat Simula pa noong bata… Continue reading Ang Libreng Bakasyon at Gamot
Aloy Chua 