Kindness

Amidst the hustle and bustle life in the city.

Life is a state of being. Life is strange in many ways. It has been known scientifically that we are all made up of matter but we lack the understanding of what matter really is, and what really matters in life. Perhaps we are being clouded by the things we see around us, material things. Perhaps our minds are too congested to even think what life really means.

We seek kindness in our everyday life

We hope very much for people to be kind to us in all directions. We hope our life to be smooth sailing all the time. While having hope means a lot to those who lack of something but what hope really means is the lack of ability to make it come true. What then, can we do to make our dreams become reality? What is it that we need to fulfill in order to not just relying on luck and hope?

What we want others do for us we have to first do for others. If you want people to be kind to you, you have to first spread the kindness. This has been known through history of mankind but somehow the transmission of information has been halted due to many reasons. It no longer matters the reason information is not brought to us, it only matters what we do to correct it.

Whatever that had passed, leave it to the historians. Whatever that will happen in the future, leave it to the predictors. Our responsibility is to identify what we want and really take action into seeing it through. Some people are quick to decide while some takes much longer to find themselves. Perhaps we have been looking too hard to find something that is there in plain sight.

Most often, we spend time over thinking. This does not help at all, and in fact, it complicates the matter so much you become confused. When your mind is overwhelmed, it functions is a berserk way. Everything seems important. Everything seems urgent. Everything seems to matter. You get stressed. You try to control your emotions. You become depressed.

Depression is somewhat a silent killer. Many people do not realize that when a person is in that state of mind, that person would be thinking of many ways to self-destruct. While that person may have depression, they will be seemingly normal in the eyes of others. They are great actors. They are able to hide the side of them that they do not wish to show anybody. Even their closest family may not be able to identify that they need help.

What can we do then? If we are not able to identify, we cannot help them.

Perhaps we have been looking in the wrong direction. We do not treat the symptoms, we have to cure the disease. How about being kind to everyone around you? How about treating everyone the same? How about lending a helping hand to people even if they did not ask for help? How about having a conversation with the people you care about? How about stopping your procrastination and aimless jokes about other people?

Making fun of someone makes you feel great but can cause a disaster in the person’s life.
Making fun of someone makes other people laugh but can cause the person to silently bleed.
How do you feel when one day you are the one in the hot seat?
How do you feel when someone makes fun of something you hold dearly of?
Always put yourself in the shoes of others before spitting out words.
Always use your brain before your mouth.

Being kind to others means being kind to ourselves. While this may not make sense now, it will all come together when the time is right. The universe works in a very simple yet complex way. The universe knows no emotion, it only works towards what is true to our minds. What you think, you act. What you act, you get. Just remember this. What goes around comes around.

Be kind to yourself and others. Kindness will find its way back to you at times when you need it most.

 

We think too much and feel too little. More than machinery, we need humanity. More than cleverness, we need kindness and gentleness.

Sir Charles Spencer Chaplin (Charlie Chaplin), English filmmaker and composer in silent film, 1889-1977

Anew

What is the meaning of life in the absence of a chance?

Everyone gets their chance at life. Sometimes, it is easy to see but most of the time, we lost the connection with our inner self. Every time we face with a challenge that is the time we need to remember to first look within.

Many people out there will say that there are so many ways to solve a problem if we just look outside. The world is at large and there is bound to be a solution somewhere. We love to surf the internet in search for that one suitable way of overcoming the obstacle. Sometimes, it is great to see what others do when they are facing the same problem as us. However, we have to understand one thing, we are all individuals. Even the slightest difference in ourselves will create a totally different outcome.

Sometimes, we might even become overloaded with information. With the minds of over 7 billion people in the world, everyone seems to be resolving their own problems in their own ways. While we are in search of the best solution, we can also get confused with the vast information we find over the web. What are we going to do about it?

First choice we see is probably through trial and error. This is the fastest way to set ourselves through the learning process. We take action to do our best to hopefully reap results of our hard work. We learn through failure. We learn through success. Each and every step of the way is a crucial learning point. It is only important that we actually learn from experience.

Second choice we choose is probably find a mentor. This is a great way to become a better person with the guidance of a successful one. Great mentors produces successful mentees. However, if we are just following blindly what the mentor says without incorporating our own ideas, we will succeed one way or the other but we sometimes also lose ourselves in the process. This may be a good thing in some cases, but may not be so in most. We have to remember one thing that we are all built differently for a reason.

Many people forget that there is a third choice that is the most ignored choice but is also the wisest choice. Amidst all the learning over the years from machine or other humans, we are ourselves. We can only learn so much to be someone but it will only make sense if we look deep within to find ourselves. We are so immersed in the outside world we keep forgetting that the most powerful source of energy is from within. The sun is the mother source of all energy on earth but our minds is the ultimate source of all energy in the universe. There is a universe within us.

Living through life over the years seem to be great. Day in day out we do the things that we think is for the best of ourselves and the people around us. With each challenge we face, we learn a little bit more. However, we forget one very important action, to have checkpoints.

Each one of us should have checkpoints every now and then to measure ourselves as a whole. We love to live day by day thinking that our life is perfect. Just because we managed to solve all the problems that arise along the way. Just because we went through each challenge easily. This only means that we are able to overcome life as we live by. Have we ever stop and take a look at ourselves every now and then? Have we ever taken the liberty to just remember to check-in to ourselves to see how we are doing? Have we ever taken time to understand ourselves the way we should?

There is a calling. A wakeup call. This is not the usual wakeup call in the morning to make us get out of bed. This is one that we really need to wake up to see that we need to change and start anew. The current life is great but we have forgotten to check in. This checkpoint tells us that we have not been taking good care of ourselves. This checkpoint is the result of our misunderstanding in life. This very checkpoint is the turning point that makes all the difference, it is a matter of life and death.

Search within to find your calling. It is time to start anew.

 

I always liked the story of Noah’s Ark and the idea of starting anew by rescuing the things you like and leaving the rest behind.

Zachary Israel Braff (Zach Braff), American actor, 1975-present

Create

Why now? Perhaps the question one should be asking is why not now, instead of why now.

Now is a good time. Considering the situation around the world right now, it is a good time to start anything that we have been dreaming of doing. This is a calling. A calling for something to change.

All along, we are just living the life we thought was the life that is. Day in day out doing the same routine over and over. Life is just as is because it is just as is. There seems to be no way out of the situation at all. Life seems to be fixed, whatever life we are living.

A farmer seems to be just living the life of a farmer. Wake up, head out to the farm, sow seeds, water the crops or harvest the crops. Send the reaps of hard work to dealers and get some money in return. During the lockdown, people are just not allowed to move around too much. Though categorized under essential services, because of the lockdown, a large number of harvested crops are left to rot. Farmers have no choice but to take another route. They go online. Now, consumers can directly purchase from them at a cheaper price, while they are making higher profits without the need to go through middle men. It is a win-win situation.

As for the middle man. Life was great prior to the lockdown. They source for good stuff, then they resell to the end user at a marked up price. There is no need to produce anything to sell, they only need to know where to find something to sell and where to market it to the right audience. However, during the lockdown, many things cannot be done. Perhaps it seems like efforts lost in translation. If they do not change the way they run their business, there will be no business to run after this ordeal. When people can no longer move around like before, it is a good time to bring the business online.

When everyone goes online, this will mean the initial online businesses will be affected because the pie has been cut into way too many pieces. Perhaps this is a great time to think out of the box. What else can you do differently from all the other businesses out there? How can you differentiate yourself from the norm? How to find your perfect niche within an ocean full of sharks.

Some may say that it will be easy for things that people will definitely need to buy to do business. How about those things that are considered redundant?

Nothing ever is redundant. It is the perception of people that makes things useful or not. There are more than 7 billion people in the world. There bound to be people finding something that you are offering. You just need to know where to market and how to market. Knowing the where and how is of utmost importance for any business, regardless of whether or not you are in an industry that many say is dead now.

Take tourism for example. Many companies have ended their business because it is impossible for sustenance when nobody is allowed to travel around. Perhaps it really is the right time to think of something else. Perhaps tourism is not the right business for you. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to change your business model. Every business should be able to sustain even if they are running for at least 6 whole months without any income. If the business is running on a day to day basis, then there must be a weak point in the business model itself. If you are still holding on to it, you will just end up stressing yourself about it right till the end.

It does not matter what life throws at us. It only matters how we look at life. When you know that something is not working well, stiffen your heart, cut loss, and let go. There is no reason to keep hanging on to something that you know will end up nowhere.

The old you will have to first die to create the better you. You do not die literally, you just let go of everything that are pulling you down, and you start anew.

 

To create is to live twice.

Albert Camus, French-Algerian philosopher, 1913-1960

Simple

There is just so many things that needs to be done. Which is more urgent?

Humans have the greatest minds in the entire world but humans have also made things more complicated than it should be. Life is really simple. You wake up, you get through the day, and then you sleep. This is basically all we need to do every single day. How complicated can this be?

In this day and time, having a simple life seems so distant. We have too many things on our plate. There are too many distractions pointing us to different directions. We just cannot decide on anything when the time comes. The most common question people ask these days is probably one that nobody in the ancient history would even imagine any of their descendants asking.

How to live a simple life? I have no time, no money, and no skill to do it.

Seriously?

We have been too cluttered with the outside world that we just forgotten to connect with our inner self. This is the only reason we are feeling totally lost, especially at times like this. When the whole world is on lockdown. When you are sustaining a pay cut. When you risk losing your job. When everyone else is talking about the pandemic. When the people around you seem to be changing but you are still the old you, stagnant. You still think the world revolves around you.

It is time to wake up. Nobody is stuck. Everybody has been put to the test. When there is a huge challenge, there is the opportunity unlike any other you have ever seen before. You need to grab that opportunity to make you become the better version of you. What are you waiting for?

The world is on lockdown. You have all the time you need to ponder on what makes your life simple. What other time better can you think of if not now? How much time do you need to think? Does it take a whole year to sit in the loo? Perhaps you do not yet realize this but sitting in the loo actually is the best time to find clarity. When you are passing motion, that is the time when your strength to force trash out is at its peak. Notice the feeling right after that peak. Does it feel like a big sense of relief? Notice that second this happens, notice how clear your mind is. You only need this moment. Your body is clear of shit, your mind is clear of clutter, and your soul is pure.

Living a simple life really only mean simple, nothing more than that. Do not be brainwashed by anyone else. We see things differently. We live through life differently. You may have friends telling you that living a simple life means to have a cottage in the countryside away from the city. Then you would be having all sorts of objections to it because living away from the city means you will have to commute very far each day. It is just not economical. If it is possible for you to live in the countryside, you are free to do so. But if not, then what is wrong with the place you are living in now? Any place can be simple. You buy less things. You keep less things. That is a simple life. Just that.

You say that you are a very messed up person. You do not know how to simplify things. You love to keep all memorabilia. You want to have everything just in case one day you might use them. You do not know how to differentiate which ones are important and which ones are not. You are always living thinking of the future. Really, it is not a skillset to learn to let go of things. It is all in the mind. You do not know which ones to throw out, simple, just close one eye and junk everything out. Put yourself in the situation whereby you have lost everything and you need to rebuild your life. What do you really need in your life? Do you still need that magazine you bought two years ago but never flipped a page? Do you still need that dress you bought five years ago just in case you attend a ball but has never seen the light?

In the end, you will realize what you really need is just you, and probably your phone.

Finding yourself takes little to no effort. Living a simple life gives you time, saves you money, and require no skill at all.

 

Best rule for a simple life… Care with no reason, Love with no expectation.

Ritu Ghatourey, Indian writer

Switch

What to do when you wake up feeling under the weather?

Everyone has had this feeling whether or not you admit it. Once in a while, you will feel like you just cannot get out of bed. Perhaps you have been working too hard for the past few months you hardly get enough sleep throughout the whole period. Now, you are burnt out. It does not help when the weather outside is gloomy. The sky is still moody at 9 in the morning.

Perhaps you feel like your daily routine is torn. Perhaps you feel like you are going to breakdown at any moment. Perhaps you are alone or even with your family, everyone else seems to be also in the same situation. There are too many things still on the plate that you need to handle but you are just not up to it. What do you do when this happens? Have you ever felt like life is turning against you in the peak of your performance? Have you ever felt like the energy level suddenly just drop in the peak of your motivation? What can you do?

Your mind tells you to get going but your body stops you from moving. You know your responsibilities but everything just does not seem to gel. You know you have to do something to get out of this situation but your brain is just not functioning the way it usually does. You are not sick but you feel like you are getting sick. How do you overcome this? How do you think you can handle the situation? Why is it so different today? Why does it feel like you are going back to the old you now? Why is change so difficult?

Do you realize that there is a button in all of us? It is called the reset button. You can always switch from a terrible situation to a wonderful one once you press on that button. All you need to do is to find that button within you.

Where?

The question to ask is not where the button is. The question to ask should be how to reach the button of functionality. Each of us function in our own unique ways. Only you know what works best for you.

If meditation sounds too mystical for you, perhaps just sitting quietly in a clear space in your room will help. Observe everything there is in the room. There may be a little crease in your bedsheet, or a hairline crack in the wall, or may be a little ant trying to find its way home. All these little details, what do they have in common despite their differences? All these little details, as little as they may be, they are part of your room. They have been around probably since you moved in or they may be newly created along the way. They could be an important change in the structure of your room. Just observe, do not judge.

You may say that you are living in a square tiny room in an apartment and you really hate the lack of space, then just get out there. There surely is a park or garden or playground somewhere you can just sit and be still. Observe everything that goes on around you. There could be children playing and running about screaming and shouting as they have fun. There could be butterflies or bees having their taste of pollens and nectar from the beautiful flowers all around. The wind is blowing and the leaves whistle. The birds are chirping. There could be a whole colony of ants transporting food back to their queen. Immerse yourself into nature. Spend as much time as you possibly can, be in this moment. Just be in this moment.

We have been too busy in our hustle and bustle of life that we have lost connection with what is. Your body knows it better than you do because you have cramped so much information within you that everything become congested and crowded, you can no longer differentiate what is. There is only so much our physical body can take. When it tires, it affects your mind. This is when you know you need a break. Trust your body. Trust your mind.

When self-esteem is low, it is time to switch on the button of functionality.

 

When you mix with the wrong energy, there’s bound to be an explosion. Pay attention and switch lanes when the signal changes. What’s really real, is ultimately revealed.

T.F. Hodge, author of From Within I Rise: Spiritual Triumph Over Death and Conscious Encounters with “The Divine Presence”, 1969-present

News

Everyone either watches or reads the news. It seems like the one most important thing to do, or so we thought.

Whenever there is a get together with family and friends, people often talk about what is happening around the world or what is happening around their lives. Some of it interesting while others are not so. It is great to catch up but is it necessary to be on top of the conversation all the time?

People love to complain about that politician that is not doing things right. Perhaps these people have not realized that all politicians are similar. They start up with a noble cause but somehow when they are on top of the food chain, things change. Their conditions change. Their responsibilities change. Nobody can avoid the fact that the environment that they are in changes their personality to the other end that nobody likes to see. Sometimes, it takes drastic measures to create the results that one wants. It is a give and take situation.

Perhaps we do not understand those politicians. Why are they corrupt? Why are they being nonsensical? When we first followed them, when we first voted for them, they are great people with great passion to bring up the country. They are great leaders and people believed in them. What has caused the change? Humans. We are nobody to comment on whether or not that particular politician is doing the right thing. He may be in a high position but he is not a control everyone person. He still has to go with the flow in order to make things happen for the better. What we see is only on the surface.

There is always two sides to a story, sometimes even more. We love to only look at one side of it. We are just humans. We choose to believe the side that sounds good to our ears.

Most often, the side of the story that catches our attention is the side that brings negative influence. We somehow love to know how bad the situation is.

What are the most viewed news?

Those news that make it to the headlines are always news that are outrageously bad and out of control. Take it now, for example, the headlines that flood the mainstream media is always on COVID-19. How the numbers are not receding? How more people are dying? How businesses are struggling? How economy is crumbling? So what can we do about this? We are no expert in creating vaccines. We are no expert in solving the problem. Why are we on top of this topic all day and night? Does anyone realize how bad an influence this is?

We are not living in a box. We are aware of this pandemic affecting everyone around the world. We know that, but we cannot do anything about that. Correct? So why are we fussing over and over that same thing when there is nothing we can do to change it? Unless you have found a cure, there is nothing to talk about anymore. Unless you do your due diligence to keep your family and yourself safe, there is nothing to worry about anymore.

Immersing in information does not change the world. Yes, your mind gets the information and then what? Do you plan to do something about it? What is the reason to keep all the information and not do anything about it?

Instead of getting negative inputs and keeping all the unnecessary information that you have no control over, why not choose to find and keep only those that you can do something about?

Positive affirmations. These are great information. They motivate you and makes you believe that you are the special one and that you can do anything and go anywhere your dream brings you. There is no limit to what our minds can store. There is no fast and hard rule to say that being positive all the time is strange. We are who we are and we become who we want to become. We live for ourselves.

Stop watching that mainstream news and start focusing on what makes a better you!

 

If people in the media cannot decide whether they are in the business of reporting news or manufacturing propaganda, it is all the more important that the public understand that difference, and choose their news sources accordingly.

Thomas Sowell, American economist and social theorist, 1930-present

Confidence

How is it that some people are so confident and I am not?

Perhaps many would be asking this very question simply because we do not understand where confidence come from. Some say we have to be successful in order to be confident. Is it really in that order? Or we have mistakenly think that it is in that order? Perception can be misleading.

What really is confidence?

Dictionaries will tell us the synonyms but understanding the truth about confidence take more than just that. Confidence is something that only a handful have and it is something that many chase after. Everybody want to be confident in some way or the other.

How do we achieve the confidence level that satisfies our need?

There is no hard proof way to be confident. A minority are lucky enough to be born confident, most are not. We should never feel small because we do not yet have the confidence. There is nothing wrong with us. We are just not prepared yet. There is work to be done. Never ever envy people who are confident. Instead, learn from them, how they become who they are today.

Confidence come from preparedness. Nobody is born an expert in any field. Everything is about how we spend our time with. We can spend it all on pleasure of watching Korean dramas or nosing around other people’s social media postings, or we can choose to upgrade ourselves. Learning is no longer in a classroom setting. Learning can be through the World Wide Web. There are so many motivational gurus out there that have uploaded videos and snippets and also posters for us to encounter. All we need to do is to turn on the computer or use our smartphone to simply surf with positive keywords and we are bound to discover things that we never believed we can ever do.

Boost! Boost up ourselves. Boost up our motivation.

We only have one life. Make this life worthwhile. There are so many things we can learn. Perhaps sometimes we will drown in the vast information available to us. We get lost. We do not know what we want to do, or what is it that we are passionate about. Everyone goes through this level of uncertainty. Look and look some beyond. Read up. Watch how other people are doing it. When we study through, we will learn and finally find what it is that brings us most interest.

When we know something well enough, we will be confident about it. Rather than being Jack of all trades, it would be better to niche down to just one thing. There are too many topics to learn and we can never learn them all. Instead, keep things simple, just be great at one topic so that we can bring value to others by helping them in it. We are all different. When we are great at one thing, we will give chance for other people to help us in other things that they are great at.

Why is confidence important in life?

Being confident strengthens a relationship. Perhaps we do not see it this way but in any relationship, we need to have trust and confidence that the relationship will grow. Some say relationships do not last but perhaps they are just narrowing themselves. Relationships are not limited to the male female kind. Relationships also mean family, friends, and even strangers. Not all relationship will last but at least we know we have done our best to give value to others whilst we are in it.

Being confident brings wealth. A confident person is also seen as one that others look up to. If we walk into a store and a sale person approaches us telling us how great their product is but he does not show any confidence in the product, will we buy? Understanding what makes people nudge is a skill that is only present in a person who understands what other people need. It is a skill not inborn but rather from observation.

Being confident promotes health. When a person is confident, we can see it in their posture. A confident person always have a charisma that others can see and feel. The person is always standing tall, sitting straight, and talking with a point. A confident person is also an influencer. When we are confident, we are strict about our own lifestyle and the foods we gobble. This is what promotes a healthy body and it works back to making us confident.

Confidence can be nurtured. Be confident of who we are.

 

Confidence comes not from always being right but from not fearing to be wrong.

Peter McIntyre OBE, New Zealand painter and author, 1910-1995

Solution

There is always a solution to a problem. We just need to know where to look.

Problems exist everywhere. It is part and parcel of life. It is not the matter of whether or not a problem exists, it is a matter of how to solve the problem. A problem can be big or small. It really does not matter the size. There is always a solution.

Most often we like to avoid what is inconvenient to us. But life is ever changing. How can we ever avoid circumstances that we do not like? Even if we choose to do nothing now, we still have to face the consequences at some point of time. Whether it is now or later, we still have to face whatever challenge life brings us. This is how we can improve.

Life is about moving forward. Humans, after a certain point in life, would probably have found a place they feel comfortable in, the comfort zone. While this sounds good, it would mean we are stagnant as it is. It feels comfortable not to change and change seems to be a huge problem. Still, every problem has a solution. We just need to learn to step out of this comfort zone that we have created for ourselves.

There is no place in this world that is a one size fits all. Everyone has a different opinion of their comfort zone. Some are just content. They are happy with the way life is. They do not want to change anything in their life. But life changes. We age. People around us will die. One way or the other, we still need to get out of that comfort zone to face all that is placed upon us. There is no eternity to comfort. It would be easier to adapt if we are to constantly change the way our mind works.

Open up the mind!

Some people just love challenges. They are always in the competent mode. They love to push themselves over their own limits. They love to thrust beyond boundaries.

It is through perseverance and commitment that one can succeed in life.

Life is ever changing and we all know that it is a fact. Why do we want to get ourselves stuck at that moment? It is great to live in the moment but never ever to get ourselves stuck in that very moment for the rest of our lives.

When someone leaves us, we can mourn, we can feel sad, we can cry, but only at the moment. After that, life goes on. Whatever that has happened, just let it stay in the past. Throughout our lifetime, we will miss the person every now and then, but we do not need to loop our minds to remind us of the sadness when the person left. In fact, we should live life to the fullest to show respect to the person.

When a decision is made without our consent, and problems arise, it is easy to blame and say that the person made the wrong decision. It is convenient to say that it is not our problem. But we always have to look at it in the big picture. How is that problem affecting my life? Perhaps we do not see it now. Sooner or later we will.

When a problem is placed in front of us, it is only rightful to look at the problem and find ways to solve it, rather than to say “it has got nothing to do with me”. Take one problem at a time. Ponder upon it, read up on it, and research about it. Whatever means we have, we give it a try. Whether or not we succeed in finding the solution is depending on our actions.

Sometimes there are problems that require no solution because over time, the problem will dissolve itself. Sometimes there are problems that require no solution from us because someone else will be on top of it. Sometimes there are problems that require very little effort simply because they are recurrent and we are familiar with it. Sometimes there are problems that require tender loving care because they involve people around us and one wrong step could cause an emotional breakdown.

We can search high and low, there is no place in this world that is problem-free. But a solution is always around.

 

Great leaders are almost always great simplifiers, who can cut through argument, debate, and doubt, to offer a solution everybody can understand.

Colin Luther Powell (Colin Powell), American politician, 1937-present

Manage

We find that there are a hundred and one things we have to manage in our lifetime. How do we determine the importance?

There are management courses we can study from. Anybody can teach us anything. With the information at hand, we are supposedly able to handle our life in the most organized manner. However, life is as such that we soon realize we are not meant to do certain things that we want to do. How do we go about that?

At times, we may feel like we are lost. We find that we are overwhelmed by all the information and suggestions we get from everywhere. Different people seems to be educating us the way they think is best. Instead of guidance, it becomes a burden to follow suit what others say. Perhaps we have not realized that each person is different. What works for one may not work for another.

The only way to succeed in whatever we do is to get down and dirty on it. Through trial and error, we are shaping ourselves to become an entirely new person. Sometimes, we may not have even thought that whatever we do is possible. It is like a miracle, a dream come true. If we take one step off, we will find that we learn much better by experience rather than what others say.

We have to understand one very important point, that this is our life. The life that we have to live on our own terms. There may be people to guide us every now and then along the way but it is us that is walking ourselves through the end. It may be hard to stay focused with all the distractions of what is perceived as the real life, but we can choose which direction we want to go.

One way or the other, we still have to do what it takes to be the person we want to be. Perhaps we can surround ourselves with the like-minded people. Technology permits us to do so even without moving from our seats right in the comfort of our own home. Instead of spending time scrolling through other people’s livelihood, why not spend the time learning through people we want to model?

Time is all about management. Each of us have the same number of hours each day. When time is lost, there is no gaining back. It is of utmost importance that we spend each minute wisely. The choice is ours. We can choose to nose around what is happening in other people’s lives or we can choose to nurture ourselves to become better. Never ever sell time for nothing. Time is priceless.

Whatever that can be solved with money, is not a problem at all. Spending a little money to get stress off ourselves is worth a lot more than the money spent. Stress, whether we realize or not, is something that takes up a bulk of our time in life. How often do we stress on something we did or did not do in the past that makes us regret? How often we stress on something that might happen in the future?

Being stressed not only burns our precious time, it also puts us in a never-ending loop, just like listening to the same music over and over to the point we feel stuck. If not now, when? Whatever that has happened is in the past. Whatever that has yet to happen is beyond our control. All we need to do is really just to live in the moment. We can choose to continue our current ways or to change our lifestyle. The choice is in our own hands.

When we need help, stretch out to get help. When somebody else needs help, stretch out to lend a helping hand. Humans are communal creatures. We can live in a crowd and learn from each other. The only important point is to choose the community wisely. If we want to reach a certain level in life, we have to surround ourselves with people that have been there or are going in the same direction. Self-motivation can only go so far. With the support from others, we can push beyond our own limits.

Manage time, people, and ourselves wisely.

 

When you can’t solve the problem, manage it.

Robert Harold Schuller (Robert H. Schuller), American Christian televangelist, 1926-2015

Essential

What is essential?

This is a question that would probably prompt many answers from different perspective. What is essential to one may not be as essential to another. Somehow, everyone would agree that money is the one most essential thing that humans need in order to survive in this era. It is true that money can buy all the things we need for the lifestyle we yearn to have.

Some people may say that it is of utmost importance that we have a full and prepared wardrobe. There should be something for every occasion, especially that ball we have to attend. Whatever that has been worn should not reappear in another occasion to avoid being seen in the same outfit twice. While this creates opportunity for the fashion industry, it is at the cost of nature. Perhaps having a little swap party can resolve this issue.

Some people may say that they not only need to look good, they also need to smell good. We are correct to want to show the best of ourselves to the world. We have thought and used all means and ways to do so. This creates plentiful opportunity for the cosmetics and fragrances industry. The first impression is the most important because almost every human being uses the five senses to perceive something or someone. The beautiful always fair better given an opportunity.

Some people may say that a cozy home is what they need. It is a place they can go back to after a long days’ work. It is a place they can look forward to seeing and being. No matter what happens outside, it really does not matter as long as there is a place called home. The cost of living is rising faster than a paycheck. There are people who blame the exploiters but really, if we are capable, perhaps we can be the opportunist too.

When asked this question, we will usually picture all the material things that we can see and hold. It is just by perception. Many of times, we do not realize that whatever essentials we think of is actually not that essential at all if without life itself.

So what is essential?

Some people may say that wisdom is. It is with wisdom, we can grow our inner self to understand better about the universe within us. There is a little universe in each of us that we have conveniently neglected over the years. We perceive material things as essential and we chase after them with all efforts. We forget one thing, that without wisdom, we are just chasing blindly. Wise people are able to spend more time on themselves and less time in efforts but still producing the same results.

Some people may say health is. Life and health are bound hand in hand. We need to be healthy to live life. Health used to be simple. Anyone can achieve good health with healthy daily routines. The time we are awake, we choose all the healthy practices. The time we are asleep, we choose to let go of all that bothers us, let it be handled during waking hours. How many people can really do that, just let go and not be a control freak? Everyone loves to control to a certain extent.

Some people may say family and friends is. In this day and time, relationship has been brought to another level. We can find long lost friends through social media from friends of friends. We can stay in touch using voice or video calls from free platforms. We can even hold a seamless meeting using zoom calls. There are no boundaries even in the state of a global lockdown. Everyone can keep in touch with each other be it for business or just connecting.

Perhaps we are still not looking deep enough to find the true essentials that each human need to survive. Perhaps the most important things come so naturally we do not even realize that they are the true essentials of living.

How many days can a person survive without food?
How many days can a person survive without water?
How many minutes can a person survive without air?
What is of utmost importance that we must protect regardless of whether or not we live to see it?

Mother Nature is the solitary provider of all essentials; food, water, and air. Let us all protect and create a better world for our children.

 

And now here is my secret, a very simple secret, it is only with the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye.

Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger, comte de Saint-Exupery (Antoine de Saint-Exupery), French writer and aviator, 1900-1944