Posts

Do You Like Yourself?

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I recently came across a video interview where someone shared an insight that resonated deeply with me. He explained that what helps him relate well with others is the awareness that he already likes/loves himself as he is. His sense of self-worth isn’t dependent on whether people like him or not. This realization was profound for me. He pointed out that those who base their self-esteem on others’ opinions or projections often end up the unhappiest. The reason is simple: people’s opinions are bound to change. If your self-worth hinges on someone else’s perception, then your sense of self will inevitably fluctuate whenever their opinion shifts. This puts you in a powerless position, leaving you helpless and without control over your confidence. Unfortunately, society conditions us to be this way. From family to friends to the larger community, we are naturally inclined to seek belonging and approval. In our desire to impress and be valued within these groups, we often unknowingly hand o...

Own This Year

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Happy New Year, Guys! Another year is here - another opportunity to stay motivated, focus on "doing" what you can, and stay true to your vision, dream, and path. Your only competition is yourself - becoming the best version of you, based on the awareness that resides within. This year is a reminder: your value doesn’t come from externals. It isn’t defined by what someone says, the material things you own, or the opinions of the world. Your value comes from knowing your worth and understanding who you are deep within. Everything else aligns with that truth and is secondary. Before last year ended, I bought a journal and wrote down what I wanted to achieve and the things I’d love to do this year. I broke it into three categories: personal goals, goals involving others, and career, physical, and mental aspirations. I think it’s crucial to do this; not necessarily to check off every box at the year’s end but to set your consciousness for the year. It activates a part of you that ...

Merry Christmas and a Joyful Journey into 2025

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Of course, I was going to write something for Christmas! Merry Christmas to every one of you who reads this blog - wishing you and your loved ones a joyful season. I haven’t written as consistently this month because I’ve been busy preparing for this year’s Christmas, which has turned out to be one of the best I’ve experienced since moving away from my birthplace. In the past, Christmases have been quite difficult for me. At times, I’ve felt left out when seeing how others celebrate the season. But this Christmas was different; it was the first one where I truly felt connected. I felt like I was part of something meaningful. I realized that there are people who genuinely see me and appreciate me - not for what I can give them but simply for who I am. Hearing that was wonderful, but feeling it was even better. That experience inspired this post for the season. Christmas is about love; true, unconditional love. It’s a time to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe ...

Always Do What You Can

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I realized that doing what you can is one of the most important things. Simply showing up and taking the necessary action in every area of your life is the key to happiness and success. It doesn’t matter how bad, devastating, or damaging a situation may seem. What truly matters is your willingness to act - regardless of the circumstances.  The surest way to ensure that a situation stays the same or worsens is to do nothing and dwell in a state of despair. This mindset only weakens you over time, and some people turn to unhealthy habits, like drugs or distractions, to "forget" their problems. But these are temporary illusions of happiness. The problem doesn’t disappear; it grows stronger the more you ignore it. The only way to overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges is to take responsibility and do what you can. There is always something you can do; whether it’s a direct step toward a solution or an indirect action that prepares you for progress. If you take the time to ...

Overcoming Self - Doubt

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Last week, I responded to a user who asked a question on one of my blog posts. The question was: "I do acquire knowledge, but I don't have solid career experience because I wasn't consistent in my studies and college life. I wasted a lot of time. Also, I wasn't confident in my skills. So, I've never applied for a job. I still hesitate. My knowledge is wasted and still wasting. Your thoughts, please?" When I first read the question, I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to respond, as I was feeling a bit exhausted. So, I made a note to reply when I was better prepared.  When I finally sat down to respond, I found the words flowing effortlessly through my mind. In crafting my reply, I felt as though parts of it resonated deeply with me—touching on areas of my own life, even beyond the scope of the question. It struck me then to share my response as a blog post, hoping it might resonate with you as well. Here is my reply: --- Hi ..., Thank you for your comment. Fir...

When You Change How You See Things, Life Changes Too

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"When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change." - Wayne Dyer I came across this quote recently and found myself reflecting on its meaning. What could Wayne Dyer be trying to say? At first, it’s clear he isn’t talking about physical objects. No matter how differently you look at a cup, it’s still a cup. You can get creative about its use, but its essence doesn’t change. So, Dyer must be talking about something deeper; something we can’t touch or measure. That led me to think about thoughts, emotions, and perceptions. Our relationship with physical things is simple and measurable. But when it comes to intangibles, like how we think or feel, it’s a lot more complicated. For example, take love. Someone might tell you they love you, and while you might sense it in their words or actions, there’s no test to prove it. You simply trust your interpretation of how they make you feel. This is where Dyer’s quote really hits home. It’s about how our thoughts a...

Brave Enough to Love?

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I was listening to The Diary of a CEO, where Steve hosted lawyer James Sexton, who made a profound statement on love and commitment that inspired me to write this. He said, “It’s so brave to love, and it is only brave because it is scary. It’s terrifying to know that this thing might break my heart, yet I’m going to let it because the joy it brings me in the meantime; I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world.” He added, “Life is terrifying and brutal, and it invariably ends. We’re all going to die; everyone we love is going to die. We’re playing a game we can’t win to the utmost. And to me, to have a partner in that; someone whose hand you can hold when you’re scared, who will be there for you and you for them, who helps you see your blind spots as you help them see theirs... what a beautiful thought that is.” Reflecting on this, I realized how much courage it takes to love. Loving anyone is risky; it takes strength to open yourself to the possibility of pain, yet you make yours...

Fight, Fight, Fight to Win

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Inspired to write today about Trump, who has been projected to win the U.S. election. While I generally don't like discussing politics, I find his story of resilience and historic comeback fascinating and inspiring, which is why I’m writing this. For years, he's been called every name in the book, accused of countless things, faced numerous criminal charges, and even survived two assassination attempts. Yet, he didn’t quit. He wasn’t scared into stopping his campaigns. Instead, he kept on with his mantra of "Fight, fight, fight," embodying it by returning to the campaign trail with full force. He encountered relentless attempts to cancel, discredit, and label him. Yet, he pushed through it all. The American people saw in him a resilient spirit, one that resonated with the values of America’s founding fathers, and ultimately decided he was the right leader for this moment. What’s the takeaway here? Don’t let any setback stop you, no matter how overwhelming it looks! Fa...

The Search for Meaning: Why Wealth, Power, Pleasure, and Honor Fall Short

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In today’s world, it’s common to see happiness defined by what we can acquire; whether it’s wealth, influence, experiences, or recognition. Yet even as people gain these things, fulfillment often remains elusive. The philosopher and theologian St. Thomas Aquinas identified four substitutes that people often chase in place of true spiritual fulfillment: wealth, pleasure, power, and honor. These are not inherently bad pursuits; each has a role in life. But when they’re mistaken for the ultimate sources of happiness, they often lead us further from the contentment we seek, creating a void that only grows deeper. As Robert Barron writes, “One of the most fundamental problems in the spiritual order is that we sense within ourselves the hunger for God, but we attempt to satisfy it with some created good that is less than God. Thomas Aquinas said that the four typical substitutes for God are wealth, pleasure, power, and honor. Sensing the void within, we attempt to fill it up with some combin...

It is Okay to Be Imperfect

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Last week was one of those weeks where I struggled to find any motivation to write. Sometimes it's hard to explain why that happens. But as I always believe, there are no excuses. While I felt small nudges to jot down a few thoughts, I didn’t follow through. And that’s okay; it’s a reminder that I'm human. I have my visions, dreams, goals, and aspirations. I have a clear picture in my mind of how I want things to unfold, what I want to achieve, and the consistency I aim to maintain. But here’s the thing: we’re never at 100%, and that's perfectly fine. It’s okay if I occasionally miss a week of writing. While I don’t want it to become a habit, I also shouldn’t be too hard on myself if it happens once in a while. Sometimes, we cling to the idea that things must stay exactly as we envision them. But life doesn’t always work that way, and it’s okay to accept that. We are human; imperfect and prone to error. Our true beauty lies in those imperfections. So perhaps what you can ta...