“Tell God that you are willing to be made willing about all.” – F.B. Meyer

Who is your greatest enemy? You may think of that little Japanese kid who punched you in the stomach for no reason at all while you were playing way back in Kindergarten; that Ms. Gossip Girl who spread dirty rumors about you when you were in high school; that ex-lover who’s just a plain lunatic and a complete flirt; or maybe that professor that keeps on humiliating you in front of the class. You may name A LOT—you may even have a list—but believe me, there will always be the worst one. Yes, only ONE.

“…everyone’s Antagonist should be thy self…”

A statement that would definitely let you scratch your head, a statement I myself will prove true to you and me. But let me ask you first these questions: Do you get jealous of what others have? If your answer is “yes” you’re as real as me. Hooray! Kidding aside, but I believe these things are completely normal, but definitely not a good habit.

Hate to progress

Each and every day, look for something that you hate about yourself. Not hate as in hate to the point you’re being mean to yourself; but use this hate as a motivation to improve/minimize your weaknesses. Nobody is perfect, no one will ever be, but be the best of what you can be. Be your own best friend, critic, competitor and enemy. In short, be the Protagonist and Antagonist of your life’s story.

Criticism is defined as an act of making an unfavorable or severe judgment or comment. Criticisms do not only come with a bad comment, but sometimes with good ones. Either way, their main impact to the one being criticized is that it strengthens and makes it better, may it be a person or a thing.

Holding back

Did you ever find yourself torn in a situation when you want to recite but your mind is stopping you because your answer might be wrong? Do you sometimes find an opportunity to step up but there’s just something inside that holds you back? There and then you find your innermost antagonist and that is the reason why a lot of people feels the guilt of why they hold back and asking ‘what if’ and saying ‘if only.’

When I was about to enter college, I was torn in choosing what course I’d take. My sister told me that whatever course I would take, there should be no turning back. I prayed and thought hard about it, and realized that I want to be a broadcaster/journalist/writer someday. That is my dream, yet there have been a lot of things that came into my mind that made me hopeless to reaching what I want to become.

Spark of a genius

But what inspired me the most is when I read about how a gifted artist saw a boy painting on a flat rock using cheap colors and a homemade brush. Despite the shoddy materials, his painting showed unmistakable talent. The artist took the boy under his wing, fostered and taught him. The spark of a genius burst into flame and the boy became one of the world’s renowned painters.

I am in my 4^th year now as a Communications and Media Studies student, and I never regretted any day of my life taking up this course. I love the fact that I chose to pursue the dream I want, and I know I am at the right path on the way to fulfill my heart desires.

I thank God that I didn’t let my innermost antagonist decide for my future. I thank God for helping me fight against it. Some people who had wrong decisions tortured themselves because of regrets. Some people, who are afraid to take risks, and keeps on playing safe doesn’t make any difference. What do they get from it? NOTHING. They are stuck from dreaming and dreaming to never reaching, and say “I am not fitted to become what I want to be,” Wrong! Isn’t much better to try than to do nothing at all?

To wrap this up, don’t compete with other people’s strengths. Comparison is the beginning of hurt. Instead, perfect your abilities, hone your skills, and be the best that you can be. Lastly, pray and Ta-da! You become what you desire. Just what Psalms 37:4 says, “Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

The article was published as the author’s entry in her column “Pretty as you Please” in The Bedan Herald (July 2011 issue), the official student publication of the College of Arts and Sciences – San Beda College Alabang. She was the former Features and Cultures Editor of the said publication.

Bonnie

‘Inspiration’… There are the constants that move my emotions and intellect; my kids, husband, friends, daily blogs and more. And then there are the daily surprises. The ones that add that special spark to your flame, energizing your day to new heights, and keep you moving in a positive direction at all times. It might be as profound as sought out words written by your favorite author, the art found in a national gallery, or a book club conversation with your girlfriends. Or it might be as subtle as a stroll down a side alley of a city street, a word exchange with a stranger at the bus stop, the perfectly ripe avocado, or the detail in the faded dandelion as it blows away in the wind. No matter how big or small, it’s that moment when your way of feeling or seeing is changed. Photography helps keep me inspired at all times. Some inspiration is more evident and some harder to find. My camera keeps me seeking out the spark. Capturing colors, shapes, and emotions that might otherwise pass me by.

To be honest, I could have posted any photo for this week’s theme. For there is ‘inspiration’ behind every picture I take. And it’s through the capture itself and/or the editing process, that I too hope to inspire others in their creative process. My last week of ‘borrowing’ my daughter’s photos, this is my edit of her view of the bay from Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France. Inspiring, huh? Through this snapshot, my daughter has inspired me to not only see the color blue, but as many shades as possible, to continue to look at things from as many perspectives as possible, to always seek out and embrace the light, and to stop and take it all in. Yes, STOP and breath. This capture inspires me to be thankful and appreciative of God’s work as an artist. It also inspires me to want to travel to Normandy and see this view with my own eyes. Maybe next time she will let me tag along.

Shot with my daugher’s iphone 5. And for for the edit, I sharpened and cropped to a square in snapseed and filtered in qbro.

“The artist is a receptacle for emotions that come from all over the place: from the sky, from the earth, from a scrap of paper, from a passing shape, from a spider’s web.”~Pablo Picasso

Alex

My husband and I are pretty much opposites in many ways, he’s athletic and I’m not, he’s fab at Math and Science yet I’m the arty one who loves to write. We most certainly share a dry, quirky sense of humor though!! I look at our kids and it always strikes me how they each seem to have inherited the best characteristics of both of us, and I admire them so much, all 3 truly inspire me. The main joy I find in photography is documenting my family, preserving a little slice of the present for the future. It’s the spontaneous moments, the day to day goings on in our lives, rather than set up posed moments, that mean the most to me. So I definitely would place my family very highly on my list of inspirations, and behind my motivation to learn new methods and techniques to improve upon my skills whenever I can. And here at last I can explain the picture above. I’ve been on a constant quest for years to nail crisp, clear, sports pictures of my kids. I’ve done pretty well in the past but at last I think I’ve finally cracked it and the last piece of the puzzle has fallen into place. Today I learned how to back button focus and decided to try it out at my son Jack’s track meet this evening. The image above captures my 13 year old son mid flight as he tries out the triple jump competitively for the first time. I was inspired by my son, by my desire to improve my photography and take a great shot, and by my love of documenting the present for the future.

This image was taken at around 6:30 in the evening, using my Canon 7D camera paired with my 70-200mm f/2.8 L lens. As the light was dimming, my ISO was set at 640, my aperture was f/3.2, and my shutter speed was set at 1/400 so that I could freeze motion. I used back button focusing and also set my camera to Al Servo. Post processing in Lightroom 4 I increased the exposure of the image, and also the contrast and clarity. I’m really pleased with the finished photograph!

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No, to projects that won’t fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don’t lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns.  If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you to do and let go of the anxiety. if you can’t do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don’t use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.,
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut.) This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.
17. Get enough exercise.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write thoughts and inspirations down.
22. Everyday, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems?  Talk to God on the spot.  Try to nip small problems in the bud.  Don’t wait until its time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good “Thank you, Jesus!”
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but yourself, not at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36. Every night before bed, think of one thing you’re grateful for that you’ve never been grateful for before.

And that’s something you can hang your hat on.

-mountainwings.com

“If you probe the human heart, you will find a want, and that want is rest.” – D.L. Moody

Photo credit: www.groupon.co.za

NOT ALL HUMAN beings are given with a supermodel look, a slim and sexy body, a sweet face and a flawless looking skin. Well some are blessed with it; most are not. That is the reason why a lot of people engage in cosmetic surgeries—because of their endless insecurities. But personally I am not against it. I just want to say that the true essence of beauty is not superficial it comes from within.

I was inspired to write this opinion when I read a story in “Our Daily Bread,” a book which contains real-life stories that inspire readers by providing biblical wisdom. The story is about a distinguished bible scholar of the 19^th century named J.B Lightfoot; one of his devoted students described him as “startlingly ugly: a stout little man with a grotesque figure and a squint.” But the same student said that Lightfoot was “the best man I ever encounter, and I say this deliberately after the experience of many years. In a day or two … his face appeared the most beautiful and lovable thing imaginable.”

A man, who was described “ugly” outshined the flesh with a pure heart; an inner beauty that shines through him blinded his student’s eyes.

Ideally, the best example of a man with the purest heart who ever lived on earth would be Jesus. And we are blessed because we always hear on Sunday masses that we are created in His image and likeness. Add to that, according to Psalms 34:5, it says that those who look unto the Lord become “radiant.”

I realized that the best beauty tip is not just putting the most expensive make-up or anti-aging cream on, and doing all those beauty regimens alone.

Walking to the path where Jesus leads us and enjoying life for His glory—that’s only when our faces start to reflect true beauty.

We should not focus on beautifying what is seen on the outside because, whether we like it or not, it grows old. Instead, let’s try improving what is not seen on the inside for this does not change; it forever glows.

I guarantee this is the only beauty tip that will never fade and is bound to stay. Well as for the results? It will make you and me youthful-looking day after day; take it from the words of this anonymous author, “Nothing can dim the beauty that shines from within.”

No one is perfect, even Angelina Jolie. Who is? This is an advice we can benefit from and can change our perspectives as to what is BEAUTIFUL.

So don’t just be a pretty in the crowd, instead standout and be radiantly beautiful!

The article was published as the author’s entry in her column “Pretty as you Please” in The Bedan Herald (May 2012 issue), the official student publication of the College of Arts and Sciences – San Beda College Alabang. She was the former Features and Cultures Editor of the said publication.

“Prayer affects all things.” – E.M. Bounds

Let’s make a very common scenario an example, Andrea is an ordinary student and just like any other student, she has tons of work to do. The problem is she does not know where to start. In her To-Do’s, she needs to complete all her requirements for different subjects, to bake a cake for her mom’s birthday, to go to her weekly appointment in her dentist and to visit the salon to have a new haircut—all in one day.

Stress with the crazy little things she needs to do, she ends up not accomplishing anything and blames herself because she sweats in the small stuff and  finds her saying at the end of the day, “bukas na lang.”

By not having concrete plans on how she would be able to fulfill her tasks, she ends up doing nothing, sees herself as a failure and thinking that tomorrow would be the best solution to get out of the problem each time she fails.

A simple To-do list would have been a great help isn’t? A red check mark to the things in a simple list is very fulfilling to look at knowing that there is so much accomplishment in a day. Truly, Andrea has a passion for procrastination.

But wait, what is Procrastination?  In Collins English Dictionary this word means to delay or to postpone until tomorrow.

In this case lack of plan is the problem, other reason for procrastination would be cowardice to face what lies ahead and apathy but whatever the reason maybe it all goes to the bottom line of not accomplishing anything or worst—failing. We only live in this world once, not if you believe in reincarnation that may be in your next life you’ll be a cat or worst a cockroach but seriously in reality we only get to live in this world once, why not make the most out of it and make each second count. Just like a camera snap shot it captures great moments that are taken to be a part of the history.

Time is the most precious commodity on earth, valued even above wealth. In our hands lies our twenty-four hours in a day that will determined our success, failure, want or gain. So why not make our minutes and seconds our slaves in order to accomplish our purpose. Besides our time is ours to manage, why not manage it wisely. Yes, people have time to relax but never dally. Each day has to have an agenda, whether formal or informal. Nothing should be done without a purpose, even if that purpose is to rest.

With this, let us now throw the old Filipino custom of living a life of uncertainty and the belief of “ipagpasa-bukas na ang lahat at iaasa kay Batman ang kapalaran,” why not make a new law or a commandment of considering killing time to be a capital crime. I guess that is the reason why rich men has a tight and hectic schedule because for them “Time is gold” and wasting time means no profits gain.

NO to Procrastination, checked. But is it just for the sake of doing it says it all?  I agree with Philip Chesterfield that, “Whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well.” Might as well include this in your check list and be able to check, YES to Excellence!

The article was published as the author’s entry in her column “Pretty as you Please” in The Bedan Herald (January 2012 issue), the official student publication of the College of Arts and Sciences – San Beda College Alabang. She was the former Features and Cultures Editor of the said publication.

“Go as far as you can see; when you get there, you’ll be able to see farther.”—J. P. Morgan

In this state of your life can you say that you have crossed the line?

Some may answer yes and the others might say no but most might say they don’t know.

FEAR, I believe is one of the biggest hindrance to human’s success, it is because it comes with different kinds of things to fear: Fear of failure, rejection, humiliation, public speaking, being alone, being disliked by family and friends, physical discomfort, regret and success and the list goes it.

Fear is like a border, it separates us from the opportunities and possibilities in making things materialize that usually end up in being a dream.

In our everyday lives, the virtue of courage doesn’t receive much attention anymore. Courage for some is a quality reserved for soldiers, firefighters, and activists. Security is matters most today. Perhaps you were taught to avoid being too bold or too brave because it is too dangerous. Don’t take unnecessary risks. Don’t draw attention to yourself in public. Follow what is usual, don’t talk to strangers, keep an eye out for suspicious people and simply stay safe—meaning don’t cross the line, just be normal.

Do you see anything wrong about playing safe?  I see not, but a side effect of overemphasizing the importance of playing safe and not taking possibilities in your life is that it can cause you to live reactively. Instead of setting your own goals, making plans to achieve them, and going after them with enthusiasm, you tend to be an ordinary wall flower, just a display.

Opening your mind into possibilities and having enough courage to face down those imaginary fears and reclaim the far more powerful life that you’ve denied yourself is entering a life full of opportunities.

We all know that fear holds us back—somehow. The question is how you would live if you had nothing to fear. Would you be more willing to take risks, especially when the worst case wouldn’t actually hurt you at all? Would you speak up more often, talk to more strangers, ask more, and get into those ambitious projects you’ve been dreaming about? What if you even learned to enjoy the things you currently fear? What kind of difference would that make in your life? A challenge all of us must face of what awaits us when we finally conquered our own fears.

Always bare in mind that successful people who live in earth are just humans, they both have brains and a body, though they may have a different background but that’s not the point, the point is all of us are humans, what is it you cannot do that they did. All of us are capable human beings.

Presidents, Activist, Scientist and Artist all made a mark in the world. All crossed the line and was known. People have goals but due to anxiety, they stick to what’s practical and leave that goal from happening. Maybe that is the reason why a lot of people regret of seeing their classmates or friends in the glare of publicity while seeing themselves just one of the crowd. People adore innovators, may it be in different sectors of life.

We often hear people say “hanggang diyan ka nalang” or “impossible yan” but when you see this people, they are this negative not achieving human being or in other words not goal-oriented people, and so what they do they hold you back so you would be like them.  With this do yourself a favor. Flee away from them and surround yourself with people can influence you to do better.

It just starts with one’s belief and the rest will follow. The ability to seek higher and greater things is not far from occurring. No one can make a difference if one belittles his/her strengths and intelligence. If everyone has that mentality then we are still living in the uncivilized world making use of fire to have light, so with this I’ll end by this encouraging quote, “Every once in a while go beyond the lines,  break boundaries and  make history.”

The article was published as the author’s entry in her column “Pretty as you Please” in The Bedan Herald (February 2012), the official student publication of the College of Arts and Sciences – San Beda College Alabang. She was the former Features and Cultures Editor of the said publication.

“I’m not pulling his tail,” the boy retorted. “I’m just standing on it. He’s doing the pulling.”

He, of course, is no different than any of us. Often, our first impulse is to blame someone or something else for problems. It’s the cat’s fault. Or the school’s fault. Or my parents’ fault.

I once heard a story of a 40-year-old woman who was jogging in a U. S. state park when she was attacked and killed by a mountain lion. Her family immediately filed suit against the state because of its “failure to manage the mountain lion population” and because it didn’t “react to reports of cougar activity in the area by posting warning signs.”

But an interesting thing happened. Her distraught husband felt it was wrong to blame the state or anyone else for his wife’s death, even though he stood to possibly win a small fortune. Against her family’s wishes, he dropped the law suit. “Barbara and I have always taken responsibility for our own actions,” he explained. “Barbara chose to run in the wild and, on a very long shot, she did not come back. This is not the fault of the state, and people should take responsibility for themselves.”

I would like to meet that man. He no doubt believes that the Blame Game” is a no-win in the long run. He seems like a person who would rather spend time fixing what’s broken than fixing the blame for it on someone else.

This isn’t about law suits – it’s more about whether we are essentially victims of life or whether we are powerful and responsible people. An important step in gaining mastery over your life is to resist the urge to make something or someone else responsible. Like novelist J. K. Rowling (of Harry Potter fame) said to graduating Harvard students, “There is an expiry date on blaming your parents for steering you in the wrong direction; the moment you are old enough to take the wheel, responsibility lies with you.” Certainly background and circumstances have influenced who we are, but who is responsible for the person we become?

An important decision I made was to resist playing the Blame Game. The day I realized that I am in charge of how I will approach problems in my life, that things will turn out better or worse because of me and nobody else, that was the day I knew I would be a happier and healthier person. And that was the day I knew I could truly build a life that matters.

And that’s something you can hang your hat on.

– Steve Goodier/lifesupportsystem.com

“Jesus came not to destroy men’s lives, but to save them” – Robert Murray McCheyne

He was terrified of the crawling creature strolling across the carpet. With his screams and fast paced footsteps that probably
shook the bug, the bug was no doubt equally terrified.

“Where?” I asked my son.

He grabbed my hand and cautiously proceeded to the last known location of the bug. “It’s under the table,” he said pointing
from a safe distance.

I took his hand and led him reluctantly to the table.

It was just a standard garden variety brown roach. Its antennae were waving nervously (for good reason) as the giant of a child
and even bigger giant of a man peered down at it.

“The bug won’t hurt you,” I explained to my trembling son.

“Watch this,” I said.

I got a piece of paper and eased the bug on the paper. I then folded the paper and took the bug away.

I was trying to teach my son a lesson that God had taught me.

Mine was different, but the lesson was the same.

Our dog NEVER sleeps in.  So, I had taken him out at around 4:30 one morning and had come back inside to my office and was trying to get back to sleep on my couch.  All of the suddent, I noticed a cricket had perched on the blanket and was staring at me.

I was already agitated by having to be awake, so I was in no mood for insects.  As I reached to swat it away, something told me,
“Don’t bother the cricket; let it crawl on you.  I want you to be able to recognize the difference in life between crickets and scorpions. Crickets won’t bother you, but so often people react to crickets as they should to scorpions.  Learn the difference.”

Learn the difference.

And that’s something you can hang your hat on.

-mountaingwings.com

“God is the Physician of body and of soul.” – Brother Lawrence

“What a difference grace makes!” – George Muller

“Ask God to keep the eyes of your spirit open to the Risen Christ, and it will be impossible for drudgery to damp you.” – Oswald Chambers

A need facilitates something.

The object of need is like the road to your destination.  There are also different levels of needs.

For example, we need air more than we need clothes, and we need a heart more than we need a hand.

A want, in essence, does not affect the course.  It simply makes the journey more enjoyable.

-Coyette Clunie, Jamaica W.I./mountainwings.com

“there are things disagreeable that must be met with courage” – Francois Fenelon

He was relieved to be out of the icy waters; although, he could swim. He solemnly took in his fate. He stubbornly refused to leave his chair. He had prayed many days for God to make him a millionaire and was frustrated that he found himself in such a predicament. He sustained himself by fishing with a makeshiftfishing pole and cooking the catch of the day and eating few berries that grew nearby.

Over the months that he was marooned, he saw many sailors and fisherman fall overboard but they were too far away to help.  Finally one day a fisherman came so close he couldn’t help but stretch out his hand and the weight pulled him into the water as well. He managed to pull himself and the man up on the mound of sand. As soon as this occurred, a helicopter appeared from nowhere, the pilot left the fisherman behind, but not before handing him a thick envelope. “Hey wait” the man yelled, but the helicopter vanished as quickly as it had come.

The man was amazed to find $10,000 dollars in the envelope.  The next time a fisherman fell overboard the man eagerly leaped in the water and rescued him. He remembered all his prayers to God to make him a millionaire. When the helicopter came this time he asked the pilot who had sent him. There was no answer.

He more curiously wanted to know why the pilot kept taking the fishermen and leaving him behind each time with an envelope with
$10,000.00. Again there was no answer.

Finally just before the pilot left, he asked the man if he knew what was on the back of his shirt. Curious himself, he took off
his shirt and read the back where these words were written:

“LIFEGUARD – Pay him $10,000 each time he saves a life.”

Often God has blessings waiting for us if we just stretch ourselves beyond our comfort zone. Many times we waste all our energy trying to move ourselves to a situation that we deem more desirable, but it’s not where God needs us to be.

We miss the blessings we have asked God for trying to change our titles. God may have given us titles like “Husband” and “Father” or “Neighbor” or “Wife” and we try to shed these titles for titles of our own making.

Pray and stay in tune to what God has for you so that you have the appropriate title and are in the right place at the right time. More often than asking for money, we ask for peace, joy and happiness; yet, we put ourselves in situations where this is least likely to occur. God’s quiet voice often says “move on,” and sometimes He says, “stay just where you are.”

And that’s something you can hang your hat on.

-Elaine Hicks, Lithonia, GA/mountainwings.com

“The power of prayer is most forceful on the battlefield amid the din and strife of the conflict.” – E.M. Bounds

This entry from a couple of days ago is one that is so important for all of us to see, as none are immune from loneliness.

“The next time you feel lonely, disconnected or unappreciated, consider that unlike many other maladies, this one hits everyone. And unlike other challenges, this one is easily overcome by realizing that you can cure the problem by connecting, appreciating and leading.

The minute we realize that the person sitting next to us needs us (and our tribe, our forward motion and the value we create), we’re able to extinguish their aloneness as well as ours.

When you shine a light, both of you can see better.”

And that’s something you can hang your hat on.

-Seth Godin/sethgodin.typepad.com

“Brotherly love must be in deed and in truth.” – Andrew Murray

But she received a letter back from the school that read: “We have reviewed numerous applications and, to date, there will be some 1,452 new leaders attending school next year. We have decided to accept your application because we felt it was imperative that they have at least one follower.”

Should all of us be leaders all of the time? Isn’t there a time to follow as well as lead?

One man likes to tell about the day he purchased a novelty sign and hung it on his office door. The sign read: “I’m the boss.” The next day he came to work he noticed that the office comedian affixed a sticky note to his door that read, “Your wife called. She wants her sign back.”

He may be the boss at work, but home is different altogether. In marriage and family as well as most social relationships, sometimes we lead and sometimes we follow the lead of another. If the so-called boss happens to be an effective leader at work, he has probably learned that getting his own way all of the time does not produce good results. As it turns out, the best leaders are also excellent followers. Why?

1. Good leaders share leadership. They know when to follow and when to lead.

2. Good leaders build their skills on following role models for the behaviors they want to learn. What they admire in another, they copy.

3. Good leaders exhibit humility. They remain open to suggestion. When they need it, they ask for help and follow good advice.

In other words, good leaders are also good followers. They know when to follow in the footsteps of others and when to leave tracks of their own.

You may be the boss, but you will be a leader when you also learn how to follow.

And that’s something you can hang your hat on.

– Steve Goodier/lifesupportsystem.com