Mindstep Six: Focus Part 3

Mindstep Six: Focus Part 3

What hinders us to focus?

Nowdays, there are too many destructions around us. Here's my list of the things that destruct us:

        1. Internet

        2.  TV

        3. Games

        4. Relationships

        5. Friends

        6. Vices

        7. Attitude

        8. Problems/Challenges

Everyone experiences troubles, challenges, problems and anything bad. I believe, getting destructed has something to do with one's perception. This perception is built in him/her by his/her past. Ability to focus is courageousness. It takes a fantastic mind to be focused. 

Someone could be in a peaceful situation and yet he/she feels troubled. Someone could be in tumultuous trouble and yet he/she feels peace deep inside.

Our mind is a battlefield. Our perception about life shrinks or expands depending on how we look at life, on how we battle with the thoughts on our mind.

The Bible, on Mark 4:35-42, narrates:

(photo source: http://lightwork.typepad.com/lightwork/2014/06/waiting-into-the-deep-end-part-1-of-2.html)

That day when evening came, He(Jesus) said to His disciples, "Let us go over to the other side." Leaving the crowd behind they took Him along, just as He was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

     He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

 (photo source: http://copiosa.org/church/barque_peter.htm)

     He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" They were terrified and asked each other. "Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him."

This Bible story reminds us that when we are experiencing difficulties and trials, we should not look at them. Rather, we should think of God who could calm the storm, the wind and the waves. If we think of God, we could focus on the things that we have to do.

In anything we think of, we think about-- we have a choice. It is up to us what product of our thinking would be. There's no other people on earth could make us think what we would like to think. Because our mind is our mind.

     

The crime suspects who are tortured are sometimes asked to admit a crime they didn't commit. The battle between survival and death, pain and self-worth, cowardice and courage are at stake. Still, it is up to them if they would admit it, even if they really didn't do it. 
(photo source: http://www.bombshock.com/brainwashing)

The people who join TV game shows are put in a difficult deciding point wherein both options are making them stand on a risky situation. Still, in the end they decide for themselves.
(photo source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-previews/who-wants-millionaire-facts-quiz-3094846)

What do we do when we are destructed?

We simply close our eyes and think of the things we need to do. That is where the need for a planner takes in. If your plan is at your hand, you could check out the things need to be done. We get out of focus when we get relaxed because of lack of mental image/s that needs settlement. 

In my case--as a teacher-- here are the things that I have to be focused on:

1. Daily lesson plan
2. Daily execution of lesson plan
3. Classroom management
4. Students' behavior
5. Students' progress
6. Quizzes
7. Exams
8. Parents' concerns

This is just what I think as a teacher. Here are my other concerns: being the head teacher, blogger, networker, evening ESL teacher and my future business endeavors about: 
The BELL Experience (http://thebellexperience.tripod.com/home.html), the books I am trying to finish and my personal concerns are actually complicated to think about each day. Well, I have to be focused. I admit, many times I am stressed and my mind has no other option but to visit social networking sites for relief. I still have many friends to mind about.

This is multi-tasking. I am working hard so someday, I can focus only on one concern. Let's say as a CEO of my company. But it will take time. As of now, there's no other choice but to learn more things about life.

I have to learn to focus thinking about many concerns.

Planning is essential. Making a schedule is another.

In another educational institution where I teach at night, I admire our students for coping up with the schedule.

Here's their schedule.

6:00 am            - breakfast
7.50 a.m.          - start of classes
12:00 pm          - lunch
1:00pm             -start of afternoon sessions
5:00 pm            - end of classes
5:00 pm            - dinner
5:50 pm            - start of evening classes
9:00 pm            - end of evening classes
***Some students are asked to memorize vocabulary words after evening classes.

This is my daily schedule:

5:00 am                      - alarm
5:30                            - personal devotion
6:00                            - personal matters
7:00                            - school faculty devotion
7:30                            - school flag ceremony
7:45-8:30                    - Homeroom/Values with Grade 9
8:30-9:20                    - English, Grade 1
9:30-10:30                  - Chemistry, Grade 9
10:40-11:40                - Biology, Grade 8
11:40-12:40pm           - Physics, 4th Year
12:40-1:40                  - General Science, Grade 7
2:00-3:00                    - one on one tutorial

Nowadays, we have extended 1 hour classes due to suspended classes because of typhoons, that's additional one hour job. Every Monday and Friday we have Faculty meeting. Monday to Thursday, I have to teach English/TOEIC in a language school--about 30 minutes away from our school-- from 6:00pm up to 9pm. I arrive home at 10 or 10.30 pm. 

How do I manage to focus?

I actually still feel I am not that focused because I sometimes tend to forget some things need to be done but basically, I can comply with what is expected of me.

From time to time, on a paper, I make an inverted triangle and draw lines inside it depending on the number of concerns I have for a day, a week or a month. I mean, I have an inverted triangle for the day's activities, weekly activities and monthly activities. Yearly activity planning is something I do every December.

I write my concerns inside the inverted triangle depending on their importance or urgency.

There is a debate between multi-tasking and focusing. Some people say, we cannot focus while doing many tasks. For me, we cannot perform different tasks at once but I believe we can do different tasks if we prioritize what needs to be done first depending on their urgency and importance. 

Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will be established.                                                     Proverbs 16:3

Up Next:

Mindstep Seven: FORGIVENESS

To God Be The Glory 

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#Mindstep #Six: #Focus #Part #Two

God designed each one of us to win.

How do we spend each second of our life? We must always think that a time spent is gone forever. In order for us to accomplish the things that we have to do and finish, here are the things we need:

          a. Bible

          b. planner

          c. action

The Bible is our guide to think well. Bible principles are God's standards that we have to follow so what we do is something pleasing to the Lord. We may not be perfect--as what we know so well--but the Bible is something to read to help us be somebody we can't be.

David was a shepherd. Who would have thought he would be a king? David was the second king of the United Kingdom of Israel after King Saul.

Whenever I read the life of David or anything about him, I imagine the days he was in pasture leading the sheep. I wonder what he would do if it would rain, or when darkness covered his pasture. When one sheep was lost or suffering, or dying... I try to imagine how he led his sheep that made him an effective king of Israel.

His thoughts and wisdom from God is a source of strength, inspiration and revival to many Christian leaders. I think, there's no great Christian leader who doesn't know this:

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside the still waters,

He restores my soul;

He leads me in the path of righteousness for His name's sake

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me.

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

                                                                                --Psalms 23

God will use our talents, strengths, weaknesses and failures for his glory. We should let Him. Just like David, he was a great shepherd and now we benefit from his life. His ancestor was Rahab who was a prostitute. David himself had an affair but then, God still used both of them.

Here's a genealogy showing the relationship of Rahab and David and their connection to Jesus Christ.

(photo source: http://www.bible.ca/archeology/bible-archeology-maps-timeline-chronology-2samuel13-22-tamars-rape-absaloms-mutiny-984-973bc.htm)

                                               (photo source: https://www.cai.org/bible-studies/queen-elizabeth-ii-heir-great-bible-promises)

This world is in darkness. 

We have to stand for a change. We must be the change we want to see in this world, as one famous line goes. The Bible is our tool to do our task of bringing light in this world.

                                                                      (photo source: http://www.joyforevermore.com/2012/04/26/salt-and-light/)

We have to be focused on thinking that we are the salt and light. It is a big responsibility. It is actually a very tough job. Being a missionary or volunteer of the Great Commission is the hardest job a person could volunteer about. It is harder than being a CEO. 

What all Jesus did was just to spread His Word but a CEO can lead a corporation and still do something for God.

Being a Christian, spreading the Word are two things very hard to do. Many Christians just attend the church--that's an easy thing. Attend and volunteer in a church ministry is a little bit harder. Being a church volunteer plus sharing the Word to attendees is definitely hard. Then there are more until we satisfy ourselves of doing our part as a bold, brave and roaring Christian. Doing them while doing our daily tasks, chores, responsibilities plus minding and caring for the people dear to us could make these things even more complicated.

Here's where the importance of planning takes in. So we need a Planner.

Planning is essential in anything we do. One famous line goes, "If we fail to plan, we plan to fail." 

Planning needs actions. Don't plan something we would not execute or else we would just waste our time. 

End goal is an essential thing to be cleared on our mind in planning. There must be product. End result. Planning about the different concerns of our lives have different approaches. Basically and in general, we just have to look at the end goal. If we don't think about the end goal, we would make ourselves tired--after all nothing will happen in the end.

I am an English teacher but I teach Science in our school. Books of high school have topic about the Scientific Method. Those books have different approaches to executing this method. Their similar concept goes:

     1. Know and define the problem

     2. Research

     3. Make an intelligent guess or hypothesis

     4. Conduct experiment/s

     5. Record data

     6. Analyze the data and result

     7. Draw conclusion

Business people have different approaches to planning and executing their plans. Here's a sample:

     1. What are the objectives?

     2. How much is the probable budget?

     3. What is the investment style?

     4. What is the time frame(analysis of ROI)?

     5. What is the end result?

The first thing business people think about are the objectives since there is a crucial thing involved in it. MONEY. Though different business people have different approaches to planning and execution, for sure, business people have in common--thinking about the END RESULT.

The Bible is a strong evidence that God has a perfect plan for us. He knows what He is doing. He knows where we are going.

HEAVEN or HELL. 

He already gave us the story of the world from Adam and Eve up to the end times. It's narrated in the Bible.

Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14, "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Up Next:

#Mindstep #Six: #Focus #PartThree

To God Be The Glory

#MindstepSix: #Focus

God has a special gift for you. You just have to be focused until the special day He wants to especially give that gift to you.

                                           (photo source: http://www.targetprocess.com/blog/2014/03/2-approaches-to-focus-in-knowledge-work.html)

Everyone experiences pain, failure, disappointment; happiness, falling in love, getting inspired, etc. But not everyone can see his/her dream coming true consistently.  

Not everyone is gifted to keep moving, focused. Most of us give up.

                                          (photo source: http://i.imgur.com/47S0q.jpg)

Everyday, we do our activities. Once one of our loved ones dies~ normally, we stop doing what we do just to visit him/her. That is normal.

If we are on a running race and we fall hard, we're injured--let's say a big bruise plus joint pain and sprain-- would we keep going to finish the race or stop and feel the pain?

Here are links of people who showed "heart" to keep going to finish a race.

We just have to keep going to finish a race. Just like a horse, to be able to keep going, we put on bridle and blinkers on them. 

                                                                               (photo source: http://petanque-c.com/project-focus-without-blinkers-on/)

Successful people look at their mission and vision. Poor-minded people look at what they feel at the moment. 

In our school, we are having praise and worship every Friday. Before that, we group our students for Bible study. For this school year, I am assigned to teach the group of Grades 7 and 8.

I shared them that on earth, there are three types of people(I don't know if there are books or online content about this 3 types of people because I just invented it~ as far as I know.)

The Three Types of People:

1. Forgotten

2. Ordinary

3. Excelling

Forgotten - the people who are neglected in the society.  They are those who don't do anything for the betterment of the community/society--or those whom the government won't notice. 

Many people are forgotten.

Ordinary- majority of the people belong to this classification. People who are classified under this category do what most people usually do.

If most people are into Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc, they are also into these kinds of stuffs. If most students take up Nursing, they would also take up Nursing. If they hear being call center agent receive better pay, they'd resign on their job to go to that job. Etcetera. Etcetera. Etcetera.

Many people are ordinary.

Excelling- There are very few people who are very rich. These very rich people are those who are businessmen, inventors, innovators, corporate people, sportsmen, risk takers. These people take the harder road, the less traveled by. Usually, on this road: pain, disappointments, trials, challenges, 'blood', tears, heartaches could found. Poor-minded see those as problems. Successful people see those as stepping stones, spices and motivating factor.

Here are some of the world's renowned people whose lives have made difference and big impact to the people of the world:

          1. Paul The Apostle
          2. Alexander Graham Bell 
          3. Gautama Buddha
          4. Marie Curie
          5. Charles Darwin, 
          6. Walt Disney
          7. Albert Einstein
          8. Thomas Alva Edison
          9.  Henry Ford
          10. Bill Gates
          11. Adolf Hitler
          12. Steve Jobs
          13. Gengis Khan
          14. Martin Luther
          15. Karl Marx
          16. Ferdinand Magellan
          17. Michaeangelo
          18. Isaac Newton
          19. Pythagoras
          20. Jean-Jacques Rousseau
          21. Joseph Stalin
          22. Lao Tsu
          23. Sun Tzu
          24. Mother Theresa
          25. Queen Victoria
          26. George Washington
          27. Zoroaster

And there are more I didn't mention.

Jesus Christ who's our God stepped down here on earth for the salvation of mankind. Because of His life, the people are enlightened. He did many great things.

There are many things to be done. There are many problems to be solved here on earth. But nobody has ever succeeded without FOCUS.


Up Next:

#MindstepSix: #FocusPartTwo

To God Be The Gory

#MindstepFive: #Discipline

I face each day with things on my mind about my "5-or-10-years-from-now". And I want my journey to end well. I mean, I want to meet the people from my past congratulating me when I meet them again five to ten years from now. To be really successful, it takes hard work, patience--and everything nice-- plus DISCIPLINE.

Discipline is a system designed to train a person.  For once, I'll be talking about a topic I haven't mastered yet, but something I work on. Discipline.

I admire myself when I was still writing romance books. That time I was on my first year, second year college.

No matter how tired I was, I would really wake up early and be awake 'til dawn just to be able to finish a book in one week considering college paper works, exams, quizzes, events and classes I had to attend. And when I was still not entering college-- since I stopped schooling-- I would face the blank bond papers and spend the whole day type the manuscripts faithfully, using manual typewriter. I admire myself because nowadays, I can't stand an hour just sitting to accomplish some paper works. I have to have a coffee break or stand to see what's going on around. Or visit social networking sites.

August, September, October 2010, several months before I graduated from College, I realized I was so undisciplined. I would wake up unmotivated to face the day and I would accomplish less. I got so worried. This lifestyle was so different when I was in Korea (May, June, July 2010)

In there, I would wake up at 2 am and sleep at 10 pm! Those hours, I worked! I did delivery jobs.

I could deliver hundreds of newspapers and almost fifty(or more!) boxes of Taekbe. I used bike to deliver taekbe.

                          (photo source: http://www.herzlife.com/shopping-online-and-tekbe-ajeossi/)

To check how undisciplined I was, I would make a schedule on how I should spend my day. Before sleeping, I would write how I spent my day. I would compare them. They're very different from each other.

Jesus Christ is a great model of discipline.

The first step to becoming disciplined is by learning how to say, "NO." Jesus was tempted by satan to turn a stone into bread during the time He was in dire need to eat, He was forty-day hungry then. When I was new in the practice of fasting, there were times I was really tempted to eat and I gave into the temptation. I ate. It was hard not to eat. Meaning, Jesus was so great that He was able to endure the temptation of eating despite deep hunger.

satan tried to devour His mind of promises related to acquiring the wealth of the world if Jesus would just bow down before him. Jesus knew He is God and He doesn't need wealth-- neither fame-- because He made all of the things on earth. This world is His. Instead Jesus said, "Away from me, satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only."(Matthew 4:10)

satan brought Jesus to the highest point of a temple. satan tempted Him to jump off.

Matthew 4:6-7 narrates:

"If you are the Son of God," he said, "throw yourself down. For it is written:

          He will command His angels concerning you,

            and they will lift you up in their hands,

            so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.

Jesus answered him, "It is also written: Do not put the Lord your God to the test."

It is important that we read the Bible. satan knows what are the things written in the Bible since he was once an angel. satan could use it to devour our mind empty of the Holy Scriptures. Jesus was well-equipped in the knowledge of the content of the Bible. He was able to say, "NO."

In the same way, we could say, "I won't visit Facebook now especially I have many things to do. If I visit it, I might see videos, I might just chat with friends or I'd be so consumed knowing what my friends are posting about. So I will just finish the stuffs I have to accomplish."

Nowadays, many students come to school without homework, projects. They can't study at night because of social networking sites. I am always frustrated in motivating our high school students to let them understand that staying online for long in social networking sites won't do good regarding their future. I am the head teacher of our school so I am researching how to motivate the students and really make them realize the value of their future in relation to what they do at present. They seem more proud to announce the world they lacked sleep because of chatting with someone they like so much. Or because of game. Or because of boredom. Or because of lack of discipline and focus. Or lack of sense of direction. Or lack of dreams. Or lack of their love for their family. Lack of love for themselves.

I worry too much about their future but they don't care of what they do with their lives. I want them not just go to school everyday--some of them are absent from time to time-- I want them to understand why they go to school. And what lies ahead of them after schooling. But I remember what the Bible is saying about one's capacity, ability to listen and understand.

                             (photo source: http://megjohnsonspeaks.com/2014/07/fhe-parable-dirt-mean-sower/)

The Parable of the Sower

     Then Jesus told them many things in parables, saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear." (Matthew 13:3-9)

Everyone has dreams but not all people succeed. Only the disciplined succeed. Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is a living epitome of discipline.

His Physical stats is: 

          Height: 5'6"(1.68m)

          Weight: 122 pounds

His workout routine:

Monday to Wednesday

     Running for 10 miles(stamina building)

     8 rounds of shadow boxing

     15 rounds of sparring

     10 rounds of speed bag

     10 rounds of heavy bag

     7 round of jump rope  

     2 sets of ab crunches of 100 reps

     2 sets of knee ups of 100 reps

     2 sets of diagonal crunches (both sides) of 100 reps

     2 sets of alternate bicycle of 100 reps

     2 sets of leg scissors of 100 reps

     2 sets of vertical leg crunches of 100 reps

     2 sets of side crunches of 100 reps

     2 sets of floor wipers of 100 reps

     2 sets of Russian twists of 100 reps

     10 round of agility ladder drills(speed workout)

Tuesday and Thursday

     Warm up exercise(running for 10 miles) (stamina workout)

      8 rounds of shadow boxing with dumbbells in each hand

      15 rounds of mitt training

      10 rounds of speed bag

      10 rounds of heavy bag

      7 rounds of jump rope

      2 sets of knee ups pf 100 reps

      2 sets of knee ups of 100 reps

      2 sets of alternate bicycle of 100 reps

      2 sets of leg scissors of 100 reps

      2 sets of side crunches of 100 reps   

      2 sets of floor wipers of 100 reps

      2 sets of Russian twists of 100 reps

      Plyometric exercises

Friday

     Warm up exercises(stretching)

     3 sets of shadow boxing of 3 minutes

     8-20 rounds of mitts

     3 sets of double end bag of 3 minutes

     3 sets of speed bag of 3 minutes

     3 sets of jump rope of 3 minutes

     6 sets of shadow boxing of 3 reps

     10 sets of ab exercises of 100 reps

Saturday

     Stamina building workout (running/sparring)

Sunday (rest day)

                                                                                             
                                        (source: http://workoutinfoguru.com/manny-pacquiao-workout/)

It is important that we find time to rest and to relax. Our Almighty God despite being the creator of heaven and earth rested on the seventh day. (Genesis 2:2) Hard work will make us weary and tired, stressed and unready to face the following week. We must trust God and think that resting is our way of showing Him we lift our life to Him. That in anything we do, we honor Him. We also honor Him in our lives if we spend our rest day in worshiping Him by going to church, reading the Bible and reflecting on the week that's been. It is also our chance to regain our strength from a week hard work. In my case I get to sleep only 4 to 5 hours from Monday to Friday and about 6 to 7 hours every Saturday, I could enjoy an eight hour sleep every Sunday. Adventists rest every Saturday.

The future is bleak and obscure. Through discipline we will get to the future life we would like enjoying. Through discipline we become better and we get to accomplish the things we have to do.

 I have many dreams and plans. And right now, I have many jobs. Head Teacher, ESL teacher, I am writing a movie script, blogger, networker, tutor and more. I have to really discipline myself in order to accomplish the things others expect from me; and also accomplish the things I expect for myself. 

Why do we have to discipline ourselves? It is simple. Ten, twenty years from now, do we want to be successful or not? If yes, we have to discipline ourselves. If not, we'd just go with the flow of how life would mold us to be. It's our choice.

Up Next:

#MindstepSix: #Focus

TO GOD BE THE GLORY

#MindstepFour: Paradigm Shift Part Two

"I am tired..."

"No, I am not tired. I can do even more."

Yes. We can do more.

Today, I woke up at 3 am although I slept just 2 and a half hours ago. I am the Head Teacher of our school. I am also a tutor, a writer, a blogger, networker and a big businessman in the making--I am just convincing myself! I am also a dreamer, a big dreamer. I want to build an international ESL company. On my mind is a film I entitled, "Seonsaengnim"--it's a Korean word which means teacher.

There are many things that are on my mind so I work really hard to fulfill them. It's for my future but at present, I have to find ways to fulfill them all.

Starting on Monday, I'll be having another tutorial job aside from my 2:00-3:00 tutorial schedule. I'll be having 6-9 pm tutorial classes. I regularly teach. My working hours is from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

2003 when I entered College was the start I became always busy. My days are always consumed with work. I would always sleep late and wake up early. Sometimes I wonder why I don't get sick. But I know it is because of Jesus. He heals me, he empowers me.

Paradigm shift should not remain a paradigm. It entails actions. The bigger your paradigm is, the bigger the actions should be.

Honestly, I feel frustrated everyday because of my dreams. But at the end of it all, they are also what motivate me. I see my dreams today as visions. I am willing to undertake hardships, trials and difficulties to have them in the years to come. This morning, I saw this video and this summarizes what I am talking about.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202610140708898

In the video, the cyclist is on a rocky mountain and the slopes are really deathly dangerous. One wrong move could cause the death of the cyclist. Despite the ups and down and the danger in the situation, the cyclist was able to reach his finish line and received applause with WOWS! from the witnesses of his astonishing ride.

It's not really important what situation, what disappointments, problems, misfortune, lose of hope we are undergoing through The point is: is our mind ready? Ready for what?

          a. To wake up from sleep.
          b. To see what really matters. To see what should be done. To see the why's and how's.
          c. To act despite obstacles, criticisms, disappointments.
          d. To accept failures and defeat --for life lessons.
          e. Courage to always go on with a winning attitude.

Life is full of crossroads but we have to keep moving ahead. If a road is diverging in two, which would we choose? There are always two paths in front of us. Our paradigm would direct us, the end result would tell us if we've got that sound judgment and wisdom.

That is the importance of "paradigm shift". All of us have paradigm but it is up to us whether we'll make a good set of paradigm or we'd choose to just be who and how we used to be; or go back to the old ways or choose the things we thought good enough.

To have a good and effective "paradigm" we must open our mind.

Open our mind to what?

1. We have to accept the fact that what we know is not enough yet. We have to know many things. We don't have to know everything but we have to discover the "assets" that could help us in successfully dealing with our everyday concerns.

I'll give you idea how important a good paradigm is. Let me cite a fishball vendor as a good example. Let's say he's at his early 40, father to 4; married to unhelpful woman.

 (photo source: http://petervandever.com/2013/08/are-poor-filipinos-really-poor)

UNSUCCESSFUL FISHBALL VENDOR: He wakes up worried because of expenses. He prepares breakfast completely annoyed of his nagging wife. After eating a simple meal, perhaps rice and tuyo with noodles, he starts preparing his products-- fishball.

(photo source: http://geneviecua.blogspot.com/2011/08/good-morning.html)

(photo source: http://ascientistinthekitchen.net/blogging/will-be-back-to-blogging)

A pack of fish ball costs 42-45.00 Php. A pack has 100 fish balls. Meaning, a pack could be sold with a profit of 5.00 Php. To sell fish ball, there is a need for gas, cooking oil and fish ball sauce. To maximize the profit, the vendor would sell chicken ball and kikiam. Ric, journalism student from the University of of the Philippines writes about the story of Many Tony, a fish ball vendor. His blog (http://blackhelios.wordpress.com/2012/04/24/mang-tony-and-his-fish-ball-story/)  confirms that a fish ball vendor earns around 300.00 Php, if luck permits 400.00 Php earnings sometimes.

As of June 13, 2011, this is the price list of prime commodities in Philippines at annual inflation rate of 4.6, 3.2 and 3.0 for the years 2011, 2012, 2013 respectively. Last July 2014, Philippine inflation rate was at 4.4.

Here's the link: http://www.gov.ph/2011/06/14/price-list-for-selected-basic-necessities-and-prime-commodities-as-of-june-14-2011/

With this kind of income and expenses most probably, the mother and father would always fight. Low income is not the only problem. Most of underground economy business such as this are being eaten by "5-6". It is a business of some people wherein when you borrow 5,000.00 Php, the money becomes 6, 000.00 Php after a month of using it.

Meeting the needs of 4 kids is really hard especially if they all go to school. Or if there's still a kid in infant stage.


SUCCESSFUL STORY: Grace Gupana, as fish ball vendor once, was awarded by Guinness Book of World Records for:

+ World's Biggest Philippine and Israeli flag.
+ World's biggest 10 Commandment tablet
+ Longest Drawing(5 kilometers and 7 meters)
+ Most blood identification tests in 24 hours: 527)
+ Most cholesterol readings taken in 24 hours: 2,302
+ Most diabetes reading taken in 24 hours: 2,302
+ Most diabetes readings taken in 24 hours: 503

(photo source: http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/10718152/image/87703098-grace-galindez-gupana-holds-a-guinness-record-certificate-in-front-of-the-world-s-largest)

 (photo source: http://fil.wikipilipinas.org/index.php/Grace_Galindez-Gupana)

Good paradigm gives birth to successful life.

2. Allow changes in our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 reminds, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and future."

God tests us. He allows problems and difficulties in our lives but those are still for our own good. Trials and struggles come to us to make us stronger and wiser. Besides, God will never give us what we cannot handle.

Remember, "No pain, no gain."

3. Let God use our lives for His purpose.

God made us. Therefore, we are His. Our lives are His.

When we give our life to God, our days become easier to face; our problems become easier to solve. It is God who sustains our wants and needs. Therefore, He deserves all the glory and honor. Through our lives, God must be glorified. God will do something great in our lives, we just let Him work in and through us.

4. We have to be disciplined to do what God is asking us to do.

Luke 10:2: He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

We should not say we are bored, lazy since there are many things to do.

If we feel sad, we could go out and make someone happy. If we cannot solve a problem, we could just look for someone whom we could help solve his/her problem--let's give God the work of solving our problems when we can't. If we feel alone, let's think we can do many things for others. Many kids can't read. Many kids can't add, can't subtract yet. Why don't we help them? If we know Jesus Christ as our personal Savior, why don't we tell a friend, a Facebook friend or to a neighbor about Him?

5. Open our mind to the lessons of books, especially the Bible.
Always think we are an empty cup every time. We'd realize there are more things that we have to know and learn.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good pleasing and perfect will." --Romans 12:2


UP NEXT:

#MindstepFive: #Discipline

To God Be The Glory

#ParadigmShiftPartOne

Would you believe they are just the same one tabletop?

(illusion created by Stanford University psychologist Roger Shepard)

If we're asked whether the tabletops above are identical, we would answer, no--they are different from one another. But if you get a measuring device, you'll find out that they are just the same.

In the same manner, there is this thing we call life but we all look differently at it.

You might argue if I tell you this is Marilyn Monroe. 

Do you see Marilyn Monroe or Albert Einstein?

If I tell you this is Marilyn Monroe and you don't believe, I just have to let you see what I see.

Go a little far from the picture and you'll see Marilyn Monroe.

If someone were poor and another person would tell him/her, he/she's rich, there must be something wrong in the eyes of the person telling that especially if this someone experiences hunger, is homeless and penniless.

You are wealthy, do you believe?

Yes or no?

Look at the arrangement of the dice and see them an impressive triangle.

I just showed you, looks could be deceiving. What we see is not the whole truth. What we know is not all perfectly true and correct--something we should not always rely onto, believe in. There are things we think of, we think about that we have to change.

Bad disposition, past experiences, bad habits or others stuffs that hinder us to have better life--they are some of the things that must be discarded NOW.

If someone is telling you you are nothing, would you believe?

If someone is telling you you are hopeless, you'll never meet 'good future', would you believe?

You may look at the mirror and see someone beautiful or handsome. You may look at yourself as someone kind or rude. You may develop thinking about yourself as productive or someone whom the world cannot be relied onto.

Do you ever wonder why some celebrities despite looking good still decide to undergo surgery? Some people whom in our sight appear beautiful or handsome, sexy--whom we consider near perfection still want to have a part of their body changed? Because another person's view in us cannot satisfy what we believe about our "self-image". Our self-image is what we know about "who-I-am" without considering "this-is-what-they-think-about-me".

How do you know if there is problem in the way you look at things? I won't google it, here's my own list.

1. You see and imagine ghosts anywhere you go. You are worried to close your eyes while washing your face. You are worried the moment you open your eyes, ghost would appear just in front of you.

2. You always cry because you always think God gives you all the problems He could shower you. You think your life is like a TV drama. The fact is, we all experience the same level of problems, frustrations, disappointments but we approach life differently.

3. You don't want to face the day. All of us should go out and live the life God wants us to experience. Cowardice is a mental approach to living the wrong way. Be brave. Be bold. Life tests us. When it gets tired, it would soon keep blessing us. we just have to show we deserve a good life by not giving up on tests. Besides, life won't test you in the way you won't be able to bear---same is true in having blessings. Life won't bless you if you don't know how to handle the good things it could bless you with.

4. You always sing when you are sad. You always cry when you are happy.

We should face life as it is. If a friend or family member died, cry. If you are happy, laugh and shout your joy to the world. Be yourself!

There is a Time for Everything

          There is a time for everything,
               and everything on earth has its special season.
          There is a time to be born
               and a time to die
          There is a time to plant
               and a time to pull up plants.
          There is a time to kill
               and a time to heal.
          There is a time to destroy
               and a time to build
          There is a time to cry
               and a time to laugh
          There is a time to be sad
               and a time to dance.
          There is a time to throw away stones
               and a time to gather them.
          There is a time to hug
               and a time not to hug
          There is a time to look for something
               and a time to stop looking for it.
          There is a time to keep things
               and a time to throw things away.
          There is a time to tear apart
               and a time to sew together.
          There is a time to be silent
               and a time to speak.
          There is a time to love
               and a time to hate.
          There is a time for war
               and a time for peace.
                                         --Ecclesiastes 3:1-7

5. You have problem in the way you look at life if you don't believe God.

How did I become who I am if ever nobody created me?---Ask this to yourself if you think there is no existing God.

Paradigm Shift is a battle field of decision-making. It is switching off of an ineffective body system, killing bad habits to be transformed into someone better.

It is choosing a better option.

Many of us complain that we get to do less because of social networking sites. We all know this but not all would decide to not actually visit them and do something more productive. It's a choice.

Many students would come to school without homework. In the same manner, some teachers are not inspiring, active or dedicated to the teaching profession. It's a choice.

Any successful person should have a powerful willingness, dedication and action to arrive at a better result of paradigm shift.

FOCUS is a field where paradigm shift should be playing at. Someone deciding to have better life should not keep shifting paradigm.

It is not like deciding to not visit a social networking site now and visit it again when the "worse-you" sets in. It is not forgetting who we want to be for something we just feel at the moment. It should not be an spark of likeness to be better now and a lose of hope and perseverance after awhile.

                                   (photo source: http://agr.georgia.gov/cogongrass.aspx)

"Ningas-cogon" describes the attitude of some Filipinos. When this grass is lit when dried, it sparks or makes fire but then eventually dies. This grass serves as warning to some Filipinos not to be good only at the start then eventually "die" at the course of a struggle.

To go somewhere better, there must be focus to where we want to go--and consistency in action, decision-making and "mindstep" should go with it. In our journey to success, we experience set backs, loses and many other negative dispositions. A good person's paradigm shift should be strong in the sense that the person deciding to be better is equipped enough physically, emotionally, emotionally, socially--to stay fit to keep moving without the consistent shift of paradigm.

#MindstepFour: #ParadigmShift

How to evaluate if a shift of paradigm is effective?

There is no formula to success. Same is true in dealing with "paradigm shift". We base our "paradigm" on the result of our decisions in our lives. As long as our life is performing well or our life is getting better, then we can say that we are on the right track. But if we keep losing, we don't get to do what we have to do, we experience negative emotions toward others and ourselves, that's the time we realize there is need for "paradigm shift" or another paradigm shift. But then again, it should not be a consistent, continuous shift of paradigm.

Paradigm shift should be positive. We don't make a shift on our paradigm the negative way or else something negative would also take place. Karma.

If we'd plant something positive, we would reap something positive. If we'd cultivate on bad soil, plant bad seeds, we would be reaping bad.

Matthew 7:12 reminds, "Do to others whatever you would like them do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets."

Up Next

#ParadigmShiftPartTwo

To God Be The Glory