Happiness

 

Photo of Ria G. Rombaoa

By Buena Laoang

 (This text is inspired by the film, “Pursuit of Happyness”: The Chris Gardner Story)

 

ow much of it do we want?

 

portion? A certain degree? oh yes I bet- a hundred percent

 

  ossibility of finding it? You may, or may not have it.

 

  robability of having it? You have a great chance of getting it.

 

   s it really that way- that you have to pursue it?

 

o sweat, no glory… is it something workable: happiness?

 

E   nds in your heart, in the innermost of your soul, emanates in your being

 

S   hould anyone spell it to you, or define it for you?

 

S   hould you finally take control of your happiness, and live it?

 

 Oh, another mysterious thing called “happiness”.
 
 

About the Author: Buenaflor Laoang-Rosete finished Creative Writing from the University of the Philippines Diliman, and an awardee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Philippines in 2001. She is a mother, public servant, teacher. Her Lifenotes tell of a “once-a-wretch-now-fully-blest” life story, inspiring the advocacy of living simply, fragrantly and richly. She is a Filipino and is happy to be one.

How to Accept Yourself

Photo of Ria G. Rombaoa

By Avdhessh Arya

 

One of the most futile things you can ever do to yourself is to indulge in personality analysis- finding out what kind of person you are.

Let’s say you are an introvert.  That’s cool…that’s OK!

What’s wrong in being an introvert? And for that matter, what’s wrong in being an extrovert?

Nothing!

I have seen many of my introvert students trying too hard to turn themselves into extroverts, and vice versa.

It appears that nobody is happy with what he or she is.  People have been conditioned to believe that they are not good as they are. In order to prove that they are good, they need to get other’s approval, and for that, they need to polish themselves, refine themselves.

There’s nothing wrong in polishing and refining yourself as long as you feel good about it, and do it for yourself.  When you do it to please others, it becomes poisonous.

When you live by others’ standards, you lose your originality. You lose your ‘voice’. And if you really want to grow as an individual, you simply can’t afford that.

 

 

About the Author: Avdhessh Arya, is a personal development coach for youth and voice actor, who helps young people break walls of self-imposed limitations and become confident individuals. He is also the founder and owner of avdhessharya.com, a website portal with focus on dealing with lack of self-confidence, negativity, self-doubt, lack of focus and more. Visit http://avdhessharya.com to read more such insightful articles.

End or Extend?

Photo of Ann Maureen Gualberto

By Buena Laoang

Well- June is almost over! And this post concludes our JUNE challenges. Have a run:

JUST ACT!  Whatever it is you have to do to make you feel lighter,  JUST ACT on it!  Feel free.

UNEXPECTED  Has something “unexpected” happened recently?  How did you go about it? If it is for or against your favor- what simply did you learn?

NO, THANK YOU? What’s one word to describe your feelings about AMSDaily since that day you said yes to it?

And we will end up with a challenge that goes like this:

END or EXTEND?

Okay, you are going through something. Maybe it’s a pain or some sort of discontent you just want to end. Or a beautiful moment you want to just go on and on. Whatever it is, your time is up. You need to move on to the next.

We simply have to accept that there is an end to everything. So the hopeless can no longer feel so because, the despair ends and a brighter day still comes. The powerful (for instance), on the other hand, cannot abuse because, there comes a time his authority soon expires.

However, it is true that people choose to “extend” on whatever it is they are experiencing- or do you? How? The miserable extends being one, by not accepting reality and coming out to confront the situation head up. The achiever or satisfied extends on his moment of bliss, by trying to ignore reality and wanting to linger on in what’s supposed to be ‘no longer’ his comfort zone.

But, dear you, if that is the way one does it, do you think there’d be growth (or call that personal growth) on his part? Wouldn’t life be easier if one simply accepts an end and not wish to extend? Could it not be sweeter, or lighter, for anyone else too? Tell us what you think.

Love,

Buena

 

About the Author: Buenaflor Laoang-Rosete finished Creative Writing from the University of the Philippines Diliman, and an awardee of the National Commission for Culture and the Arts Philippines in 2001. She worked with the Tarlac College of Agriculture (a government college) as Communication Officer for eight years, and now with three kids ages 2,4,and 6, moved to becoming a full time house mom. Currently she is devoted to satisfying her husband, nurturing her kids, goes to runs and outreaches, and writes. Valuing life, she keeps her love for wisdom, photography, and immersion intact- in and out business.

Remember the Nicest Thing You Ever did for Someone

 

Photo of Yedelilah Miguel

By Stuart Young

 

Take the opportunity today to remember the nicest thing you ever did for someone.

If you’re a half way decent person you probably found that quite hard as you trawled through dozens of memories trying to find the nicest one.

I’ll let you into a secret – that was actually the point!

You see trying to figure out what the nicest thing was is impossible because you can’t know how you have affected someone when you do something nice. At the time they might just say ‘Oh, thanks for that.’ and you don’t hear any more, but unbeknownst to you that thing turns out on reflection to be massively influential for that person. So what you think is the nicest thing may well be pretty good, but it might pale in comparison to something else you did that seemed quite small.

So the point of the guide?

Do nice things all the time no matter how small they are because you don’t know the long term effects of that action.

 

About the Author: Stuart Young writes his thoughts on his blog How To Change Your Life One Day At A Time. He  launched his book on this topic in May 2012 and has since helped people change their lives. Click here  to get your copy now!

Just Act

Photo of Quawee Whitening

By Buena Laoang

 

As I write this post, I actually have a long list to do, after a long day of field work to the goat farms.

To those who are familiar with it, I had been a full time house mom for an entire year, and just recently my happy fulltime mommy-hood has commenced, and I am officially back to being a career mom!

Now, new items have been added to my usual schedule of tending the children, working out the house chores with my spouse, and the many other “little things” that consume much time and of course, of prime importance for us.

But going back to my story, as I was covering out the books of my daughter for the opening of school days here in the Philippines, my body longing for a refreshing time on the shower, I suddenly remembered I am up for this post! So what will I do?! Tempted to “think” about it first, “plan my schedule”, and constantly interrupted by the curious questions of my children about my field visit, and worried if I can make it in time for this commitment- I exclaimed to myself, “Just act!”

And here I am, sharing what I’ve been up to for the day (the previous days having been too hectic, on the adjustment period at least), and telling you, it works to JUST ACT!

For now, I’m finished with this post, got in touch with you once again, and as I mark one thing-to-do off my list, I am encouraged and energized to do the remaining others!

CHALLENGE of the WEEK: Whatever it is you have to do to make you feel lighter,  JUST ACT on it!  Feel free.

 

About the Author: Buenaflor Laoang-Rosete  is a regular contributor for AMSDaily. You can also visit her blog at Barefoot Life Reflections to read more  inspiring stories.