Symptoms are not our foes Symptoms are not our enemies, but rather helpful signals our body sends. Instead of only wishing for them to disappear, we should focus on what they reveal about our health. Being ill doesn’t always mean we lack something; it can also show that something is preventing us from feeling our […]
Fear and courage are two sides of the same coin Fear and courage may seem like opposites, but we can frame them as being two sides of the same coin. Fear is a basic part of being human. It helps keep us safe by warning us about danger. Courage, on the other hand, is the […]
Timing and faith Finding the right time means navigating time, space, and chance. Having great timing also presupposes that we have developed skills, talents, or even virtues so that we can take advantage of serendipity. The right timing also requires faith. This is because no matter how much we prepare ourselves, there are many things […]
How have we behaved? In dealing with each other, there are so many things behind the scenes that we can barely see or sense. The most tangible or concrete thing we can assess is our work or behavior. Why have we behaved in certain ways? Do our behaviors indicate a certain pattern that could define […]
Finding the spirit in the work that we do A very transactional view of work makes it seem like a soulless activity – absurd, meaningless, and even BS. This kind of view towards work is not sustainable for any person. Such an approach may lead to burnout, disengagement, and a lack of fulfillment. However, when […]
Choosing to be well despite the circumstances Trying to apply well-being in the way we manage our students, I have come to appreciate that well-being can be conceived as a state (as in, a certain level of a well-being dimension at a certain time). From an administrator and researcher perspective, this may make sense. However, […]
A leader must dream like a father Leaders and fathers seem to have great similarities. They are accountable when it comes to the processes and outcomes of any system in an organization or a household. The trickiest balancing act is to find the golden mean between action and vision. In a complex world with so […]
Willfull ignorance, comfort zones, and complacency Willful ignorance can be framed as the deliberate decision to avoid or disregard information that conflicts with our preexisting beliefs and opinions. It is a common tendency that can be linked with our desire to remain within our comfort zones. But if we are often willfully ignorant, our comfort […]
Self-awareness vs self-consciousness Though being self-aware and being self-conscious seems to be similar, we can differentiate them to better understand our personal journey. My understanding of self-awareness is strongly rooted in what we call first-person practice in our academic programs. Through various thinking tools that facilitate authenticity, we aim to cultivate a deeper understanding of […]
How do we know if we have loved with all our strength? When we have imagined all scenarios, what ifs, and alternative courses of action, but find ourselves choosing to commit and developing an immovable yet peaceful resolve… We may have already taken that leap of faith to love with all our strength. Mark 12:28-34. […]