Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater I can imagine how much it would amuse the devil if he succeeds in making an otherwise good and intelligent person “throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Sometimes in the course of trying to do something good, we may unwittingly discard something of value and virtue. […]
If we view situations based only on our perspective, we don’t allow others to grow It’s easy to only see things from our own perspective. When something happens, our first instinct is often to react based on how it makes us feel, without considering how others might view the situation. But if we never try […]
Technicalities should not get in the way of insight Technicalities are important in the sense that they provide structure and consistency. However, if we become obsessed with technical details, we risk losing sight of deeper insight. The creative process requires room for exploration, intuition, and serendipity that exists beyond the realm of technicalities. If we […]
Who do we rest with? We yearn for rest in this demanding life. We find it with people who listen – those who meet us with humility, not ego. People who listen fully and gently, focused on understanding us, not judging. Their open ears invite our trust. Their kind empathy offers balm. In the presence […]
Aren’t children the most authentic? Children’s blunt honesty often fades as we grow up. Unbothered by self-awareness, kids openly share feelings and speak their minds. Their play is spontaneous and imaginative. Children live in the moment, not worried about past or future. This realness can seem rude or clumsy, but is also admirable. As adults […]
Getting away with it I wonder: is our society and organizations structured to reward those who can “get away with it” for the longest possible time? In a span of a few decades, we have seen so many corporate and political scandals that seem to just repeat themselves, only repackaged by new buzzwords or technology. […]
Pabigat versus bayanihan In Filipino, we have a term for those who are freeloaders and are merely being carried by the group – “pabigat”. Yet, we also have a term for our own version of solidarity and being each other’s stewards – “bayanihan”. Notice that when we help each other, our crosses and those that […]
Interiority We are called not only to pay attention to what we experience, but also to pay attention to how we arrive at insights, validate them, and act on them. This is what is called “interiority”, and this is what we aim to assess when we make our students practice first-person tools. In a world […]
Standing on the shoulders of giants When we allow our students and mentees to flourish, we become giants ourselves who allow them to see and be far more when they started. And the greatest fulfillment is when the students become like their teachers, allowing others to stand on their shoulders. Matthew 10:24-33. It is enough […]
Know the dirty tricks of the game not to cheat, but to defend ourselves In my high school years when I was more active in playing basketball, I learned how important it is to be mindful of dirty tricks and situations where dirty players may injure others. We need to learn how to protect ourselves […]