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 best.

By paying attention to these signs, we can learn more about ourselves and work towards a healthier life. Embracing symptoms as guidance, instead of fighting against them, can lead us to a better understanding of our bodies and the path to well-being.

Maybe a suitable analogy is the final rep of a person lifting weights. The final rep is where failure and pain are most probable, but it is also where growth and breaking our limits happen. The good news is that we can surpass our limits – our perceived weaknesses and illnesses.

Or, we can have faith that someone will spot us and help us make that one final rep.

John 11:1-45. “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-085: MARCH 26, 2023]

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 beyond our control.

When our virtues overlap with chance (or better yet, with the divine), we can grasp what it means to truly develop and flourish. In the meantime, let’s keep the faith.

John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30. Because his hour had not yet come.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-083: MARCH 24, 2023]

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 we align our skills, passions, and values with our work, we can better discover the spirit of the work, which may have been cultivated by our mentors and those who went before us. This transformation allows us to see our work as an essential component of our lives, with the potential to bring meaning, purpose, and joy.

Imagine if corporations and organizations design systems and virtuous cycles where we interdependently create value and meaning with and for each other. In this vision, organizations become more than just profit-driven entities; they evolve into sacred spaces that nourish our spirits and foster a sense of community.

John 5:17-30. “My Father is at work until now, so I am at work.”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-081: MARCH 22, 2023]

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 many moving parts, it is easy for the leader or the father to overfocus on the process and forget to dream.

But it is important to rest and dream; to replace worries and anxieties with faith and excitement.

It is in dreaming where we allow insights about the future to visit us – to imagine how our organizations and households may flourish. For the faithful, it is where we allow God or a Higher Power to influence our thinking and make us consider other alternatives, especially in cases when we are pulled into so many directions.

When the burden of responsibility seems so heavy that we are compelled to focus on what is practical and what is actionable, we must remind ourselves that it is alright to dream.

Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24A. Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man, yet unwilling to expose her to shame, decided to divorce her quietly. Such was his intention when, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream…

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-079: MARCH 20, 2023]

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 our thoughts, emotions, behaviors, and patterns.

On the other hand, self-consciousness seems more concerned with our perception of how others view us. In Filipino, we think about the term “nakaka-conscious”, which may mean how we feel embarrassed about how others may be seeing us. While self-consciousness may serve as a helpful reminder to maintain social norms and etiquette, excessive focus on external perceptions can hinder authenticity and hinder personal growth.

The world makes it easy to compare ourselves with others. It takes discipline and deliberate practice to gain a more sober understanding of ourselves while it’s convenient and provocative to rank ourselves and others.

If we are supposed to live fulfilling lives and to lead meaningful organizations, it would be such a tragedy if we cannot gain insight about who we are and what we are meant to do. If insight visits us during the unexpected pauses in our lives, then we might miss it if all we care to hear are the noises about what others expect us to be.

Luke 18:9-14. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector.’

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 2023-077: MARCH 18, 2023]