365th day, 360th piece: Meta-reflections about writing, authenticity, and flourishing

This has been my new year’s resolution for 2022. I wanted to hone my writing skills, reflection skills, and spirituality through a daily writing habit. I missed 5 days (days 6-10) due to COVID, but having 360 daily reflections sounds good enough. This is the last for the year, so I will indulge myself and do some word vomits! Haha!

I compiled all of my reflections and experimented with an AI qualitative analysis tool to analyze the most common themes in my reflections. The top two themes are “authenticity” and “flourishing”, which makes a lot of sense. What clicked for me as a person and researcher is that the critical realist approach to doing research (inspired by Bhaskar, Elder-Vass, and Archer) plus authenticity, the general empirical method, and action research for transformations (inspired by Lonergan, Coghlan, and Bradbury) are great meta-frameworks to craft insights about myself, organizations, and society. Through my reflections, I have deepened my appreciation for the Catholic faith’s concept of integral human development, which has great overlaps with the concepts of well-being and flourishing.

My reflections that seemed to have engaged the most audience are about the aftermath of the Philippine national elections, rethinking what being an influencer means, and the advent of AI specifically AI-assisted writing. Getting reactions and comments have not been my primary motive, but getting responses about my reflections and inquiries does feel good. But this practice is more about discipline and less about pleasure; I can think of many days when it was very hard for me to write about the passages of the day.

There are days, though, when the words seem to write themselves and I indulge. Just like this morning – coffee, a beautiful sunrise, and a serene morning can trigger inspiration.

For next year, I intend to continue this practice but with some twists to spice things up. I will continue to experiment with AI tools like Grammarly and ChatGPT or the OpenAI Playground as an “AI writing partner”. I will also look into converting some of my reflections and opinion columns into short videos or even podcasts, and I might experiment with text-to-speech and text-to-video tools.

Finally, the gospel for the day seems most appropriate to close this year’s round of reflections and even this year itself: “From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace…” I relate this with the following principles when writing and reflecting:

  1. We write to express insights, not to impress. This principle goes back to my high school days. Back then, the maxim goes: “You write to express, not to impress.” But the question is, what are we supposed to express? These should be insights – nuggets of wisdom that are clear, relatively original, usable, relatable. The best insights are those born from attentiveness to experiences, intelligence in understanding, reasonableness in judgments, and responsibility in actions. The challenge with insights is that it is sometimes an elusive grace – it cannot be forced, but it can be facilitated. It is a special kind of grace to have insights emerge, and being able to capture it like lightning in a bottle is something that writers and artists should always be grateful for.
  2. The flow experience in writing is when the words write the author; when flow is triggered, indulge but when it is elusive, summon discipline or be unafraid to dialogue (with others or with AI). Even though I have a natural affinity with writing activities, it is not easy to articulate insights. It is really a dance between discipline and flow, and I find that having others to talk with or having AI tools help me edit or consider different angles can eliminate writer’s block. Perhaps the paradox with pursuing integral human development or flourishing is that it is not an individual activity; it is not enough to want to grow. A person must will it but also facilitate (not control) conditions or context that allows such growth. I remember two Bamboo albums: “We Stand Alone Together”, because we are both alone and accompanied; and “As the Music Plays the Band”, because there are times when the words write the author.

This year has been one of the most challenging in terms of adjustments in my personal and professional life, and maybe the next year will be much more difficult. But with discipline, flow, and faith, I pray that I can always be authentic so that I can flourish.

Ending with my dad’s favorite speech opener: the only permanent thing is change, and change can be so constant that you may not feel the difference. If I can be and write the change I want to see, then maybe I can make a difference.


John 1:1-18. “From his fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace…”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 365: DECEMBER 31, 2022]

We still need divine guidance

As I read the gospel from Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23, I am struck by divine guidance and how it can play a role in our personal and professional lives. It is fascinating how St. Joseph trusts in God’s plan and follows His guidance, even though it may not make sense at the time.

Perhaps in our own lives, even at the presence of big data and artificial intelligence, we still need to trust our intuition, gut feeling, or at least sense the transcendent. This does not necessarily mean that we stop thinking, moving or leading altogether, but rather, we should recognize what we can do, how we can help things be, or even the extreme contexts where we can only let things be.


Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23. “When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.'”

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 364: DECEMBER 30, 2022]

We should stay grounded and let others lift us up

It is hard to prevent ourselves from overestimating our abilities and accomplishments. We must be careful not to get too ahead of ourselves; it’s easy to become prideful in the face of recognition and praise.

There is something more authentic about how we flourish when commendations come from others, especially people we respect the most.

Even if we feel proud about something we have achieved, we must not let this turn into arrogance or conceit. Acknowledging our successes can give us confidence and help us strive for further excellence; however, we should always remain humble in our pursuit of excellence.


Luke 2:22-35. The presentation of Jesus at the temple

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 363: DECEMBER 29, 2022]

To lead responsibly is to recognize meaning behind signs and dreams

St. Joseph is an example of a father and leader of his organization (his family) who takes charge and takes action to protect those he is responsible for. By hearing the angel’s warning he is able to take steps to ensure the safety of his family, despite the danger from a powerful enemy – King Herod.

Perhaps an underrated part of being a leader is one’s ability to recognize signals whether from an astute understanding of an organization’s internal and external context or even balancing reason with faith. Indeed, logic, intuition, and faith are all needed to lead successfully.


Matthew 2:13-18. Joseph received a warning in his dreams

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 362: DECEMBER 28, 2022]

Reason and faith

Today’s reading seems to reflect my journey in life of trying to balance reason and faith. On one hand, I have always been driven by my need for answers, and logical explanations that make sense and provide stability. Yet, at the same time, I have also been drawn to faith – faith in God, faith in a higher power, faith that there is something beyond what we can see or understand right now.

Perhaps the way forward for us is to account for our thinking and feeling – what have we believed due to reason? Due to faith? Due to a synthesis of both reason and faith?

There is a reason why the more one learns, the more one learns how little one knows. As technology, society, and humanity advances, so too shall our spirit.


John 20:2-8. He saw and he believed.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 361: DECEMBER 27, 2022]

When athletes choke under pressure

Why do athletes choke? The pressure of performing under intense scrutiny has always been a challenge for athletes, particularly when it comes to high-stakes competitions. The phenomenon known as “choking” is a well-documented occurrence in sports and can significantly impact the outcome of a game or match.

Viewed from the lens of “flow”, choking seems like the opposite. Flow is when an athlete enters the zone and is deeply immersed in the task as if they are one with the activity itself. Choking is when an athlete focuses on the boos and ridicule they will receive if they do not perform well. How do we prevent this kind of worry?

Perhaps there is some solace in looking at this from a more spiritual perspective. When a person has done the work, they develop a kind of belief and faith that eliminates distraction. Maybe this is what it means to “let go” – we trust the work that has been done, and we open ourselves to the opportunity to be the best versions of ourselves. We open ourselves for the Spirit to uplift our spirit.

Maybe this is the kind of spiritual kind of flow that we need in sports and life.


Matthew 10:17-22. Do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say.

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 360: DECEMBER 26, 2022]

The music of Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence

Listen to the soundtrack Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence. It is filled with all kinds of emotions – a hint of sadness, anticipation, but also sparkled with optimism.

Maybe this is the kind of framing we need; that no matter how stubborn the pandemic is, we can anticipate its end. We must remain optimistic. We hold on to this gift of hope.

Merry Christmas!


Luke 2:1-14. The Nativity

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 359: DECEMBER 25, 2022]

When the words write the author

Have you ever felt the time when the words write the author?

I wonder how the words can take flight and soar.

Is it all in the mind and heart, or is it something spiritual?

I wonder how we can be gifted something that seems so transcendental.


Luke 1:67-79. Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit…

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 358: DECEMBER 24, 2022]

Our voices are the loudest when driven by purpose and faith

Although the typical interpretation of Zechariah’s muteness is that it is a form of punishment, I find more meaning in interpreting it as a need or a necessity to pause to absorb an insight that is very difficult to digest. Mama Mary and St. Joseph were able to process insights from the divine because of the relative strength of their faith; ordinary people cannot be expected to do the same.

Maybe the challenge for us is to recognize when to mute ourselves and when an insight arrives. If such divinely-inspired insight does arrive, the next step is to courageously express and articulate it as best as we could. For all we know, it may be the light that opens our eyes or music that delights our ears.


Luke 1:57-66. His name is John; Zechariah regains his voice

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 357: DECEMBER 23, 2022]

Songs, art, and expressions of the spirit

The power of an art form emanates from the authenticity of what the artist feels they must express. This is something that AI cannot generate but only assist. While AI can assist with the creation of art, it cannot replicate the authenticity and depth of emotion that comes from the artist’s own lived and even spiritual experiences.


Luke 1:46-56. The Magnificat

[DAILY GOSPEL INSIGHTS AND REFLECTION FOR MANAGEMENT AND ORGANIZATION 356: DECEMBER 22, 2022]