Vision Boarding

I believe that my dreams are beginning to unfold into reality so to reinforce this further, I visualized what I want my life to be using the O Dream Board. This is a great tool for vision boarding, especially if you don't have the time and inclination to cut pictures from magazines and tack or paste them on a board to be hung on your bedroom wall. You just have to download and install the software on your computer then you can start forming a picture collage from the images found in its library or from the internet. You can save as many snapshots as you want, and you can look at them whenever and wherever you have your laptop with you. Isn't it great or what? I'm even thinking of setting my dream board snapshot as my desktop wallpaper. But before I do that, I'm going to post it here first:

Good Tidings

Today I am going to count my blessings just because finally, I feel that my prayers are being heard. The first quarter of the year has passed by so quickly and as I reflect back, I realize that I have so much to be thankful for already in the past three months.

1. Career. Take a look at the update I've made at this post (striked through items 1 & 2) and you'll know what I'm thankful about with regards to my career. Yes, I've been promoted, and although I don't have my own parking space, it's as good as having one already coz I can now reimburse my parking fees. After 8 years in the IT industry, I am finally at the senior level. I could have reached this level sooner but by jumping companies almost every year for several years, I missed out on my promotions. Well no regrets; I have learned from all the companies I have been to and I'm happy where I am now. It's just too bad that my promotion didn't translate to a substantial increase (last year's merit increase was even higher in terms of percentage, compared to what I got now) because upper management changed (thus budget policies also changed). But I did get an additional benefit of insurance coverage so that's still something to be thankful about. Also, our bonuses will be given out next payday so that gives me peace of mind about my upcoming condo annual payment. It's still short of what I need but I'm sure I'll be able to find ways to procure the remaining amount.

Simplify your life

This is more of a reminder for myself, but if it benefits you as well then I'm happy to have helped. Actually, I just got this from one of my mailing lists so if anyone knows where this article came from, feel free to post a comment so I can acknowledge the author properly.

Stress is one of the deadliest curses of the modern age. The most dreaded diseases that afflict man like chronic nervous tension, heart trouble, and cancer have been found to be stress-related. Stress is caused by leading a fast, complicated, and nerve-wracking lifestyle. We constantly find that there is neither enough time nor resources to do the things we want or need to do, leaving us feeling agitated, harassed, frantic, and continually on edge. To be able to cope with the growing complexity and pressures of life that confront us daily, we need to de-stress by slowing down and voluntarily simplifying our lives. Voluntary life simplification is not about being miserable, poor or deprived. It is about knowing your true values, goals, and priorities so you can focus on them, and discard all the other matters that just add tension and confusion to your existence. Don't let stress wear you down. Discover through thoughtful analysis of your values, lifestyle, and goals what is "enough" or just "perfectly right" for you. With voluntary life simplification, you can save your health and sanity, and maximize your capacity to savor and enjoy life.

Follow your bliss

I could never grasp the concept that "Happiness is a decision" or that "You can choose to be happy" but somehow, I can understand Joseph Campbell's "Follow your bliss" philosophy. For me, deciding on what I want and going ahead to get it makes me feel empowered whereas forcing myself to be "happy" when I'm in a sad or frustrating situation just makes me feel all the more depressed.

Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish

This is the text of the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, delivered on June 12, 2005.

Listen to your Inner Voice

What is it telling you? Is it saying 'You can do it!' or just the opposite? Most of us fall prey to our negative inner talk without even realizing it. I myself am guilty of this as I tend to become a worry-wart most of the time. The good news is, we have the capability to turn ourselves around. We can choose to focus on the positive instead of the negative, to turn something bad into something good. It's just a matter of changing perspectives really, I always remind myself of this. Maybe this forwarded email can help (and I hope it helps you too):

Lolo SB

Given the sorry state of Philippine politics, especially with the coming National Elections, I am tempted to NOT participate in the upcoming electoral process. I would rather NOT exercise my right to vote than be at the receiving end of the mockery of the Filipino people that occurs every election, as manifested in the rampant vote-buying and blatant cheating at the polls. However, despite my determination to boycott tomorrow's election, you would probably see me at the voting precincts first thing in the morning tomorrow, lining up to cast my votes. What can I do, voting is a family affair in our household. My mother, being a model citizen, would probably drag us down to the voting precincts if needed, just to make sure that we vote.

Needless to say, I don't have a list of who I'm going to vote yet. I'll probably vote whoever my mother wants me to vote for senator. At least I have a name in mind for our municipality's mayoralty post, the incumbent mayor, Feliciano "Sonny" Belmonte. In fact, there is no other name I can write for mayor because he, together with most of the QC SB Team candidates, is running unopposed. Look at his picture, doesn't he remind you of a kind and gentle lolo, the kind who would give you money and sweets when your mommy's not looking? I'm sure he would win and I hope he does do he can continue the programs he has started for QC.

Note: Photo lifted from the National Statistics Office website.

Lolo Warren

"Really getting to do what you love to do everyday, that's the ultimate luxury; and particularly when you can do it with terrific people around you."

- Warren Buffet

I've always been interested in learning about the success stories of tycoons and taipans and now, I'm learning about billionaires. I watched CNBC's special on Warren Buffet, "Warren Buffet: The Billionaire Next Door" in YouTube yesterday and I was pretty impressed with the man. I was inspired not so much in his rise to fame but as to the way he lives his life with simplicity, integrity and brilliance. Here is a man who knows who he is and does not try to be anyone else but himself, a man who know what he wants and perseveres to get it, a man who stands by his principles and beliefs and does not allow himself to be swayed by rumors, trends or other people's opinions. Yet despite all the praises and recognition, this man never takes himself seriously and always remembers to have fun. Isn't he incredible?

If you want to watch his interview, click on the ff. links:

Part 1: http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=NBb_T9lKZnI

Part 2: http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=mPbYedr636s&mode=related&search=

Part 3: http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=bXHp544KWdU&mode=related&search=

Part 4: http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=6f2122tpojA&mode=related&search=

Part 5: http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=lmEW9He2Wrc&mode=related&search=