Choose Your Battles Wisely

I've been in a different battles these past few weeks- battles of politics at work, financial battles and even battle in lovelife.. sigh! ( I guess a problem in lovelife is equally problematic as economic crisis.. LOL)

But when I got back to my senses, I realized that I spent a significant amount of time thinking and worrying about these battles - which I discovered are not all important in my life and purpose.

Worrying is indeed a thief. It steals our limited time and energy. Instead of working on something more productive, worrying makes us think of unnecessary things and it makes us expect bad things to happen. It can destroy us.

Life consists of making a decision between making a big deal out of something or realizing it doesn't really matter. In choosing our battles, we should make sure we focus on the important things - spirituality, relationships, serving other people, etc.. depending on what you think is your purpose in your life.

In our office, I'm always accused of being a "spy." My team mates don't like our manager (by the way, I'm working in a BPO where we work as a team) and they also want me to feel what they feel. My manager is into micromanaging, checking every specific detail of our work and most of my team mates don't like that. This is reality- there are some people who don't want to be treated like a child and want to do things their own way. I can understand my team mates.

When they tell a story to me, they noticed that I don't give any added inputs to their sentiments or I'm not telling a story about my personal encounter with my manager. Why? because I decided to do so. First, giving more negative inputs can make the situation worse. Second, it cannot change the situation by the way. I know that it's better to talk to my manager personally about it than talk about it behind his back.

Since then, my team mates began accusing me as a "spy" or even "sipsip." At first, I got irritated by these gossips and I thought of proving myself that they are all wrong. But when I pray to God and got back again to my senses, God told me that I have nothing to prove. I have not done something wrong so I should not take this battle seriously.

It's difficult, but as time passes by, by not thinking of what others would think about me, but by focusing on the truth, I learned to manage my emotions and not to dwell on this battle.

I remember what my mentor Bo Sanchez mentioned in one of the Feast's sessions:

When people criticize you or do not like you,
Most of the time, it's not about you.
It's about them.
So don't let people with problems ruin your day.

Instead of reacting with anger, just be funny and don't take it seriously.

We should all choose our battles.
Make a decision to have an inspiring life.
Have a compassion for ourselves.
Choose to be happy.
Be a blessing to others.

Fight only the most, most, most important ones, let the rest go.

We are too big to be bothered by small things.


Have a happy life,
Maya

Are You a Peacemaker?

Just a simple message and quote today from the Bible.
Do you want to be a peacemaker?

Are you easily angered?
Are you ill tempered?
Do you love arguments?

Then time to make a shift from a troublemaker to a peacemaker.

As much as possible, avoid arguments and fights.
Resolve conflicts in a peaceful manner, so you can have  healthy relationships.

"It is one's honor to avoid strife,
but every fool is quick to quarrel"

- Proverbs 20:3

Live a happy life,
Maya

How Do You Define Happiness?

Happiness is a state of feeling that everyone wants to achieve. All actions of individuals, regardless of age, sex, wealth, race and status, are towards achieving HAPPINESS. Of course, no one in this world is completely happy. All of us need to go through a lot of pain. However, always remember that our life and happiness do not depend on what happens to us, but what we do to what happens to us.

So what is happiness? Wikipedia defined happiness as " a mental or emotional state of well-being characterized by positive or pleasant emotions ranging from contentment to intense joy."

Famous people also have their own definitions of happiness:

Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. - Mahatma Gandhi

Happiness depends upon ourselves. - Aristotle

Happiness does not consist in having what you want, but in wanting what you have.-Confucius

Happiness is the criterion of excellence in the art of living. – Eric Fromm

Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort. – Franklin D. Roosevelt

Happiness is different from pleasure. Happiness has something to do with struggling and enduring and accomplishing. – George Sheehan

The greatest happiness of life is the conviction that we are loved- loved for ourselves, or rather, loved in spite of ourselves.- Victor Hugo

Happiness is not a reward – it is a consequence. – Robert Ingersoll

Happiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one’s values. – Ayn Rand

Happiness is not a destination. It is a method of life. – Burton Hills

I believe all of us have our own definitions of Happiness. However, we should be very careful in making our own definitions. The way we define happiness can actually determine how we conduct our lives and can have implications on how we succeed in life.

For me, true happiness is contentment and gratitude. Happiness begins when you start being grateful with what you have and when you stop complaining with what you don't have.

I've seen a little boy who is so happy while just eating his meal- rice and tuyo. He is filled with joy because he has been eating rice sauced by "toyo"  ( soysauce) for past few days.

Even in the worst situation, we can be very happy.

God's love is sufficient for our happiness.

Can you see?

Can you hear?

Can you smile?

Can you breathe?

Can you walk?

Can you talk?  

If yes, then be happy, be grateful.

Not everyone can see, can hear, can smile, can breathe, can walk. can talk.

When complaining  for some branded rubber shoes that your parents can't afford to buy, think of the people who can't walk and all they want is to have a feet to be able to walk.

Please take time to watch a short video below.

Hope this will make you HAPPY and GRATEFUL.

May you live a happy life,
Maya