Rialities of life

Life is a Choice

Two eggs are telling each other what they wanted to be when they hatch, with the first egg wanting to be an oyster, which just stays in the water and lets the ocean take control of its life. The first egg wants a secure existence, with no decisions to make and no responsibilities to accomplish. The second egg, on the other hand, wishes to be an eagle–even if it is responsible for hunting its own food and making survival decisions, it is free to go wherever it wants and fly as high as the highest mountains. The second egg wants to be in control–with no limits placed on him– therefore creating its own destiny.

What role would you like to portray in real life–that of an oyster or that of an eagle? The choice is yours!

"You are what your deep, driving desire is. As your desire is, so is your will. As your will is, so is your deed. As your deed is, so is your destiny." - Indian Philosopher

"Life without freedom is no life at all." - Braveheart

The Social Security Service Survey

According to the 1995 Social Security Service Statistical Population Sampling on the status of an average Filipino when they reach the age of 65:

45% are dependent on relatives,

30% are dependent on charity,

23% are still working, and only

2% are financially independent.

To which category would you like to belong when you reach the retirement age: the 45%, the 30%, the 23% or the 2%?

People do not plan to fail, they just fail to plan. Remember, the best person to take care of you when you get older is the younger person you are today. Plan ahead!

"It is a useless life that is not consecrated to a great ideal. It is like a stone wasted on the field without becoming a part of any edifice." - Jose Rizal

Are You Living Just to Survive?

Once there was a group of foxes discussing what their lunch would be for that day, and they spotted a rabbit in the greener side of the valley. One fox wasted no time and chased after the rabbit, which ran as fast as it can to elude its predator. The fox tried its best to catch up, but after several hours of running after its prey, it got exhausted and eventually gave up the chase. The rabbit, now certain that nobody's running after him, went into the direction of the forest and disappeared.

What do you think was the reason why the fox did not capture his target lunch? Obviously, the fox and the rabbit have a conflict of interest. Both run after something but from a different perspective: The fox was running only after its lunch while the rabbit is running for his life.

What about you, my friend, are you thriving only for your lunch or for your life?

According to the 2014 SWS (Social Weather Survey) third quarter ratings of typical Filipino families are 55% classified below the poverty line. These families do not only see, smell, taste, hear, and touch poverty — they actually breathe it every day. Then, how can we, as a nation, establish a strong republic if the citizenry's economic welfare is impaired? How can we survive this reality?

Poverty is indeed one of the foremost problems we have to address and find ways to resolve. I believe that individual poverty can trace its roots from a person's core values itself. To uplift the economic condition of our country, we must be able to accept new ideas on how we view the world in its entirety.

Each of us should empower one another and thrive not only to live but to lead a better life. Through entrepreneurial mindset, esteemed empowerment and self-discipline, we can elevate the quality of our living and settle in a strong republic. And that change should start from each one of us.

"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them." - Albert Einstein

The Rat Race

A study shows that 80-90% of average people experience Rat Race, also known as the race for survival or the 15/30 scheme. When we talk of money, we instantly think of work. Thus, to work hard for someone else's benefits in a business we do not even own. We work laboriously all our life struggling for financial stability and job security but sadly is left with so little time when we reach the retirement age.

In reality, our fears and desires impels us to do earn more. It is the fear of not having the money to spend that drives us to work harder; for fear of not settling our monthly bills and other financial obligations. It is our fear that obliges us to stay up late to earn that extra money. The moment we receive our paychecks, our fear is replaced by our desire to compensate for our needs and convenience.

Then a pattern is set: we get up early, go to work, receive our 15th-day paycheck, then pay our bills and consume for our necessities. We get up early again the next day, go to work, wait for our 30th-day paycheck and do the same things all over again.

Our life, therefore, becomes a perpetual habit of our two emotions — our fears and desires. Even though we are offered a larger sum, the cycle continues with additional spending and a corresponding tax increases. That is why it is called the rat race or the race for survival, it shows that a person does the same thing in his/her life over and over again but is not fairly compensated for his/her hard work. These people move everywhere but actually go nowhere. They are trapped in a financial dilemma; they are beating the red line finances; and their income is almost equal or lesser than their actual expenditures.

Money dilemma is not solved by ignorance but by intelligence. Free your mind and train yourself to become financially literate. Liberate your financial consciousness and you will discover a wide range of opportunities to earn more at a lesser time. The power of money is your vantage point. Be the master of your own finances and let the money work for you.

Use your fears and desires for your benefit. Let not your emotions overpower your thoughts. The choice is yours.

"If we want to change a situation, we first have to change ourselves. And to change ourselves effectively, we first have to change our perception." - Stephen Covey

Economic Trend

7T BC-1700+A.D. Agricultural Age Those who have the land own the wealth.

1740-2000 A.D. Industrial Age Those who have the machinery own the wealth.

21st century Information Age Those who have the right ideas, information and network own the wealth.