An Ezine Author!

Jose Hipolito, EzineArticles Basic Author

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Your Shadow and Your Past

In the office, there's this certain group that has been observing us for quite sometime now.  They're frequent visitors at our workstations, looking over our jobs, timing how long it takes for us to do a certain task, etc.  In short, they're there where ever we are.  That's why we call them our "shadows."

Shadows follow and never leave us.

Have you ever wondered why shadows are black?  Or, why are they always opposite from the light?  Or, can't we just leave our shadows somewhere else?  And, what's their use anyway?

Shadows, like the past, are just indicators of our presence but are not meant to replace who we are or what we are.   A shadow exists because there is a "light" that shines upon us. There are no shadows without light.

Shadows are black so that it will not be given more attention than our being.  In a stricter sense, it only shows that shadows are of less importance than who we are. And so is our past - it only tells us of what we've been before and who we once were. It is not as important as who we are right now.  Who would want to look and talk to a shadow if he or she can look and talk to the living, breathing, caring and loving person?

Shadows are always opposite the source of light.  The same with our past, we cannot look at our future and look at our past at the same time. We can keep looking at our shadows but in doing so, we  are turning away from the light.  The choice is always ours.

Can we leave our shadows somewhere?  Of course not.  The same way, we cannot leave our pasts behind or ignore it every time. But, we can make the conscious effort to set it aside and focus on the more important things - the people around us and the grand future that waits for us.

What's the use of our shadow, anyway? It is a reminder that we exist and are of physical beings. And, it also reminds us that between the shadow and the source of light is where we always stand.  Between the past and the future is the present.  A reminder that among the three - the past, the future, and the present - is a choice we have to make to LIVE THE GOOD LIFE.

So next time you see your shadow, remember to look on the opposite side, and there you will see the "source of light."

Be More....

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14



Friday, June 28, 2013

What If You're Not Afraid...

...what will you do?

Will you scale the highest mountain?  Will swim the deepest ocean?  Will you cross the widest desert?  What if you are not afraid, will you do the things that your heart desires?

What will I do if I am not afraid?

I will tell the world all the things that I want to say.  I will do things that I love to do.  I will sing songs like no one's hearing.  I will dance like no one's watching.  I will write even if no one's reading.  I will write even if my grammar's as bad as it could get.  I will make friends with my enemies.  I will be frank to all people, tell them things that I hate and love about them.  I will hide nothing and from no one.

But I am afraid.  I am afraid that people may not understand me. I am afraid that the people who matter to me will judge me for the things that I do instead of the kind of person that I am.  I am afraid that people will hate me and ridicule me for being true.  I am afraid that I will hurt the people that I love. I am afraid that when I try, I might fail. I am afraid that my life may change and I will no longer be comfortable with it.  I am afraid to be disappointed, to be hurt and to fail.

Why are we afraid?  What is the source of our fears?  What are we afraid of?

We feel afraid because all we have are the wrong foundations, wrong reasons, wrong cause, wrong "WHY" of things..

Should we be afraid if we do things for love?
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. - 1 John 4:18
In the same manner, we learned...
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good?  But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened." - 1 Peter 3:13-14

Should you still be living in fear knowing that if you do good things because of love, the Lord
...Your God, [who] takes hold of your right hand and says to you, "Do not fear; I will help you."?  - Isaiah 41:13
So next time you feel afraid, ask yourself... why am I afraid?  If I will do this for God and for love, will it make my dream of BEing MORE and ACHIEVING MORE be realized?  I firmly believe so...






Sunday, June 23, 2013

It's Time for Mid-Year Review

Look it's June 23!  Our last article was published before the end of 2012.  It took us almost six months to have this new post.

We just stopped-by to ask how you've been doing in the last six months of 2013. Have you started your semi-annual review already?

We all know that one year is too long to remember everything, to assess, re-plan and adjust.  School years are divided into semesters, normally two, sometimes three. Businesses do their performance reporting quarterly.  We, too, need to take some time off to review what we've done, where we are in our goals and what else needs to be done.

If you are employed, probably you are already familiar with a process called mid-year review.  Most people are threatened just by the thought of it.  But, you shouldn't be one of them.  Mid-year reviews should be something that you should look forward to.  Imagine, you have the opportunity to evaluate what you've done already and what needs to improve.  You should not be like most people who thinks that mid-year review is the time to point out where other people came short of what's expected of them.  It is not the time to point out what people missed, but a time to point out where improvements are necessary. It is one of those perfect moments to encourage people, including yourself, to keep doing the good things and to motivate them to push harder until their goals are reached.

We do mid-year reviews not just to know where we are, but to understand what else do we need to do to be where we want to be at the end of the year.

So, do yourself a favor.  Take a short break from your busy schedule.  Sit down, get a pen and a paper, or using your computer, write down your goals from the start of the year and have an honest assessment of where you are right now.

Whether you've been doing great or not, you should always make that honest evaluation of yourself.  You can lie to others, but you cannot lie to yourself.  So no cheating.

Do this so you can BE MORE and ACHIEVE MORE.

P.S. It will be wise if you will also ask opinions from people whom you trust and respect.  If they know that you value their opinions and that you are taking these steps to improve yourself and your life, they will be happy to help.