…What is an example of a leader who ruined their own country?

Jean-Marie Valheur

 

 

What is an example of a leader who ruined their own country?

In 1986, a people’s uprising drove out Filipino president Ferdinand Marcos and replaced him by Corazon “Cory” Aquino. She ruled the Philippines from 1986 until 1992. Leading a popular movement is one thing — it can give you great acclaim. But it doesn’t necessarily translate to good statesmanship, something the Philippines was soon to find out. Many felt Aquino was barely even qualified to lead the country, her popularity primarily stemming from the outpouring of public sympathy for her after the assassination of her husband, which propelled her to fame.

It didn’t stop the world from lauding Aquino with praise. Excessive praise, dare I say. Cory Aquino was declared Time’s “Woman of the Year” for her efforts in toppling a regime many accused of having evolved into a dictatorship. So the expectation was for things to become better almost immediately. Thing is with sky-high expectations, it’s hard to live up to them… and Aquino man a ton of mistakes almost immediately. First of all, she freed all political prisoners her predecessor had jailed. This included convicted terrorists like Joma Sison of the Communist “New People’s Army”. Sison eventually fled the country but his comrades started killing Filipino soldiers and citizens indiscriminately. This is akin to a US president winning elections only to free every single terrorist still kept in Guantanamo Bay and letting them roam the countryside freely…

Aquino continued trying to be a peacemaker by giving Muslim extremists in the Southern Philippines their own autonomous region, which eventually developed in just another hotbed of terrorism that would continue to haunt her country’s citizens and armed forces for decades, claiming many lives. Determined not to let her predecessor have any praise even for the things he did right, Aquino began demolishing some of his major projects, closing a large nuclear reactor Marcos had built that would have given cheap energy to most of the country if it had began to operate.

Did Cory Aquino “ruin” the Philippines? I don’t think I would go quite that far. But she did present herself as the antidote to corrupt elites when she herself came from one of the richest landowning families in the Philippines. She claimed to fight corruption and desire peace but failed to end corruption, nor bring about peace…

Why is Self-Confidence Essential for Personal Growth?

 

Milos Vucetic

Consultant, coach and mentor (2008–present)

 

Why is Self-Confidence Essential for Personal Growth?

Self-confidence is like a ray of sunshine that can brighten up even the darkest of days. It's that inner voice that tells us that we can conquer anything, achieve any goal, and be the best version of ourselves.

Yet, so many of us struggle with self-doubt and lack of confidence, which can hinder our personal growth and development.

In this post, I want to dive deeper into why self-confidence is essential for personal growth, and how it can positively impact our lives in countless ways.

As someone who has personally struggled with self-confidence in the past, I know all too well how it can hold us back from reaching our full potential. But when we begin to cultivate self-confidence, we start to unlock a whole new world of possibilities.

Here are 8 reasons why self-confidence is essential for personal growth:

1. Self-confidence helps you take risks-When you believe in yourself and your abilities, you're more likely to take risks and step outside of your comfort zone. This is where the magic happens and where real growth occurs.
2. Self-confidence increases resilience-When faced with setbacks or failures, self-confidence helps us bounce back quicker and stronger. We're more likely to see failures as learning opportunities rather than reasons to give up.
3. Self-confidence fosters creativity-Believing in ourselves and our ideas allows us to be more creative and innovative in our approach to problem-solving and achieving our goals.
4. Self-confidence improves relationships-When we're confident in ourselves, we're able to form more meaningful and authentic connections with others.
5. Self-confidence helps you overcome fear-Fear is one of the biggest barriers to personal growth. When you lack confidence, fear can paralyze you and prevent you from taking risks or trying new things. With self-confidence, you can face your fears and take on new challenges with courage and determination.
6. Self-confidence boosts your self-esteem-When you feel good about yourself, and you are more likely to take care of yourself and pursue your goals. Self-confidence helps you build a positive self-image and increases your self-esteem, which is essential for personal growth.
7. Self-confidence improves decision-making-When you are confident in your abilities and judgment, you are more likely to make good decisions. Self-confidence helps you trust your instincts and make decisions that are in your best interest.
8. Self-confidence increases motivation-When you believe in yourself, you are more motivated to pursue your goals and dreams. Self-confidence gives you the energy and drives you to need to work hard and achieve your aspirations.

Self-confidence is the key to unlocking our full potential and achieving personal growth. It allows us to take risks, try new things, and push beyond our perceived limitations. Without self-confidence, we may hold ourselves back, doubt our abilities, and miss out on life-changing opportunities.

If you want to develop and maintain self-confidence contact me for coaching and mentoring.

Human or Divine Praise?

March 23, 2023 Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent Readings for Today Saint Turibius of Mogrovejo, Bishop—Optional Memorial

Video “How can you believe, when you accept praise from one another and do not seek the praise that comes from the only God?” John 5:44 It’s quite normal and healthy for a parent to praise a young child for the good that they do. This healthy positive reinforcement is a way of teaching them the importance of doing good and avoiding what’s wrong. But human praise is not an infallible guide of what is right and wrong. In fact, when human praise is not based in the truth of God, it does great damage. This short Scripture quote above comes from a lengthy teaching from Jesus about the difference between human praise and “the praise that comes only from God.” Jesus makes it clear that the only thing that has value is the praise that comes from God alone. In fact, earlier in this Gospel, Jesus says clearly, “I do not accept human praise…” Why is that? Turning back to the example of a parent praising a child for the good they do, when the praise they offer is truly a praise of their goodness, then this is much more than human praise. It is praise from God given through a parent. A parent’s duty must be to teach right from wrong in accord with the will of God. As for the “human praise” of which Jesus speaks, this is clearly praise of another that is void of the truthfulness of God. In other words, Jesus is saying that if someone were to praise Him for something that did not originate from the Father in Heaven, He would reject it. For example, if someone were to say of Jesus, “I think He would be a great governor of our nation because he could lead a revolt against the current leadership.” Obviously such “praise” would be rejected. The bottom line is that we must praise one another, but our praise must only be that which originates from God. Our words must be spoken only in accord with the Truth. Our admiration must only be of that which is the presence of God alive in others. Otherwise, if we praise others based on worldly or self-centered values, we only encourage them in sin. Reflect, today, upon the praise you give and receive. Do you allow misguided praise of others to misdirect you in life? And when you compliment and praise another, is that praise based on the Truth of God and directed to His glory? Seek to give and receive praise only when it is grounded in the Truth of God and directs all to His glory. My praiseworthy Lord, I do thank You and praise You for Your perfect goodness. I thank You for the way that You act in perfect union with the will of the Father. Help me to listen only to Your voice in this life and to reject all the misleading and confusing voices of the world. May my values and choices be guided by You and You alone. Jesus, I trust in You.

Hand Exercises

If you find daily tasks difficult to do because you suffer from stiffness, swelling, or pain in your hands, the right exercises can help get you back in motion.

Therapists usually suggest specific hand exercises depending on the condition. Some help increase a joint's range of motion or lengthen the muscle and tendons via stretching. Other exercises strengthen muscles around a joint to generate more power or to build greater endurance.
 

Get your copy of Healthy Hands: Strategies for strong, pain-free hands   Beneath the skin, your hands are an intricate architecture of tendons, joints, ligaments, nerves, and bones. Each of these structures is vulnerable to damage from illness or injury. If your hands hurt, even simple tasks can become a painful ordeal. Healthy Hands: Strategies for strong, pain-free hands describes the causes and treatments for many conditions that can cause hand pain. It also features information on hand exercises, as well as handy tools and other gadgets that take strain off your hands.

Below you will find five commonly recommended exercises for hand and wrist problems. However, if your hand condition is painful or debilitating, it's best to get exercise advice from a physical therapist. All exercises should be done slowly and deliberately, to avoid pain and injury. If you feel numbness or pain during or after exercising, stop and contact your doctor.

Range-of-motion hand exercises

Your muscles and tendons move the joints through arcs of motion, as when you bend and straighten your fingers. If your normal range of motion is impaired—if you can't bend your thumb without pain, for example you may have trouble doing ordinary things like opening a jar. These exercises move your wrist and fingers through their normal ranges of motion and require all the hand's tendons to perform their specific functions. Hold each position for 5–10 seconds. Do one set of 10 repetitions, three times a day.

1. Wrist extension and flexion

• Place your forearm on a table on a rolled-up towel for padding with your hand hanging off the edge of the table, palm down.

• Move the hand upward until you feel a gentle stretch.

• Return to the starting position.

• Repeat the same motions with the elbow bent at your side, palm facing up.

2. Wrist supinatiohn/pronation

• Stand or sit with your arm at your side with the elbow bent to 90 degrees, palm facing down.

• Rotate your forearm, so that your palm faces up and then down.

3. Wrist ulnar/radial deviation

• Support your forearm on a table on a rolled-up towel for padding or on your knee, thumb upward.

• Move the wrist up and down through its full range of motion.

4. Thumb flexion/extension

• Begin with your thumb positioned outward.

• Move the thumb across the palm and back to the starting position.

5. Hand/finger tendon glide

• Start with the fingers extended straight out.

• Make a hook fist; return to a straight hand.

• Make a full fist; return to a straight hand.

• Make a straight fist; return to a straight hand.

For more information on keeping your hand healthy, nimble, and strong, check out Hands: Strategies for Strong, Pain-Free Hands, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.

Image: Staras/Getty Images

If you find daily tasks difficult to do because you suffer from stiffness, swelling, or pain in your hands, the right exercises can help get you back in motion.

Therapists usually suggest specific hand exercises depending on the condition. Some help increase a joint's range of motion or lengthen the muscle and tendons via stretching. Other exercises strengthen muscles around a joint to generate more power or to build greater endurance.
 

Get your copy of Healthy Hands: Strategies for strong, pain-free hands   Beneath the skin, your hands are an intricate architecture of tendons, joints, ligaments, nerves, and bones. Each of these structures is vulnerable to damage from illness or injury. If your hands hurt, even simple tasks can become a painful ordeal. Healthy Hands: Strategies for strong, pain-free hands describes the causes and treatments for many conditions that can cause hand pain. It also features information on hand exercises, as well as handy tools and other gadgets that take strain off your hands.

Below you will find five commonly recommended exercises for hand and wrist problems. However, if your hand condition is painful or debilitating, it's best to get exercise advice from a physical therapist. All exercises should be done slowly and deliberately, to avoid pain and injury. If you feel numbness or pain during or after exercising, stop and contact your doctor.

Range-of-motion hand exercises

Your muscles and tendons move the joints through arcs of motion, as when you bend and straighten your fingers. If your normal range of motion is impaired—if you can't bend your thumb without pain, for example you may have trouble doing ordinary things like opening a jar. These exercises move your wrist and fingers through their normal ranges of motion and require all the hand's tendons to perform their specific functions. Hold each position for 5–10 seconds. Do one set of 10 repetitions, three times a day.

1. Wrist extension and flexion

• Place your forearm on a table on a rolled-up towel for padding with your hand hanging off the edge of the table, palm down.

• Move the hand upward until you feel a gentle stretch.

• Return to the starting position.

• Repeat the same motions with the elbow bent at your side, palm facing up.

2. Wrist supinatiohn/pronation

• Stand or sit with your arm at your side with the elbow bent to 90 degrees, palm facing down.

• Rotate your forearm, so that your palm faces up and then down.

3. Wrist ulnar/radial deviation

• Support your forearm on a table on a rolled-up towel for padding or on your knee, thumb upward.

• Move the wrist up and down through its full range of motion.

4. Thumb flexion/extension

• Begin with your thumb positioned outward.

• Move the thumb across the palm and back to the starting position.

5. Hand/finger tendon glide

• Start with the fingers extended straight out.

• Make a hook fist; return to a straight hand.

• Make a full fist; return to a straight hand.

• Make a straight fist; return to a straight hand.

For more information on keeping your hand healthy, nimble, and strong, check out Hands: Strategies for Strong, Pain-Free Hands, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School.

Image: Staras/Getty Images

Amazement and Awe

March 22, 2023 Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent Readings for Today

Video “Amen, amen, I say to you, the Son cannot do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for what he does, the Son will do also. For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything that he himself does, and he will show him greater works than these, so that you may be amazed.” John 5:25–26 The most central and most glorious mystery of our faith is that of the Most Holy Trinity. God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God yet three distinct Persons. As divine “Persons,” each one is distinct; but as one God, each Person acts in perfect union with the others. In today’s Gospel, Jesus clearly identifies the Father in Heaven as His Father and clearly states that He and His Father are one. For this reason, there were those who wanted to kill Jesus because He “called God his own father, making himself equal to God.” The sad reality is that the greatest and most glorious truth of God’s inner life, the mystery of the Most Holy Trinity, was one of the primary reasons that some chose to hate Jesus and sought His life. Clearly, it was their ignorance of this glorious truth that drove them to this hatred. We call the Holy Trinity a “mystery,” not because they cannot be known but because our knowledge of Who They are can never be fully understood. For eternity, we will enter deeper and deeper into our knowledge of the Trinity and be “amazed” on a continually deepening level. One additional aspect of the mystery of the Trinity is that each one of us is called to share in Their very life. We will forever remain distinct from God; but, as many of the early Church Fathers liked to say, we must become “divinized,” meaning, we must share in God’s divine life through our union of body and soul with Christ Jesus. That union also unites us with the Father and the Spirit. This truth should also leave us “amazed,” as we read in the passage above. As we continue to read this week from the Gospel of John and continue to ponder the mysterious and profound teaching of Jesus on His relationship with the Father in Heaven, it is essential that we not simply gloss over the mysterious language Jesus uses. Rather, we must prayerfully enter the mystery and allow our penetration of this mystery to leave us truly amazed. Amazement and transforming edification is the only good response. We will never fully understand the Trinity, but we must allow the truth of our Triune God to take hold of us and enrichen us, at very least, in a way that knows how much we do not know—and that knowledge leaves us in awe. Reflect, today, upon the sacred mystery of the Most Holy Trinity. Pray that God reveals Himself more fully to your mind and more completely consume your will. Pray that you will be able to share deeply in the life of the Trinity so that you will be filled with a holy amazement and awe. Most holy and triune God, the love You share within Your very being of Father, Son and Holy Spirit is beyond my comprehension. The mystery of Your triune life is a mystery of the greatest degree. Draw me in, dear Lord, to the life You share with Your Father and the Holy Spirit. Fill me with wonder and awe as You invite me to share in Your divine life. Most Holy Trinity, I trust in You.

Patient Endurance

March 21, 2023 Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent Readings for Today

Video One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” John 5:5–6 Only those who have been crippled for many years could understand what this man endured in life. He was crippled and unable to walk for thirty-eight years. The pool he was laying next to was believed to have the power of healing. Therefore, many who were sick and crippled would sit by the pool and try to be the first to enter it when the waters were stirred up. From time to time, that person was said to have received healing. Jesus sees this man and clearly perceives his desire for healing after so many years. Most likely, his desire for healing was the dominant desire in his life. Without the ability to walk, he could not work and provide for himself. He would have had to rely upon begging and the generosity of others. Thinking about this man, his sufferings and his ongoing attempts for healing from this pool should move any heart to compassion. And since Jesus’ heart was one that was full of compassion, He was moved to offer this man not only the healing he so deeply desired but so much more. One virtue in the heart of this man that would have especially moved Jesus to compassion is the virtue of patient endurance. This virtue is an ability to have hope in the midst of some ongoing and lengthy trial. It is also referred to as “longsuffering” or “longanimity.” Usually, when one faces a difficulty, the immediate reaction is to look for a way out. As time moves on and that difficulty is not removed, it’s easy to fall into discouragement and even despair. Patient endurance is the cure for this temptation. When one can patiently endure anything and everything they suffer in life, there is a spiritual strength within them that benefits them in numerous ways. Other little challenges are more easily endured. Hope is born within them to a powerful degree. Even joy comes with this virtue despite the ongoing struggle. When Jesus saw this virtue alive in this man, He was moved to reach out and heal him. And the primary reason Jesus healed this man was not just to help him physically but so that the man would come to believe in Jesus and follow Him. Reflect, today, upon this beautiful virtue of patient endurance. The trials of life should ideally be seen not in a negative way but as an invitation to patient endurance. Ponder the way you endure your own trials. Is it with deep and ongoing patience, hope and joy? Or is it with anger, bitterness and despair. Pray for the gift of this virtue and seek to imitate this crippled man. My Lord of all hope, You endured so much in life and persevered through it all in perfect obedience to the will of the Father. Give me strength in the midst of the trials of life so that I can grow strong in the hope and the joy that comes with that strength. May I turn away from sin and turn to You in complete trust. Jesus, I trust in You.

The Greatness of Saint Joseph

March 20, 2023 Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of Mary In 2023, the Solemnity of Saint Joseph is transferred from March 19 to March 20 since March 19 falls on a Sunday. Readings for Today

Video When Joseph awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took his wife into his home. Matthew 1:24 What is it that made Saint Joseph so great? He wasn’t immaculately conceived as our Blessed Mother was. He was not divine like Jesus. But he was the head of the Holy Family, its guardian and its provider. He became the legal father of the Savior of the World and the spouse of the Mother of God. But Joseph is not great only because he was given such incredible privileges. First and foremost, he was great because of the choices he made in life. Today’s Gospel refers to him as a “righteous man” and as a man who “did as the angel of the Lord commanded him.” Thus, his greatness is primarily on account of his moral righteousness and obedience to the will of God. Joseph’s obedience is especially seen in the fact that he obeyed the voice of God given to him in the four dreams recorded in Scripture. In his first dream, Joseph is told “do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home. For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her. She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20–21). In his second dream, Joseph is told, “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” (Matthew 2:13). In his third dream, Joseph is told, “Rise, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the child’s life are dead” (Matthew 2:20). And in his fourth dream, Joseph is warned to go instead to Galilee rather than Judea (Matthew 2:22). When these dreams are read in succession, it is clear that Saint Joseph was attentive to the voice of God. We all have dreams, but Joseph’s dreams were different. They were clear communications from God, and they required a willing recipient. Joseph was open to the voice of God and listened in faith as that willing recipient. Joseph also responded with complete submission and full determination. The commands Joseph received were not insignificant. His obedience required that he and his family travel great distances, take up residence in strange lands and do so all in faith. It’s also clear that Joseph took his vocation seriously. Pope Saint John Paul II gave him the title “Guardian of the Redeemer.” Over and over, he showed his unwavering commitment to his role as the guardian of his legal Son, Jesus, and of his wife, Mary. His life was spent providing for them, protecting them and offering them a father’s heart. Reflect, today, upon the unique vocation of Saint Joseph. Ponder, especially, the early years of his marriage and the raising of Jesus. Consider his fatherly commitment to care for, provide for and protect his Son. We all must seek to imitate Saint Joseph’s virtues by protecting the presence of Christ within our own hearts, the hearts of our family and friends and in the world as a whole. Pray to Saint Joseph, asking him to help you follow his example so that the hidden presence of our Lord in our lives will grow and come to full maturation. Hail, Guardian of the Redeemer, Spouse of the Blessed Virgin Mary. To you God entrusted his only Son; in you Mary placed her trust; with you Christ became man. Blessed Joseph, to us too, show yourself a father and guide us in the path of life. Obtain for us grace, mercy and courage, and defend us from every evil. Amen. (Prayer from Patris Corde)