iheartPsychology

To start off my 2019, I decided to learn how to drive with the help of my dad. I am currently on the basics and have driven our van for a few rounds around an industrial area. It is thrilling to hold the stirring wheel and be able to start off the engine and drive slowly. I promise that this 2019, I will learn new things and push myself to go out of my comfort zone. I will be a non-pro driver and I will be willing to try out new things this year!

So, another opportunity came. A friend from work pushed me to join a hike last Sunday. And I am grateful she pushed me to join them. Because if not, I would not be able to realize these things. 

I am for healthy mind and body this year so why turn down the chance to go through my first mountain climb?

I was hesitant at first because I have broken my exercise routine since I started out on my new job. I was worried I would not be able to finish the climb because I am not ready for a long walk and a challenging hike. But I am very lucky because my first hike is at Mt. Ulap. 

Mt. Ulap is located at Itogon, Benguet which is about 4-5 hours away from Manila. The route is about 9 kms long and the peak is about 1,800 masl. The whole hike (traverse) took us 8 hours to finish. But the journey is all worth it. 

Hiking is good way to maintain positive mental health. It has several benefits that could not only make you feel better but will also make you a better person. 

Hiking is a good way to keep your hands off your phone and all things that connects you to the world, especially social media. Daily emails and notifications from social media accounts are source of negative vibes and climbing a mountain is good way to have a break from the negativity. According to studies, while on break from social media, hiking may also help boost your creativity. 

Nature has its way in calming our senses. It offers fresh air and an amazing view which also lessen negative thoughts and overthinking. It relaxes the brain and keeps you away from stress even for a few hours. The sound of the wind and the silence that surrounds you offers inner peace as well. 

Hiking is an excellent form of exercise especially when done often. It is a great way to burn calories and can be a motivating form of exercise since you are spending your time outdoors rather than with gym equipment. Hiking is a form of "ecotherapy" which is good for the mind and the body. It will surely stretch out your muscles and challenge your joints while traversing the mountain. 

Hiking is a productive way to spend time with your friends. You are not only doing it for your body but also with your buddies. Through hiking you will be able to sport teamwork and cooperation especially on difficult hikes. It is a great time to appreciate and enjoy the beauty of nature and to exercise with your friends. 

Mt. Ulap is good for beginners like me. At first, I was terrified of the trail because honestly, the start of the trail is the most challenging part of the journey. But as you go deeper into the mountain, you will get used to it. I climbed without any preparation (that's why I had muscle pains for 2 days) but all went well. 

I must say if given the chance to stay longer, the trail can really be healing. The scenic view around me when we reached the three different peaks seemed to be sucking up all the negative thoughts inside me and replaced it with a grateful feeling. A feeling that made me realized that I am so blessed to witness all these beautiful things. We have witnessed the sun rise and it was an unforgettable breathtaking experience. Not all people can experience these and I am lucky to be one of the few. That day I feel that I am somehow connected with nature. Witnessing these beautiful creation is an eye opener. 

But do not go into hiking alone. Make sure you have buddies with you or you will join a group of hikers. Every mountain has different characteristics and you should expect different levels of difficulty so, a companion is a must especially if you are a beginner. Hiking is not just for those who wants to do soul-searching. It is a simple physical activity that may also help you alleviate everyday stress and negative thoughts that is necessary to maintain a positive mental health. 

As my 27th year in the world about to end - and hopefully continue to my 28th year and beyond, I'd like to share to you guys the things that I loved the most. This is a great time to reflect and be grateful for all the things and experiences that I had for the past 2.7 decades. This is a self-discovery activity that you should try too. 

I actually had a first self-discovery post a few years ago, if you want to know me more and want to do this activity too click this link!

T H E  9 9  T H I N G S  I  L O V E  T H E  M O S T :

1. Of course, my mom and dad - without them I won't be here.

2. My siblings - the only enemies I can't live without.

3. The traditional family that I have.

4. Beauty, our old aspin dog.

5. Ma Chang, our indifferent cat who loves to bask under the sun.

6. The house where I grew up.

7. The books I bought - my companion on quiet times.

8. My college degree and the university which opened my eye to the real world.

9. The friends I made at work.

10. My friends in college who made my college years unforgettable.

11. Batangas and Iloilo - the wonderful places my parents grew up.

12. Watercolor painting.

13. DIY crafts.

14. Home decorating videos - because I could not decorate our house.

15. Anything that is in the shade of gray, maroon or dark blue.

16. Ice cream because it always saves the day.

17. Spider man and Harry Potter.

18. Nicholas Sparks, Stephanie Perkins, Rainbow Rowell, Jonathan Kellerman, Paulo Coelho, Sydney Sheldon and their stories. 

19. Italian food because they are always tasty and savory. 

20. Netflix for always bringing in good movies.

21. Criminal Minds and the whole cast.

22. A tall glass of Iced Coffee, cappuccino or a small cup of espresso.

23. A long shower.

24. Sleeping on freshly washed bedding.

25. Dyed hair.

26. All dim-sum.

27. Strawberry and Cheese Rock salt shake.

28. The smell of old book pages.

29. Potato chips with mayo dip.

30. Landscape or nature photography.

31. Watching travel vlogs and cinematic videography.

32. Succulents, if only I can take care of them correctly.

33. Planting and farming - I'd love to have my own plantation someday.

34. Ripe apples.

35. Having a body scrub and exfoliator. 

36. Curly, messy hair. 

37. Fresh air when you travel outside the city. 

38. City view at night.

39. Light photography using old digicam.

40. Black and white photographs.

41. Digital comic books - I find digital drawings amazing!

42. Tumblr and Pinterest for being an inspirational source. 

43. The plants that we have on our front porch.

44. Rainbows.

45. Watching the night sky full of stars.

46. Cleaning - because I want to be an OC gal.

47. The smell of marshmallows lotion. 

48. Street foods at Sta. Mesa, Manila.

49. Food parks.

50. The peace and calmness inside museums.

51. Watching a ballet concert.

52. Walking around while the sun is rising. 

53. Biking around the neighborhood.

54. Romance and Thriller movies.

55. The fairy tales I grew up with.

56. A comfy, glittery shoes.

57. Being the eldest child because I get to boss around my sibs when our parents are not around, haha!

58. Being a leader.

59. Reading psychology books and psychological fictions.

60. A cup of hot chocolate on a cold morning. 

61. The experiences I have at work. 

62. The leisure time that I have right now while looking for a new job. 

63. When you got scared because of a suspense/horror movie.

64. Laughing out loud because of silly jokes.

65. Getting together with friends you haven't seen for a long time. 

66. New planner - because I love to plan things out. 

67. Philippines. 

68. Reading inside a library.

69. My desktop and the internet connection - though it's so slow. 

70. The smile on an infants face while sleeping. 

71. Meditating even for just five minutes. 

72. Organized house systems. 

73. Taking a picture of the clear blue sky. 

74. Puffy, cuddly, cold pillows. 

75. Sour cream french fries and cheese sticks. 

76. Tortillas.

77. Korean rom-com movies. 

78. Cute high school animes.

79. London, Japan, Iceland, Netherlands and Denmark - I love them even if I haven't been there because of the character of these places. 

80. Cute, unique sticky pads and colorful pens.

81. People who never fails to say "thank you"

82. When I achieve something and people compliments my work. 

83. Presenting a report to a group of people. 

84. Watching the sunset over the beach. 

85. Listening to the relaxing music of the piano or flute.

86. A smile from a stranger.

87. Polka dots shirts or dresses. 

88. Floral designs. 

89. Looking over all photographs and reminiscing over old memories.

90. Blogging what's inside my mind and having readers like you guys!

91. Lying on bed reading a romance novel. 

92. Learning self-care tips and activities. 

93. Being able to help someone solve a problem.

94. Giving advises or imparting my knowledge. 

95. Learning something new. 

96. Habits building. 

97. Taking a long sleep after a busy day. 

98. Waking up with a delicious breakfast at the table. 

99. Being optimistic and not worrying too much. 

Yeah! That was fun..I hope you could do this activity too. It was like looking deep into yourself and finding out the things that you are grateful for, things that makes you happy and things that you cannot live without. It is also a relaxing activity for me. For a few minutes I was able to think about positive things only and it was really fun. If you need a break from all the things that's been happening around you, have a break and reflect, discover your self. 

It's 27 days before the Board and Licensure Exam for Psychologists and Psychometricians. Are you ready guys?

Well, I will not be taking it this year but hopefully next year. But I am excited for this year's batch of test-takers. Good luck guys! I know you prepared for this. Just keep in mind the license that awaits you after the exams. You can do it!!!

And because I know most of the psychology grads are cramming to review for the exams this October 2018, I thought it will be good to share with you what I've been up to this past few days. As I mentioned on my previous posts, I left my job 5 months ago and I am staying at home most of the time. I aimed to take the comprehensive exam or the board exams but unfortunately things did not work again for me. So I am spending more time at home, doing less important things.

When I say less important things I pertain to browsing my Facebook news feed for more than two hours a day or watching IG Stories for more than 3 hours a day or swiping up and down my Pinterest boards or constantly checking my Messenger account for new updates or watching Netflix movies the whole night. Social media basically eat up my whole day. That sucks!

What it did to me?

Yes, social media has it's positive side but what remains are the negative vibes it brings us. After checking my social media accounts, I honestly felt down most of the time. I feel disappointed, sad and pressured. Because as I browsed through my feeds, yes, I can get the latest updates on celebrities I follow, blogger/vloggers I looked up to, or the whereabouts of my friends and relatives but at the same time unconsciously the status updates, the pictures and the videos I saw made me compare myself to them. I realized that it encourages inferiority feelings and lowers down one's self-esteem. It usually ruins my mood but at the same time as I compared myself to the people on my social media circle it made me want to see more and check others more. Making me spend more hours than I have to. That is what social media aims to do. They make us want to crave for more updates and honestly, it is so addicting. No wonder, social media users continue to grow.

 As I spend more hours on social media, I became lazy and upset to do more productive things that was listed on my daily to-do's. Instead of cleaning the house, organizing my things or washing the laundry I spend more hours using my phone. And because of the usual unconscious comparison that social media brings me, I don't feel like doing anything the whole day. Are you experiencing the same?

So, I decided that these has to end. I have to start using social media moderately. I have to control the time I spent on my phone so that I can do other things. Social media is just a way to know what's happening around you, but isn't it important to know what's happening inside you too?

I did my research and came up with the idea of "social media detox." It is like cleansing yourself. Cleaning out all the negative effects of social media. I usually start my day checking notifications on my social media accounts and ends my day the same way too. So, a detox is what I really need. I quit and deactivated my Facebook and IG accounts for 5 days. (That was short, yeah, but that's the sense of having a detox, start from short periods to longer periods).

I do not have Twitter, Snapchat or Viber on my phone so I don't have a problem not using them for five days. However, I decided to leave YouTube and Messenger because I can control using them. My only problem is my non-stop browsing over FB and IG.

It was really a hard decision for me. If you have work or a business connected to social media you have to schedule your detox on a weekend or a holiday. Or if you really need it, you can inform your clients to contact you via SMS. Just keep in mind, this detox will help you clear your mind, free your self from feelings of inferiority, insecurity, jealousy, disappointment, pressure or intimidation. And this is just for five days. Five days not using FB or IG will not hurt you.

So after uninstalling the social media apps and not using them on my desktop for five days, here's what social media detox did to me.




I have managed my time more efficiently
I was able to follow my to-do list and cross them all out because there are no distractions available and I was able to put up with the habits I am building.

I have time to clean up
I was able to clean and organized the documents I was intending to arrange five months ago. Then I finished my laundry in a shorter time than the usual, when I have social media breaks in between.

I have quality leisure time
Instead of spending time browsing social media updates I have spent my leisure time reading the book I was aiming to read months ago. I also find the time for self-care and meditating during the detox.

I have more time for family bonding
The detox went over the weekend and instead of slouching on the sofa swiping on my phone, me and my sisters went out and bond together. And that's more meaningful. Since they are out the whole week for work we managed to have time together. Had I been engrossed on IG, I would not be going with them.

I have overcome the compulsion to check my phone every second
On usual days, I constantly check my phone for notifications and messages but during the detox, my phone became silent. I was able to control my compulsion to check it every now and then. In fact, I only checked my phone once in the noon and once before I went to bed.

I have a clearer mind
With social media I felt like my mind is always clouded. When the detox takes place, I felt like my mind is lighter and I was able to grasp things easily. I was able to reflect on the things happening around me and I think I was able to break the comparison cycle that's been going on inside me.

I felt happier
The best thing that this detox brought me is the simple happiness I felt because I was able to avoid all the negative vibes that I might get when I open my social media accounts. I believe that I was able to rest my self from those negative feelings I mentioned above. For five days, I was able to deal with the present and stopped thinking and comparing the past.



I think I could list down more things if the detox is longer. But for now I am happy with the 5-day Social Media Detox that I did. I hope you guys can also do this. I know social media seems to be the world right now, but if you want to free your mind from stress or you want to focus on reviewing I suggest you do this. It will be hard at first but you will soon benefit from it. Of course, this 5-day social media detox is not the end. It's a start. You can do this once every month or once every two months but with longer periods, let's say 10 days or even a 30-day detox would be better. It's good to have a detox once in a while because this way we get to take care of ourselves and de-clutter our minds from the stress that the outside world brings us.


If you want to know more about social media detox, read this article or watch this video.

Hey guys! I just attended my first HR seminar last September 22 and it's really an awesome experience. I learned a lot from the three speakers plus I get to meet, well not personally, but I finally had the chance to know the founder of the Philippines HR Group (PHRG), none other than Sir Darwin Rivers (yiiiih! that was really quite fun). 

I started my day a bit earlier that Saturday because I usually woke up around eight in the morning. I have to wake up at 5:00 am so that I have enough time to prep myself and have a relaxed travel to the venue. The seminar is entitled "Nourishing Filipino Values in HR" and it's the first collaboration of PHRG and People Management Association of the Philippines. They gave it away for free so the slots are limited and when I saw it on PHRG, I immediately registered myself for a seat because these type of seminars are very seldom and sometimes expensive and most especially because I think I need a seminar on this one. 

So I got to the venue (San Sebastian College) at around 7:30am, just in time to chill for a few minutes and share on social media that I'll be attending the said seminar. It officially started around 8:20am. Although a bit late, the emcees did not fail to entertain the participants with a fun ice breaker and a raffle. That was a give away since we did not pay anything to attend the learning event. And I got lucky to be picked up and won a book of Mr. Fave entitled, Dreams & Legacy. 

The seminar featured the Sir Sonny Coloma, a former president of PMAP, Sir Gerry Plana, a PMAP Trustee and Atty Karmela Franco, a member of PMAP on Labor Policy Reforms and Industrial Relations Committee. They discussed about how does Filipino Management evolved and differs from the earlier time than today, the best practices of People Management and the proposed leave benefits. 

It was really a good learning experience and I wanted to share a few points that I think would be helpful for those who are in the field of Human Resource. 

Sir Sonny Coloma shared this principle to us, "salus populi, suprema lex esto" which translates to "the welfare of the people be the supreme law" when he reminisced the Martial Law times. I think this principle should also be the principle of the human resource department. In every step we take, memorandums we serve and reports that we make we should always consider both sides. Do not be a company's pet. Think about the welfare of the employees as well. 

Atty Karmela on the other hand, discussed the different leave proposals that are currently on for review at the Congress and the Senate. I hope those leave would get approved so that ordinary employees can really experience the "work-life balance."

All-in-all it was a great morning of learning for me. I just confirmed my principles as an HR to be always in between and not just to go to whatever the employer dictates me. I hope there will be more HR seminars that I could attend to that are of course cheaper. If you want to know more about the PHRG and PMAP you can visit their Facebook pages. I am also hoping to attend technical HR seminars like more on the compensation-benefits or training stuff because I want to improve in those facets too. 

How about you guys? Have you attended the seminar too? Share it with me on the comments section!

Finally! There is a legit psychological service provider that is arising here in our town - Valenzuela. It is not yet long since the Philippine Mental Health Law was passed but we, Valenzuelanos are lucky that there are mental health professionals coming to help and serve our mental health needs. 

I just attended the house warming of Psyche Solution Psychological Services at their newest branch in #25 San Felipe St. Karuhatan, Valenzuela City last August 19, 2018. I had a good time chit chatting with Ms. Hazelyn Gabuat, MP, RPm, a few of the psychology student guests and the Resident Psychologist, Mr. Siegfred Gamueda, RPsy. 

Psyche Solution Psychological Services (PSPS) is a company of licensed Psychologists, Guidance Counselors and Psychometricians devoted on providing psychological services to Filipinos with the aim to respond on the diverse needs of individuals from psychological testing, guidance and counseling and training and development. 

"Nakita ko kasi 'yung need dito...kaya dito kami nag-branch out," Ms. Hazelyn answered when she was asked why they put up their clinic in Valenzuela. She said that they saw the lack of mental health care services available for people not only in Valenzuela but also on neighboring towns like Caloocan, Malabon and Navotas. And since she had relatives living in Valenzuela, "bakit hindi dito," she added. 

Ms. Hazelyn, the Registered Psychometrician, is a young professional who wants to practice and reach out to Filipinos by giving appropriate psychological services. She shared that she did not immediately passed the Board and Licensure Exam for Psychometricians on her first try. It took her 3 trials before she finally got her license and be labeled as a Registered Psychometrician. "Huwag kang matatakot sa failures kasi it will teach you a lot," she added. For her, her failures are not something to be ashamed of,  instead something to be proud of. During those down times, she bear in mind, "siguro hindi ko pa panahon ngaun.. eh di bukas uli." Her message to aspiring psychometricians: just keep on trying. 

PSPS-Valenzuela provides the following psychological services:

"Simple lang...kapag kailangan nilang mag-konsulta pwedeng magtext or mag-call muna sila sa amin. From there we will set up a meeting and we'll see kung ano ang maitutulong namin," Sir Sig added on how they can be contacted.


So, if you feel the need for psychological advice or you know someone who might be suffering from mental health issues and problems you know where to seek professional help. Now, is not the time to be ashamed of seeking help from mental health practitioners. Because of the Philippine Mental Health Law we are expecting more freedom and a wider understanding of different psychological matters. Together with PSPS-Valenzuela we want to increase awareness that mental health services is within our reach. 

I used to admire MA students when I was in college. I was like "ang gagaling naman nila..ang tatalino siguro ng mga 'yon." That is why after finishing my undergraduate degree in Clinical Psychology, I grabbed the opportunity to start my journey at the graduate school. 

However, deciding to take the Master's degree is not that easy. Of course, you have to consider a few things because it is a commitment too. It took me 2 years to decide to push myself into a Master's degree. I have to consider first my time. Can I work and study at the same time? Followed by my financial expenses. Could I afford a Master's degree amidst my list of expenses? Then, the opinion of my family and friends. Yes, it may not be important because I was the one studying not them but their opinion matters too. Then, I have to ask myself. Am I really ready for this? Do I want to invest more time into studying?

Moreover, I have to weigh in the reasons why I want to have a Master's degree. I asked myself why? You have to have a justifiable reason para along the journey you can use it as your motivation. 

Honestly, the first reason why I took up a Master's degree is because I needed to earn units in a subject included in the licensure exam (I/OP). But as the semester went on, I realized that I was enjoying it. 

I want to start a Master's degree because I want to experience what MA students are experiencing. I want to know their struggles as a student (who is also working at the same time) and I want to learn what they have learned. 

I want to study Psychology in a much deeper sense. I want to put what I have learned on the undergraduate level into practice. I want to gain more training. 

I want to earn a Master's degree because I want to test my skills and knowledge in Psychology. I want to prove that I am on my way towards achieving my dream of becoming a Psychologist. 

In short, I just wanted to build up my resume and add up a Master's degree after my name. Haha!

But seriously, a Master's degree is a more in-depth way of studying Psychology if you really want to pursue a career in Psychology. There are a lot of universities offering an MA in Psychology, some also offer MS in Psychology while PUP Graduate School offered Master in Psychology which is where I was studying right now. 

At the graduate school, you will learn a lot from your professors and most especially from your classmates. Because most of the time you will have class reports and discussions. You will also do a lot of research work and consultations so it would really occupy your time. 

And just yesterday, I was able to see the fruit of my hard work. Yey! I am so thankful! I am only three steps away towards my Master's degree!

I can't imagine how I was able to pursue it despite of all the challenges I have to encounter at work just to insist attending my graduate school classes. I have to leave my first job because they would not allow me to attend my weekend classes regularly. Then on my 2nd job, I was not able to enroll for 3 semesters because of conflicting schedules and my supervisory position. But luckily, I was able to pass all the required subjects and now I got to see the Certificate of Grades. 

I was so overwhelmed. God helped me through it. I remembered those days when I have to pray at the bus because I came from half day work just to present my report in front of the class. "Lord, please sana wala pa po yung prof ko para makapag-prepare ako ng maayos bago mag-report." "Lord, tulungan nio po ako...sana po umabot pa po ako sa klase. Sana po hindi traffic." Ahhhh... those days were really stressful. 

I am so lucky my professors are so generous. I owed it to them. Because of them I enjoyed all my subjects. I am so kilig with my grades. (I do not posted this to brag, instead I want to inspire Psychology majors who are also dreaming of finishing a Master's degree)

And now, after 5 years, I have completed all the required subjects which made me eligible to take the COMPREHENSIVE EXAMINATION. I am so happy! This is like a qualifying exams to test all the knowledge you have gained before starting up your THESIS WRITING. Yes! There is a thesis writing (ugh! the sad truth). And it is the most important subject before you can have your Master's degree title. 

Right now, though I finished the required subjects I am not done yet. Because I have to pass the exams first before I can move on to Thesis Writing which will cover another semester depending on the scope of your study. Yes! That will be tough! But I know I can do it with the help of God and my family. 

I am currently on my fifth year at the graduate school btw. Because I only took 2-3 subjects per semester since I also have work on Saturdays, and classes at the graduate school are limited to Saturday and Sundays only. Hopefully, I can pass the Compre exam and go into thesis next semester. 

That's my current journey towards my Master's degree in Psychology. How about you? Are you also taking up a Master's degree in Psychology or planning to? Share with me your struggles at school and let's inspire other Psych majors out there!

We only live once but most of the time we do not get to live the life that we want. But whatever status or lifestyle you have right now, you should learn to accept and experience life. In my 27 years of existence, I could say that my life has been simple and monotonous, yet I am very grateful. I may not been through remarkable ups and downs like most of my age have been, I know that the Lord is preparing me for something great in the future. 

For all my readers who have been going through a test of life, just keep fighting and holding on. Remember that you are not alone. God gave you that challenge because He knows you can successfully overcome it. 

No, it is not my birthday yet but I just wanted to share to you these 20 things that I realized now that I am about to turn 28 in a few months. It has taken me this long to realize and appreciate these things but because I am in the adulthood stage now, little by little I came to understand how life goes around.  

1. People always come and go. The playmates you made when you're a kid or the besties you have in high school - they will all be gone. Just that. It is unavoidable. People tend to come into our lives but most of them won't stay long. People always move. 

2. Being a bit paranoid will keep you safe. The world is dangerous. If you reached my age and have not experienced discrimination, harassment, theft, sadness, or even a heart-break you are lucky enough. Life has not been tough on you because you are keen enough to avoid it. 

3. There is always a point that you will chase for something new. After 27 years, you would realize how time flies so fast and it will struck on you that you have not tried traveling, exploring beautiful places, tasting exotic foods, meeting strangers, attending a yoga class or that you have been doing the same job for the past 10 years and nothing has changed. Doing this over and over again will bore you so from time to time you have to find a new perspective. Go out of your shell and look for a change. 

4. YOLO. So, while you still have the time, do the things that you want to do, do it! Go to the places you've been eyeing for years, travel alone, pamper yourself with a bubble bath, go cliff diving... fall in love!

5. You will not experience freedom until you separate from your parents. Yes, I know this will be hard. But living independently will give you so much freedom that you have not expected when you are stuck with your parents. However, it takes a lot of courage, planning and saving money. 

6. Cooking and cleaning the house is fun! Yes, I hated it as much as you do, but that's when I was a teenager. When you reach this age, you will enjoy it. It will be a ME-time and a way to de-clutter your life too. 

7. Studying for the exams or finishing your thesis isn't the hardest thing you'll get through. As a young adult, you'll realize that finishing college is not the end of your dilemma. It is just the start. You will encounter more challenges in life to become better.

8. Few is more. Having a few close friends is way better than having thousands of FB friends or thousands of  IG followers. The more friends you have on social media, I bet, the more sad your life is. Find real ones babe!

9. Punctuality is a test of respect. By now, you should have realized how important it is to come on time. You know how it hurts if the person you are meeting with comes thirty minutes late. Such a waste of your precious time. It means he/she does not respect your presence or the time you are investing just to meet him/her. 

10. It is important to have an open mind. Do not be conceited, skeptic and cynical. You do know everything. Open your mind to learn and open your heart to accept that it's 2018. 

11. Be yourself. Do not lie to your self. Sometimes you have flaunted your ideal self too much and covered your real self just to gain acceptance and belonging but girl, it is not good for you. Learn to love the real you! Others would not love who you are unless you love yourself first.

12. Your parents have been right on most things but not all. If they say don't talk to strangers, don't. If they say don't talk when your mouth is full, then don't. If they say been there, done that, believe them. 

13. Follow your heart's desire. Stop listening to what others has to say. Stop living up to somebody's standards. Just follow what your heart whispers to you. 

14. A good boss is better than a good salary. Do not look for high paying jobs instead look for a good boss who will inspire you to become better. A good boss who will teach you to become successful, high salary will satisfy your basic needs but will not give you a better life.

15. It's okay to be spontaneous. Do not be afraid to speak your mind and come out of your comfort zone. Just do it!

16. Spending time with your friends is better than scanning through IG and FB feeds. Socialize in-person not online. It is way better to have personal contact and actual communication than a video call or liking up your friend's latest DP. 

17. Crying doesn't mean you are weak. Reaching adulthood means you've went through a lot of trials. And not all the time a person is strong enough to conquer them all. There are time that we have to admit that we feel down and that we need help. Remember it's okay to cry. Crying doesn't mean you are weak, it just shows that you have been strong for a long time. By crying you are venting out all the burdens that you have. It may not solve the problem but it will ease your heavy feeling. 

18. You will be more concerned with what is happening around you. Evening news now interests you. At this point you are also seeking your life's advocacy. Many young adults became parts of campaigns for climate change, human rights, mental health awareness, gender equality, etc. It is good to join fun runs and activities that will help fund charities for saving our Mother Earth or to save animal lives. So, start searching and dig deeper on how you can help increase awareness to other people. 

19. Learning to prioritize would be your best weapon. May it be on your career, your family or your life goals you should by now realize how important it is to organize your life and prioritize your objectives. Do not be a "come-what-may" or a "happy-go-lucky" person. 

20. Simple things will make you happier. Isn't it heart warming to see babies smile when they are sleeping, to see flowers bloom in your little garden or just to witness the sun set? Happiness is not about being rich and famous. 

How about you? Do you have life lessons like these? Share it with me, I want to hear from you!

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What motivates an employee in an organization?

Have you read this part under Industrial Psychology? I hope, yes. Because this might be included on the BLEPP 2018. There are different theories about employee motivation. So, if you are looking for additional readings on Motivation, I have listed a couple of links below to help you!

Employees with high self-esteem usually perceives tasks given to them as a challenge of their skills and abilities. They believe in their own skills and experiences and accepts jobs easily because they know they can do it. While employees with low self-esteem usually refuses to do additional jobs because they fear that they could not do it and they might disappoint their bosses. 

Employees can be easily motivated by giving them compensation according to the labor standards. If employees work longer hours or assigned to difficult tasks but receives below minimum wage, they would not be motivated to do their jobs. 

Jobs that requires you to exert more effort, think out of the box or lead a team is more motivating than jobs dealing with computer or paper works. I personally experienced this. When I was working as an Assistant, there came a point that I wanted to quit because I felt like I was confined in a box, that I cannot do anything unless my boss or supervisor advised me. I honestly felt suffocated that time, I told myself that I wanted a job where I could use my brain, I wanted something that's challenging than sourcing and interviewing applicants. And that is where I get my motivation, I always think that I want a better position to challenge my skills so I tend to do and perform at my best.

• If their jobs are meaningful, they are responsible for the outcomes, and they constantly receives feedback

• They have set their goals aligned with the organizations

• Good performance is equivalent to a valuable reward

• If they know they are treated fairly and they know every one is treated equally

• They know that their co-employees are motivated