What do you think will happen if you live as if you are in your younger years? I mean really younger, like 20 years back. Also, it’s not just reminiscing about it but living several days of your life in those younger years.
This “what if” scenario was actually done in an experiment by Harvard Psychologist Ellen Langer and played out fictitiously in this entertaining KDrama series Melting Me Softly.
Listen to this episode to learn more about it and what you can possibly discover about yourself when you do a life rewind.
‘After we are born, we have to make sure the world is a better place than when we came’. This line struck me when I heard it from this recent KDrama watch. I started thinking about how I can make things better and how “this making it better” actually differs for each one of us.
P.S. Thanks to the creators of the KDrama series Melting Me Softly (and of course Ji Chang Wook) which is my inspiration for this podcast episode.
It will take more than innate ability, but it requires long hours of deliberate practice. Let’s say around 10,000 hours. This is around 8-10 years of intentional practice and engagement in your prospective field of expertise.
You need not fret about it as there are many ways that you can start earning these hours. If you’re keen to know how, join me in this podcast episode and listen through this link!
You can follow me on Facebook (LearnwithH) or Instagram (LearnwithHersh)!
A lot can happen in 2 years, and you may have noticed changes about yourself, in the way you think, your habits, your preferences, or other things.
Listen in on this podcast episode and start reflecting about how you have changed during this pandemic and how you can use this to become a better version of yourself.
Special thanks to my guests, Jans Ferreras and Shane Nones!
That’s my response when people would ask me how I am doing as an independent consultant, and I meant every word of it.
I like the flexibility in my days, where I get to slot in personal commitments and move work activities around it.
I am learning a lot! Being a one-woman team and fairly new at engaging clients, I need to learn the how-to’s of creating a marketable profile, coming up with proposals, tailoring program design across industries, meeting new people and building relationships with them, and so many others.
Photo by Marissa Grootes on Unsplash
These are some of the highlights. I have to be honest though that it isn’t always like this. As an independent consultant, I had many of those, ‘Should I get a more regular-paying job?’ moments.
When I started as an independent consultant, I was blessed with a 10-month long project from 2020 until the middle of 2021. With a regular client back then, I did not feel the full extent at that time of what they say as financial instability of freelancing. After that 10-month project, I was excited to try out new things and get projects here and there. However, it was harder than I thought.
For the 2nd half of 2021, I had a hard time. I tried offering my courses to individuals, but the amount I’m able to charge was minimal, and it was not be sustainable. There were no corporate clients too. That was the proposal-churning season of my life. I’ve submitted proposals for month-long prospective OD engagements, to virtual courses, and big group team building, but none of these panned out.
I felt like nothing seems to be going my way amidst my effort. I started feeling discouraged and even second-guessed my calling in developing people.
On the 4th quarter of 2021, I was at a crossroad. I considered if I should go back to corporate for that financial stability or continue independent consulting.
The thing is, I already know deep down inside what I wanted. It was hard, but I want to continue independent consulting for the reasons I’ve shared.
In those times where my heart’s desire seemed to be at odds with the practicalities of reality, I knew I had to go to the One who can fulfill this desire into my reality.
I asked my Father God to allow me to continue independent consulting. I’m so grateful that He did. He and I made an agreement that I will be a ‘masipag na consultant’. I know it will not be easy, and I still have so much more to learn, but since I wanted to stay on this path, then I will work in becoming better at it.
Photo by Kevin Bhagat on Unsplash
Now, I’m still doing consulting. 🙂 The thing is, I am only able to do this because God allowed it. I asked Him for it; He allowed it, and His favor is what’s keeping me at it.
My encouragement to you: Go to God with your desires. Talk to Him, and He will guide you. If it’s aligned with His will, He will grant it, and His favor will be upon you.
With changes left and right, it can leave one feeling unsettled. We have been pivoting over and over again through the course of this pandemic. We have to create some sense of stability and one of the ways to do this is through routines.
There are 3 ways to go at it: Let Go, Create, and Recreate.
Learn more by listening to this podcast through this link!
You can follow me on Facebook (LearnwithH) or Instagram (LearnwithHersh)!
It’s 2021 and the increasing trend in the covid 19 cases made a lot of people feel like another wave has started. Many are tired and seeking rest from worries, fears, fatigue, and loss.
I may not know if this is indeed another wave or for how long this will last, but I believe that things are not the same. I’ve been changed in the past year. So from 2020 to where I am now in 2021, there is an in-between, and IT MATTERED.
Some realizations in my in-between:
1. I can enjoy a simple life.
No need to eat at a fancy restaurant every weekend, indulge my need to go out and do something, or grab my favorite cup of milktea. I can stay at home and still enjoy a lovely dinner with my family. I can make my cup of milk tea, with my own tea bag and milk brew. Simple joys.
2. I will be fine.
Do I worry? Do I feel fear? Do I cry? Yes, yes, and yes.
I have felt so many emotions the past year. There were days that things are looking up then suddenly worry about my family’s health would stop me. So volatile and unpredictable.
What helped? That I let it all out to someone who can listen and comfort me. I need not filter cause He wants me to come to Him in everything – laughter, tears, relief, or fears. All of it. I need not hold it all in, like trying to keep a full jar from overflowing. It will only take some time before it bursts. With my God. I can let it freely flow and let it all out.
3. I can let go of my plans.
Planner here! But my plans did not hold up the past year with the quarantine, down economy, and virtual set-up. Many disruptions and shifts that called me to change plans, weekly, monthly.
How am I doing now? Good actually. Because when my plans are out, God was able to move. I learned to depend on Him (and still learning this everyday). But I am grateful how in the uncertainty, He showed me that He’s not. He has plans for me that are better and will surely happen.
4. I have a rich and generous God.
His means and ways change, but His heart doesn’t. He will always be the One to provide.
I had a steady income as an employed person for the past 10 years of my life. Then in 2020, I was a mixed earner, getting payment from different sources –Baked goodies, coaching, training courses, and OD consulting project. The means changed but the provision still came from my true Provider.
5. I have a faithful God.
When I had to stay at home, with cash running low, with an unseen enemy that threatens, and with worry for my and loved ones health, I realized that I am indeed powerless.
But my God is not. During those times that I can’t control, predict, or protect, I learned that the best I can do is to let the One who can. I’ve prayed for family’s supernatural protection from covid, for our daily food, and for where my career will head to. He is and has been faithful.
In that time between 2020 when covid19 showed up and to where we are now, I have been changed. I believe you have been too. Things may still seem dark, we may still hear negative news, but believe that we are not the same people that we were before.
How about you? What are the things you’ll see in your in-between?
Heard so many great feedback about this series that I knew I had to see it for myself. So what are the reasons why Start Up was one of the most loved series in 2020?
1. It’s a call to celebrate dreams and its fulfillment.
Sandbox, I remember using this word as the title to my first speech in Toastmasters. A word for play, exploration, and learning. Something I’ve forgotten as an adult but been yearning for.
Photo credit: from tvN
Being a believer that God has placed one-of-a-kind dreams in each of us gives this concept of Sandbox so much appeal. People get to have a safe space where they can pursue their dreams, not without the hard work or commitment, but still be in a place where you get provided with resources (office space and robot-serving coffees 😎), meet such great minds, be mentored, and be told that it’s okay to try and fail for you can still try again and again and again.
I want to be part of creating this sandbox for people and their dreams. May not be a physical place but a safe place to guide, mentor, and encourage as one dreamer gives it a shot.
2. It reminds us of the need to know what we’re meant to do.
The series is not a call for all of us to quit our 8-5 jobs and start our own business. Some are meant to run a business while others simply want to do what they’re passionate about. Thus the difference between CEO Dal mi and CTO Do San. One is not better than the other; they just have a different purpose.
For you, have you thought about your why? What is your ‘why’?
3. It moves us out of hesitation and waiting too long. Else, we can lose.
“You are a faint-hearted batter. Afraid of being called out, you are unable to even swing your bat. But if you continue to hesitate, you will lose. So be brave and just swing the bat. You could be called out, but you may also hit a home run.” – Yeong-sil
I’ll get a Yeong-sil if they’re selling it here. It sure speaks with wisdom when needed. These lines hit me hard as I know of so many occasions that I did not even swing the bat out of fear of failing. At times, I want to get it so right before I take a swing at it — “I’ll start offering the training once I have finalized the content.” “I’ll focus on it once my schedule allows me to.” Waiting for that perfect content and timing which may not even come in this lifetime.
How do I push myself to still swing that bat in spite of possibly striking out?
Excellence and Faith Excellence: I prepare for whatever I can. Faith: For those I can’t prepare for, I let go and let God. So long as I know I’ve given it my best then even if there are uncertain things, I go for it. It still scares me, but the excitement of possibly hitting a home run is becoming stronger.
4. It stirs up this desire to be pursued by a man with such decisiveness and certainty.
There were so much talks about Team Do San vs. Team Good Boy. Seeing people’s post and how attractive this new Oppa is, Kim Seon Ho, I thought I would also be Team Good Boy for Dal Mi.
Photo credit: Soompi
So right there at the episode when Do san asked Dal mi about the music box and her answer made him turn around and go to her, I thought to myself, oh that’s why he was the male lead. ❤️ Ji Pyeong, no matter, how handsome, smart, talented, and even thoughtful he was to Dal mi, he did not take courage in going all in and pursuing her. Do San decided early on that he likes her and pursued her.
I love how Do san has…
Gone to Dal mi even without knowing her but out of kindness in his heart
Saw her as pretty even after she just cried
Unabashedly admitted that he likes her to his friends
Listened to Dal mi when she has an idea that others think was impossible
Paid attention to her, even the unspoken desires of bringing Halmeoni to a beautiful scenery
Partnered with her in making their dreams a reality
So for these, I am happy that she ended up with Do San.
So much feels and lessons in this series. Now, it’s time to live these out. Let’s all start celebrating our dreams, defining our why, and taking courage on the things that matter to us.
Imagine here with me. You have faithfully worked for the past decade as a corporate employee, cherishing that stability afforded to you by a bi-monthly income. Then suddenly, you decided to take a short break late last year. No new work, just taking your time to reenergize and realign.
When you decided to get back to your career and change path towards self-employment, a pandemic hits! The world stopped and so did your plans.
This was my story.
But what I want to recount is not the life hacks I did to save or budget my finances. What I want to share is how God has consistently provided for all my needs and even wants during this “no work” pandemic.
Let me start by revisiting that roller-coaster of emotions..
When I resigned with no work, I thought I was already prudent with a sizable savings account and enough fund in my bank account to pay off our monthly amortization in the next months.
So when the pandemic hit, it left me worried, confused, and shaky. What I took as a well-thought out plan turned out to be fragile. It broke, shattered easily.
My emotions were on a roller-coaster. There were times of calm when the Word of God would assure me that He is my provider. But there were times when worry would creep in when I start to think about the future. “What if this pandemic gets extended, and my savings starts to run low?” “What if one of us gets sick, and I don’t have enough to pay for the bills?” So many what ifs.
But in all these, God has stepped in so many times with His provision. He showed me that He knows what I need, and He is always right on time. His moves include the time when…
my dad found a whole chicken being sold at a nearby bakery when I wanted something else than canned goods.
I came across kuya and his karitela of bananas in front of our place when I needed a bunch for my banana bread.
my friend contacted me as she wanted to pay off her debt to me which was at least over 3 years ago.
clients requested that I design and facilitate a Train-the-Trainer, corporate presence, and team building program for their teams
So many more, but I highlighted these because God showed me that…
He cares about my wants, whether as petty as a whole chicken or banana…
His ways are unexpectedly beautiful like when He reminded my friend to settle a debt which I’ve forgotten…
He is way stronger than a pandemic and nothing can stop Him from bringing me back to His purpose for my life as a trainer…
His timing is oh-so-right and enough with what I need. Not lacking anything.
Now, do I worry about my finances? There are still days that I do, but I don’t dwell on it. I go back instead to God’s faithfulness and abundant grace. And I know I have been and will be taken cared of, even in the midst of a pandemic.
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