Friday, April 14, 2006
"I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can..."
Do you all remember "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends", that old children's animation that promoted the steam engines that highly contributed to the air pollution we now have today? Well, even though it was geared towards little kids (most of us weren't even born at the time), it could teach us life-long lessons; the wisdom of old men and women.
During this one episode, Thomas, the main character in the story, a puppeteered steam engine, was going about his everyday life, of well, chugging down coals to transport people and their belongings (and the occassional zoo and farm animals), between 'train stations' (a piece of technology we unfortunately don't have yet here in Cebu). Until at a certain point in time in the recession of his life, or what we humans call 'middle-age', he couldn't get it going.
This sweet steam engine, Thomas, had his hopes and dreams seemingly washed away from him in that second where he couldn't get it up-err..going. He, or it, was a hopeless case. Nothing could help him. Even the use of stimulants and external tampering couldn't help him. The train operator was left to one conclusion: That mental stress was the primary cause of a psychological malfunction which directly affected the stimulii requried in order to perform certain functions. In other words, it was all in his mind (if trains do have minds). What happened next was a depiction of meditation and zen through the positive reinforcement by the train operator.
Once the train operator jump started Thomas, he kept on repeating to himself words that we all should never forget: "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can...". Over and over again, he repeated those words, as if chanting a demonic phrase. Slowly, but surely, his wheels started to move. Faster and faster they went. Until at long last, he could get himself going! The Energizer battery was no match for him as he could travel at speeds of 120kph. Way to go little train! You just learned one of life's most important lessons.
So what does this all mean? How could a simple train overcome his weaknesses? The answer: It's all in the power of the mind.
Remember the quote: "You can do anything once you put your mind to it"? Or better yet, "Once you wish something, the whole universe transpires in order for you to obtain it"? The first quote was true, and the second one was a half-truth. When you truly wish something, deep in your heart, the universe does not conspire and agree on granting your wish, no matter how evil it may be. But your own personal universe makes it happen. Once you set a goal in your heart, mind, and embed it deep into your subconscious, your actions will be geared towards that goal. If you always say to yourself: "I think I can", then you can.
Sheer will and determination. Those are the two traits that you gain with your personal brainwashing. All the factors in your environment that either directly or indirectly affect the way you accomplish your goal will come into play. Even though all of these factors may turn out to be obstacles, if you have the determination, you will overcome these obstacles and accomplish your goal, making use of what you have . Right now, you're on your own. But I'd like to leave with you a couple of thoughts before you battle the demons of life, or school-life, as the situation may be.
Remember how we are taught in our science that everything, and I do mean EVERYTHING, goes through our mind. Pain, pleasure, fear, excitement, contentment, the list goes on. Remember that you control your mind, your mind should not control you. So if everything goes through your mind, and you control your mind, does that mean you can control your emotions and feelings? The answer is yes. You can control not only your emotions, but also you physical and mental state. Once you free your mind, you can forget about pain or fear. I don't want to get all Buddhist on you, and will not delge into details, but I want you to remember my first point: Mind over Matter.
My second point in this post write-up is this: Be aware of your surroundings. Your environment, the factors that directly or indirectly affect you, are all important, and you should be aware of them whenever you are in any situation. Once you are aware of them, you can make them play towards your advantage. One method of doing this is identifying your Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats, your personal SWOT analysis. Does not conclude this article, but leaves the rest up to you...Jason posted at 9:09 PM | 0 comments
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[ ME. ]
An AIESECer forever
A thinker and philosopher
Citizen of the moon
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[ A CANCER. ]
Cancer is the fourth Sign of the Zodiac. After the exploration of Self, the physical world, and the intellectual world by the first three Signs, Cancer people turn to nurturing the family group. They are emotional and traditional, interested in heredity and ancestors, and this is reflected in their desire to care for relatives and propagate the family line. Their lives are generally centered around the home, including hereditary property and "family roots." As the fourth Sign, Cancer also rules the fourth House: the House of Home.
The Sign In Depth
The Astrological Symbol of Cancer is the Crab. Like the Crab, Cancerians go through life with a strong shell around them that is not easily broken. If necessary, they can retreat into their shell until it's safe to come out, but sometimes they become moody and refuse to leave. They can, quite literally, be crabby. In general, Cancerians are the first people to express emotion in any given situation -- the first to laugh and the first to tears. In this way, Cancer exemplifies the Cardinal Quality assigned to it. They are strong willed and persistent, and the rare occasions when their sympathy and kindness doesn't get them what they want they aren't above using emotional manipulation -- tears or sulking -- to get it. Within the Zodiac, Cancer is opposite Capricorn, the Sign of Social Status. While Capricorn is about how the world perceives you, people born under Cancer are more interested in their family and home life. They tend to be very protective of loved ones. They usually aren't ambitious, preferring the gentle and passive side of life.
Cancer is ruled by the Moon. In ancient times, the Moon was perceived as the Great Mother, responsible for nurturing all life. It represents fertility and instinct. The Moon controls the tides and all water on Earth, and it has a strong effect on human emotions. People born under Cancer tend to be more sensitive to the movement of the Moon through the Zodiac than other Signs are, their moods changing with the Moon's passage. They may be brooding or touchy when the Moon is passing through incompatible Signs, but strongly intuitive when the Moon is in a favorable Sign. Because of the maternal aspect of the Moon, Cancerians tend to have a strong need to protect themselves and their families. Generally domestic and peaceful, they have strong emotional drives and won't sit still when loved ones are threatened. Despite their general timidity, they can be patronizing when people cross them.
The Element associated with Cancer is Water. Water Signs are emotional: they tend to respond to the world through emotion, rather than physical action, practicality, or intellect. Cancerians are very intuitive, and emotion is a key part of their lives. They may be sentimental, often becoming collectors of things that remind them of family or the past. They need to be careful not to hoard things, however, and they can be possessive of what is theirs. They are thrifty, and dislike wasting money on frivolous things. Because of their strong emotions, people born under Cancer may tend to live in the past. They are easily hurt, so they attempt to protect themselves from the emotional stress of the present by rehashing the past instead. Their warm and caring nature is very sensitive to other people's harshness. It is important for Cancerians to learn not to jump into self-protective mode at the first sign of trouble, because their need for security can prevent them from discovering new things.
Because they are the nurturers of the Zodiac, people born under Cancer have a strong association with food. Additionally, they are very imaginative and sensitive, making many Cancerians excellent amateur chefs. Some go on to make a career out of cooking! They also tend to be more patriotic then other Signs, largely due to their strong emotional attachment to the place of their birth.
In their leisure time, Cancerians tend to enjoy physical exercise, finding that sweat helps them counter the stress inherent in their emotional natures. They often enjoy team sports because of the feeling of family within a team. Water sports also appeal to them. Artistic endeavors, written or on canvas, allow them to channel their swirling emotions into productive output. In love relationships, Cancer is caring, devoted, and romantic.
Cancer rules the breasts and stomach. People born under Cancer may suffer from stomach and digestive problems more often than people born under other Signs. The Moon is silver and white, and these are Cancer's colors as well.
The great strength of the Cancer-born is in their devotion to family. Their emotional orientation to life help them understand the difficulties their loved ones must work through. Their affectionate natures make them among the most caring characters of the Zodiac.
[ A CANCERERIAN LOVE. ]
Your positive traits:
You're intuitive enough to know what's going wrong in a relationship early on
A total sweetheart - you're often the most caring person anyone knows
You are a generous and devoted parter to whoever you fall in love with
Your negative traits:
Insecurity - you tend to need a huge amount of comforting from your partner
You tend to be overly sensitive and easily hurt, which make loving you difficult
It's difficult to predict your moods. One minute you're up - the next you're down.
Your ideal partner:
Someone equally sensitive, who wants to take time to get to know you deeply
Dreams of an everlasting love - complete with marriage and a family
Loves to take care of you. Being a good cook and masseuse doesn't hurt!
Your dating style:
Slow. You enjoy dates that last all day, with plenty of time to talk and get to know one another.
Your seduction style:
Quite tender and loving, once you are comfortable in your relationship.
Coy. You tend to play it cool to drive your lover wild.
Orally talented - you're known as the best kisser in the zodiac.
Tips for the future:
Be a little less sensitive. Not every little mistake should hurt you.
Spend time away from your partner every so often - independence is a good thing.
Find ways to take care of yourself. You'll be happier if you put yourself first.
