The great thinker Stephen Covey once said, “If you want to make minor, incremental changes and improvements, work on practices, behavior or attitude. But if you want to make significant, quantum improvement, work on paradigms.”
A paradigm means perception, theory, or a lens how you view the world.
You are in your world because that is how you view the world.
If you believe life can be richer, abundant, and amazingly incredible, you will experience life exactly what you believe. If you believe life cannot anymore be better, you will live in mediocrity for the rest of your life.
As much as possible I veer away from talking politics here in OBT because that is not my realm. I always look at the positive side of things and try to capture the purpose why words were said. We all know that President Duterte has been in the news because of his remarks about ‘a stupid god’. Why did he say that? What was his purpose?
Allow me to give my honest opinion.
We all know President Duterte is not good in words. He can say bad words in front of the public and doesn’t really mind. Don’t listen to the words but try to understand in between words. His image is a tough guy, not a good guy. He is capable of making drastic changes. But I do believe he will do everything to make the lives of the Filipinos better.
Having said that, so what was the reason behind his remarks?
I believe the reason behind his remarks was he wanted to change most of the Filipinos paradigm. Many Filipinos live in poverty because they believe God wants them to suffer. Many Filipinos misinterpret the image of Jesus Christ on the cross as a message that to follow Christ we too should suffer and live in poverty.
You can’t really do much on a person who has locked his paradigm on poverty. Even if you give him all the opportunities and resources, he will still go back and continue to live in poverty.
I know this because that was how I used to believe. I used to believe that I don’t deserve the good life because of my sins. I used to believe that God is angry at me because at times I was lazy, I didn’t do well in school, etc. I used to beat myself for the sins I committed. Because of my twisted belief, my life back then was gloomy, dark and poor.
I totally misunderstood the Catholic faith. Thank God I kept on searching for the truth.
When I started to understand that our God is a loving God and whatever I do He still loves me, that changed my life. Now I work hard because I want to love more and serve more. I always pray that He will use me to the hilt in spreading His love.
For those of us who are enjoying the abundance and richness of life, we need to go out of our comfort zone and be a light to those who are still in the dark.
Be Jesus to somebody today.
Ern Ynion 