Write a paper titled “Putting It All Together.” The paper should focus on what the truth is regarding your life. You may refer back to your findings from posts and papers, as well as other references used in this class. Your Philosophy of Life can be incorporated into the content of the paper. It can be drawn from traditional philosophy, personal experience, practical applications, and theoretical applications. Each person has a unique background that is influenced by many factors.

You may also bring in other references not previously used. Use at least five references and remember that some of your best information may have come from your classmates. Use APA format for the paper. It should be 3.5-4 double spaced pages in length.

I have tried at least 4 times to write the final paper for this class. Each time, I always hit a road block. I thought that writing my truth down would be simple, especially since this is about my story, but it’s a little bit more complicated than that. Throughout this course, I really tried to be present on all the exercises and tried to put my guard down and the results were surprising. I have learned more about myself these past 13 weeks, than my whole adult life. I think because we are all tied up to our own regular routine and ways, in our daily lives, that we don’t really get to sit down and analyze out own feelings, belief system, values etc. This class has definitely given me a glimpse of that and translating that to paper will prove difficult.

Prior to working at Providence, I was working as a case manager at a small community hospital. It was evident from day one that the goal of the place was to make as much money as they can while expending the least money to their employees. We definitely felt that we were just pawns in the grand scheme of things in that company. There was an instance where a man was suffering from kidney stones and was in agony, but administration told him that we do not have a bariatric bed available (even if we did) so we could not take the case. When I argued with administration that the bed was available, they had told me that the real reason was that the hospital was going to lose money on the procedure because the patient had an HMO. I was flabbergasted that this man was made to suffer all because of a couple of thousand of dollars. Luckily, I was able to transfer the patient to another facility that was able to take care of him. That day really made me think about what my place is on that organization. I knew I did not belong there. Now fast forward 1 year, I now work at a non-profit organization of Providence. Not that money is not an issue, but I can see the difference in the care, real concern for someone’s well-being, in the service that we provide to our patients. Because of the example of ethics and the spirit the sisters of Providence have established when they started the organization, their care, compassion, and excellence, among the few values, really carry over to the rest of the caregivers. I am proud to be working among the most caring people I’ve met in my life.

My Mantra in life is Romans 5:3-5. In essence, problems are given to you to produce patience, character, and hope.  Basically, when we encounter a problem, it is there to refine you. Ever since I have been saved, I have really minimized trying to “DO IT ALL” myself. I have really learned to pray over problems and see where God leads me. This is not to say that I am being passive about dealing with issues, I still analyze, look at pros and con, but the process for me starts with a prayer, and God usually guide me to a path. Now this path may not be the one I think is the right way, but I have learned to accept that his ways are better than mine, and that it may not always be the path I would choose for myself. But like the scriptures says, “trust not on your own understanding”, because God plans are bigger than our own, and the path that we think may be a good thing for us is only a diversion for what the greater, best path ahead.

 

 

Growing up in a small town in the Philippines was tough. I lived most of my life with my brother, who was only 3 years older than me, since I was 5 years old. Both my parents left the Philippines to work at another country to try to give us a better life. However, their plans didn’t turn out as they had planned because they were having a difficult time trying to make ends meet on their own, let alone support two kids in the Philippines. I mean they did their best, but that means sending money to me and my brother two times a year, which definitely was not enough. So growing up was pretty stressful. From the age of 5, my brother and I have to work for everything we have from the roof over our heads, to our clothes, down to our food. I would wash peoples laundry, sell food in the streets, do odd jobs, fish with the fishermen just to be able to put food in the table. Growing up, we were always fighting to make sure we were able to provide for ourselves, and we have carried this attitude as we grew up. So when life gets tough or stressful, I fight. I fight to make it better, I fight so my situation does not get the best of me.

But ever since I have been saved, I realized that fighting all the time is not really the answer. Since my salvation, I have learned that my life was the way it was, to mold me into who I am today. When life gets tough, I pray. When it gets stressful, I pray. When I feel like im lost, I pray. And it is through prayer that god shows me that it is ok, and I truly believe that his plans are bigger than mine and that I just have to listen to that tiny still voice and he will make it all ok. ( I don’t know if you all will truly understand what I’m trying to say, but this is what came to me. J)

I really enjoyed reading the powerpoint, along with the article and the video alone with chapter 12 on Thinking. They all point out how stress can affect you and how you can manage it, or at least change your perspective or outlook on stress so that it does not negatively affect you. Through the stress questionnaire, I realized that I am not as stressed out as I thought I would be. With everything that goes on in my life, I thought I would mark up all the stressors and reactions, but I only marked off about 20% of it. Not to say that life is perfect, because I know there is no such thing, but I truly believe that my salvation is my literal saving grace. I am able to just give things up to God when life gets tough, I pray, and whatever the answer, I have learned to accept it. I have also been practicing how to change my perspective in situations, to try to find the good, no matter how bad it gets and it has been very helpful.

 

Being a mother of 2, a wife, a church member, a full-time case manager, a student and a sister, I definitely sometimes wear too many hats and having enough time to fulfill the needs for each position is a big problem. I have learned to just focus on what matters today and limit other distractions to keep my sanity. I guess it’s one of the reasons why I am great at what I do because I am able to juggle it all at the same time. But there are times when it’s just too much. That’s when I take a break and assess what needs immediate attention, and everything else will just have to wait. Accepting that I can’t do it all and that its ok to say no, is a big impact on how I decreased these stressors.

 

 

I agree with Dave Ellis and George Sheehan that people must celebrate or “play” in order to reach their full potential. I think it’s important for people to acknowledge the little victories in life, because it is through those victories that you learn and grow. Without growth, one may never reach their full potential. The Romans 5:3-4 bible says about overcoming your struggles produces patience, which produces character, which produces hope. Being able to recognize the good or positive things in life that is worth celebrating, no matter how small that may be, is a big factor in living a hopeful, fulfilled and happy life. Life can be challenging, and if you dwell on the things you did not achieve vs what you can celebrate, or the little victories you did achieve, will change how you view yourself and the life you are living.

I really enjoyed the exercises on strategy 12. I specifically liked paged 262 – Laugh three times daily and call me in the morning. I found that I really have a positive disposition in life. A big part of this is my belief in God and that my life is in his hands (kind of contradicting to what this book teaches us about taking control of your life) and the fact that I laugh a lot! I live with three boys! My 4 and 7-year-old sons and my eldest, my husband. The three of them combined in a comedy show every day. Its what I look forward to coming home to after a long day at work, or when things do not go as planned, I know I can count on the three of them to lift my spirits up. For the most part, I also, just a force of habit, just walk around smiling. Working in a hospital, a little smile goes a long way, because you don’t know what the other person is going through.

I think the power point, lecture and the reading article by George Sheehan has one thing in common, and that is to find real joy in everything you do in life so we can live a truly fulfilled life.

The final exercises on Falling Awake, is a great recap on things we should have picked up from this book. It was interesting to see how my answers were so different from how it was during the beginning exercises of this book. Knowing and understanding the strategies that we have gone through has definitely helped me figure out a way to address specific issues in life, better than I did at the beginning of this course.