Thank you for all the comments and ratings I've received. I've taken them to heart and I only hope for it to make me a better person, team member and leader.
With that said, what stuck out to me in my initial reactions upon receiving the feedback was the gap in how I think I portray myself and act toward others and how my demeanor is actually perceived by others in my group. So the self-portrayal versus actual-perception is a key take away I got from this. Where I underestimate myself, I see that as a positive strength to be more confident in; where I overestimate myself, well I guess I need to get off my high horse and work harder to express those traits.
As difficult and slightly awkward as it may be to accept criticism and complements, it is always appreciated. Under this positive environment, while I still felt a little bit vulnerable, it was good to hear because along with my peers, we just want to help each other become a better version of ourselves. There's this morbid saying that goes something like if we're not growing, we're dying. So in order for me to progress and grow, I have to know what to progress on and improve. Hindsight is 20/20 and all that and so looking back on the challenge, there will be things that I wish did more/less of. To avoid repeating mistakes, that is something I will remember to do and carry on with me for my future endeavors to help me succeed and become a better version of myself.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Formula for Happiness
One of my business professors once told me that if he were to ask me one day in the short future how I'm doing at work, my answer is not going to be based on how much money I make or what my dental plan/healthcare/benefits are, but on how I feel, how happy I am. Sooo... what makes me happy?
Looking back to some of my happiest moments there are a few recurring themes. The first and foremost being people. I enjoy being around people, friends, and family. What makes me happy is being surrounded by people who I can feel comfortable being myself around because I'm kind of weird with an even weirder sense of humor. I love to laugh so I like being around people who can make me laugh until I basically start crying. Being around people that I care about and being able to make them happy, well there's almost no better feeling.
And for me, it's also about helping people. When I, along with my high school student council exec board, helped fundraise post Haiti earthquake with a student vs. faculty basketball game, that was the first distinct moment of happiness I had with the underlying current of purpose and self-worth. This feeling that this is what I want to do: help people in devastation or third-world countries. This is something I can do. This driving force of purpose and knowing my potential in being able to do something bigger than myself makes me happy.
Another moment, no matter how brief, of happiness for me is when I am able to get away from it all. Not in the sense of being a recluse, but just a moment to myself (preferably on a nice sunny sandy beach with a book in my hand) to not have to worry about school, money, food, or anything. Doing things that remind me how young we all are, how life can be so temporary to worry all the time, how big and small the world can be at times. Moments where I can lose myself having fun with friends and family, moments where I have to catch my breath, moments where I appreciate what life is truly about in the beauty of all it has to offer, and all these infinite moments, no matter how brief, all add up to happiness.
Looking back to some of my happiest moments there are a few recurring themes. The first and foremost being people. I enjoy being around people, friends, and family. What makes me happy is being surrounded by people who I can feel comfortable being myself around because I'm kind of weird with an even weirder sense of humor. I love to laugh so I like being around people who can make me laugh until I basically start crying. Being around people that I care about and being able to make them happy, well there's almost no better feeling.
And for me, it's also about helping people. When I, along with my high school student council exec board, helped fundraise post Haiti earthquake with a student vs. faculty basketball game, that was the first distinct moment of happiness I had with the underlying current of purpose and self-worth. This feeling that this is what I want to do: help people in devastation or third-world countries. This is something I can do. This driving force of purpose and knowing my potential in being able to do something bigger than myself makes me happy.
Another moment, no matter how brief, of happiness for me is when I am able to get away from it all. Not in the sense of being a recluse, but just a moment to myself (preferably on a nice sunny sandy beach with a book in my hand) to not have to worry about school, money, food, or anything. Doing things that remind me how young we all are, how life can be so temporary to worry all the time, how big and small the world can be at times. Moments where I can lose myself having fun with friends and family, moments where I have to catch my breath, moments where I appreciate what life is truly about in the beauty of all it has to offer, and all these infinite moments, no matter how brief, all add up to happiness.
Culture x Culture = Culture^2 aka Unity
I am so glad and honored to have been paired with Candice Ross for this Cultural Understanding assignment. Candice brought me to a Sunday service at a baptist church she goes to off campus. At the risk of sounding like a sheltered ignorant Catholic girl, I went along with an all too wide-eyed eagerness and loved every minute of it (which turned out to be like 120 or so odd minutes, actually).
I loved it because it is quite different than what I am used to, since I grew up going to a pretty conservative orthodox Catholic church with organs and altar boys/girls and the like. I couldn't help but compare these two different churches, and though it's with different words and songs and prayers, we are all believing in the same thing, same love, same power. And for a small moment during that service, I felt a strong, inexplicable, and unmistakable sense of unity in the midst of all this hate, turmoil, grief, sadness, and just general unfairness in the world. And for that small moment of peace and hope, I'm thankful.
Also, the baptist songs sung by the amazing choir are way more awesome than anything I've heard by the organ or really anything. They got it on lockdown. I myself had a hard time keeping the clapping, swaying, foot tapping, and singing all in sync. Better to just... sit down and clap.
But in all seriousness, I'm grateful for Candice showing me how much her faith means to her because I am a big believer in the essence of faith. Not just my faith, per se, but any faith because really, down to its core, its essence, all faith is is just The Powers That Be. I think it is important for people to believe in Something. Something with a big capital S. Something bigger than themselves, whomever/whatever that may be. I know history and even now has shown people do crazy things in name of religion, but I absolutely refuse to believe that faith, in its purest form, will not help us see this through. Well, faith and sheer will since The Powers That Be isn't going to do it for us.
I loved it because it is quite different than what I am used to, since I grew up going to a pretty conservative orthodox Catholic church with organs and altar boys/girls and the like. I couldn't help but compare these two different churches, and though it's with different words and songs and prayers, we are all believing in the same thing, same love, same power. And for a small moment during that service, I felt a strong, inexplicable, and unmistakable sense of unity in the midst of all this hate, turmoil, grief, sadness, and just general unfairness in the world. And for that small moment of peace and hope, I'm thankful.
Also, the baptist songs sung by the amazing choir are way more awesome than anything I've heard by the organ or really anything. They got it on lockdown. I myself had a hard time keeping the clapping, swaying, foot tapping, and singing all in sync. Better to just... sit down and clap.
But in all seriousness, I'm grateful for Candice showing me how much her faith means to her because I am a big believer in the essence of faith. Not just my faith, per se, but any faith because really, down to its core, its essence, all faith is is just The Powers That Be. I think it is important for people to believe in Something. Something with a big capital S. Something bigger than themselves, whomever/whatever that may be. I know history and even now has shown people do crazy things in name of religion, but I absolutely refuse to believe that faith, in its purest form, will not help us see this through. Well, faith and sheer will since The Powers That Be isn't going to do it for us.
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