GOOD HABITS VS. BAD HABITS

We Filipinos do not value patience and perseverance unlike the Chinese. The Chinese pass on to their children how hardwork and frugality are the tools for success. And they teach their young how to become great entrepreneurs. While Filipino parents through blood, sweat and tears educate their children how to become employees. So in the end, we Filipinos end up working for Chinese businessmen. In the past I thought there was nothing wrong with that. But after reading up on financial literature and being a slave of my employers for more than a decade now, I realized how twisted and totally idiotic it is to rot in an office cubicle. Okay I may not afford put up my own business now but I have plans to be a successful entrepreneur in 2-5 years and be free from being an employee forever.I will definitely teach my kids how to be creative and to dream big. Office life can really suck one’s dreams and imagination. They must learn how important it is to be patient and dilligent and not to succumb to the happy-go-lucky and get rich quick attitude of most Filipinos. I will teach them the importance of delaying gratification (as I’ve read from Dr. M. Scott Peck’s “The Road Less Traveled”). Hopefully they will not incalcate the following Bad Habits that can ruin their lives and their souls. You might recognize one of them.
Bad Habit #1. FENG SHUI. My mother used to redecorate her friends’ houses in order to attract good luck. This is the art and science based on Chinese belief where the positioning of furniture and lucky charms can affect the success of people in all aspects of life. Many Filipinos think it is harmless to practice Feng Shui. I totally disagree. First of all , it goes against our Christian faith. It is an insult to the Lord to depend upon Chinese good luck charms and furniture to influence our lives. We must bear all the trials and tribulations that God sends our way. It is not healthy to avoid bad luck and attract good luck because the Lord has His reasons why good and bad things happen to us. Without suffering, life will not have meaning and we will not learn from our mistakes. Our souls will not grow in love and understanding. Everything will be shallow and banal in our lives for we will never attain spiritual growth and awareness.
Bad Habit #2. PLAYING LOTTO/GAMBLING/GAME SHOWS. Every household I know has at least one member who is an avid lotto player. This is the reason why PTV Channel 4 is still in business. Every night at 9 p.m. millions of Filipinos are glued to the boob tube in the hopes of becoming the next instant millionaire. There is nothing wrong to yearn for a better life. Don’t we all want to win the lotto someday? But the sad part is when people revolve their lives around gambling to the point of obsession. You see the unemployed waste their hopes and dreams on lotto games, card games and game shows. The imagination is dead and their dreams are wasting away. Imagine what they could have accomplished in their lives if they had the same enthusiasm in their careers and their family life. Take this co-worker of mine. He is still under probation at work. One day he tells us that he is joining this popular game show on tv. He is a No call, no show at work for 2 days while participating in the said show. Revealing his plans and jeopardizing his work for the sake of easy money was not a very smart move. And to top it off he only took home 2 days worth of salary that he could’ve earned at the office if he came to work. He didn’t win the millions that he was hoping for. If he only focused on his career he could’ve secured his family’s future instead of gambling it all away on get rich quick schemes. Whatever you call it, may it be game shows or playing the lotto, they are all just the same, gambling in different shapes and forms.
Bad Habit #3. COMPLAINING OR BLAMING OTHERS. The great Maya Angelou said it best… “If you don’t like something, change it. If you can’t change it, change your attitude. Don’t complain.” If something goes wrong, we always make excuses or blame others. We have a million reasons why we failed and it takes real courage to be humble enough and say it was my fault. To take responsibility for our actions is a sign of a healthy spiritual and emotional well being. Nobody wants a chronic complainer as a companion.
Bad Habit #4. BOOB TUBE OR TELEVISION. I admit it is very hard tear away from the TV. And I even ignore my children just to hear the latest local news or sing along with American Idol contestants. I have promised myself that I will follow Padre Pio’s advice and shut out this brainwashing tool. It is a work in progress, yes. Once I can afford more spiritual and financial books and my own laptop, I will surely break this stupid habit. So help me God.
Here are some good habits that I myself try very hard each day to practice.
GOOD HABIT #1. SACRIFICE. I read this book recently entitled IN HIS STEPS by Charles M. Sheldon. It’s about how following Jesus entails a life of sacrifice. In order to do it, one must ask oneself What would Jesus do?. This simple question when applied in daily life is entails a life of hardship because this world revolves around money and ego. And following Jesus literally is a step closer to living a spiritually mature and happy life. If one is brave enough to detach from the world and it’s crazy pull.
GOOD HABIT #2. PROJECTS. Do you have any little projects up in your sleeve for God? Or even just a simple one like helping out your church or visiting prisoners or reaching out to orphans. Get in touch with our less fortunate neighbors or help out your church give better service. God appreciates all your efforts no matter how small they are.
GOOD HABIT #3. FASTING. Holy week has officially started last Ash Wednesday. Same time last year, Bro. Bo Sanchez invited his readers to go on a 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting. It was the most exciting and rewarding experience I have had in my entire life. This year though I will be a little late. My kids and I all got bacterial infection and it was really devastating. I had a very high fever including my little baby. It was too scary. But I didn’t succumb to antiobiotics. And it was a real pain to watch my little one self-heal very slowly but I had to help her fight it and not kill her body with drugs. I used Virgin coconut oil instead of the usual allopathic drugs and administered it 3 times a day for a week together with Lagundi syrup. Now she is back to her own bubbly self, amazing! If only people knew how cheaperand easier it is to be cured. No artificial chemical can do justice to our bodies.
GOOD HABIT #4.You guessed it. PRAYER. CONFESSION. Only God can help you. Only God can set you free. So talk to Him and tell Him what is ailing you. Reach out to Him and tell him all your sins. Ask Him for mercy and be humble enough to admit Your mistakes. He will listen and He will understand. His love is boundless, His mercy is overflowing.I hope you will find the time to alter your habits and help make this world a better place. God be with you!