How do I live my life as both body and soul

Living for around 18 years on this earth has its fair share of monotonous and sometimes ungrateful moments. Now reaching this age highly capable of self-awareness, it is really a daunting task to sit and rethink what living is really for me and breaking from the routine lifestyle. I am confused with the notion of me as a human being, as a walking matter on earth but at the same time a being who is also an “I”, who is also capable of transcending from its own body. Reconciling these two facts became my personal celebrated philosophical journey that was even more pumped up because of the lectures on these truths in my philo of man Class. How do I live my life as a body and as a soul? I have somehow animated this dualist idea with a lifestyle which is grounded on self-awareness and community service. I treat and view self-awareness as more than an Ignatian exercise but it also as a basic human capacity that needs to be practiced constantly. This focuses on the very “I”, my very soul. Self-awareness translated as a practice is often called examination of conscience. In my present life, I constantly calibrate my thoughts so that it is in tuned with the workings of my soul. I sit, close my eyes, and pause 15 minutes every night with a pen and my journal notebook. I review the events of the day and try to see myself from a third person examining my every response and my actions towards others and events and write about it. This practice really contributes a lot in my personal development and spiritual growth because it creates a virtual evaluation report at the end of every day and a resolution to be better the next. Now as a body and as a matter walking on earth. With this “inward” living which dwells more of “I” now needs to be unleashed to my surroundings for it to be fully useful. This is where my body comes in. My body expresses those deep positive realizations about life through the community service I give with my hands and brain. I am presently a KKP volunteer. Going to barangays tutoring school children is a clear manifestation of my body at work fuelled by the contemplative lifestyle I practice.

THINK DIFFERENT

“Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers. The round pegs in square holes, the ones who see things differently. They are not fond of rules and they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. But the only thing you can’t do is to ignore them because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who do.” (Apple Ad)

7Hypotheses of Campus Leadership

1. Most actively engaged students in college are generally veterans of this level of involvement in their past high school lives. They have developed a relatively high “consciousness-level” which enables them to influence or lead others. They are the presidents, officers, or academic awardees of their high school. They feel the need to continue the upward momentum of their leadership/personal development. Therefore, they highly prioritize a student life with a mix balance of academics and involvements.
2. In the other hand, some students see organizational involvements as a threat to their academic standing or education as a whole. They primarily reinforce the fact that they are in school to study in the first place. Involvements are only optional or preferential therefore they don’t feel the need to get involved.
3. Most officers of the councils are products of the KKP Volunteer Formation Program. They enter in their Sophomore Year as a volunteer some having dual roles (council and KKP) and would either stay active in the program or move into the council arena. Either way, they address the need for “leadership”. Therefore, the KKP Volunteer Formation Program has become the de facto flagship leadership program of the university. The OSA’s leadership formation program has become a sort of a “complement” to the KKP’s formation program and is primarily designed for those already in the position of authority.
4. Council atmosphere varies from council to council. They could be intimately workable or rigidly authoritative. They could be either filled with artists or filled with managers therefore, a balance mix is essential for a balance council. The atmosphere not only depends on the course or interest background of the people in it but it also highly depends on the personal aura the council officers and especially the president radiates. Therefore we can say that a gullible president creates a flamboyant atmosphere, a serious president creates a sober atmosphere, an output oriented president creates a beehive.
5. Generally, majority of the students does not see the real purpose of the councils and the CSG more than the enrolment assistance, entertainment (GA etc.) and leisure they implement for the students. They see the council or other student organizations are only for those who excel. Others see it as an instrument of the administration, others see it as breeding grounds for politicians, others see it as an organizer and implementer of events, others see it as an elitist organization, and others see at as a catalyst for change. Either way, each bracket of the social and cultural demographic of the community has its own distinct view of student organizations that reflects their own experiences and biases.
6. Students generally vote officers who are highly inspiring and who they could easily relate. Ideologies, office positions or technical skills are only secondary considerations. Even they are plenty of factors to consider, they still need to evaluate a candidate’s ethical background, effectiveness and efficiency in work and his/her availability or commitment. But still majority doesn’t care about the elections.
7. Apathy has been labelled as an incurable cancer which led empathic people to reduce and categorize the student body into 2 kinds of students. Those who care or those who don’t. And apathetic people seem to alienate those people who are active. They somehow see it as a deviant to their lifestyle. This is alarming because it tends to funnel all activities conceptualized and planned by entities of authority to cater or address only to those who are “active” or those “who care”. There is some logic to it but the essence of “those who care” is somehow limited to only those kinds of students who directly and actively participate in socially oriented activities or those who passionately fight for a cause. The ones “who don't care” but cares on other “stuff” are generally left out. Activities initiated should specifically address the multi-facetted nature of the human person and apathy must not be seen as a permanent incurable illness but as an ephemeral state of mind.

"He didn't seek office,

The office sought him"

I finally saw the man in the flesh, not anymore in the TV, not anymore talking in front of a microphone in congress. (I have a hard time pronouncing his family name though - a tongue twister!) Fr. Ed Panlilio, the priest turned governor of Pampanga, was in the LT in the afternoon giving a talk, preaching his crusade for change. You may roll your eyeballs when you hear this politically overused word but again, the most obvious reality we are living in is the constant flux of our world - it changes and Fr. Panlilio asserts the need to change, a change for the better. His very election was a sign of change. People wanted somebody new, they are already fed up with politicians who give lands yet owns almost all estates, politicians who shell out money to the poor yet corrupts the vault five folds, politicians who excel not only in their rhetoric but also in the game of compromise. The people in that province instead chose a priest, a soldier of God, a man with a different support base - a church congregation, a man whose only education taught him to love and serve his God through others. Now that's something new. He gave a strong and inspiring message to the audience that I would like to share.

First, he advocates the idea of "social transformation". In our context, the young people, we may see this as an old person’s job, or a dirty stressful job we just don’t have time to do. You know, that notion is so old school. Social transformation, if I translate it to my own words and as mentioned by Fr. Panlilio is quite fun and fulfilling. Tutoring poor children how to count or read is “ST”. Blogging our thoughts about reality and sharing insights to the world is one of it is “ST”. Thinking about why things are is also “ST”. Telling your younger siblings about the dangers of addiction or perhaps the possibility of them drowning because of global warming is “ST”. The list goes on. We should not limit ourselves from notion of it as a total “one-step re-engineering of our society revolution”, but as a community effort rooted in our personal desire to build a great home one brick at a time upon a strong foundation of justice, peace, love, faith, hope and all the good words found in the last phrase of our preamble.

Second, Politics is a game of compromise. There is some truth to it but what a good leader must be constantly aware of this; to NEVER ever ever compromise principles or values for the sake of power and influence. The system is this kind of game and it is never easy not to play it as he mentioned. Therefore, he urges all people with a position of power to always, constantly, around the clock, take care of their hearts and minds. It is in the heart that one knows integrity, dignity and conscience. It is in the mind that one translates these ideals into action. And always remember that great leadership is rooted in faith nothing more, nothing less.

I think God made him a governor so that people will not grow weary and cynical about the system they live in. God led Fr. Panlilo to this unique “ministry of politics” so that people will see a symbol embodied in his being, as a man who challenges the status quo,a man whose only boss is God through the people he serves, and a man who reminds all of us that change for the better is not impossible, it could be done but must start from the very core of ourselves.

PSST! BE THE LIGHT . . .

I entered AVR 1 around 9:00 am this morning. I listened to the 1^st of a series of lectures about Spirituality, Governance, and Leadership by Bro. San Juan, S.J. This insightful event WAs sponsored by the XU – Governance and Leadership Institute. I still managed to focus my mind amidst the overflowing number of people who was literally crammed in the AVR 1 for the lecture. Before zooming in the subject matter, I looked around the room and saw numerous key movers of society in the locality. There were coucilors, Mayors one in particular Mayor Yasay of Opol, Arch Bishop Ledesma, The Sumilao farmers, NGO leaders, and the academe – a very diverse sectoral representation.

Transcendent Leadership

Now to the meat of the matter - transcendent leadership and its relationship to governance were given a new much complex meaning in the lecture. Leadership has something to do with a relationship, most likely a struggle between factors of our environment but most importantly, a constant interaction and analysis of ourselves. “The I” was greatly emphasized by the lecture as the bedrock of all others. Ignatian tradition itself banks in self-awareness as the core source of leadership. This struggle or “complexity” (another fancy word for problem) entails 2 contrasting set of realities present in every leader as tendencies or traits namely the indulgent self and the transcendent self. Obviously the indulgent self appeals only to the lust for power and pleasure while transcendence from the word itself, goes to a higher level of consciousness – the stuff of great leaders.

The pursuit of happiness <<> POWER

I would first like to dwell in the indulgent self as discussed by Bro. San Juan because it is quite common and dangerous. One striking point he tackled was the psychological factor of most leaders in our world – past and present AND I can certainly point out examples in campus. He mentioned that some people who rose to leadership position is mainly due to their passionate drive for power and influence. This “passionate drive” actually is a blind unchecked psychological reaction derived from their insecurities, weaknesses, and the lack of recognition and affirmation that can start from their childhood. They somehow need to prove something to others that they begin to exaggerate their achievements most of the time, not proportional to the true achievement, think very highly of themselves, and inflates their head. They evolve an unhealthy dose of narcissism that could poison their view towards others. They may become dismissive and judgemental, envious and afraid. They are always on the look out for potential threats and employ all their effort to cling to power or destroy those threats. Now this kind of the “unchecked leader” is quite dangerous. They need power so much (sees power as food, air, shelter, clothes, and water) that they are afraid to relinquish it, and sometimes abuses it, and fights for it to the bloody end. This is a very common psychology and normal for that matter but it should grow from an egocentric viewpoint to a socio-centric consciousness. The key of liberating oneself from this destructive drive is first to acknowledge yourself and your whole package. Confront yourself!

“Those who thirst for power are generally not the ones fit to lead for their actions are

intended to gratify or compensate their psychological fixations.”

The Stuff of Heroes

Transcendent leadership, a leadership which sees the world in a higher consciousness, a world-centric leadership, and a leadership were self indulgence are tamed to its very core. As presented by Bro. San Juan, Transcendent leadership is the animation of the universal traits of generosity, interiority, discernment and companionship. As found in the Ignatian tradition, these traits have long been the substance, the life-style of great leaders. They go beyond the limits and constraints of their negative tendencies, managed to block the shimmering reflections of themselves, achieved a higher way of thinking that ultimately made them produce a multitude of great things. The traits they posses are not just given to them. These traits, in order to be in animation, in order to come to life, need a tremendous amount of energy. It is like fighting gravity. It is here where SPIRITUALITY COMES IN. This then becomes the center of transcendences. The spirituality of a person what ever faith he is in acts as the amplifier of our actions, the source of energy, inspiration and guidance. That is why for the great majority of leaders, taking care of their hearts and mind are an utmost priority (aside from the game of power)! The spirituality we nurture must be rooted in love, hope and faith as in our case, the person of Jesus Christ otherwise, a “spirituality” rooted from an egocentric ideology is very destructive to man kind.