Stories A Story In 25 Words: Unconditional Love 8:19 PM For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son... -John 3:16 It's the Holy Week again. I think it's apt for me to share the 25-word story I wrote that showed God's unconditional love to His people. A Story In 25 Words: Unconditional Love Bruised, beaten, betrayed, and broken. Wounded, wronged. Woebegone. Crestfallen. Desperate, deserted, hanged, and left to die. Yet, He loved them until the end of time. Main photo: The Passion of the Christ
Faith How To Know Your Worth With 6 Important Questions 8:00 AM How To Know Your Worth With 6 Important Questions Every second you spend doubting your worth, every moment you use to criticize yourself, is a second of your life wasted, a moment of your life thrown away. -C. JoyBell C. What does knowing your worth mean?To know your worth is to realize your value, not according to what others think but how you see or measure yourself.How to know your worth?Here are 6 important questions you must ask yourself to know your worth. How do you want to be treated?How do you want to spend your time?How do you like to be reciprocated for what you give?What kind of relationship do you want to have?What kind of person do you want to become?What are your beliefs about yourself?1. How do you want to be treated?Knowing how you want to be treated is a step in realizing your worth.Do you want to be treated with respect and dignity in the workplace, by your circle of friends, or by your partner? Or do you want to feel rejected, unappreciated, or derided?If you say, "I deserve better," you know you're worth more than how you're treated.Giphy2. How do you want to spend your time?Where do you invest your time?Do you spend it chasing people who don't accept and appreciate you for who you are?Do you want to spend your day investing in your growth and improving the quality of your life?You know you want to spend time with people who lift you higher.Or on things that can help you improve and get you closer to your dream life.How you want to spend your time shows how much you value yourself.Tenor3. How do you like to be reciprocated for what you give?Know your worth by knowing how you want to be reciprocated.Respect begets respect. But some people feel entitled to receive respect-demands even-but has no intentions of giving it in return.Some partners want fidelity from their significant other but have no qualms about cheating.Be selfless in giving your love and service but know your limits.Know your worth in the relationship.Set up a boundary for yourself.Boundaries aren't there to build a wall between you and others. It's to protect yourself from abusers. It has self-respect.Tenor4. What kind of relationship do you want to have?Would you be happy to be in a parasitic relationship where only the other person(s) benefit(s)?Or would you be more content and at peace in a relationship where you and others involved (co-workers, family, life partner) gain and grow?Do you want to be with someone who will fight for you or who will give up easily?When you recognize your worth, you know exactly what relationship you want to be involved in.Tenor5. What kind of person do you want to become?Do you want to be striving or thriving?Do you want to be content and happy or perturbed and miserable?What you're allowing yourself to become shows how much you value yourself.Pinterest6. What are your beliefs about yourself?Your beliefs about yourself don't measure your self-worth.Newsflash: most of them aren't true!They're called limiting beliefs. Limiting beliefs are lies you tell yourself that restrict you from achieving your full potential.It's how you measure yourself influenced by how you were raised and what you've heard from others.Limiting beliefs tell you:You're not good enough.You don't have what it takes to qualify.You don't deserve to move forward.You're not worth it.GiphyYou will struggle to know your self-worth at first.Gauge yourself based on how your Creator sees you, not other people's opinions. He knows you best.Here are some Bible verses about knowing your worth:You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).Because you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you, I give men in return for you, people in exchange for your life (Isaiah 43:4).So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised (Hebrews 10:35–36).You can do everything through Christ, who strengthens you (Philippians 4:13).The Lord is your helper, so you don't have to be afraid (Hebrews 13:6).Do not let your adorning be external-the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry or the clothing you wear-but. Instead, let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious (1 Peter 3:3-4).Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows (Luke 12:7).TenorYou'll know when to leave a toxic relationship when you realize your worth.You'll know what, who, and when to quit.You'll never apologize for things you should not apologize for in the first place.You'll let go of things that aren't making you happy or money.What happens when you realize your worth?You will not shortchange yourself. You will not settle for less than what you deserve.You know who you indeed are and will not negotiate that with anyone.You will not waste another second on people or relationships bringing you down.Knowing your worth is not arrogance. It's embracing the truth about who you are. Having self-worth is having self-respect and self-esteem.It's treating yourself with a healthy amount of self-love.You're worth more than eight cows.Have you heard about the story of the eight-cow wife? There's a village where a man gives a cow as a dowry to a woman's family to ask her hand for marriage. The more beautiful or "qualified" a woman is to become a wife, the more cows are given. Needless to say, a woman's worth is measured by the number of cows she receives from her husband-to-be. In this village lives a woman named Sarita. To say that she is plain is a compliment. Sarita grew up being told that she was worth only one cow. Everybody in their village-including her own family-expected nothing more than a single cow when a good-looking and rich gentleman named Johnny Lingo asked her hand for marriage. To everybody's surprise and her father's indignation, Johnny Lingo disagreed with the arrangement.Sarita's father was insulted. Sarita was heartbroken. She's accepted that she is worth only one cow, and a man refuse to give her that. But Johnny Lingo made himself clear. He will not give Sarita one cow...because he believes she is worth more than that. He saw something in her that no one else did. Sarita, for Johnny, is not a one-cow woman. She is an eight-cow wife. After their marriage, Sarita somehow transformed physically. She now walks with grace. She presents herself with confidence. She stands tall and proud because she knows and believes she is an eight-cow wife.Everybody in their village knows that by now, too. The old Sarita's gone. No one looked at her the same way again. Her joy became evident when she glowed. She radiates. Sarita is now one of the most beautiful women in the village. Because one man showed her and everyone around her her true worth. One man believed that she was extraordinary. I love this story so much. It's a good reminder that we are unique. We are more than the label others give us. Do you know how much you're worth? You're worth more than your number of followers and likes on social media. You're worth more than the price tag on your clothes and gadgets.You're worth more than your job or bank account.You're worth more than your grades in school.You're worth more than your relationship status.You're worth more than your social standing.You're worth more than what people say about you.Here's a beautiful reminder about knowing your worth by Jeremy Anderson: You are worth more than the throne.Think about this:God left His glorious throne to walk the dusty earth just to be with you...To feel how you feel and to understand your pain. You are worth the sacrifice. God did not just offer eight cows for you. He gave you His life. You are worth every single drop of blood...Every torn muscle...Every tormenting pain Jesus had to endure.You're worth every drop of tear and sweat from the body of no less than the Son of God.Imgflip Remember that the next time you forget your worth.(Most part of this reflection is from The Feast)
Listicle 5 Types Of People Not To Fall In Love With 11:05 PM As if on a conveyor belt, there will be a never ending supply of idiots and jerks that come and go in your life. Whether you stop the belt to dance with any one of them is up to you. -Dan Pearce How many times have we given our all and not get anything in return? How many times have we fallen in love with the wrong person? We know they're not good for us, but we can't avoid them. Or we choose not to listen to that inner voice and the concerned voices around us. Then we get hurt or wonder what we did wrong when we knew the answer all along: We fell in love with the wrong person. It's as simple as that. So the next time cupid comes along and aims his arrow at you, duck. Or at least delay it until you're sure. Until you're sure that he's not aiming for the 5 types of people not to fall in love with. 5 Types Of People Not To Fall In Love With Impatient person They will not wait for you. They will not tolerate the pressure that distance or time or a little difficulty along the way would bring. They won't wait for things to be okay. Don't fall in love with an impatient person. They won't stay. All-words-no-action type A dreamer who stays stuck in his dreams and illusions and never want to face reality. A person who lives in his world and forgets where he really is. Don't fall in love with a dreamer who doesn't act. You'll never be able to bring him out of his own world. Someone who doesn't listen Listening is the most basic sign and highest form of respect. If your opinion doesn't matter to him, so does all of you. You are relevant. What you think is important. If he can't see that, being with him is pointless. Too dependent on you It does not have to be financial. If he takes too much of your time, drains you, depends on you to make him feel better or guide him in every step he takes, don't let yourself fall. You'll end up empty. He'll suck you dry. Unbeliever He'll always doubt, he'll always have something to complain about. Don't fall in love with the unbeliever. He'll never see the light no matter how much you try to point it to him. And it's not true that he doesn't have a god. He is his own god. Don't just fall. I know the feeling is exhilarating, but is it really worth the pain and the mess you'll have to deal with afterwards? Gifs from Google images Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Single Life I Am No Damsel In Distress 6:30 AM The only thing we single ladies need to be rescued from is the notion that we need to be rescued. -Mandy Hale Let me share the article I've written for Thought Catalog a year ago. I am no damsel in distress. After a guy friend read my previous post Good Men Still Exist, he pointed out one line which he said is the problem with women: "There are still knights in shining armor out there." Most women wait for their prince charming to come and rescue them from their miserable single life and offer them happily ever after. I repeat, most women. Not all. Only those (women or men) who are not happy with their lives need rescuing. The truth is, the only person who can bring you out of your misery is yourself. No fairy godmother or magic spell can transform your pumpkin into a golden carriage. I know that I hold the power and that I have the last say as to how my ending will be. As Mandy Hale often reminds the single, “Design a life so amazing that you don’t want to be rescued from it.” Tweet When you are enjoying life, finding happiness in all that you do and in all the places you visit, you invite people to join you in your journey. You don’t make them take pity on you and help you out of your misery. When you’re on top of the world, only those who are bold and courageous enough will make the effort to be with you. Only the secure and the mature will appreciate you. You become a challenge. You will discourage the complacent and the weak. You will make the insecure envious. Thus, expect a number of admirers and a few haters. You unknowingly repel toxic people. That’s a bonus! I don’t want to be that poor naive princess who sits around (or sleeps) in her castle all day, waiting for a prince to swing by and hopefully get a glimpse of her, and finally set her free from her “prison tower”. I’d rather be out there, fighting for my kingdom, resisting evil stepmothers or witches or whomever is trying to steal my happiness, protecting my people, seeing the world in all it’s majesty---getting a life. I am no damsel in distress. I am not impressed by your shining armor. I can fight my own battles. You don’t have to rescue me, sweetheart, but you’re welcome to join me in my kingdom anytime. First, show me your battle scars and tell me your war story. You might be just another frog who needs rescuing. In which case, you picked the wrong princess. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Listicle 20 Things Women Do More And Better Than Men 7:22 PM 20 Things Women Do More And Better Than Men Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition.-Timothy Leary Whether women are better than men or vice versa has always been an argument. But today, let’s celebrate the gentle force that makes the world more beautiful, colorful, and fun...Women! Here are 20 things women can do more and better than men.This post contains affiliate links, so we’d get a commission if you purchase through the links at no additional cost to you. 1. Women have more taste buds than men.Women tend to have more sensitive palates than men, which is why more women are in the sensory panels (Sensory Value).Our sense of smell and taste are closely linked, and the olfactory bulb in women has 43% more cells than in men. Giphy 2. Women can multitask better than men.A study was conducted to see who’s really better at multitasking - men or women. When the tasks were mixed up, both men and women made mistakes and slowed down.But men were significantly slower - taking 77% longer to respond, whereas women took 69% longer.We don’t need experiments to prove this, though. How many men do you know who can multitask better than women? Virality 3. Women live longer than men.Women outlive their male counterparts by about 5.5 years. According to Eurostat, life expectancy at birth for women was 84 years and 78.5 for men. Women’s sex hormone estrogen can combat heart disease, which according to the CDC, killed 357,761 men in the US in 2019.Women are also believed to have a stronger immune system. Giphy 4. Women talk more than men.Generally, women talk more than men. (Although in some cases relationships, it’s the opposite).Women speak about 20,000 words daily, while men speak only 7,000. Giphy 5. Women cry more than men.On average, women cry 30-64 times a year, while men cry 6-17 times yearly.Could it be because the patriarchal society has made us believe that crying is a sign of weakness for men?Or are men more discreet in showing their emotions? Giphy 6. Women’s hearts beat more than men’s.A woman’s heart can beat as many as six beats per minute faster than a man’s.According to the Cardiology Associates of Michigan, a woman’s heart and some of its chambers are smaller, the walls that divide some are thinner, and the veins are finer.Though a woman’s heart pumps faster than a man’s, a man’s heart ejects more blood with each pump. Tumblr 7. Women blink twice as often as men do.In an optoelectronic study of eyelid motion, the blink rate was significantly larger in women than in men.Women blink 19 times per minute vs. men, who blink 11 times per minute. During eyelid closure and opening, women moved faster than men.Batting eyelashes look better in women than men, don’t you think? 😁 Giphy 8. Women orgasm better than men.Though men orgasm in 95% of encounters compared to women’s 69%, their orgasm only lasts 3 to 10 seconds.Women’s orgasms can last as long as around 20 seconds to 2 minutes.The nerve endings in a woman’s clitoris are approximately more than 8,000. That’s double the number of nerve endings in a man’s penis.Women would have the best sex when they turn 28, while men reach their peak at 33.Yeah, women may fake it more often to please the man, but when they do orgasm, it’s better. 9. Women are more attentive and organized than men.Study shows that women’s brains were significantly more active in many areas than men’s, especially where focus and impulse control are involved.Women are more on top of things when it comes to meeting deadlines.In terms of home organization, women do it better than men. Gfycat 10. Women have higher IQs than men.Marilyn Vos Savant is not only the most brilliant woman but the smartest person in history, with an IQ of 228 (Guinness Book of World Records).In the men category, Christopher Michael Langan has an IQ score between 195 and 210. Giphy 11. Women are more likely to graduate from college compared to men.US Department of Education data shows that 65% of women who matriculated at a US four-year university in 2012 had graduated by 2018, compared with 59% of their male counterparts.Men who enrolled in a four-year college in 2013 were 10% less likely to graduate within 4 years.There are many factors to consider. As a woman, I say women are more committed to graduating because of the limited opportunity available after college than men. We want to achieve more and feel more accomplished; a college degree is one way to do it. Giphy 12. Women have higher investment returns than men.Women are better investors outperforming their male counterparts by 40 basis points or 0.4%.Women are more cautious when taking risks, which shows in their investments. Giphy 13. Women can handle job interviews better than men.Women show that they can manage stress better, which helps them handle job interviews. Although HR managers click the male profile more, according to LinkedIn, women are 16% more successful in landing a job. Giphy 14. Women are most likely to survive car accidents compared to men.In a car crash, women are more likely to get injured (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) because a car’s safety features are designed for male drivers. Crash dummies, for instance, are modeled after an average man. Nevertheless, as of this writing, reports show that women are more likely to survive car accidents than men. Giphy 15. Daughters are more likely to care for their parents.Probably because women are naturally more nurturing and caring, daughters are found to care for their aging parents more than their sons.The University of Michigan Health and Retirement Study shows that daughters give an average of 12.3 hours of elder care per month, while sons provide just 5.6. Giphy 16. Women are better communicators than men.Women’s brains are wired in a way that they excel in verbal tasks.Communication is a two-way street. Women are found to be better listeners and are more polite and empathetic than men, which makes them more effective communicators. Giphy 17. Women outperform men in memory tests.It’s normal for both men and women to get more forgetful, especially aging.Menopaused women experienced brain fog and continued memory depletion.Still, women outperform men in memory tests from childhood to adulthood.Here’s what they found out in a test conducted:Females generally access their memories faster than males and date them more precisely Women use more emotional terms when describing memoriesSuperior verbal memory for females appears to be independent of intelligence levelFemales also have greater specificity for events imagined to occur in the futureBe careful what you say because a woman remembers everything.And they may forget where they put their keys or phone, but they remember what you said 4 years ago at 3:27 PM.I wish I’m just kidding. Giphy 18. Women are more adept in languages compared to men. Girls’ language ability develop earlier compared to boys.In the early stage, girls, on average, acquire language faster than boys and have a more extensive vocabulary.Estrogen was found to promote the growth of language centers and related areas in the brain, while testosterone had the opposite effect.Women show superior verbal performance not only for first language acquisition but also for acquiring a foreign language. Giphy 19. Women can sustain relationships better than men. It’s no secret that women are more emotional than men.Women show more emotions, listen emphatically, and are more open in sharing their stories, so they build stronger relationships with their peers.These traits come in handy at work or in business. Giphy 20. Companies with women bosses perform better than those led by men.Because they’re more organized and attentive to details...Able to multitask better and be more productive...Are better communicators...Have sharper memories and a higher IQ...Can build better relationships at work...It’s no surprise that companies with female bosses perform better.Here’s what The Pipeline report says:“London-listed companies with no women on their executive committees have a net profit of 1.5%, whereas those with more than one in three women at that level reach a 15.2% net profit margin.” Giphy How amazing it is to be a woman.It’s not always fun, but oh, the things a woman can do!And they do it better. In high heels even! Hug a superwoman in your life today! Sources:Medical NewsHarvard Business NewsDaily MailPubmedGeorgetown UniversityBrookingsCNBCNBC NewsNCBIBBC
Listicle I'm Never Too Old For This 1:30 AM Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old. -Franz Kafka I've always been an old soul, but there are things I will never be too old for. I'm Never Too Old For This Cotton candies, chocolates and ice cream How can you say no to these sweet sinful treats? Harry Potter I solemnly swear that I will never get tired of watching the films and reading the books again and again. I will pass on the magic, the legacy, the story and the kind of life forever changed by Harry to my children, and my children's children. Mischief managed. Christmas Am I the only one around here who feels a sudden rush of nostalgia and excitement at the sight of a lighted Christmas tree and when Christmas songs start to play? Fangirling I'm never too old to be a fan girl. I actively follow amazing fandoms online. I research on the lives of people I admire. I'm exhilarated when I see or get a response from the celebrities I follow. Disney movies I will always, always be a Disney kid. Chick Lits and Chick Flicks Eleanor & Park got me into a giddy overdrive. Flipped and Julie & Julia are two of my comfort movies to date. Playing Board games, hide and seek, hopscotch, skipping rope, or playing pretend with my young cousins, nieces, nephews and friends' kids. You name it, I'm all for it. Dreaming Some people stopped dreaming when they became adults. Sad really because our dreams fire us up, keep us going, and needless to say, keep us young. What to do if your dreams already came true? Dream new dreams. Dream not only for yourself but for those around you. Set new goals. Don't stop dreaming. Curfews I don't have one when I'm in my place. But every time I come home for a vacation or a visit, I always stick to the curfew my parents have set since time immemorial. No matter how old we get, we will always be their children. Childlike Faith Depending on God's grace. I know some people don't believe in God or have other gods, and I respect that. But for me, I can't and won't survive a day without asking for His grace and mercy. He's my Dadda. Zac Efron Seriously. I'm forever under his spell. (Previous Zac Efron posts: Dear Zac, That Awkward Moment, Lessons Learned From Charlie) Call it Peter Pan syndrome or quirks. I just can't give up these things. What are things that make you say "I'm never too old for this"? Gifs from Google images Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
