Oprah's Lifeclass Lesson 25 : "You've Always Had the Power"

Watching Oprah's Lifeclass (Season 1) via webcast has been a transformative journey for me. Each session delved into life's profound topics, sparking introspection and personal growth. Here are some of the thought-provoking questions that have guided my reflections on the Lifeclass by Oprah.

1. You have the power—and the responsibility—to make your life better. How will you own that power?

Empowered with inherent and acquired abilities, I steer the course of my life. The responsibility to shape my destiny lies solely with me. It's crucial to preserve and refine this power, using it judiciously for my own growth and well-being.

2. Who would you be, and what would you do if you had no fearful beliefs?

I would have become a great speaker or writer had I gained enough confidence and had no fears or doubts.

3. Look at your life: This is a portrait of your beliefs. What is beautiful about it? What's troubling? What will you change—because you can?

What's beautiful about my life is the presence and support of my family and friends. They always support my dreams and goals and inspire me to move forward despite adversities that come my way. What's troubling me is my fear and doubt of my capabilities and the use of my power. Sometimes, I feel that I am not enough, not capable, and incompetent. Since I can do something if I trust myself, I have to move out of my comfort zone and start to renew my life so I can achieve my dreams and attain success in life.

4. How do you define "success"? What has truly made you happy in the past? Are you pursuing your version of success or someone else's? Can you choose yours?

Success is the attainment of my goal or dream, whether simple or ambitious. My previous accomplishments have made me truly happy in my personal life and career. I follow my own version of success, and at the same time, I also follow another success coach because I can learn a lot from their wise ideas and because they are more accomplished people. I can choose to go with my own definition of success and also with my success coach's life lessons.

5. Describe your highest hopes. Now ask, "What would be better"? Keep asking this until you can't imagine anything better. That's your new dream.

My highest hopes are to become respected and an expert in my field of expertise and to become a better person who has achieved and proven something.

6. How will you sustain your hope and faith when times get tough? Do you have a plan in place for nurturing yourself in the moments your faith wavers?

When times get tough, I have to remain strong and believe in myself. I should never give up, but instead, I have to rise up from where I have fallen. I must be able to move on since life is indeed a cycle. There are moments in life when I feel down, and sometimes I feel good. Life is good, so I have to live my most extraordinary life.

7. Do you still define success according to how much stuff you have or how admired you are? Notice that this is the ego's definition. Gently put it aside and notice how your spirit defines success.

Success is not only defined or measured by material possessions but also by the quality of life you're living. I have to ask myself, am I the same person now as I was three years ago or even three months ago? Have I gained valuable virtues and values and learned from my life's lessons? Am I truly a renewed person, or am I living my greatest life? If the answer is yes, I am a successful person.

8. What's one step you can take toward your vision of a fully realized life? Is there one small thing that’s part of your ideal future that you can take today?

To achieve my highest ideals and aspirations, I must renew my life in all aspects and uphold the virtues and values integral to my success. One of the factors of future success is benevolence, which is the virtue that I would like to practice today. I have learned that sharing is a good thing to do and will bring back something good to me in the future. I may never know what the future will bring, but I can predict what I do now.

9. What's the most important thing you've learned over these 25 lessons?

I have learned that life is truly worth living and fighting for. Life may be full of adversities, but I should not take them as a hindrance but as a challenge to fight for. Life is good, and I must never give up; hence, I must do my very best. I am blessed in life and must also be a blessing to others.

I am looking forward to the second season, early next year, for another knowledgeable and inspiring life lesson. The lessons that I have learned are valuable for forming my values and for creating the kind of life that I deserve. Every day is a journey, and I must live in the present, learn from the past, and prepare for my future.


© 2011 Del Cusay

Group or Team Power : How it can change the world...

"Group Power is essential for success, and we should not underestimate what it can do; hence, it can make or break something. We must be responsible by using this power carefully and for good intentions only."




In my previous posts, I have discussed different sources of power and given examples of some prominent people who possess such powers and how they use them to make a social impact and global influence. However, I have not included one source of power that is very important nowadays—group or team Power.

I will cite an example of how we use group power and its effect on mankind and the world. This is very timely since I am referring to the global environmental campaign of the "New7Wonders of Nature," which is the organization founded by Bernard Weber of Switzerland. The worldwide campaign started in 2007 after the "New7Wonders of The World" declaration on 7-7-7 or July 7, 2007. After 4 years, another campaign under the title of "New7Wonders of Nature" was participated by people worldwide, and on 11-11-11 or November 11, 2011 - the 7 provisional list was named by the organization's founder himself.

Upon watching the announcement video, I was filled with a sense of thrill and hope as I saw the Puerto Princesa Underground River on the provisional list. Its inclusion, while not yet official, is a powerful testament to the potential for positive change that collective action in global campaigns can bring.

THE CAMPAIGNS' GLOBAL IMPACT

The campaign started with Bernard Weber of Switzerland's simple goal of creating a global memory by garnering the participation of people worldwide. He founded the organization 2001 based on the same principle as the "Seven Ancient Wonders of the World." That list of seven wonders was attributed to Philon of ancient Greece.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN PHILON OF GREECE AND WEBER OF SWITZERLAND

I asked myself what the difference between the two great men was, and I realized that Philon's 'Seven Wonders of Ancient World' was chosen and declared only by himself since he was powerful during his time. Weber, who founded the 'New7Wonders of the World & Nature,' was selected and participated in by people globally. Thinking of the difference, I came up with 'Group Power' as the answer. Group Power is the collective strength and influence of individuals who share a common goal. It is not about the power of one individual but the combined efforts and resources of many.

The campaign's success is a testament to the power of unity. It's not just about Weber's individual power but the collective strength of all those who participated. This is the essence of 'Group Power '.

If we try to analyze, the campaign will not succeed because Weber is powerful. Indeed, he has some sources of his power, like the power of education and expertise, being an expert in filmmaking. He has the power position of being the founder of the said organization. He has control of social intelligence through his ability to attract millions of followers to his campaign. He has physical power and an energetic personality.

He also gained international fame and recognition through the Power of Media, using the Power of Nature and the Group power through the active participation of his supporters and followers. He has almost every power source, and the good thing is that he uses it wisely for a good cause.

WHAT THE PHILIPPINES HAS TO OFFER

The Philippines is a biodiverse archipelago of 7,107 islands, over a thousand of which are in Palawan. Dubbed "The Last Frontier," it is one of the largest island provinces in the country and one of the cleanest and safest places in the archipelago.

Once again, we have proven that we have something to share with the rest of the world. Through unity, we have made it possible for the Puerto Princesa Underground River to be put on the global map as one of the best ecological tourist destinations in the world.

THE PUERTO PRINCESA UNDERGROUND RIVER

With its reputation as the longest navigable subterranean river in the world, the Puerto Princesa Underground River is a magnificent ecological spot with a diverse ecosystem. As it journeys towards the official declaration as one of the 'New7Wonders of Nature', we can anticipate a significant boost to the country's tourism industry. The 50% increase in tourism reported by the local government of Puerto Princesa City in 2009 is a promising sign of the campaign's potential impact.

THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERN

Now that the Puerto Princesa Underground River is gaining global recognition and fame, some things should be considered, including the effect of environmental progress.

Development of the city of Puerto Princesa has been ongoing since many tourists arrived recently. I watched a documentary film about Puerto Princesa City Mayor Edward Hagedorn, who invested in building truly world-class infrastructure projects in preparation for the big blessing, which is the coming of tourists from other parts of the world.

We hope the place will not be fully commercialized like other tourist destinations in the country, where the environment is sacrificed for massive income. Along with progress, possible environmental issues may arise, such as waste management, tree cutting, pollution, etc.

Palawan is truly a paradise, and it deserves to preserve its beauty and charm so the next generation can love and appreciate it. This is not only for Filipinos but also for the world's people. We can not control development, but we can do our share by protecting it and criticizing environmental neglect and abuse.

Group Power is indeed essential for success, but we must never underestimate its potential to make or break something. We are responsible for using this power carefully and with good intentions only. The saying, 'In unity there is strength,' holds true, especially today. To reach the top, we need the support of people who share our ideals and aspirations, push us to our limits, and help us raise the bar to become what we are meant to be. This responsibility should make us all feel accountable and mindful of our actions.

© 2012 Del Cusay

The Power of Nature

By uniting in simple gestures of concern for nature and supporting various environmental causes, we wield a great power. Our nature is a source of strength, and it's our responsibility to care for it and what it offers. This collective effort ensures that the beauty of our nature and its wonders will be preserved for the future generation to experience.


Nature, despite its destructive potential, also demonstrates remarkable resilience. Whether it's a natural or man-made calamity such as typhoons, earthquakes, tornadoes, floods, droughts, landslides, etc., nature bounces back. This resilience is a testament to the power of the so-called 'force majeure,' an unforeseen event beyond human control. And it's a source of hope in the face of such challenges.

Many countries suffer from natural calamities and catastrophes that affect millions of people every year. The Philippines is known to be one of the world's most calamity-prone countries, and this is true. Filipinos have been the victims of these greater forces of nature, and the situation worsens yearly.

THE ISSUE OF CLIMATE CHANGE

Recently, scientists have extensively studied global warming and climate change. The analysis is critical to know how much damage mankind has caused to Earth. A great debate is going on regarding this topic as it draws massive global environmental concerns, especially from environmentalists.

ENVIRONMENTAL NEGLECT

Each of us has a significant role in preserving and protecting our environment. Our individual actions, no matter how small, contribute to the larger goal of environmental conservation. It's our responsibility to our environment, and most people have already taken steps and will continue to do so as part of their environmental contribution and legacy. 

Unfortunately, some individuals have been negligent and driven by greed, leading to destructive actions that harm the environment. These people often underestimate the power of nature and its ability to cause harm. Activities such as illegal logging and mining, which are still prevalent today, have severe and often fatal consequences. If only these individuals were aware of the devastating effects of their actions, many lives could have been saved.

GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL CAMPAIGN

A visionary named Bernard Weber started an organization that promotes environmental preservation and protection. He is the founder and President of the "New7Wonders of Nature." The organization aims to identify and encourage natural wonders that stand out and could be world-class tourist destinations. The founder wants us to appreciate nature's importance, wonders, and beauty.

The power of Social Media has been utilized for this global campaign to choose the next 7 wonders of nature among hundreds of participant countries who joined. People can participate in this campaign by voting online through the organization's website.  You will have to choose the top 7 natural wonders of choice to be able to vote and will receive a confirmation email to let you know that your vote has been counted.

THE PUERTO PRINCESA UNDERGROUND RIVER

Luckily, through people's support, our underground river has been chosen and included in the top 28 finalists and the top 10. The big announcement of the "New7Wonders" will be on November 11, 2011, or 11-11-11. I am fortunate to have been part of this campaign by online voting and encouraging others to do the same to show their support. Indeed, it was an overwhelming response from them, and they have shown active participation by sharing the information with their friends.

I have ordered a personalized certificate from the "New7Wonders" website, which shows my top choice, the Puerto Princesa Underground River. This reminds me of joining this global environmental awareness, protection, and tourism campaign. This is a historical event, and I am grateful to have participated in and supported this campaign.

I am hopeful that our candidate will be on the official list of the "New7Wonders of Nature" and that we will continue to have environmental awareness in protecting and preserving the wonders of nature. 

By making simple gestures of concern for nature and supporting various environmental causes, we can all contribute to the preservation of our environment. Our nature is a precious resource, and it is our responsibility to care for it and appreciate its beauty. Let's work together to ensure that future generations can also experience the wonders of our natural world.

© 2011 Del Cusay