Planning is a crucial critical thinking skill I believe each person should have. But Filipinos are not really gifted in that particular area. There are 2 reasons why Filipinos are bad at planning or does not know how to plan.
These are the 2 reasons why:
1. WEATHER
A mentor of mine once told me, Filipinos does not normally plan or does not know how to plan because of the WEATHER.
Yes, I was as confused as you are right now when he told me that. But, then, I realized why.
5 years ago, I went to Canada for a training and conference, it was in June, it’s actually summer time in Canada that time. And I brought with me light clothes. I lived there with relatives of my husband.
As I live with them, I noticed something peculiar with their habits, every morning and before they sleep at night. What they do is, they turn on the TV, and look at the weather.
Why is that?
I finally couldn’t hold my curiosity and ask my niece-in-law, and she told me,
“Tita in a country like Canada, whatever the season is, the temperature of 26 degrees can drop drastically to 4 degrees in an instant. And if you are not prepared, or you did not plan or bring what you are going to wear, you could die”.
True enough, I need to buy winter clothes on a summer there, because, it’s freezing to go out.
That’s the first reason why Filipinos are not used to planning.
WE ARE NOT TRAINED TO PLAN AS EARLY AS WE ARE A KID. Since we only have 2 seasons here, wet and dry, you only need to bring your friendly umbrella, that is useful if there’s too much sun or if it suddenly rains.
WE ARE NOT TRAINED TO PLAN AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.
2. TV PROGRAMS
The second reason why Filipinos are bad at planning is because of our TV Programs.
Remember the TV Programs you watched in your homes. Have you watched at least one of these programs on the screen?
I am not saying that these TV programs are bad. But what these programs actually reflect in our Society?
Filipinos, love these kind of story/plot.
The protagonist is usually POOR, INAAPI, KAWAWA, the antagonist is usually the rich and bad. The type of Cinderella kind of story.
In short, I call it, the Victim story.
And it reflects, one of our culture’s prevalent traits, And I call it, “KAWAWA NAMAN AKO MENTALITY or Victim Mentality.”
What does this story represent. Suddenly, Filipinos also like being the “kawawa, the victim, the poor.” And same as in the story plot, someone other than the person himself/herself is responsible for that situation. There is always someone to blame in the story.
So, we started blaming.
Who do we blame?
You will often hear this from others and whether you admit it or not from OURSELVES:
- My parents are not rich that’s why I’m not rich.
- Corrupt kasi yung government eh.
- Traffic kasi.
- Yung asawa ko kasi….
And a lot more? Can you enumerate some more?
With that kind of mentality, we are not taking the responsibility for our own future.
Yes, those things could be valid reasons, but also remember, tycoons like: Mr. John Gokongwei, Manny Villar, Manny Pacquiao, they also have the similar situation, even worse. Try reading their stories, it’s not all flowers and royalties. In fact, they have experienced being at the lowest point of their lives, but they rise above it, and why is that?
Because they took the responsibility in their own hands.
For most people, since we are not taking the WHEEL or the driver seat of our future, we dream that an OUTSIDE FORCE can help us. Just like in the teleseryes.
We hear these often from our parents / society:
- Pag nanalo ako sa lotto…
- If I marry a rich guy…
- My kids are there for me naman for my retirement.
- And worst – Bahala na si BATMAN..
Are you getting me?
Now that you are aware of those things, that may have conditioned your mind on how to act, now, I am giving you the gift to choose, do you want to stay being a victim or not?
Are you willing to stay as a victim?
Can you now look at the mirror and say this to yourself, “Tama na pagiging victim. Enough.”
And say this with conviction:
“I am responsible with my life. I create the future that I want. I am the driver of my own life. I am a champion. I am a child of the most High God. I am worthy and deserve to have a great and awesome life.”
If you can say this to yourself every day in the mirror as you face yourself, the better results you can get. Your lives will change, believe me, as I did with mine.
Other things you can do besides watching these kind of programs, is…
Replace these 3 phrases that you hear from others or from yourself:
Instead of saying “Life is unfair” you should think and say, “If I don’t like it, what can I do with it?”
Instead of saying “That’s who I am and I can do nothing with it” you should think and say, “A good character is not something I’m born with, it’s something I must develop over time.”
Instead of “Who’s to blame” think “How can we move forward? What can I change?”
Stop being a victim of a situation, be the master of your own life and start planning on how to achieve your dream life. No one else can do that for you. Hold yourself accountable for your future.
“ Ikaw lang yan”.
Helping you master your life,
Read more:
- How Your Words Become Your Reality
- The Millionaire Morning Routine
- This Stops You From Becoming Rich
- What you Do in Your Spare Time Determines Your Success
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