PROBLEMS MAKE A PERSON GROW

 

Growing as a person involves a continuous process of self-awareness, self-improvement, and self-transformation. It encompasses learning from experiences, expanding your knowledge and skills, improving your emotional intelligence, and developing healthier relationships with others and with yourself.

Struggle helps us to build resilience. This process helps us to develop mental and emotional toughness, enabling us to bounce back from setbacks and continue to move forward despite challenges. As a result, we become more resilient individuals who are better equipped to handle challenges in the future.

Difficult struggles force us to confront our fears and overcome obstacles, ultimately making us stronger individuals both mentally and emotionally. It is through these adversities that we develop important life skills such as problem-solving, perseverance, and adaptability, which can be applied to future challenges.

Do hard times help you grow? Research has found that up to 70 percent of people experience positive psychological growth from difficult times, such as a deeper sense of self and purpose, a greater appreciation for life and loved ones, and an increased capacity for altruism, empathy and desire to act for the greater good.

How can I challenge myself to grow? Try new things: Step outside of your comfort zone and try new things. This could be exploring a new hobby, traveling to a new destination, or learning a new skill. By exposing yourself to new experiences, you broaden your perspective and open doors to personal growth.

All I can say, dear reader, is that much of what I write is something I have experienced "first hand" and "learned" in the past.

 

Music matters

BY ELEANOR PINUGU

JANUARY 13, 2025

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There is a touching viral video of a frail woman in a wheelchair who is gracefully moving her hands to Tchaikovsky’s “Swan Lake.” Marta Cinta González Saldaña, a former ballet dancer who was suffering from Alzheimer’s, had already forgotten the many decades of her life, but still remembered the choreography tied to the music. Her case is just one of the many instances where music was used to trigger memories and positive emotional reactions among patients with Alzheimer’s. Though Saldaña passed away in 2019—the same year the footage was taken—the clip continues to resonate deeply with people and helps raise awareness about how valuable music is for those affected by the disease.

Humanity has always intuitively understood the power of music. It enriches our celebrations, comforts us in times of loss, and keeps us company in both the most sacred and mundane moments of our lives. And in recent decades, there has been growing scientific research on the transformative impact of music on our physical, emotional, and psychological well-being.

Early musical exposure is linked to improved developmental outcomes in children. Research from the University of Southern California’s Brain and Creativity Institute found that music can accelerate brain development, specially literacy and language skills. Music, as a medium for self-expression, also enables children to better articulate emotions that may be difficult to convey, fostering emotional awareness and self-regulation skills.