What Truths Do We Hold?

"Assertions to bear" usually refers to bringing facts or emphatic statements forward to prove a point. Depending on context, it could mean citing evidence to back up a claim, the rules used in software testing, or management claims in financial audits.

We love to complain! Many times we don't have reasons at all to do so - but, we love to complain. Especially nowadays. Our world is full of mess - isn't it? Of course, somehow it is indeed if you look around.

We bring many more assertions to bear: first, in the past we have been thriftier and economical, more religious and devout, more patriotic, industrious, more hard-working, keen and obedient. And, second, above everything and all: in the past we had more idealists. Third, nowadays we have (mostly?) material things in mind - what a disgrace. 

Materialists or idealists? Materialism or Idealism? Whom or what do you love? Love most?

I just quoted Vox Populi... .

A "materialist" has indeed become a swear word. I don't mean with "material" the accumulated data out of which a writer creates a work of literary, historical, or scientific value. A materialist is being easily described as someone with an attitude, who ignores spiritual values, compared with an idealist, who has the tendency to seek the highest spiritual perfection.

Idealism means the doctrine that appearance is purely the perception, the idea of subjects, and that the world is to be regarded as consisting of mind. The coquetry of higher philosophy makes it difficult to bear the ups and downs in our daily life.

Sure, we all know that "our last earthly dress has no pockets  any more". Striving for earthly and terrestrial possession, property and estate might be the hit-man of idealism. That's how we have been taught. "Wine, women and song", having the unpleasant feeling of fullness, egoism and bragging as well as showing-off - are these the materialist's real attitudes?

Is the idealist, many times not being able to stand on earth with both feet, the only one who occupies himself with religion and virtuousness - so to speak, with celestial and heavenly things? Is that really so? Can we make such a distinction? Sure, it's easy to do so: it's manageable and comfortable. But well, why is the enjoyment of having a tasty meal BAD, and listening to a recital composed by Johann Sebastian Bach BETTER? Why should art be better than roasted pork and a bottle of wine? Value judgements and moral concepts... .

Owning a house and lot and a car  - or even more then one - are earthly properties, as well as bank saving accounts, profitable insurances, and invest advantageously in stocks. Is a terrible underpaid nurse or a book author an idealist, because he or she doesn't work for the filthy lure but for higher values? 

Has Jesus been an idealist, because He accepted renunciation and died without terrestrial possession? Has Jesus been a materialist, because He fed thousands of people on the breadline? Are we idealists, if we bequeath nothing to our families and might die without a single centavo, because earthly things are bad?

Worth to think about it ... .

Nothing comes from nothing

 

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“Nothing comes from nothing” is a famous idea. It means you need a cause to get a result. You must do work to see rewards. However, this idea has two very different meanings. Let us look at them below. “Nothing comes from nothing,” a Latin phrase called ex nihilo nihil fit, is

By Klaus Döring

June 26, 2026

Updated June 25, 2026

4 min read

By Klaus Döring

“Nothing comes from nothing” is a famous idea. It means you need a cause to get a result. You must do work to see rewards. However, this idea has two very different meanings. Let us look at them below.

“Nothing comes from nothing,” a Latin phrase called ex nihilo nihil fit, is a core idea in philosophy. It means something cannot be made out of complete nothingness. Everything that exists must have a cause, a reason, or existing matter to start from. The phrase you mention is a variation on ex nihilo nihil fit, or “from nothing, nothing comes,” attributed to the ancient Greek philosopher Parmenides.

For me, the answer lies in the oddly philosophical line in one of the songs composed by Richard Rodgers, with music, and Oscar Hammerstein II, with lyrics, in the 1965 film musical “The Sound of Music”: “Nothing comes from nothing.”

“Something Good,” sung by Maria and the Captain in “The Sound of Music”

The lyrics go: “Nothing comes from nothing — nothing ever could.”

Our globe and its population bear innumerable strange facts. In many people’s opinion, this world mostly shows worrying characteristics and symptoms nowadays. No wonder. Just try to consume and digest today’s headlines and news from around the globe.

The idea of “nothing comes from everything” is a philosophical concept and a common question explored in various fields. It suggests that existence can emerge from a state of absence or nonbeing. While it might sound paradoxical, this concept has been a topic of debate in philosophy, theology, and even physics. Some perspectives posit that the universe could have arisen from a previous state of nothingness, while others suggest that something always existed, even if it wasn’t in a recognizable form.

The notion of “nothing comes from everything” challenges the fundamental assumption that something cannot come from nothing. It prompts questions about the nature of existence, the potential for creation from nonexistence, and the relationship between being and nonbeing.

Some religious traditions, like Christianity, have a concept of creation from nothing, or ex nihilo, in which a deity created the universe from an empty void. This idea, while seemingly counterintuitive, has been a cornerstone of theological belief.

In physics and cosmology, the concept of “something coming from nothing” is explored in the context of the Big Bang theory and the nature of the quantum vacuum. Some cosmologists propose that the universe could have emerged spontaneously from a state of nothingness, a concept referred to as “quantum fluctuation” or “creation from nothing.”

Re-evaluation of existence: The idea encourages a re-evaluation of what we understand as “nothing,” considering that it might be a state of potential rather than total absence.
Emergence of order: It suggests that complexity and order could arise from an initially simple or chaotic state.
Challenging causality: The notion of something arising from nothing challenges the traditional view of cause and effect, in which an effect must always have a cause.

It is a world with quickly bridged distances — our Mother Earth is becoming smaller and smaller. Any tourist, even with little time and only a small budget, can travel to other faraway cultures. But joining them, as well as different races and religious communities, requires, first of all, great care, tact, instinctive feeling, empathy, and logical ideas.

The stranger whom we meet for the first time during a business meeting, for example, may be an uncommon, odd, and extraordinary guy. He may be someone from a foreign country who speaks another language and whose skin is a different color. He may be a migrant, a restless hiker, or an expatriate in our neighborhood.

The foreigner beside you and me can become a provocation or a challenge. Strangeness can become exoticism. Maybe that’s why my family and I decided to move to the Philippines in 1999. On the other hand — going abroad can open new and even better horizons. We must not feel like “a stranger in paradise.” By the way, I never did, since I have toured around the globe many times. On the other hand, I am not putting my country of birth into the trash. Heaven forbid, no!

However, a migrant carries a juxtaposition of optimism, even calculated optimism, confused feelings, nostalgia, and homesickness. Yes, guys, during the first years of my expat life in the Philippines, the round-trip ticket was always in my mind because no one among us can escape his native roots.

But I am really a lucky guy. I experienced amazing tolerance in the Philippines. Real, practicing

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com, or follow me on Facebook, X-Twitter, or LinkedIn, or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

I AM THE WAY

By: Klaus Döring

That phrase famously echoes a core statement of Jesus in the Gospel of John, where He declared: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me".

In order to understand what “I am the way, the truth, and the life” means, which was said by the Lord Jesus, we must first be clear that only God can express the truth, grant people life, and show people the way. Before the Lord Jesus said He Himself was the truth, no person had said he himself was the truth, and no person could express the truth. Only the incarnate Lord Jesus said that He was the truth and moreover He could express the truth. Just as it is recorded in the Scriptures, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelled among us … full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).

Most followers of Jesus are familiar with this verse. It’s commonly read in churches. However we often miss the significance and richness of what Jesus is actually teaching us.

He does not offer a linear route or a series of actions. He offers Himself. In very simple straightforward words, He declares, “I am the way.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life" (John 14:5-6)

Many times we compare our life with a path. We talk about "the way". We describe a determined man as, "He's on the right track". We go about our tracks, but we are reproved if we take a short-cut and not the path across a rice-field. We learn that there are many ways of solving problems.

We also don't want to stand in other people's way. Sometimes we prefer to keep out of someone's way and plan to avoid getting in their way. Often we try to find the golden middle course... .

Many different ways have been offered to us during our whole life. How can we be able to choose the right and correct one? Which signs can be trusted blindly? These are urgent and vital questions for all of us, and, especially during this time, very important like never before.

In the past, traditions and customs are the paths we took. Nowadays, we make decisions and long for the correct path - mostly on our own.

The German atom-physician Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976) described it very impressively. The man of today is like a ship's captain. This ship is made out of iron. The compass needle is no longer able to show the Northern direction, as expected, because of the ship's iron inflexible body. You have one choice only: look up to the stars and study their guiding support!"

We're all happy and proud, when we have every need at our disposal. On the other hand, it only confuses our aims, goals, and objectives in life.

"I am the way" is NOT ONLY a traffic sign - or a shepherd without responsibility - or a religious founder, who thinks, that "only he is the right way, if one follows him"... .

HIS way is the only right way. Only His deeds colored our fates. Let's keep our eyes open for the important signs at our way, such as :

- Unselfish participation in the life of others;

- Courage to uncover prejudice;

- Ready to help the unprotected and defenseless;

- Struggle for freedom and justice;

- Commitment for peace.

Most of all: Love, which does not calculate and count. Love without measurements, boundaries and limits.

If you can share with others, you'll know one day in future, that someone walked this way - earlier than you - and, and, FOR YOU!

The hidden trap of worry

 

Learning to stop worrying involves training your brain to recognize that worry is merely a misguided habit. By actively managing your mindset with techniques like scheduled worry periods, radical acceptance, and mindfulness, you can break the anxiety cycle and take back control of your life.

Worrying is generally unhelpful because it traps your brain in a loop of “what-ifs” without producing actionable solutions. While moderate worry can briefly motivate you to prepare for a specific event, excessive worrying impairs decision-making, reduces creative problem-solving, and harms your physical health.

Some feelings of worry can be healthy, pushing us to find solutions to real and present problems. However, chronic worry, even about things out of our control, can severely impact our mental health.

The German poet Rainer Maria Rilke put it well: “Life is not even close to being as logically consistent as our worries; it has many more unexpected ideas and many more facts than we do.” Worrying is pointless not only because it rarely makes things better, but also because you’re rarely ever worried about the right thing!

We hardly count our blessings. We enjoy counting our crosses. Instead of gains, we count our losses. We don’t have to do all that counting — computers do it for us. Information is easily had.

Facebook to and fro, back and forth, there and back — how many posts and comments have already been posted with sadness, loneliness, boredom strikes, problems and worries …

Just remember this: Opportunity doesn’t just knock — it jiggles the doorknob, and “your social media online friend” — the warrior is with you day and night, at every corner, following your every step. Complaining and grumbling are good excuses, right?

Seniors may experience more anxiety-inducing situations than younger adults, and they may not have as many resources for support. Some people may notice that their anxious thoughts get stronger or more frequent with age, but anxiety is a treatable mental health disorder.

Is social media bad for us? Four billion people, around 50% of the world’s population, use online social media — and we’re spending an average of two hours every day sharing, liking, tweeting and updating on these platforms, according to some reports. That breaks down to around half a million tweets and Snapchat photos shared every minute. Stress, mood, anxiety, depression, sleep — or, better, non-sleep — self-esteem: Overall, social media’s effects on well-being are ambiguous, according to a paper written last year by researchers from the Netherlands. However, they suggested there is clearer evidence for the impact on one group of people: Social media has a more negative effect on the well-being of those who are more socially isolated.

The whole world is an awful place filled with dreadful and horrible negativism. Yes, I confess, I’m also surrounded by many worriers who put their fears into me. Politicians, for example, often love to search for some grave alarm that will cause individuals to abandon their separate concerns and act in concert so that politicians can wield the baton. Calls to fatal struggles and fights are forever being sounded.

The overbearing person who tyrannizes the weak, who wants to domineer and bluster, is simply nothing else than a worrier who claims to be a friend. But he isn’t. Really not! The bullying of fellow citizens by means of dread and fright has been going on since Paleolithic times. The night wolf is eating the moon. Give me silver and I’ll make him spit out.

Well, when will we start counting our courage and not our fears, or enjoy instead of our woe? Worrying itself is pointless. Of course, no society has achieved perfect rules of law, never-ending education or uniquely responsible governments. Let’s seek out the worries but avoid the warriors, because they try to avoid liberty.

Worry, that sense of insecurity, unease and fear over what negative events may happen — as unrealistic as these concerns may be — is one of the most unpleasant emotions that you can experience as a human being. It is also one of the most common. While everyone has worried at some point, many people suffer from chronic worrying in the form of anxiety. In Australia alone, 2 million people will suffer from anxiety in any one year.

If you worry often, you’re far from alone. In fact, it may comfort you to know that many of us tend to worry about the same issues. All of those anxieties and stressors that may plague your life also affect a huge chunk of the rest of the world as well.

Melanie Greenberg, Ph.D., is a practicing psychologist, author, speaker, and life/business coach with more than 20 years of experience as a clinician, professor, and researcher. She says: “One of the most helpful things you can do instead of worrying is problem-solving. Problem-solving means defining the problem in a way that you can do something about it (e.g., “How do I prepare for a possible loss of income?” or “How can I learn to accept that my ex has moved on?”). Once you have a defined problem, you can generate some possible solutions and think through the likely consequences of each (e.g., “What is most likely to happen if I do X?”). Finally, you can implement your favorite solution, whether it involves taking action, discussing the situation, finding out more information, or working to accept something you cannot change.”

If you are still worrying right now about something, try to read Jeremiah 29:10-14 or Revelation 21:1-8, just to mention these two. It works.

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Comments, suggestions or questions? Email: doringklaus@gmail.com, follow me on Facebook, X-Twitter or LinkedIn, or log on to www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

Those were the days…

 

 

During my time as a radio host at different radio stations in the Philippines, this song was requested innumerable times. “Those Were the Days” is a song credited to Gene Raskin, who put new English lyrics to the Russian romance song “Дорогой длинною” — literally, “By the Long Road” — composed by Boris Fomin (1900–1948), with words by the poet Konstantin Podrevsky. It deals with reminiscence about youth and romantic idealism. It also deals with tavern activities, which include drinking, singing, and dancing.

Mary Hopkin’s 1968 debut single, “Those Were the Days,” which was produced by Paul McCartney of the Beatles and arranged by Richard Hewson, became a No. 1 hit on the UK Singles Chart and the Canadian RPM Magazine charts. The song also reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, behind “Hey Jude” by the Beatles.

McCartney also recorded Hopkin singing “Those Were the Days” in other languages for release in their respective countries: In Spain, “Qué tiempo tan feliz”; in West Germany, “An jenem Tag”; in Italy, “Quelli erano giorni”; and in France, “Le temps des fleurs.”

Yes, time flies by. I think about sitting in a jet plane. Almost November 2024 again. Wow!

Do you always count the days until the next legal holiday when you are not on duty? Or do you start longing for Christmas as early as September? And do you hope the weeks or months pass quickly until the next possible salary increase?

Many times, we are really in too much of a hurry and feel uncomfortable when we notice how time flies. We have no time for someone or something, or even for ourselves.

When I was still a teenager, I longed to be an adult already. Later, I enjoyed listening to my grandmother’s stories, such as “Once upon a time” or “When I was young,” from her “yesterday’s life.”

After a couple of years, especially while observing that time really flies like a rocket to the moon, I also have the same question in mind: Are the present hours and days less valuable?

Of course, each day has its own set of happiness and trials. But it also holds great possibilities for us to take the initiative to do or to move something, if … !

Many of us retreat into the past and forget their present existence. A possible topsy-turvy world of golden youth makes us forget that the past also had its share of disappointments, pains, tears, darkness, tricky and desperate days — yes, lost days and irretrievable time.

Without having achieved anything, we dream our impossible dreams from past to future and vice versa. We forget that between yesterday and tomorrow is our valuable present. Well, now, well then — if we know just how to fulfill this period.

“Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
Think of all the great things we would do?
Those were the days, my friend
We thought they’d never end
We’d sing and dance forever and a day
We’d live the life we choose
We’d fight and never lose
For we were young and sure to have our way…”

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn or X – Twitter or visit my www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .

Giving while leaving

 

By Klaus Döring

Philanthropy is a very interesting topic. Philanthropy comes from the Greek “philein” (to love) and “anthropos” (man) and means a desire to help mankind, especially as shown by gifts to charitable institutions.

Philanthropists love and seek to do good for their fellow men and women and are paying more attention to how they give their money away, especially during this pandemic, when more and more people are losing jobs and businesses are collapsing.

Giving while living is a philosophy and wealth management strategy focused on distributing assets, charitable donations, or financial support during your lifetime, rather than hoarding them to pass on through a will. It allows you to witness the direct impact of your generosity and provides timely financial help to heirs when they need it most.

In times of pandemic, political crisis, and corruption, we might only observe our own pockets becoming emptier and emptier, while others’ overflow. Giving while living? Of course not. Getting and receiving as much as possible seems to me the motto many times.

One of the Bible’s books of poetry, Proverbs, offers advice on every imaginable area of life. The style of wise living described here leads to a fulfilled life. Proverbs 28:27 says: “He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses!”

In view of a feature in an old issue of the magazine “The Economist,” I learned that Andrew Carnegie (“The King of Steel,” 1835–1919) would surely have approved of Lord David Sainsbury. The supermarket tycoon turned politician was one of Great Britain’s richest men. It was reported that he not only intended to give away at least USD 1.83 billion during his lifetime but also insisted that his charitable foundation spend both its income and capital before he passed away.

Few rich donors have gone this far. But Lord Sainsbury’s decision was part of a broad trend among a new generation of philanthropists to play an active role in seeing that their money is very well spent. Such efforts should be applauded. In his great 1889 essay on wealth, Carnegie, who gave away about USD 7 billion in today’s money, argued that the rich had a duty to use most of their money to benefit the community and should do so actively during their lifetime. Let’s look around to see if we can still find such donors and patrons in our daily lives.

Giving while living is an entrepreneurial approach to philanthropy by which you actively devote your money, skills, and time to making a difference sooner rather than later. You can learn and make adjustments to get the biggest bang — and impact — for your buck. Give smart. Give now.

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com, follow me on Facebook, LinkedIn, or X, or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com.

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Laughter is the best medicine

 

By Klaus Döring

June 5, 2026

4 min read

Laughter acts as natural medicine, triggering healthy physical and emotional changes. It relaxes your body, boosts your immune system, and triggers the release of endorphins—the body’s natural “feel-good” chemicals—to elevate your mood and diminish pain. A hearty laugh delivers science-backed benefits for both the mind and body:

Laughter is a pleasant physical reaction and emotion consisting usually of rhythmical, often audible contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. It is a response to certain external or internal stimuli.

The aphorism “laughter is the best medicine” has been attributed to the Book of Proverbs in the Old Testament: “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones”. This ancient wisdom might also hold true for some medical conditions.

It’s true: laughter is strong medicine. It draws people together in ways that trigger healthy physical and emotional changes in the body. Laughter strengthens your immune system, boosts mood, diminishes pain, and protects you from the damaging effects of stress. Nothing works faster or more dependably to bring your mind and body back into balance than a good laugh. Humor lightens your burdens, inspires hope, connects you to others, and keeps you grounded, focused, and alert. It also helps you release anger and forgive sooner.

With so much power to heal and renew, the ability to laugh easily and frequently is a tremendous resource for surmounting problems, enhancing your relationships, and supporting both physical and emotional health. Best of all, this priceless medicine is fun, free, and easy to use.

As children, we used to laugh hundreds of times a day, but as adults, life tends to be more serious and laughter more infrequent. But by seeking out more opportunities for humor and laughter, you can improve your emotional health, strengthen your relationships, find greater happiness—and even add years to your life.

Laughter boosts the immune system. Laughter decreases stress hormones and increases immune cells and infection-fighting antibodies, thus improving your resistance to disease.

Laughter triggers the release of endorphins, the body’s natural feel-good chemicals. Endorphins promote an overall sense of well-being and can even temporarily relieve pain.

Laughter protects the heart. Laughter improves the function of blood vessels and increases blood flow, which can help protect you against a heart attack and other cardiovascular problems.

Laughter burns calories. Okay, so it’s no replacement for going to the gym, but one study found that laughing for 10 to 15 minutes a day can burn approximately 40 calories—which could be enough to lose three or four pounds over the course of a year.

Laughter lightens anger’s heavy load. Nothing diffuses anger and conflict faster than a shared laugh. Looking at the funny side can put problems into perspective and enable you to move on from confrontations without holding onto bitterness or resentment.

Laughter may even help you to live longer. A study in Norway found that people with a strong sense of humor outlived those who don’t laugh as much. The difference was particularly notable for those battling cancer.

More than just a respite from sadness and pain, laughter gives you the courage and strength to find new sources of meaning and hope. Even in the most difficult of times, a laugh—or even simply a smile—can go a long way toward making you feel better. And laughter really is contagious—just hearing laughter primes your brain and readies you to smile and join in the fun.

Laughter shifts perspective, allowing you to see situations in a more realistic, less threatening light. A humorous perspective creates psychological distance, which can help you avoid feeling overwhelmed and diffuse conflict.

Laughter draws you closer to others, which can have a profound effect on all aspects of your mental and emotional health.

Laughter releases endorphins, known as ‘feel-good hormones’. It increases the oxygen-rich air you take in and reduces stress hormones, bringing down your heart rate and blood pressure, and causing your muscles to relax.

Well, even if we think we don’t have reasons to laugh during times today, we should try to express mirth spontaneously, and we should try to be merry or gay. We still have reasons to start with the softest form of audible laughter—the vocalized smile. This is what I learned and experienced from the first moment on while travelling in Asia since 1978, and being an expat living in the Philippines since 1999 for good. Keep smiling—even you are overloaded with huge problems.

Experts also say good humor works because it helps people feel easier in mind. The French psychotherapist Sylvie Tenenbaum stressed that, in her patients, laughter often signals the dawning of a wholesome awakening to reality. Gallow humor might be dubious in the eyes of others. But try to sing out loud, try to cry, but try to laugh!

As a devout Christian I love reading the bible. Ecclesiastes 3:1–4 say: “There is a time for everything… a time to be born and a time to die… a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh!”

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Email: doringklaus@gmail.com or follow me on Facebook, X -Twitter or Linkedin or visit www.germanexpatinthephilippines.blogspot.com.or www.klausdoringsclassicalmusic.blogspot.com .