Why Spirituality Matters in the Digital Age

 

 

A modern society is defined as a social structure characterized by a market-based economy, a democratic political system, and autonomous knowledge-producing institutions that develop empirical-analytical sciences.

However one looks at this range of dates, a considerable tension between any historical description of a rupture and conceptual understandings of modernity comes immediately to the fore. The conceptual imagery of a ‘modern society’ characterized by a market-based economy, a democratic polity, and autonomous knowledge-producing institutions developing empirical-analytical sciences sits in an uneasy relation to these historical dates. Were one to insist that the full set of those institutions needs to exist before a society can be called modern, social modernity would be limited to a relatively small part of the globe during only a part of the twentieth century.

This tension between conceptuality and historicity was resolved by introducing an evolutionary logic in societal development. Based on the assumption of a societally effective voluntarism of human action, realms of social life were considered to have gradually separated from one another according to social functions. Religion, politics, the economy, and the arts all emerged as separate spheres in a series of historical breaks—known as the scientific, industrial, democratic revolutions, etc.—that follows a logic of differentiation.

Money is one of the most essential in today’s world. Money allows us to meet our basic needs: buy food, shelter, and pay for health care. Meeting these needs is essential and if we don’t have enough money to do so, our individual happiness and the well-being of the community as a whole will be severely affected.

Why are values important in today’s world? Our values inform our thoughts, words, and actions. Every individual and every organization is involved in making hundreds of decisions every day. The decisions we make are a reflection of our values and beliefs, and they are always directed towards a specific purpose.

Values are the fundamental beliefs that govern our lives. They inspire how we act and speak. They guide our decisions about everything from career to personal growth. They embody the person we want to be, influencing how we treat others and how we interact with the world.

What is the most important thing in the world? Health – Without health, there is nothing worth it. Physical and mental health go hand in hand; if we don’t give importance to our physical health, it will have consequences for our mental health and vice versa.

Human life is the means to get rid of the cycle of birth and death, old age and travel. Devotion and liberation are possible in this life. Only in the human body, a person can reach God by knowing his form. We have forgotten the purpose for which life was given.

It’s important to prioritize making space for quiet, for real connection, and for reflection —both psychological and spiritual — in order to feel more grounded in ourselves and more open to a deeper, richer experience of life beyond the screen.

 

PROBLEMS MAKE A  PERSON GROW

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 Mindanao Daily News

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April 7, 2026

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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.

 

Often in life we come across such relationships and people, who are never happy with you. There may be times when you have given your all but you still realize that you’ll never be good enough for some people.

This feeling is really sad and hurting which makes you doubt yourself. This is when you feel the world will never be satisfied with you, and there could be days when you feel like a failure.

But life is not about perfection, it’s about accepting people we love as they are. When the expectation of one person is too high it’s not possible to be every good enough for them no matter what you do. Never let this feeling make you depressed and feeling low.

Among daily changes within the world of work, there’s never been a better time for employees to cultivate skills to help them better manage workplace challenges. This is where the idea of the ‘growth mindset’ comes roaring in – the belief that workers are capable of actively improving their abilities, rather than being innately able or unable to complete certain tasks.

Yet, this ‘can do’ mindset can be more difficult to harness than it seems. Doing so means getting comfortable with embracing hurdles, learning from criticism and persisting when things get difficult.

Even if we believe that such tenacity is worth developing, in practice, doubts and fears can dominate. “We’re wired to believe our emotions,” says Elaine Elliott-Moskwa, psychologist and author of The Growth Mindset Workbook, based in Princeton, New Jersey, US. “When a person says ‘I feel I’m not good enough’, that feeling is very powerful, even though that is a belief about their abilities.”

At the heart of the growth mindset is learning to overcome such feelings of inability or inadequacy in the face of obstacles, and instead recognise an opportunity to learn. And there can be profound benefits to cultivating this approach. Employees with a growth mindset can tap into useful skills to manage stress, build supportive relationships with colleagues, cope with failure and develop attributes to help further their careers.

Approaching a challenge with a growth mindset over a fixed mindset is a choice anyone can take
Stanford professor and psychologist Carol Dweck narrowed this concept down to two approaches that can determine results: ‘fixed mindset’ and ‘growth mindset’. “Fixed mindset is the idea that your abilities are high or low, and there’s not too much you can do to change it,” says Elliott-Moskwa, “whereas the growth mindset is the view that your abilities are malleable or changeable.”

While some people may naturally lean more one way than the other, people don’t outright have either a fixed or growth mindset to all problems, full stop – instead, approaching a challenge with a growth mindset over a fixed mindset is a choice anyone can take.

For many people, though, moments of difficulty often spur fixed mindsets. For example, says Elliott-Moskwa, when people take in criticism from a boss, or struggle with a new task, they might feel a sense of inadequacy. In these situations, a fixed-mindset response might be “I’m not good enough”, or “I can’t do it”, she says.

By contrast, a growth mindset approach takes a different tack on the same situation. People with growth mindsets don’t interpret such moments as personal failings, but instead recognise a need to improve. Crucially, people working with a growth mindset believe they are capable of such improvement, and are able to break down challenges into achievable steps.

This means getting out of the comfort zone and accepting a certain level of risk, uncertainty and the potential for failure that comes with trying something new. “It feels a little bit uncomfortable, and also a little bit exciting,” says Isabella Venour, a London-based mindset coach, who helps professionals understand the role their beliefs, values and patterns of thinking play in the workplace. “You’ve got a bit of risk that it might go wrong, but you’ve also got the potential to learn something and to grow as an individual.”

Why is the growth mindset important in the workplace right now? A can-do approach is always a plus in the workplace – it demonstrates that workers are adaptable and willing to evolve within their jobs and organisations. But fostering a growth mindset plays an important role in helping workers navigate turbulence as well as improve resilience as they feel more confident and capable of handling difficulties.

How can you improve your growth mindset? The first step towards encouraging a growth mindset is personal awareness: the ability to identify fixed-mindset thinking when it occurs, which often manifests as feelings of discomfort or inadequacy in the face of a challenge.

First, Elliott-Moskwa advises recognising and accepting such feelings – instead of beating yourself up about them. “Then, mindfully make another choice to take an action step in keeping with what you would be doing if you had a growth mindset – the belief that you could increase your abilities,” she says.

To help clients approach obstacles with a growth mindset, Venour often breaks down challenges that feel overwhelming into smaller pieces. For example, if a worker feels unable to give a presentation in front of colleagues, “how much of that is emotional and how much of that is factual?”, she asks. “Can they talk? Yes. Have they spoken in front of more than one person before? Yes. Have they done presentation slides before? Yes. So, if there are elements that they can do, [what] is the bit that they’re not comfortable with?”

Narrowing down an overwhelming challenge to a specific point of difficulty helps workers focus, and reduces the element of learning required to an achievable level.

Often, the learning itself requires asking for help. One of the key concepts of growth mindset is seeing others as inspiration rather than competition, an approach that can help foster collaborative teams. “If workers view others as resources and not as competitors, they’re open to sharing other people’s skills and abilities and learning from fellow employees,” says Elliott-Moskwa.

Over time, recognising fixed mindset and practicing a growth mindset can become easier, and the prospect of taking on challenges less daunting. “Growth mindset is an empowering attitude,” says Venour. “You can really develop and grow over time as a person.”

Sometimes you might feel like you’re not good enough or unique enough, but everyone is! Everyone has different personalities.

Easter from Culture to Culture

 

Easter always falls on a Sunday. Many churches will offer worship services on Good Friday (the Friday just before Easter) along with one or more services on Easter Sunday itself. Easter Sunday marks the end of the 46-day preparatory season of Lent, which is significant in cultures around the world.

The exact date of Easter varies from year to year, but it typically falls during the month of April or sometimes late March. This seasonal timing gives the holiday its strong associations with springtime and rebirth in the natural world. Easter icons such as eggs, baby chicks, bunnies and tulips symbolize new life and renewed hope. Those are powerful ideas to embrace whether you celebrate Easter for religious reasons or simply because you enjoy the vibrant traditions that go along with the holiday.

The Resurrection Sunday church service is at the heart of African-American Easter traditions. Everyone dresses up in their best—new suits, shined shoes, bright dresses, hats, gloves. The worship services feature prayer, singing, Easter pageants, parades and speeches or recitations. Afterwards, the day focuses on family and togetherness, including a big dinner and often an egg hunt for the kids. Hiding a special empty golden egg that represents Jesus’ empty tomb is a time-honored Easter tradition for many African-American families.

“Pascha” is the term for Easter used in the Eastern Orthodox Church (also known as the Greek Orthodox Church). The date of Orthodox Easter is reckoned according to a different calendar, so it usually falls a few weeks later than Easter in Western Christian traditions. The word “Pascha” is familiar both within and beyond the Orthodox Church because of the traditional “Paschal Greeting” (also called the Easter Acclamation). In this celebratory exchange, one believer proclaims “He is risen!” and a fellow believer responds with either “Truly He is risen!” or “He is risen indeed!”

Easter is a very important religious holiday for Latinx people. The celebration is an entire week of events that begins with Palm Sunday (“Día de Ramos” in Spanish) and ends with the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection. During the Holy Week (“Semana Santa” in Spanish), masses and prayer services are held on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and it’s common to see processions through towns and cities and people carrying crucifixes or statues of Jesus. Most of those events involve the entire family because they explore the biblical ideas of sacrifice, giving and forgiveness.

A simple “Happy Easter” wish can be a great option, especially when the card itself has already said a lot or when keeping it short simply feels right for your relationship with your recipient.

If you belong to a Christian faith tradition, then sharing the hope and joy of Christ’s Resurrection may be the key message you want to send in an Easter card. And there are lots of great ways to do that.

Celebrating the miracle of Easter, the beauty of God’s creation and the blessing of having you in my life.

Happiness in today's world

 

Happiness in today’s world is a subjective, often elusive state blending emotional joy, deep contentment, and personal meaning rather than just constant pleasure. It is increasingly defined by strong relationships, mental well-being, and resilience, rather than just material success, although consumerist culture influences.

Happiness is a state of mind. Specifically, it is a state of “well-being and contentment.”

Happiness is a positive emotional state characterized by feelings such as contentment, joy, and life satisfaction. Explore ways to improve happiness.

But the definition can be tricky and assumptions about the word can cause confusion. Many don’t even realize learning how to be happy is something that can be intentionally practiced. Some people, when they hear the word ‘happiness,’ assume it is speaking of an emotion such as pleasure or joy. For them, it is what people feel in the immediate here and now.

This is the reason some people say, “Don’t pursue happiness, seek joy. Happiness is fickle and fading, joy remains forever.”

But this short-term definition of happiness is not how everyone understands the word. Some define it to mean long-term satisfaction.

In fact, when I speak of experiencing happiness in life, I am not thinking of short-term emotions at all. I think of a quality of living—a much longer-term view of the word.

Both definitions are understood to be correct and speak of different realities.

But are they really that different? I don’t think so.

After all, a long-term experience of life satisfaction is almost certainly made up of many short-term feelings of joy and pleasure. Does that mean every day is a great day with no trials, temptations, or downturns? Certainly not. But it does mean when we look back at the many seasons of life, we can look back satisfied at how we navigated them.

The long-term feeling of life satisfaction is most experienced when we embrace the emotion of joy in the here and now.

And we accomplish that by taking steps each day to be happy.

What makes you feel happy now? Doing something you’re good at, such as cooking or dancing, is a good way to enjoy yourself and have a sense of achievement. Try to avoid things that seem enjoyable at the time but make you feel worse afterwards, such as drinking too much alcohol or eating junk food.

Why is being happy important? Experiencing happiness is important for our emotional and physical health. A stronger sense of happiness and wellbeing has been shown to lead to better relationships, increase social connection and contribution to the lives of others, as well as contributing to healthier physical wellbeing.

Is being happy the most important thing in life? Happy people are healthier all around and more likely to be healthy in the future. Happy people live longer than those who are not as happy. Happy people are more productive and more creative, and this effect extends to all those experiencing positive emotions.

Am I happy? Yes. Living in the Philippines for almost 28 years for good, I learned to be happy. Even during hard times. Filipinos are generally a happy people. They can smile whatever the situation. Their happy-go-lucky nature and positive mindset allow them to bounce back from the direst of circumstances, from disasters, from wars, and surely from today’s global situation.

CLAIMS TO LEADERSHIP

 

By Klaus Döring

Effective claims leadership involves cultivating a proactive, empathetic, and technologically adept team to drive, not just manage, performance. Modern leaders focus on strategic, AI-enabled, and data-driven approaches, fostering trust and psychological safety rather than focusing on blame.
I am 73 now and have retired in the Philippines for good since 1999. I traveled all around the world. I met innumerable leaders in different companies and institutions. I experienced “good” and “bad” leaders.  My “good” leaders, just a handful – maybe, became my mentors. Each one in his or her own very special way. The others I sorted out. Forgot them… . 

Quitters never win and winners never quit! Basta! That was my first leader’s motive –  a publishing house director, whom I met during my college time. This saying has been imprinted in my mind and heart till today. As a result, when I started teaching German language in the Institute of Languages and Creative Arts at University of Southeastern Philippines in Davao City almost 29 years ago, I used this and other sayings helping my students to remember these key points.

As I said before: just a handful of awesome leaders crossed my path. In Germany, in the U.S. and lately also here in the Philippines. I learned a lot from them and their behavior. I also learned from negative leaders, those catching people doing things wrong. Why don’t leaders spend at least an hour a week wandering around their operation catching people doing things right AND wrong? My first boss, a publisher in Germany, really did it this way. One could talk to him.  Well, nowadays situations have changed our business lives. 

Many leaders wait to praise their people until they do things exactly right. Problem: mostly, one waits forever. 

Up to now, I see a lot of unmotivated people at work or students at school, but I have never seen them after work or school! When office is done and school is over, people race to do such things that provide them with positive feedback on results.

My former students were getting tired many times. I tried to tell them that learning is more important today than ever before. Especially in pandemic times. Especially during online classes. 

In the past, if a person was loyal and worked hard,his or her job was secure. Also during my time in the 1960’s and 1970’s or even early 1980’s. Today, the skills you bring to the party constitute the only available form of job security. When you stop learning, you stop growing. Albert Einstein once said: Never stop learning and ask questions. A perfect leader should be included. It really depends on how you talk to the people!

In one of my previous write-ups, I mentioned: Dream hard but work harder. I have to rethink this. How about this: Don’t work hard – work smarter. This saying is common sense but not common practice as America’s best-selling business author Ken Blanchard voiced it out. If you don’t take time out to think, strategize, and prioritize, you’ll work a whole lot harder, without enjoying the benefits of a job smartly done. As an ordinary worker or as the Big Boss.

Leadership and communication are two areas in  which we can continue to develop virtually forever.

Here are seven functions a leader needs to perform:
Setting goals. …
Organising. …
Take initiatives. …
Cooperation among employees. …
Motivation and direction. …
Liaison between workers and management. …
Policy making.

 

THE POINT OF PRAYER

By

 Mindanao Daily News

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March 20, 2026

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The point of prayer is to communicate and build a relationship with God, aligning oneself with divine will rather than just requesting favors. It serves as a means of worship, gratitude, and finding peace, allowing individuals to seek strength, guidance, and spiritual growth while fostering dependence on the divine.

The Prayer Hand is an easy way to remember five essential aspects of prayer: confession, petition, intercession, thanksgiving and praise. Use this helpful diagram in your personal prayer life or when teaching about prayer to others.  

When tragedy strikes, it’s easy to harden our hearts and cry out, “God, why did you let this happen?” Maybe then, we started praying. Before, when everything went smoothly, we would not even think a minute about praying… 

Prayer may be the most powerful tool we have for personal and global transformation. Personal prayers and the prayers of a united community provide a direct link and connection to the Divine. All things become possible and exalted.

We must pray all the time, and when we pray, we must always pray in faith. Prayer should rise from the depths of our being, be adjusted to line up with God’s word and the Holy Spirit, and then be released like hot incense. That kind of prayer will always enter the throne room and catch the attention of heaven. If you pray like that, you are praying in faith. If you pray like that, then you demonstrate that you believe you are being heard and that the Lord will answer your prayers. Do that and your prayers will be powerful.

“To be a Christian without prayer, “said Martin Luther, “is no more possible than to be alive without breathing.” Prayer is the only way of becoming what God wants us to be. This is the reason why Jesus spent many hours praying.

Unquestionable, our needs bring us to a place of prayer. Confronted with danger or tragedies, as I mentioned earlier, we look for God’s help. Difficult times always cause the hearts of men to turn to God into prayer. 

Let me ask you: How long has it been since you’ve brought your burdens to God? Since you asked His forgiveness for your shortcomings? 

In his very interesting book “People in Prayer”, Dr. John White reminds us that prayer is a divine-human interaction and it is always God who takes the initiative. White writes: “God speaks and we respond. God is always speaking. To hear his voice is not usually a mystical experience. It consists merely of a willingness to pay heed to God who lays a claim to our lives.”

Yes, God always speaks. It is up to us whether we will listen and respond to Him. Many think we are the ones who initiate prayer. But prayers begin and end with God. 

There was a time, I wasn’t in the mood to pray any more. It seemed that God didn’t listen to my prayer any more. I didn’t get what I prayed for. Of course, not… ! That’s not the meaning of praying to God. Will all my wishes be granted? Heaven forbid!

Sometimes, after we have prayed, God’s answers may puzzle us. But as time goes by and as events unfold we see God’s purpose in his answers. We might get a larger vision, what HE likes. Not what WE like… .

Think about it for a moment” How does the idea that prayer begins and ends with God affect me now? Do I have the habit of listening to god? How do I respond to Him? How do I usually pray?I confess that a long time ago I have been trying to persuade God to change other people in my surroundings or circumstances. Nothing changed. Of course not, what a fatal attraction? I got confused because God never granted my requests. Meanwhile I got God’s answers to my prayers. Maybe very simple: I was willing to let God change me… .This is how each one of us should start. Happy endings. Because I prayed according to His will… 

Prayer can foster a sense of connection, whether it’s to a higher power, what a person finds important in life or their values, said Ryan Bremner, an associate professor of psychology at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Prayer can reduce feelings of isolation, anxiety and fear as well.

In Christianity, the purpose of prayer is to build a personal relationship with God, align the believer’s will with His, and glorify Him. It serves as a vital communication channel for praise, thanksgiving, confession, and presenting requests, enabling believers to experience God’s grace and receive strength.

Nowadays, I live a wonderful life in my second and last home, the Philippines. I never regretted moving here for good. I have everything I could ask for. I can do everything I wish to do. Thank you Lord.