In 2014, I’ve uncovered a deeper truth about how the universe works. It’s as if I’ve unlocked the secret formula for all types of natural phenomena, and I can now use this information to manage my life more effeciently. Greater value, less stress. How promising, huh?
This uncovering happened a few days ago when I stumbled upon a documentary promoting “the Secret,” which basically says that if we think about something, it will happen to us because we will attract it through some metaphysical giving off of mental energy. It’s just so bogus. First of all, it violates the actual laws of attraction, which clearly states that positive attracts negative. Second of all, Jason Statham isn’t mine to have and hold. Transporter, the Ocean’s Eleven cast, and a long list of boyfriends. Some dreams just don’t come true. Really.
We put such a premium on living a charmed life that we tend to beat ourselves up for things not going according to plan. Our plan. And we invent all these strategies—visualization, charms, mantra – to get exactly what we want only to be disappointed because we failed or because we succeeded but having arrived doesn’t feel the way we thought it would. It’s not only exhausting it seems to run contrary to how things fall into place.
The truth is we don’t have as much control over our lives as we would like to believe. This is of course not to say that it's okay to slack off. Best effort should be as standard as pooping. However messy (even painful) it gets, it's simply good for you. Force it. We work with the universe as best as we can. We make the most of what it makes available, and we say thanks. Sometimes that’s the best that we can do.
Because the laws of natural science and economics have been clear about one thing: if it is physically possible, things move from places of abundance to places of absence. Matter will settle in gaps and cracks. Salt will get away from saturation. Invention and innovation arise from need. Things somehow find themselves where they are needed with no consideration whatsoever for the stomping of human feet.
Because I work in this industry, I’d like to sneak this in. The Philippines has put in place a spot market for electricity trading, and people are complaining constantly that electricity is more expensive in certain nodes. That’s supposedly the free market’s fault. Actually, the electricity spot market is by design prescriptive. It shows us all where the gaps are and it drives investment in that direction. When we know where supply is deficient (the rates are higher), it is easier to spread the money invested in power facilities more evenly. Let’s endure the spikes for a little while; it won’t stay that way for long. This system is better than subsidy.
What can alms really do for us anyway? I have really decided not to ask for anything. Not in the larger scheme of things, not during the daily rat race where my hopes and dreams begin. If my job gets taken away from me, I’ll just find something else to do. There are too many talents fighting over limited opportunities just to win for winning's sake. The fight for the top spot itself renders so many efforts pointless. There is always an unglamorous seemingly minor task out there waiting to be done. Somebody has got to do that.
Let’s not race to love either. It just isn’t something we win. Its easier to find something that fits right once we better understand the gaps in ourselves. (Not that kind of gap. Don’t be gross.) Healthy relationships start from understanding where we are...errr...slightly deficient.
And maybe this is the year I get to find opportunities in neglected markets. Who knows? I have a strong feeling that there's money scattered over roads less travelled and largely ignored.
It seems everything is pushed and pulled not by wants but by needs. At the close of 2014, it made the most sense to just withdraw from the rat race and find places where people need something that I can adequately provide.
So I dont want anything specific at the start of this brand new year. Just tell me this 2015, “What can I do for you?”
