8/17/2012

According to Sonja Lyubomirsy, one of the world's leading researchers on happiness, if you want to develop lifelong satisfaction,

1. Regularly engage in positive thinking about yourself.
2. Share your happiest events with others.
3. Savor every positive experience in your life.

8/14/2012

I randomly encountered this church through which i got to go to a retreat.

How i encountered the church was that i was supposed to go to my friend's church. So when i got to the Canal 4 near which my friend tole me where his church is at. When i got to the Canal 4 and called him, he said he can't make it to the church that day then my phone died so i couldn't get the exact direction to his church. So i was looking around Canal 4 to find a church nearby. Then i found one which later i found out is not his. But anyways, through this random encountering, i got to be part of this great church retreat!

We took a trip to this place where the jungle is but we didn't go to the jungle. However, the scenery was wonderful and i had a good time getting to know people and learning about God.

We played LOTS AND LOTS of group games. There were about 40 people who went and we were divided into three groups. A lot of the games were physical activities so my body hurt. haha. However, group games are great way to learn about how teamwork works because we all have different personalities and gifts and we have to figure out how to utilize them to make the best of the teamwork. If one fails the whole group fails. Sometimes, my personality resists working with a group just because i tend to think inside but through group activities i learn to understand about how i can fit myself into the group so that we can all succeed. 

The best part of the retreat was the talk i had with a pastor. The pastor is living in the U.S. doing ministries for the immigrants. It was great that he spoke English because we were able to have a full conversation. I told him about my concerns about life and he provided me with such profound and wise answers. He made me humble about myself because of good work he is doing. He asked me to pray for the immigrant families because they are facing a lot of hardship as the U.S. government is not in favor of the immigrant policies. Also, he asked me to pray for the next U.S. president election that he will have compassion for the people who are oppressed. I am always awed by people who work toward the welfare of others, so selflessly. I was humbled again because i so often do not think about others and only very concerned about what happens to my life. Also, as i confided in him about my relationships with boys- how things do not go the way i wanted often times- he advised me to set up a clear boundaries with them (this includes emotional boundaries). He said as i have come to the U.S. at such an early age that i can be very vulnerable- that i can easily rely on others for emotional needs, whether i am conscious of this or not. And that only God is the one who can support me with all the emotional needs that i need. Sometimes i don't know my motivation behind my actions. I don't know why but this clearly spoke to me and i made up my mind that i will be consciously be aware of my actions especially toward guys and set up a clear boundary. I know it is going to be hard but my effort and placing my head and goal in the right place will certainly get me somewhere. Lastly, he told me i should be thankful. I should be thankful because many people want to be in my position. I am very lucky to have my parents who pay for my tuition and let me study abroad.

Though it was a short conversation i had with the pastor, it made me think deeply about myself and reflect once again how i should live my life.

8/02/2012