Motherhood is said to be the beginning of wisdom for a woman.  A woman does not know how unknowing she is of life until a child’s life is put into her hands.  This is true both for biological and non-biological mothers.

Motherhood is such a big responsibility that it would be impossible to perform its tasks without any semblance of philosophy.  Raising a child will have to be founded on a certain set of principles that will guide the mother to the path where she thinks she should lead a child.  A confused mother usually results to an equally confused child who is given no clear direction in life.

Children need proper guidance but it can only be given by someone who understands that such role belongs to him or her. Even with a complete pair of parents, mothers will always have a critical role in the life of a child. There can be no substitute to a mother’s love and guidance but many have been forced to live without it because of the realities of life.

Once a woman decides to accept the big responsibility of motherhood, there is an unwritten but acknowledged acceptance of the responsibilities that go with it.  There is no way around it except if a mother purposely chooses to go the other way and leaves.  A mother is expected to share and pass on her personal philosophy to her children although she must learn to accept that they will develop philosophies of their own.  It wouldn’t actually matter though since a mother’s philosophy is essentially based on love and nurturing.

About the Author:

Teresa is a researcher-writer who covers a wide range of topics in search of useful information.

Image: queenocracy.com

Originally posted on March 1, 2013 @ 7:51 am

Image: divorce360

Marriage is entered into by two people for varied reasons but the most common are the desire to commit exclusively to one person and the desire to create a family with children.  The arrangement is deemed beneficial to couples and the resulting offspring since marriage provides for the mechanisms and the processes within which partners and children can function effectively as a unit of society.  However, most couples enter marriage with two entirely different marriage values and philosophy.

A marriage philosophy can be developed from a person’s exposure to the marriage set-up of his/her own parents.  Like it or not, the parents’ marriage or at least how it appears to be can affect how children develop their own idea of marriage.  Society and the surrounding environment also plays a big role in the formation of values and beliefs.

Marriage essentially requires commitment to work but the level of commitment will vary depending on the importance placed by each individual on marriage.  Some see marriage as an absolute commitment while others view it simply as a means to achieve other goals in life.  The lesser the commitment, the easier it is for partners to part ways.

The high rate of divorce and marital separation that has been observed in many parts of the world will reveal the decrease in the level of value placed on marriage.  Even countries who have very strong marriage traditions against separation in place are unable to prevent it from happening.  This simply underlies the fact that two people will only stick together if they so do wish.  When marriage philosophy is founded on true commitment and acceptance of the accompanying responsibilities, couples usually have more chances of surviving together.

Originally posted on January 2, 2013 @ 4:06 am

Kitetsugaku, the Japanese term for philosophy (abbreviated from kikyū tetsuchi, “the science of seeking wisdom”), was coined by Nishi Amane in 1862 and was abbreviated further, twelve years later, to now the standard tetsugaku. A word describing something the Japanese perceived sometimes favorably, as a necessary condition to develop a modern society, sometimes with distrust, as a loss of spirituality or an ethnocentric menace, but always as foreign and completely alien to their culture. This led Nakae Chōmin, a Japanese journalist, political theorist and statesman in Meiji-period, to declare in 1901 that: from antiquity to the present day, there has never been any philosophy in Japan.

The existence of Japan’s history of philosophy is not enough to prove that Japanese philosophy exists because it can be argued that philosophy is something imported into Japan from foreign countries. And in order to understand the dynamics of Japanese thought, it is indeed necessary to examine both the cultural orientation and the influence of the various foreign philosophies through Japanese history that set the stage for ideas and in what way they are assimilated.

In its literary forms, Japanese philosophy began about fourteen centuries ago with the introduction of Buddhism into Japan in the sixth century. Buddhism, although a religion and not a philosophical doctrine, had raised questions about the ultimate nature of reality; a subject that was sometimes examined in a philosophical way. With its emphasis on attainment of a state of enlightenment encouraging one to realize that the ultimate nature of reality was a transcendent Oneness, it helped define the various Japanese senses of the inner rather than the social self. This principle of expression emphasizing on the discipline to form the foundation of the various aesthetic theories have been so well developed in the Japanese history.

Confucianism entered Japan around the same time as Buddhism, specifically during the Tokugawa period, and has been mostly noticeable in the areas of social structure, government organizations, and ethics. Japan, philosophically speaking, has its roots mainly in Confucian ideals blended since the sixteenth century with certain indigenous ideas of loyalty and honor developed within the Japanese samurai.

Towards the end of the Tokugawa era, the validity of the culture entering from China had been questioned and made the Japanese turn to the Shintoism tradition that focuses on ritual practices that establish connection between present-day Japan and its ancient past. Among them was Motoori Norinaga, the best known and most prominent Japanese scholar of the Edo period, who severely criticized any rational attempt to understand fundamental truths considering it proper not to be moved by whatever happens (i.e. criticizing philosophical theories that encourage people not to be happy over happy events or not to be sad by sorrowful events). The human mind, according to him, is too limited to grasp the divine doctrine that only the Japanese had transmitted correctly.

Western philosophy and Western science and technology had only its major impact in Japan since the middle of the nineteenth century. But the modernization brought about by the Western culture had forced Japanese philosophers to reconsider fundamental issues in epistemology, philosophical anthropology, and social philosophy making Japan consciously assimilate Western thought. A process that continues until today.

What in all these is distinctively Japanese? In a more careful analysis, it shows that Japanese thinkers have seldom adopted any foreign philosophy without simultaneously adapting it. There has always been a complex selection process at work beneath the apparent absorption of foreign ideas. Japanese understanding of themselves are intuitive individuals instead of rational; interested in everyday experience instead of abstract transcendent realms. In the words of Suzuki Daisetsu, a Japanese author of books and essays on Buddhism, Zen, and Shin:

The Japanese Mind is so attached to the earth that it would not forget, however mean they may be, the grasses growing under the feet.

Originally posted on August 22, 2020 @ 7:18 pm

Image: truecolorofmind

Nature refers to what we see in the physical world which encompasses life in general.  It is derived from an ancient word that means birth pertaining perhaps to qualities and characteristics that are intrinsic to living things and other features found in the world.  More than geology and wildlife, nature also refers to the way things are and how they change in their own accord.

When we speak of the course of nature, we are referring to how things will proceed in their natural and expected order.  This is in effect saying that nature will take its course with or without human intervention.  It would appear that nature follows its own laws and will not bow down to human direction forever.

When we allow nature to take its course, we do not intervene.  We simply let what ought to happen prevail.  Humans allow this usually when they acknowledge the truth that they cannot control nature at all.  Any semblance of control over nature is but temporary since the independence of nature from human control soon manifests itself in due time.

When we cut trees to the extremes and suffer flooding after, isn’t that a way that nature says to humans that there are consequences for going against nature.  When we dump our garbage in rivers and suffer the stench of ten times more than amount of garbage when the ocean dumps them back, isn’t that a way that nature says that humans deserve what they get?

The philosophy of nature is simple.  Every being and thing in this world has a purpose.  Humans will be wise to observe and respect everything which they share the world with.  Humans should not take offense to nature since there is bound to be retaliation in the natural course of things.

Originally posted on November 2, 2012 @ 10:09 pm

Image: scottcochrane

A person who exerts considerable social influence on others towards the accomplishment of specific tasks is said to be a leader.   Leadership need not come with an official title although people who hold high titular positions are expected to be leaders and have leadership qualities.

There are the so-called born leaders who are able to lead others almost effortlessly to follow them.  These people exude authority even without any formal delegation.  They possess a certain charisma that encourages following and compliance.

These people therefore must have some leadership philosophy they can speak of if they are able to command such compelling presence.  A personal leadership philosophy is defined by a person’s purpose and values.  The standard which he places on his followers is the same standard he applies to himself because that is how he functions well.

A leader forms his philosophy by combining his personal views with the existing environment where he is exercising leadership.  He cannot force what he wants if it is not applicable to the situation.  Effective leaders are characterized by being greatly attuned to the people surrounding him thus his great influence.

Followers must be able to identify clearly with a leader if they are to be part of the team.  Leaders must be able to inspire followers to do what is being proposed up to the extent of making sacrifices to achieve the common goal.  It takes a good leader to convince followers to accept difficulties.  It takes a great leader for followers to push through even in extreme situation.  A leader lives his philosophy on a daily basis to be convincing.

Originally posted on January 26, 2013 @ 7:44 am

A political philosophy may be shaped by a lot of factors including family upbringing, political exposure, gender, religious beliefs, demographics, and race or ethnicity.  It is not produced by a single event although a particularly striking event can contribute to its formation. The simultaneous workings of all these factors will determine the differences in political philosophy even among family members, friends, work associates, spouses, and casual acquaintances.

Family Upbringing

Very few can literally go against values and principles that have been instituted since childhood.  Family members are the very first people which a child will interact with.  Even while growing and being exposed to other ideas, family values are usually assimilated and rarely put aside.Thus, it is common to see family members supporting each other politically in spite of personal differences.  This is more so in politically-active families.

Political Exposure

This doesn’t need much explanation. The more a person is exposed to a political ideology, the more probability there is that the ideology will be accepted especially if there are no efforts to avoid it.  A good example of this is politics in the US where people can sometimes be loosely classified as either Republican or Democrat.

Gender

In this time and age where there is supposed to be gender equality, political philosophy can still be swayed by gender issues. Aside from the emergence of strong female political leaders, women voters have generally become stronger in terms of number and voice.  It is not uncommon for women voters to support politicians who are in turn supportive of women issues.

Religious Beliefs

In spite of the supposed separation of church and state, religious beliefs or religion certainly affects a person’s view on politics.  There are certain political observations related to historical religious events and alliances. The stand of a specific religion on specific issues have been known to determine outcomes of some political exercise.

Demographics, Race and Ethnicity

A person’s political view can be affected to a certain degree by his race and ethnicity as dictated by the prevailing culture.  The place of birth and place of residence and the prevailing influence in its environs will manifest some effect as well.

Teresa is a researcher-writer who covers a wide range of topics in search of useful information.

Image: thescoopng.com

Originally posted on October 13, 2021 @ 4:15 pm

“I could tell that the weight of my unexpressed emotions were limiting my life.” (Source)

Miss Haggerty’s anger was directed at one person in particular: the man who ran her over. But what about victims of war? In the news lately is the plight of the comfort women of World War 2. Mostly Koreans, but including women from Indonesia, China, and the Philippines, the women resided in special “comfort stations” meant for the Japanese army.

In the early 90s, the Japanese government made an investigation into the matter; in 1993, they released a public apology, known now as the Kono Statement, and it includes the following text:

The Government of Japan would like to take this opportunity once again to extend its sincere apologies and remorse to all those, irrespective of place of origin, who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women.

It is incumbent upon us, the Government of Japan, to continue to consider seriously, while listening to the views of learned circles, how best we can express this sentiment.

We shall face squarely the historical facts as described above instead of evading them, and take them to heart as lessons of history. We hereby reiterate our firm determination never to repeat the same mistake by forever engraving such issues in our memories through the study and teaching of history. (Source)

In 1995, the government set up the Asian Women’s Fund, a foundation created expressly to provide over US$14 million dollars to survivors in Korea, Taiwan, and the Philippines; multiple medical facilities and homes were set up in Indonesia, and medical fees were paid out for all Asian survivors, plus 79 more survivors in the Netherlands. In 2001, then-Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi sent personal letters of apology to all the survivors.

At the time, from all accounts, these actions of atonement were well-received by Japan’s neighbors, including- notably- South Korea. However, the issue has of late become a source of very high tensions between the two countries’ governments.

In the following video, Catalyst for Peace President Libby Hoffman talks about “Forgiving the Unforgiveable”:

The lessons of war must never be forgotten- it’s how we ensure that atrocities aren’t repeated. But to truly move on, and look to the future, one must at some point choose forgiveness.

Originally posted on September 25, 2020 @ 10:25 pm

A personal philosophy sums up what we as a person value most in our lives.   It is a reflection of the heights we wish to achieve and provides a clear idea on how we intend to go about it.  A philosophy does not merely sound-off our wishes but the most fervent desires and beliefs that define who we are. 

Views and opinions may change in time but a philosophy remains fairly constant.  There may be changes in how it is said or written depending on the age and experience of a person but the underlying principles will be the same.  Thus, if a child is brought up in an environment of fairness and justice and effectively imbibe the related values, it would be a safe assumption to say that the philosophies he would later hold on to would be grounded on fairness and justice. 

This simply means that we do not just produce a philosophy out of the blue because it sounds good and is approved by our peers.  There is always a reason why a person comes up with a particular philosophy in life.  It is developed through time and cannot be convincingly created without any basis. 

Every person has a personal philosophy.  Whether it is articulated or not, it will dictate the actions and decisions we choose to make in life.  It forms part of our subconscious, telling us if we will be able to live with our decisions.  The moment we contradict our philosophy, internal chaos begins because we have assailed our own beliefs.

A clear personal philosophy serves as an effective guide while we try to negotiate our path towards our goals.  There will be many decisions to be made before we reach our objectives and the philosophy we hold in life will carry us throughout.  There are no hard-fast rules in forming one but it would probably be a lot better for humankind if the philosophies we fight for do not end up hurting another.

Originally posted on May 22, 2012 @ 11:07 am

Image: yellowfoot

The relationship between management philosophy and how employees perform has long been the subject of study in the quest for finding the right management formula that will bring out the best in company employees.  A company’s management philosophy represents its core values within which all members are expected to work and interact with each other.  A company philosophy can be formed after carefully examining the goals and objectives of each organizational area to make sure that both are going to the same direction.

Managers can also form their own management philosophy for the purpose of fostering a positive work environment that will allow employees to maximize their potential.  This can be a test of the manager’s mettle in laying the foundation for properly motivating employees.  The management philosophy has to be communicated  effectively to employees to ensure that it will be taken up in the way it was intended.

Companies and managers may have the soundest management philosophy but it will not amount to anything productive unless it is communicated effectively to people affected by it.  There is one belief that managers get what they ought to get based on their treatment of their employees.  If they treat employees as adults who can handle their work responsibility, chances are that they will get what they expect.  Employees generally respond positively to show of confidence from management in their abilities.

It is highly possible that a management philosophy is formed based on experience rather than on academic theories.  There is absolutely nothing wrong about this since experience usually determines the applicability of any philosophy.  In the work place, there are practical requirements that will be have to be considered because of the unique intricacies inherent in each organization.

A management philosophy is important because it determines whether an employee can seek redress for any perceived unjust treatment specifically on matters not covered by law.

Originally posted on October 20, 2012 @ 4:25 pm

Lifestyles have changed in the past decade. For most of us it is like living in the fast lane every day. There is so much to be done and there is so little time. As a result, we become stressed and this results in many illnesses and even death.

Studies show that stress is the common cause of anxiety. It damages our body and mind, causing panic attacks, lack of sleep, phobias and many more. Apart from these, it also triggers health diseases such as heart problems, high blood pressure, asthma, eczema, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrome and alopecia.

Other signs of stress include headaches, palpitations, wheezing, irritability, low energy, poor memory and increased emotions.

Stress is often caused by finance, work and relationships. Treatments vary and drug induced ones can sometimes cause more problems instead of fixing it. We must keep in mind that in the end it is up to us. Our perspective and choices lead us to the kind of life we choose.

Here are some tips to reduce stress:

Identify what causes you stress and do something about it. It may be easier said than done, but let’s face it, we only get stressed if we let it get to us.

Reduce stress by being more organized. Make a list of personal and professional priorities and make time for them. Keep an organizer, so that you won’t forget anything.

Allow yourself to be emotional at times. You are human and it is normal to laugh or cry when needed. Keeping these emotions can result to long term issues.

Learn how to value yourself. Make a list of your positive qualities and go through it whenever you feel down.

Find your passion. It may be a hobby, a sport or even volunteering for a cause. Outlets help you cope and make you feel good about yourself.

Learn to relax wherever you are. If you feel like losing control, take deep breaths until you feel better.  Meditate when you can. Simply close your eyes and imagine yourself in a beautiful spot where you would want to be.

Write down how you feel. It lets you release your feelings and makes you feel better. Keep a journal. It is always nice to look back and know how you were able to cope.

Take a break. Go on a holiday whenever you can. It allows you to recharge. It also helps you learn new things and gather new experiences. Plus it gets you away from stress.

Lastly, learn how to do nothing. Keeping quiet and still helps you think clearly.

Image from judacoregio

Originally posted on January 31, 2012 @ 4:50 am