One ironic reality is the way we keep the peace which is ordinarily by ways that are not peaceful. We usually attain peace by imposing rules through enforcers who are armed. Being armed gives the enforcer the authority that can elicit respect from people. We are aware of that normal tendency among us to ignore any authority figure who attempts to enforce the law to promote peace and order. There are even those who try to assault such authorities just to show that they are powerful than the one enforcing the law.

At times when the lawbreaker is under the influence of intoxicating substances, defiance of persons in authority only vanishes at the sight or threat of a gun. Without the gun, law enforcers could hardly keep the peace as people have that misplaced inclination to show contempt upon authority figures that are unarmed. Conflict is as natural as peace is. It is difficult to avoid conflict in our relationship with others. Individual differences are primordial factors that trigger conflict among people. Variance in interests and preferences is a cause of conflict between and among different individuals.

These differences often place individuals at loggerhead positions that appear to be irreconcilable. In many instances, people who are placed at adverse positions would pursue their cause with the end of prevailing over the adversary. It is that desire to prevail that keeps people at an uncompromising position, refusing to open to possible options that would lead to a win-win solution. In some cases, conflicts are resolved by violent means that end in the defeat of one party due to the force resorted by the other.

We have seen peacekeeping forces being sent to areas that are under trouble and disorder. Such forces are on a mission to keep the peace but are armed to the teeth. It is really mind boggling why peace is promoted using instruments that are not peaceful in the first place. While it is true that peace and order are broken often by people who are lawless and armed, it still is ideal if we could find ways to counter violence with peaceful strategies.

There surely are a lot of methods, strategies and approaches that we can avail in our effort to keep the peace peacefully. Such strategies would bring lasting solutions so conflicts that are solvable by peaceful means.

Court battles are not different from the other adversarial conflicts that we encounter in our daily life. The desire to win over the adversary is the root cause of a person’s adamant position to pursue a case at all costs. Nothing is wrong with fighting for one’s rights if the same is being trampled upon by others. It will keep one’s dignity intact and give a good lesson upon those who transgress the law and the rights of other people. In most cases, relationships between the disputants do not heal with the termination of the case. There is a better option which is the peace alternative.
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Do established entrepreneurs continue to experience challenges despite being successful? Yes, entrepreneurs often encounter specific challenges when developing the traits necessary for success. Being human, it is natural to face these challenges. No matter how an entrepreneur thinks that he has prepared himself in dealing with the business he started, it is still possible that things won’t exactly happen how they are planed. Thus, checking oneself is essential in establishing a successful business all the time and maintaining his sanity in dealing with different situations everyday.

Here are a few common challenges:

1. Overcoming Self-Doubt: Building self-confidence can be challenging for entrepreneurs, especially when faced with uncertainty and the fear of failure. Overcoming self-doubt requires self-reflection, positive affirmations, seeking support from mentors or peers, and celebrating small wins to build confidence over time.

2. Balancing Risk and Caution: Entrepreneurs need to navigate the delicate balance between taking calculated risks and exercising caution. Finding the right balance can be challenging, as being too risk-averse may hinder progress, while being too reckless can lead to detrimental outcomes. Developing a strategic mindset and conducting thorough risk assessments can help entrepreneurs make informed decisions.

3. Embracing Failure and Learning from Setbacks: Failure is an inherent part of the entrepreneurial journey. However, it can be challenging for entrepreneurs to embrace failure and see it as an opportunity for growth. Developing resilience and a growth mindset is crucial for bouncing back from setbacks, learning from mistakes, and using failures as stepping stones to success.

4. Adapting to Uncertainty and Change: The business landscape is constantly evolving, and entrepreneurs must be adaptable to thrive. Adapting to change can be difficult, especially when it disrupts established plans or requires pivoting strategies. Developing a flexible mindset, staying informed about industry trends, and fostering a culture of innovation can help entrepreneurs navigate uncertainties effectively.

5. Managing Work-Life Balance: Entrepreneurs often face the challenge of managing their personal and professional lives. The drive for success and the demands of running a business can lead to long work hours and neglect of personal well-being. Setting boundaries, prioritizing self-care, and delegating tasks can help entrepreneurs maintain a healthy work-life balance.

6. Building and Leading a Team: Entrepreneurs may face challenges in recruiting, managing, and leading a team. Building a cohesive team with complementary skills and aligning everyone towards a common vision requires strong leadership, effective communication, and fostering a positive work culture.

7. Sustaining Motivation and Passion: Entrepreneurship can be a demanding and challenging journey. Sustaining motivation and passion over the long term can be difficult, particularly during tough times. Regularly revisiting personal motivations, setting meaningful goals, and finding inspiration in small achievements can help entrepreneurs maintain their drive and enthusiasm.

Overcoming these challenges requires self-awareness, continuous learning, and a willingness to adapt. Seeking support from mentors, networking with other entrepreneurs, and investing in personal development can help entrepreneurs navigate these challenges and develop the traits necessary for success.
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If you have any questions or would like to share your thoughts on the column, feel free to send an email to jca.bblueprint@gmail.com. Looking forward to connecting with you!

For a very long time, I was on the firm belief that letting a pupil pass to the next grade level without the learning mastery of the basics like Reading, Writing and Mathematics or Arithmetic is the biggest blunder of our educational system .The failing grade is also a way to punish the teacher as it would require the teacher to conduct remedial and summer classes for the failing students. In a nutshell it’s a double whammy of sorts.

Giving failing grades to elementary school pupils who cannot read, write, and do math is a complex issue. On one hand, failing grades can serve as a clear signal to the students, parents, and educators that the child is struggling and may need additional support1. It can be a wake-up call that prompts action, such as providing extra tutoring, personalized attention, or special education services2.

On the other hand, research suggests that failing grades, especially at a young age, can have a negative impact on a student’s self-concept, motivation, and attitude towards school. It can lead to feelings of shame and frustration, which may result in a student disengaging from the learning process altogether.

Still on the whole breadth of educational realities, we are failing and failing behind most countries even those which are ravaged by civil war and ethnic cleansing, we are behind them in terms of International Standardized tests.

Which leads me to ask, are we doing this right? Are we doing the right things?

To me what happens in the childhood education goes beyond that event. Every Filipino had romanticized the No Child Left Behind Policy that Children are being left behind by failing to master the basics and yet we are not giving them the chance to rectify and pass because w even if mastery was not yet met, we give them passing grades.

In our efforts to prohibit the mental anguish of failure , we are reinforcing mediocrity.
Mass promotion may not be a standard policy by the Education Department but the reality is it is a practice widely practiced. And that to me is one of the sure evil seed that harms learning and breeds complacency one reason we are way, way behind our neighbors.

THE gospel of the feast of St. Matthias on May 14 tells us about how much God loves us, where we can find that love and how that love gives us also the complete joy. (cfr. Jn 15,9-17)

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete.’”

We all know that we are meant to be happy. When we are sad, for whatever reason, we know that it is not supposed to be. And when that sadness is kind of stable, then we usually consider that situation as illness.

We have to learn how to find joy then, its true source, the one that can be attained and felt whatever setting we may find ourselves in. Joy should not be based only on some shallow and shifty ground, like our physical, emotional or social conditions. They are very unreliable foundations, and can be very dangerous.

Joy and happiness can only be found in God, that is, in following his commandments. That’s for sure. He is the source of all good things, the creator and foundation of all reality. And when we mess up things that obviously will lead us to trouble and sadness, he it is who will fix things, heal what is sick, repair what is damaged, recover what is lost.

This is a truth that needs to be emphasized again. Many have forgotten it, or worse, are ignorant of it. Especially the young who obviously need to be properly taught things, they easily fall into a very restricted and distorted understanding of joy, associating it with some bodily pleasures, emotional highs, or favorable social standing.

Many others have sourced it on the possession of good health, wealth, fame, worldly power. This conception of joy is notoriously biased and one-sided. It cannot stand the test of time with all its varied situations. It prospers only during fair weather, not in bad.
We need to go to God to find joy. As a psalm says it very well, “To be near God is my happiness.” (72) We have to strengthen this conviction. Those without God will surely perish and get destroyed sooner or later. That much the same psalm warns us.

And God is neither far nor hidden nor ignorant. That sensation or attitude that we can sometimes have toward God is at best apparent. It’s false and without basis, since the truth is that God is at the very core of our life. And if we have faith, we can actually see him everywhere. And we know he is a father who always cares for us.

The joy that is rooted on God transcends the physical and earthly dimensions. They can be lived even in what may be considered humanly speaking as difficult moments of pain, suffering and privation.

We need to go theological to attain this state of joy. We cannot rely solely on the physical, medical and other worldly elements that go into the making of joy. We need faith. We need to be vitally united with God through Christ in the Holy Spirit.