By Blue Rose on Thursday, 27 of August , 2009 at 3:34 pm
It’s not the situation that causes stress, but the person’s perception of the situation. Listen, there’s not one universal stressor. A traumatizing experience for you may be taken as a challenge by the person next to you. Faith in God in your own strengths and in other people’s goodness is crucial. But here are three more essential factors that will help you discover how well you can survive your new, less golden life.

1. Foundation while growing up – ask you’re self: “What kind of upbringing did I have? Did my parents impart good values? Did they teach me how to be strong in times of trial? And to always have a positive outlook in life?”
How you were brought up is a big factor in determining how capable you are of handling problems that come your way. If you were a spoiled rotten as kid who learned no values whatsoever, dealing with your penniless state will be very difficult. However, if you were brought up with a balanced set of values, then it’s up to you to put everything you’ve learned from your folks into practice.
Andrew’s mom was capricious, overly indulgent, and knew nothing about child discipline. When she died, Andrew expected his relatives to cater to his whims and serve him, just as his mother did. His foundation of values was almost non-existent, which made his new poverty unbearable both for Andrew and the people around him.
2. Support system in place – ask you’re self: “How will my new financial status affect my relationships and my social life? Will my rich friends still be there for me? Or will I have to replace them with a new set of friends? Will my boyfriend stay with me even if I have no more money? Will my relatives treat me the way they did when I was rich?”
Family and friends who can and will support you in this time of need are essential. Some people who found themselves in dire situations were able to start a new because of another person’s pr presence and assistance. This is also the best time to discover who your true friends are. Your changed status may break old bonds, but there will always be other, more durable relationships to take their place.
Stephanie’s relatives stopped coming to their place after her family’s financial downfall. They could no longer host lavish get-togethers. She can only able to share her story to her true friends.

3. Your own personality – ask you’re self: “Am I tough or sensitive? An optimist or a pessimist? Self-reliant or dependent? Proud or humble?”
Research proves that it takes six months after a new situation transpires to determine how a person will deal with changes in his life. It was discovered that optimists who became paraplegics eventually regained their positive outlook in life. Before, they were “happy people.” Today, they are “happy people in wheelchairs.” Pessimists who won the lottery were “poor money-pinching worriers” before. Now, they are “rich money-pinching worriers.”
Your outlook in life is based on how you interpret the world before the changes occurred. If you’ve got a positive view in life, then you’re all good! If not, it’s time to change your attitude. If you choose to change your negative behavior, people will response can alter your negative thoughts, and eventually bring about new positive situations.
By Blue Rose on Wednesday, 26 of August , 2009 at 8:30 am
Girls, did you think you’ve got your date all figured out? Well, don’t be too sure!
Movie time – you are on your first date, and the cinema gets cold. You tell him you’re getting chilly, and he lends you his jacket.
You’re thinking: “he’s being such a gentleman; he’s such a sweet guy.”
On the other hands: so many things can be going on his head. First of all, he’s probably feeling unpleasantly cold himself. If you think about it, he didn’t really have a choice. Not giving you his jacket after you told him you were feeling cold would have made him a total pig. He could also be hoping that you don’t take his actions the wrong way. This being the first date, he may still be unsure about his feelings for you. He could even be a bit worried that you interpret this as a romantic gesture.
Eye to eye moment – during a boring class, you happen to glance at that special guy and catch him staring at you. You lose consciousness for half a second, and when you look again, he’s pretending to look straight at the teacher.
You’re feeling: tingles up your spine as that corny yet exciting romantic rush takes over your mind.
On the other hand: he’s most probably in a state of panic. Guys hate losing their smooth and suave style by getting caught staring at that special girl in the middle of the day. It turns their self-perception from a cool and stylish James Bond to a silly little boy with a crush on a girl. Indeed, something like this makes them feel a bit embarrassed and may cause them to be uncomfortable for quite a while.
On the phone – you call him on his cell while he is with friends. He talks to you in the most stone-cold, emotionless tone ever. You try to fight it with the sweetest of sweet talks, but all you get is a distant, “I’ll call you later.”
You’re thinking: “he is so mean! He’d better be begging for forgiveness when he calls me later!”
On the other hand: he is most probably just as upset by what happened. A guy can talk to you in goo-goos and gah-gahs. He can give you the corniest food related pet names. He will make those silly kissing sounds and even say good night to your teddy bear. How ever, in front of the boys, he is one tough guy! Trying to make him behave like his normally sweet self while in their company is like forcing the president to do the Macarena on TV.
The dinner date – there’s one last piece of your shared main course (a piece you’d be too embarrassed to get). Without asking you, he gets it with his fork, puts it on his plate, and starts eating it.
You’re thinking: “how rude! Didn’t his parents teach him any manners? This is the worst date ever!”
On the other hand: your date could be so glad he can go out and feel so comfortable with someone like you. Yes, guys will be guys, and they will always love their food. If it were an uptight and uncomfortable put-your-best-foot-forward kind of date, he would surely have offered you that last piece, or maybe even left it there untouched. Here’ however, he is obviously so comfortable around you that it makes him feel he can let his guard down and simply be himself. And that’s a good thing, trust us.
The good night kiss – your date drives you home. When his car stops in front of your house, you lean over to give him a friendly beso (kiss) on the cheek. Unexpectedly, he turns to you and kisses you on the lips.
You’re thinking: “what the…? That was inappropriate!”
On the other hand: he may think he just made the smoothest maneuver of all time. He starts seeing himself as one of those charming guys in American TV series he secretly likes to watch, and begins to think that he’s got you figured out. Although he may be a bit nervous and uncertain, he will not admit this to you or to himself. He will continue to feel proud of that “big kiss!”
