THE CATRIONA GRAY ATTITUDE: 7 Lessons To Win Your Own Crown In Life

Inflation. Soaring gas prices. Dyes pesos minimum jeepney fare. (Aruy Dyes Kuu!)

Pati si Manong Sili na hangad lang painitin ang ating food appetite ay napainit na rin ang ulo ng maraming Pilipino.

So silly of us.

How were these issues affect most of us personally? I won't bore or entertain you of several cases of rants and blames expressed through costly rallies, witty social media posts, creative memes and official or fake news hopping around in more than 7,000 of our islands. It seems we really do belong along the PACIFIC RING OF FIRE.

Speaking of which, there's no one hotter than a girl on fire right now, who rekindles a unique ring of fire spreading through 104 million hearts of Filipinos. In a graceful way, she put us in awe with her #lavawalk and warm our cold holidays with her fiery passion and confidence. She literally and symbolically, raises our flag all over the world and completes the colors of our national identity. But most importantly, she reminds us that there are always silver linings even when you are set on a ring of fire of negativity and slumps of poverty.

"..we could have an amazing world where negativity could not grow and prosper.."

Those are some wise words from the newly crowned Ms. Universe, but how do we even find the silver linings in our personal lives?

I know you've heard, cried, angered, laughed and sympathized on every recurring national economic issues.

It's okay to express yourselves. Don't ever shy away. Let it all out.

If that's who you really are, BE YOU.

I admire people who are transparent with their inner character.

Don't mind them asking "Luh, pa'no mo nasabi?"

Sabay-sabay na tayo magpaputok ng ating mga sariling bulkan.

But what happens when the fog has cleared? Are there really hidden silver linings after?

Exhausted. Stressed. Satisfied? What would you hope for to happen next?

You can imagine yourself now as a cute baby on his crib, who after cried his voice out asking for the pacifier, is giggly sucking Mr. Pac without realizing he hasn't getting something out of it. Just relentlessly filling the urges of his habit of "sucking".

Yes, you might be that BABY. Hell, I've been that baby. We've all been that cranky baby.

But most of us seem to still act like a baby. Gosh, how many "baby" words do I need to mention. (Don't start counting)

We'll you've might done it, might as well count these, "Oh beybeee, beybeee, beybeeee. My beybeee, beybeee..."

Putting the corny baby puns aside, it seems some of us is still wearing good-looking suit or any other kind of mask for that matter, just to make themselves appear like a grown-up.

Kinda like a BOSS BABY.

Cute. Sounds cool.

Spoil his urges and everything's fine.

Again, for the time being.

But here's a great news for us. Today's headline is:

"BABY LEGS CAN FUCKING GROW"

There are some people grew out of it.

There are some of us choose to be a MAN and a WOMAN.

Independent. Strong. Confident. Respected.

They try. They fall. They adapt.

They choose to learn how to crawl, stand, walk and eventually serve themselves a cup of hot tea.

It's up to you whether you still want a pacifier or you might want to be interested with some milk, refreshing juice, sugar-full of soda, fancy wine, cold beer, etc.

But as old adage always warns us,

"...kabilin-bilinan ng lola,

wag uminom ng serbesa,

eto'y di inuming pambata..." (now, you're singing again)

Point is, you can have any beverage you want, but don't helplessly drown in it.

Whoever you are, whatever your status is, may I remind you have within YOU that could be the LITTLE HINGES that will swing some f*cking BIG DOORS you didn't even know you can enter.

Here are 7 Lessons to Win Your Own Crown in Life:

1. SET YOUR STRONG WHY's.

What are your personal goals and desires?

What are your plans to be able to reach it? What are the hindrances before it?

Before you answer those questions, you must know the WHY behind your goal.

It mus be aligned with who you are. Get familiar with your deepest and genuine desires.

Does it excite you? Do you feel the joy of accomplishment when you reach your goal?

Be clear. Be personal. Be genuine.

The sustainability and support system in the process of working out your goal depends on the strength of your WHY. Whether small or big, know why you do it. Stress, boredom and exhaustion will push you to give up if the reason behind your desires are impersonal and weak. It must come from YOU. SET YOUR OWN STRONG WHY's.

2. FORGIVE YOUR OLD SELF. YOU'RE ALWAYS BRAND NEW.

Unless you accept who you were and admit that we all have weaknesses, you wouldn't know what part of your life needs an improvement.

Forgive your old bad deeds and lay out some good new ones. Everyday is an opportunity to turn your attention to either your bad habit or the equivalent good one. It's just ZERO or ONE.

3. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. YOU CAN BE ANYTHING YOU WANT.

“ ...I stand here today because someone believed in me and we owe it to our children to believe in them.”

This is another takeaway answer from Catriona as she reminded us the power of weakening notion of belief and faith.

Having a clearly defined WHY you must want or do something intensifies your conviction to believe in yourself even other's don't.

Your WHY's will back up your DREAMS.

Dreams can be broken down to goals.

Goals can be broken down to habits.

The discipline to transform bad habits to new ones will be determined by the strength of your WHYS.

You can be ANYTHING you want if you break it down from setting your strong WHY's into transforming your daily manageable habits. ANYTHING.

4. CREATE NEW LIMITS AND GROW BEYOND IT.

Break out through the limiting-beliefs set by the majority. Fuck'em. Screw'em.

(But please don't go vandalizing the walls, that ain't cool. Stay classy.)

Dream big and break it down to small manageable goals.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.."

We've also heard from Catriona the importance of taking the initial baby steps towards a goal. She mentioned that she constantly hears it from his father. She went through her personal goal from being a contestant in Eat Bulaga's Little Miss Philippines all the way to Miss Universe 2018. She didn't stop at Miss World's but decided to break through the higher walls of Miss Universe and claim the crown.

Start small. Start now. Create new limits. Grow beyond it. Then, WIN BIG!

5. BE CURIOUS TO WHAT'S POSSIBLE

Your curiosity and feelings of what could you wanted to be more than you are right now will direct your interest and attention to everything that are related to it. Little by little you will generate and attract people, ideas and situations closer and relative to your main goal. Act on it, once it present itself. Stay focused until successful.

6. TEST YOURSELF

Break through the resistance by taking actions and calculated risks. This is where just-do-it attitude, perseverance and not-giving-a-fuck mindset reside.

This is not a high-school test where a teacher grades you and report card defines you.

TRY-FAIL-LEARN-AND-TRY-AGAIN. Remember it until successful.

7. TAKE A BREAK. ENJOY EVERY MOMENTS

Trust the process and then enjoy it! Just like this gorgeous lady in a fiery red gown! Does anyone know her? Drop her name in the comments below!

Credits to the owner of this video.

To summarize:

1. SET YOUR STRONG WHYS

2. FORGIVE YOUR OLD SELF

3. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

4. CREATE NEW LIMITS. GROW BEYOND IT.

5. BE CURIOUS TO WHAT'S POSSIBLE

6. TEST YOURSELF

7. TAKE A BREAK. ENJOY EVERY MOMENTS.

Apply this lessons with your goals. Starting from small things, then to your bigger and bolder ones. I know for sure you've already heard these somewhere but why not apply this simple 7 principles that could change yourself for the better. You owe it to yourself as a Filipino. Become a Proud Pinoy because you have that CATRIONA-GRAY-LIKE-ATTITUDE and not just because another someone did accomplish something great.

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Most of us witness the success and greatness of Catriona Gray's performance on screen. But behind all of it must be some good work-ethics and habits, long days of preparations, temporary setbacks, and an exhausting process, long before the crowning moments. In the upcoming blog posts, we'll be talking more about productivity hacks, habit creations and transformations and other basic life's hinges that will help you start opening new doors or fully enter the door that just has been half-closed for long. It's time for every Filipinos to shine. One day at a time.

SHARE and spread these lessons to light a fire in other Pinoy's heart!

FOLLOW us and together we will learn to grow above our personal limits!

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Cover image source: https://www.nbcwashington.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/Philippines-Contestant-Catriona-Gray-Named-Miss-Universe-502897891.html