Setbacks can lead to powerful new beginnings. Discover how a job loss turned into a new opportunity and a journey of growth and resilience.
The start of the year didn’t go as I had hoped. Life has a way of reminding us that change is the only constant, and this became real for me when I faced an unexpected challenge—I got laid off. It was a difficult moment, one filled with uncertainty, but I held on to the belief that every obstacle has a purpose, even if it’s not immediately clear.
While January brought discouraging news, I refused to let it define the rest of my year. Instead, I chose to see the setback as a redirection. Sometimes, what feels like a step backward is actually a push toward something better—an opportunity to grow, reset, and refocus.
A New Opportunity Emerges
Just before February came to an end, things took a turn for the better. I received incredible news—a new job offer. In that moment, everything I had been holding onto—hope, patience, and resilience—finally made sense.
Lessons From the Journey
This experience reminded me that setbacks are not the end of the story. They are often the beginning of something new. Challenges may shake us, but they also create space for growth, clarity, and unexpected opportunities.
If you’re going through a difficult season, keep going. Trust that your path is unfolding as it should—and that your next beginning may be just around the corner.
Every New Year, I love starting fresh by setting goals, creating systems, and choosing a theme to guide me. For 2025, I’ve decided to call it my “Self-Improvement Year.”
This isn’t about perfection-it’s about progress. I want to focus on improving every part of myself, step by step. Whether it’s my health, habits, or mindset, this year is about becoming a better version of myself. Having “Self-improvement” as my theme this year will really help me find my purpose.
Of course, everything depends on how consistent I can be. It won’t always be easy, but I’m ready to try, learn, and grow. Here’s to 2025-a year of transformation and growth.
The Journey Back to Balance
There was a time when I felt more in tune with my body, not too slim or heavy, just a version of myself that felt right. Lately, though, I’ve been longing to return to that balance. It’s not just about appearance; it’s about feeling good in my skin again. I know I badly needed to focus more on my self-improvement, including a healthy lifestyle, but I am still confused about how I will do that.
Body shaming has been a constant sting, coming from places I didn’t expect and sometimes from strangers. It’s exhausting. I’ve carried those words with me, but now I want to let them go and focus on change, not for them, but for me.
The challenge? I have PCOS, which makes losing weight an even more challenging climb. It sometimes feels like a battle with my body, but I’m not giving up. Slowly, steadily, I’m committing to a healthier version of myself-one step, one day at a time.
This isn’t just about a number on the scale. It’s about reclaiming the confidence and joy of feeling strong and healthy-no shortcuts, no rushing-just patience and persistence. And one day, I’ll get there.
I’ve watched countless vloggers and content creators preach about setting proper goals and following SMART plans. Their enthusiasm is contagious, but here’s the truth: none of it has ever worked for me. Maybe it’s on a case-by-case basis?
So, I’m shifting my focus. Instead of obsessing over goals, I’m choosing to build a system-a way of living that centers on consistent actions, no matter how small. It’s not about the outcome but the habits I form. And I think this will be a big help on my self-improvement journey.
It’s about showing up every day, even when I don’t feel like it. It’s about staying disciplined and committed, whether inspired or stuck in a rut. Motivation comes and goes, but a system? That’s the foundation I can rely on, no matter the mood, environment, or circumstances.
This journey isn’t glamorous, but I believe it’s the kind of quiet, steady effort that leads to real growth: no shortcuts, no pressure-just progress, one step at a time.
The Journey Through a Constantly Changing World
Life sometimes feels like a busy highway-one where I’ve been running non-stop, chasing something I couldn’t define. From graduation until now, I’ve been consumed by worry, stress, and the weight of overthinking my future. It’s like I was sprinting, hoping to reach a destination I wasn’t even sure existed.
But recently, I realized I have to keep running. It’s okay to pause, take a break, and breathe. I can sit down, relax, and think about my next steps with a clear mind. Life isn’t a race; it’s a journey that unfolds at its own pace.
We’re all unique, with talents and skills that shape our growth and self-discovery. And while change can feel overwhelming, I’ve come to understand it’s a natural part of life. Instead of fearing it, I must embrace it, adapt to it, and trust the process.
If something is meant for me, it will come. I don’t need to chase it relentlessly; I need to stay open and prepared for what’s next. After all, everything happens for a reason, and this journey is as much about the pauses as it is about the progress.
Minimalism is about simplifying your life by focusing on what truly matters and letting go of excess stuff. Digital minimalism does the same with technology especially using dumbphone for everyday life. It helps you use your devices and apps more mindfully.
Using a dumbphone helps me avoid digital distractions. Both aim to create more space for what’s important. One focuses on physical things. The other focuses on your digital life.
Lately, I’ve been spending a lot of time on my smartphone. I mostly watch short videos, read comments, and get caught up in content. It’s starting to take a toll on my mental health, and I realize it’s affecting how I feel overall.
My screen time is consistently around 7–10 hours a day. I spend most of this time on social media. Somehow, I still managed to get work done during all that time. How do I even juggle both? It’s crazy, lol!
I’ve decided to gradually reduce my social media usage, starting with Instagram, X, and TikTok. I can’t promise I’ve completely quit them, but I’ve cut back. Still, there are moments when I find myself scrolling and watching short videos. Then, I realize it’s already midnight without even noticing how much time has passed!
The two social media platforms I can’t let go of right now are Facebook and YouTube (does YouTube even count as social media?). Facebook is where all my family and relatives stay connected, especially through group chats and posts for greetings. My parents love being featured in posts-they’re 100% into it! They even keep track of likes and comments, reading each one, especially on special occasions. That’s why deactivating my account isn’t an option.
As for YouTube, it’s my go-to for learning and entertainment. Fun fact: I discovered Digital Minimalism through YouTube! I’ve watched tons of vlogs about dumb phones and how switching to one has improved people’s lives. It’s something I’d like to try for myself.
I bought it here in the Philippines, but you can also check eBay for this.
Mive Style Folder
I bought a new phone after coming across it on TikTok while searching for dumbphones—specifically flip phones with keypads, because I miss the nostalgic vibes. My first choice was the Samsung Folder 2, but many content creators recommended the Mive Style Folder instead, highlighting its newer Android version. So, I decided to go with this one!
This phone isn’t a true “dumbphone” since it runs Android Go v.12, which still lets me download apps like WhatsApp, Viber, Grab, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, TikTok, Booky, and all the Google apps, including YouTube!
The headphone jack is a huge plus! Nowadays, most new phones have ditched it in favor of Bluetooth headphones. I still prefer the classic plug-and-play headphones-no charging needed, just simple and reliable.
One of the main reasons I chose this phone is its Type-C charging port. My power bank has a built-in Type-C cable, so I don’t need to carry extra charger cords. It’s also super convenient since most of my devices use Type-C charging as well.
This phone features a 5mp front camera and an 8mp rear camera. It supports one Nano SIM card and has an SD card slot that can handle up to 512GB of storage.
This isn’t exactly a dumb phone-it’s still a smartphone since it runs on Android. However, its small screen and limited RAM naturally curb social media usage, which is one of the reasons I love it so much!
Sample Video of Mive Style Folder
The built-in LED lights make the phone adorable. They let me easily notice notifications or any activity on the phone at a glance!
How does YouTube look on this phone? Surprisingly good! The sound is loud and clear, making for an enjoyable experience. While it can be a bit laggy due to the 2GB RAM, it still gets the job done perfectly fine.
How does YouTube look on this phone? Surprisingly good! The sound is loud and clear, making for an enjoyable experience. While it can be a bit laggy due to the 2GB RAM, it still gets the job done perfectly fine.
Overall, this phone amazes me and makes me happy to use it. But the biggest question for me is: will I be able to survive just using this phone? Well, we’ll see because I planned to use it as my main phone, and my iPhone is for work-related use only.
The real reason I can’t part with my iPhone is for work: replying to emails, Slack, accessing documents, and contacting users. But… It’s strictly for work now! I haven’t installed any social media apps on it!
I’ll be updating this blog with my thoughts on using this phone as my main personal device and for work after a month. As you can tell, I haven’t included any work-related details here yet.
I am having a hard time coping with other people recently. I was embarrassed and disappointed by the people whom I truly trusted. Shit, happens, right? But why am I experiencing these things? Sometimes I want to be alone and shut people out.
I’ve been engaging myself in the online world for the past few months. Playing different types of games and chatting with people around the world.
Seriously, I love meeting new people. I’m somewhat excited about exchanging stories and experiences because, for me, it is one of the best ways to get to know someone better. But what if you meet someone who would destroy the inner peace in you? What will you do? In my case, I can’t completely cut ties with them; however, if it’s the right thing to do for myself, then I have no choice.
Most of the time, I choose to help them; I prefer to guide them and help them become more comfortable with me, but now I’ve decided to put myself first.
Self-love is what I need right now. I don’t need a relationship with someone who just needs me for convenience. I don’t need someone who is taking advantage of me and lying to me.
This sadness is one of the reasons why I am blogging. Slowly, cutting my engagement with different social media because it doesn’t help me at all.
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use. To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here:
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
