We need to learn to see bigger
On ambition and small thinking.
Defining my job has always been challenging.
It’s not something easily understood in my town or among my people.
One morning, someone asked my mother about my job. She said, “She works on the Internet."
The other person responded, "Oh, at an Internet café? Do they have many customers there?"
My mother attempted to clarify, "No, she works online for people abroad."
There was a lack of understanding. By the way, my mother was 72 when this happened. The person asking was a nephew who was in his twenties.
A similar thing happened shortly before that when a former schoolmate asked me where I worked. I jokingly replied, "Right here."
It wasn’t entirely false. I work online. I don’t commute to any specific location.
Eventually, I explained that I work online. The response was, "What does that mean? Is it like when people pay you to process their government clearances?"
I clarified, "No, it's like working in an office, but instead of physically going to the office, I work online."
"So, you create resumes and other documents for people?"
That lack of understanding again.
I’ve thought a lot about the state of our country. It’s not solely the fault of corrupt politicians or institutions.
Filipinos are hardworking. But we often limit our thinking.
There's nothing inherently wrong with that, but there is an apparent lack of ambition.
If you ask a child why they go to school, there's a high chance you'll hear something like, "So I can get a degree, find a good job, and help my family."
It sounds commendable. Noble, even.
But have we ever questioned why our education should stop at “a good job”?
Why should our aspirations end with solely helping our own families?
What we could do instead
We could break free from these limiting beliefs.
Expand our horizons. Seek new opportunities and experiences beyond our immediate surroundings. The Internet and technology connect us to a global community. There are online platforms for learning, freelancing, entrepreneurship, networking. There are people from diverse backgrounds and industries. By broadening our horizons, we expose ourselves to fresh perspectives and possibilities.
Set bold goals. Dream big. Rather than limiting our aspirations to a “good job" or helping only our family, we can envision a future where we make a broader impact. Define what success means on a personal and societal level. Aim to create positive change in our community, country, or even the world. Break down these goals into actionable steps. Commit to continuous learning and growth.
The shift
The limitations we face go beyond corrupt politicians and institutions.
We need a mindset shift.
We must challenge the notion that a “good job” and helping our families are the ultimate goals for our education and careers.
We need to strive for personal growth, expanded horizons, ambitious aspirations.
It’s possible to break free from the constraints of small thinking and create a future where ambition propels us to greater heights.
We need to learn to see bigger.
We need to learn to expect more.
This article is a revised and updated version of one originally posted on Medium: https://medium.com/@iamMJae/we-gotta-learn-to-see-a-bigger-we-gotta-learn-to-expect-more-37b9e4cbc492