WBW 22: "You Were Born a Hero" Always Go Back to Your Vision

“Remember, you were born a hero.” In these trying times, we always look at what’s wrong with the world, always ready to pin the blame on others. Sometimes on ourselves, we wallow in self-pity, thinking that there’s nothing we can do to improve our situation. But Pia Nazareno-Acevedo’s reminder is that we were all born heroes, telling us that we were destined for greater things – if only we would gather our courage and make our life happen. Watch the video and get a potent jolt of re-energy, a shot of pure encouragement toward self-betterment. And start learning how to write emails “from the Philippines” too.

Who Is Pia Nazareno-Acevedo?

Pia Nazareno-Acevedo is a businesswoman, formator, educator, proud and happy wife and mother, and a dreamer all rolled into one. After graduating from Ateneo de Manila University with a degree on AB Philosophy, she first pursued a stint as a Theology teacher in the university. After a few years, she then left and ventured on her own to become a performance management coach giving skills-building training to the country's top companies including Globe, Ayala Land, BPI, Jollibee, HSBC to name a few. After having gone through eight years with rewards galore, Pia suddenly realized - through her crying episodes in the car coming home - that she can be more than what's being served on her platter. She then came back to ADMU to serve its students as the Director for Student Activities. Having left that path in 2007, she now heads The Love Institute, a pioneering company that first reflected on why people weren't happy and doing well at work, which was majorly because of unsatisfied personal lives. The company thus “provides a systematic program, curriculum and other services to cater to each individual’s relationship needs… from single life, to engagement, to newly-married life, to marriage enhancement and finally to raising children at different stages of their growing years.”

Adding to that, she is currently whipping up another company to help people who are "inbetween", which means those who are inbetween graduation and finding themselves in the world, and those who are inbetween work and still confused with their life path.

No wonder Pia has to be bubbly and much more, and that's because she'll need all the energy to share to everyone asking for her advice. Love problems anyone?

When asked what's her greatest challenge?

When asked what's her greatest success?

Show notes:

The Perfect Hero

• When we were younger, we were heroes. We empathized with others more. Their situations affected us a lot when we were small, but no longer did as we grew older.
• We defined and viewed the world in a certain way. We impose values and principles that we knew are higher than what we actually see.
• We had a sense of what truly mattered and what didn’t.

Heroism

• It is a sense of awareness that the world is not balanced.
• Adults live with the imbalance, and yet we were so attuned to the fact that they are dancing to music that we know shouldn’t be playing.

Born Heroes

• When we were young, we were born heroes.
• This helps us take an optimistic look on where we are now, or where our starting point is. Because we are still the hero we used to be.
• A simple effort, like watching this video, is one way to “plug in” to that heroism again. It’s a way of saying, “I’m not content with who I am now. I think I have not reached my full potential. I know I can do more and be more.”

Where Do You Want to Go?

• Always remind yourself: you are that same person. You were born a hero.
• Have the courage to ask questions. No question is to expensive to ask.
• Speak to people whom you know you can gain wisdom from. People you admire and will “short-circuit” the time you’ve lost, in order to boost yourself and gain momentum, to get to where you want to be.
• These people may not know you, so introduce yourself. Everyone has a way to find out, and you’d be surprised at how people will answer, and how quick they can get back to you.
• Go out, seek these people. For example, when writing an email to them, on the subject line, put “From the Philippines”. They will read this because they are curious about getting a letter from the Philippines.
• When people are asked honest questions, they will give honest answers. They will tell you if they are not the right person to speak to. But they will also tell you, “yes, you’re on the right track.”
• This allows you to grow and re-energize yourself, as you get to go beyond who you think you are now.

Make Your Life Happen

• Make sure you’re in front of the line, in that perfect spot to meet those people, because the opportunity might never come again.
• Or you may create the opportunity online.
• When you’ve done that, you will gain a certain amount of self-respect and self-gratification, that you’re doing it for yourself. You’re committed to growth and self-learning. You’re committed to making your life happen.
• If that person rejects you, so what? Okay lang! Just keep on asking questions.

Dreams Come True Everyday

• Your dream might be a big dream. Defining dreams in ambition or career terms is standard. But to say that dreams come true everyday is a reality.
• Nothing happens by accident. On days that you feel good and feel so re-energized, you can’t help but want to get out of the house and reach out to another person.
• Whatever it is that works for you and makes you feel alive, those are your dreams coming true. Everyday.
• When the things that matter to you are the ones you’ve been spending time on, then those are your dreams coming true.
• If you’re not sure what your dreams are, go back to the first point – remember, you are born a hero.

Nothing Like The Joy of Embracing Crisis in Life

• My prayer since I was 9 years old was to have problems in my life. Because I noticed that when I have problems, the best me comes out.
• And it’s so odd, because now that I’m an adult, a mother and a wife, I still pray for crisis, because it brings out the best in me. It keeps me grounded, it keeps me attuned to what really matters. And when things are okay, that’s when I’m least my authentic self.
• Appreciate crisis, embrace hardship.
• Continue making commitments to yourself. Life can get real painful, but when you remember how you got through your most difficult crisis, and you still commit yourself to helping others rather than making money, then you are more defined and you will feel the most alive.

Lessons

• Remember, you were born a hero.
• Never hesitate to ask questions.
• Learn that things don’t happen by accident, and dreams come true everyday.
• Appreciate crisis, embrace hardship.

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