charisma.

Edited repost

“CHARISMA is a primal energy, a sexual energy, a spiritual energy." If you accept that definition, then we all have it. The question is not can I have it, but what are some of the ways in which I can access this energy to bring more out of me and connect more people to me?

Indeed. Here are four ways we can all get a bit more charismatic, starting today.

1. Hone Your Hidden Social Signals.
“Honest signals” refers to the nonverbal cues that social species—like us—use to fine-tune our communication. Interestingly, they actually impact the person you’re talking to. In other words, the more happy and upbeat you are, the more so your conversation partner becomes. There are biological functions that transfer the signals. “If I’m happy, it almost literally rubs off on you.”

2. Be a Better Reflector
Be more energetic. Talk more, but also listen more. Pick up better on cues from others, draw people out by asking questions, and get them to be more outgoing.

One strategy is mirroring: tilting your head the same way or imitating the stance of the person you’re talking to makes the two of you more empathic, more in sync.

3. Quit Being So Polite
Common ground is, in many ways, a wonderful thing,. The singular quest to find it, however, is not. It puts a strain on a conversation. Common ground means you will like me. You will not feel uncomfortable. More importantly, common ground means I won’t feel uncomfortable. We will have a pleasant and neatly bound conversation. And, yes, it will remain ever so predictable and fake.

Instead of discussing the weather, go a level deeper. When we reveal something personal, it gives our listener permission to do the same. It is oversharing, but the more risks we take in being vulnerable, the more people are drawn to us because we seem real.

4. Show More of Yourself
Think to yourself, ‘What are some unexpected things going on in my life that are appropriate to share?’ In fact, the two biggest liabilities when it comes to unleashing charisma are not being curious about the person you’re speaking to—and not sharing enough about yourself.


When it comes down to it, charisma comes from authenticity and we do ourselves a disservice by not showing up as our whole selves. “A lot of us have so much hidden inside that we don’t reveal,”

I Lost My Love in Baghdad: A Modern War Story.

IT was love at first sight –the moment they first laid eyes on each other in the Jerry Springer party, they already knew.

Andi Parhamovich was still working with Air America at that time while Michael Hasting, a journalist from Newsweek was bound to go to Iraq in a few months time to cover the war. Soon, they’ll be thousands of miles away but before that, they’ll both agree to take a leap of faith and try to make things between them work.

Every night, every dinner, was a day closer to the day I was leaving.

She’s mad that he is leaving. She doesn’t want to talk to him. But at the same time, she also want to make the best of their remaining time together. Mixed feelings. I’ve been there –like the hundreds and thousands of others who are also caught in the bittersweet thing we call long-distance relationship. When A left for Libya, I was really frustrated. Hindi pa nga tayo nakaka-recover sa nangyari nung summer, ito at iiwan mo nanaman ako mag-isa. But of course, I can’t stay mad at him, his doing it for our future and I would want to make every minute of our time left worthwhile.

And it wasn’t just the distance that I was worried about –it was his safety. It may not be Baghdad in the middle of the war but it was post-war Libya –less than a year after Gaddafi’s death. The country was still in turmoil, divided into pro and anti-Gaddafi. Firefights between the militias and the former government were still rampant.

Eventually, the long distance, the worries and the little fights took its toll and Andi decided to follow him. She resigned from her job and joined the International Republican Institute (IRI) then later, the National Democratic Institute (NDI).

Dear Angels dear God dear universe
Please let me get this NDI job.
The NDI job will work out fine.
I am protected by light and love.

Now, Andi didn’t do this solely for MH. She was young, idealistic and passionate. She had the genuine desire to bring about change and make the world a better place to live in. The world is her oyster; she had so much promise in her. When they said, she followed her heart to Baghdad they weren’t only talking about her fiancé but also her passion.

17 January 2007. After meeting with the leaders of the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP) –the persons whom she would be working with to help make media and public affairs more accessible to Iraq, all hell broke loose. Her three car convoy (she was in the second car) was ambushed. There were speculations that this was a set up. After all, the ambush took place just outside the IIPs headquarters –the guards didn’t do anything about the attack happening just a few steps from their doorstep.

Intelligence said that the insurgent group responsible were Islamic jihadist with ties to Al Qaeda. They were known for torturing, kidnapping, raping and then eventually beheading Iraqi women. Their initial plan was to kidnap the blond American girl with blue eyes.

After pounding the cars with bullets, they tried opening the door to get Andi but they couldn’t. Instead, they rolled a grenade under the car to blow it open. The gas tank caught fire from the grenade explosion and  in a matter of minutes, the car was engulfed in flames. Twenty minutes later, NDI security then later a US Patrol came to respond but it was too late for Andi and her Hungarian bodyguard who tried to cover her body from the bullets and the fire.

There is no body. She is not what you think. What is left is not recognizable as a man or a woman. It is ugly. It is not her.

It is sad to think what a human being can do to another human being. It is sadder to think that the persons who did this were the same ones Andi hoped to help when she went to Iraq. I remember back in college, at the time that I already knew that I wanted to be a doctor, I was considering taking forensic pathology as my specialization. I went to the library and borrowed a book on forensics. As I browsed the pages, I become disgusted –not at the appearance of blood nor rotting flesh but at the things people can do to others. Thousands of people wanted to become doctors, sacrifice years of studying, endure long hours of work just so they could help prolong and improve the quality of life of others. And here are people, doing exactly the opposite. Years of hardwork, down the drain with just a strike of a knife or a quick trigger of a gun. It takes so long to build a life, a relationship, a career and it just take a second to finish all that. Sigh. Well, after all, were just bags of flesh.

pressure!

I saw this on the news:
High school student devised a cure for cancer

I think I should start doing something ASAP!

diagnosis.

ACCORDING to my doctor, the diagnosis is... THYROIDITIS. I will be taking anti-thyroid meds for 6 weeks followed by another thyroid function test. At the end of the year, another ultrasound just to make sure the nodules haven't grown nor multiplied.

Whew!

diagnosis?

Patient M.S. 23/F came in with palpable nodule on the anterior left side of the neck.

Seven months prior to consultation (January), patient noted her weight to be around 55kg. Three months later (April), she noticed a decrease in weight, dropping down to 47kg. Patient denies any change in normal eating habits nor daily routines. She also denies experiencing any acute disease nor depression during the time. Following the  unexplained weight loss , patient started complaining of easy fatigability, anorexia, palpitations and mild tremors. 

A month prior to consult (June 15), patient had a thyroid function test and an ultrasound done. The result are as follows:

Thyroid function test

FT3 =  6.54 pmol/L (4.0 - 8.3)
FT4 = 12.91 pmo/L (9.0 - 20.0)

TSH = < 0

Thyroid ultrasound

R lobe: 3.98 x 1.09 x 1.15

L lobe: 4.55 x 1.54 x 1.62

Both lobes are slightly enlarged showing multiple hypoechoic solid masses measuring about 0.55 x 1.13cms and 0.88 x 1.06cms (right) and 1.08 x 1.49cms and 1.15 x 1.44cms (left.
Isthmus and adjacent vascular structures are unremarkable.

Two weeks later (June 28), a repeat thyroid function test was done. the result are as follows:

Thyroid function test

FT3 =  4.72 pg/mL (1.71 - 3.71)
FT4 = 1.33 pg/dL (0.70 - 1.48)

Three days prior to consult (July 9), a thyroid scan with radioactive iodine uptake was done. Result are as follows:

Thyroid scan

Radiotracer distribution is homogenous with decreased tracer uptake in the superior and inferior portions of the right lobe and in the medial and lateral portions of the left lobe.

Thyroid uptake of iodine-131 at 2hrs is 8.2% (5 - 15%) and at 24hrs is 30.2 (20 - 45%).

Interpretation: Nonhyperactive goiter with probable cold nodules and/or fibrosis in the superior and inferior of the right lobe and in the medial and lateral portions of the left lobe.

Diagnosis?

define discipline.

IT'S 0606H and I'm already hungry. By now, I am thinking of quiting my Ramadan vow. I'm already late for class, I still have a case to work on and tons of readings to do. It is hard to concentrate on an empty stomach. Nonetheless, I just remind myself of the millions of Muslims (and among then, thousands of doctors, nurses and medical students) who are also observing Ramadan.

I asked F yesterday the rationale behind this practice and she told me that it is humbling one's self, ridding one's self of pleasure and understanding the suffering experienced by others.

The focus of Ramadan is self control; being able to control one's impulses (such as negative emotions and want of food and sleep) in the midst of hardship.

Ramadan Mubarak.

I have not yet converted to Islam nor can be considered a believer. As it is, I'm still agnostic. Nonetheless, I plan to joining the millions of Muslim brothers celebrating Ramadan this year.

Why? Well, because Ramadan "is a fasting of mind and heart. It's the time of the year to recharge -fast from bad thoughts, words and actions, and challenge one's self to be a better person for the rest of the year."

I take this as an opportunity to improve myself, a time to reflect and assess my being. And so, by the end of this month, I aim to be more responsible with my thoughts, words and actions. I aim to be more compassionate and just. I aim to be a better version of myself that would be useful in helpful alleviate the problems of society and make the world, a better place to live in.

Happy Ramadan!

annalysis.

Whenever I feel indolent, reading anna oposa never fails to make me want to stand up again and do something. She is just so passionate with the her work that it is not hard to get infected.

I know I have so much more in me to help make the world a better place to live in. But at times, I get too caught up with all the drama of my life that I forget about the bigger picture. Nonetheless, you only fail when you stop trying.

The youth, more than any other stakeholder, is THE driving force of development. Because the adversities we face are greater, the solutions and efforts are far greater, more passionate, courageous, resilient, creative, and [insert positive superlative here]. Last time I checked, only dead fish go with the flow.

Enough of that “the youth is the hope of the future” bullshit. We are the leaders of today.

Check out her site:

http://oposaanna.wordpress.com

http://annaoposa.ph