Traducción:

Miguel Ángel Gaće

The Art of Overcoming - oneself

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This first edition of the book "The Art of Overcoming - oneself," by Miguel Ángel
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Acknowledgments:
I want to express my gratitude to the many coaches, leaders, salespeople, sales
directors, and motivators who have crossed paths with me and who, in one way or
another, have taught me what I know; to the individuals whom I have coached; to
the customers whom I have had to explain price or organizational changes to when
they had not yet received their purchases, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks...
Finally, I want to express my deepest gratitude to my life partner, my wife Liliana,
who has been by my side for over four decades; to my daughter Yamila, whom, for
various reasons, I have gradually spent less time with; to Yamila's siblings; to my
family; to my friends; to everyone, infinite THANKS.

Prologue:

The inspiration emanating from these pages not only lies in the written words but in
life itself. Every narrative, every piece of advice in the content of this book includes
various truths and motivational and social considerations, with the aim of providing
the reader with elements that help them feel more motivated despite their
limitations and to provoke, at the very least, a change in attitude towards the
setbacks that life presents.

The pages of this book should stimulate the reader's will to overcome, abandoning
routine procedures to face challenges with dynamism and to act driven by a
vigorous consciousness. The multitude of tales or narratives that do not belong to
me are intended to firmly engrave in your memory highly effective and instructive
events and experiences that are essential for personal growth. The key is that,
despite being familiar or repetitive, it acts as fertile soil, being transformed into
effective, useful, and productive action. These pages constitute an invitation to
those who truly aim to improve and wish to be promoters of their own progress and
mental health. Those who adopt these pieces of advice with persistence will
increase their confidence, intensify their efficiency, and achieve satisfactory results.

The purpose of these stories is not only to entertain but to collaborate with those
who have dreamed or still dream of changing their lives, providing them with
strength in the conviction that yes, it is possible. And they aim to indicate precise
directions in whatever they may undertake, creating a clear awareness of what it
means to have a life vision from the perspective of someone with Parkinson's
disease.

Miguel Gacé

Who am I?

When I came into this world, I did so with a characteristic temperament and
personality that shaped me in the early years of life, where their effect was decisive
in shaping my brain, defining the scope of my emotional repertoire to a large
extent. I began to perceive and understand the emotional world, but as Daniel
Goleman, the father of emotional intelligence, says:

"Neither innate nature nor the influence of early childhood are irreversible
determinants of our emotional destiny."

That door to learn and develop my emotional skills was always open. Our
brain is malleable, it loves to learn new things, and changes every time we replace
a pattern of behavior or an old habit. What is known in other terms as 'emotional
management' is something that was extremely useful to me in my daily life. Even
confirmed by the sometimes skeptical engineers: emotional intelligence is
something that I was able to learn, develop, and use to achieve my
successes and enjoy them in all areas of daily life. I intended to learn how to
hack my mind to improve my quality of life; I wanted to know how to be
empathetic and regulate my emotions, thus making non-emotional rational
decisions.
Emotional intelligence is that which we apply seeking to improve the value of
passion and reason. This reminds me of a story I read some time ago from a
photocopy distributed by my friend Alba Luiz, national sales director of a direct
sales company, during her lecture in Criciúma, Brazil, and it goes like this:

"There was a blind man sitting on the sidewalk, with a cap at his feet and a piece of
wood that, written with white chalk, said: 'PLEASE HELP, I AM BLIND,' when
suddenly, a creative—perhaps an advertiser who occasionally passed by him—
stopped and noticed a few coins in the cap. And without asking permission, he took
the sign, turned it over, took a piece of chalk, and wrote another proclamation,
putting the piece of wood back on the blind man's feet. In the afternoon, the
creative passed by the blind man begging for alms again, discovering that the cap
was filled with bills and coins. When the blind man recognized his steps, he asked
if it was he who wrote his piece of wood and wanted to know, above all, what he
had put. The advertiser replied: 'Nothing that is not as true as your ad, but in
other words.' Smiling, he continued on his way.

The blind man never knew it, but his new sign read: 'TODAY IS SPRING, AND I
CANNOT SEE IT.'

To achieve this, the blind man needed the cooperation of the advertiser." That's
why, in my own existence, I changed strategy when life put before me a reality that
would produce a big change: one summer day in 2008, a criminal began wreaking
havoc in my life. First, he stole my handwriting. I noticed how it had decreased in
size and the words had become jumbled. He continued his criminal actions by
stealing my scents. I blamed my nasal congestion for not being able to identify
scents like vinegar, a good wine, or coffee.

I have always been a good sleeper, and suddenly, I realized that I was sleeping
much less than I used to, leaving me without the rest I was accustomed to; I moved
a lot in bed, kicked a jar, or defended my family from any onslaught while deeply
asleep.

And to top it off, he took away my voice and left me with a mask, stealing my
expression. Regarding my voice, it lowered its volume as well as its cadence. I
even thought that the people around me were becoming deaf when it was actually
my voice that was changing.

Regarding the lack of facial expression, my family would ask if I was angry about
something, if I was in a bad mood, or if I had any work or personal problems. This
type of facial expression is called 'mask-like face' and is, like the lack of blinking, a
very common sign of Parkinson's disease, along with stiffness in my body and pain
in my left shoulder, perhaps the earliest sign of my illness.

I noticed that my arms didn't move when walking, it seemed like my feet were
'sticking' to the floor, I felt stiff. As a result of these symptoms, I went to a
neurologist, Dr. Sergio Vesco, who diagnosed me with a progressive disease that
would accompany me for the rest of my life, called "PARKINSON".

From that moment on, I began to navigate my daily life within a very different
scenario, recognizing and learning to manage my existence in a different way so
that nothing would disturb my mood, without losing the essence.

In my case, it was strengthened through emotion, preventing the rational from

taking the place of the emotional. Emotions propelled me and prepared my body
for action again, remembering that in the face of passion, the mind loses its
balance: it is precisely when the passionate is placed in the rational realm that
errors begin to occur.

Aristotle anticipated the concept of applied emotional intelligence: "It is easy

to get nervous, the difficult thing is to do it with the right person, with the
right intensity, at the right time, for the right reason, and in the right way."

I fervently believe that when I recognized my reality, my emotions became positive,

causing small everyday events to generate happiness for me, recognizing and
facing those negative emotions that cause anxiety and worry.

The phrase 'know thyself' is often quoted, it is one of the most famous aphorisms
of all time. While it is true that it refers to the importance of self-awareness for
humans, today I must know myself better in terms of the company I will have until
the end of my life, where some of the oldest questions of thought are enclosed,
such as: 'who am I,' 'where do I come from,' 'where am I going,' questions
through which I intend to understand and define myself as a person.

Having said that, my first task as a man is to protect myself, and I could only
achieve this if I first knew myself. This implies acquiring knowledge about my own
being and knowing what my limitations are, in order to understand and accept
myself; then, and only then, could I guide my own existence and actions according
to my purposes, to cope well and be able to keep my illness under control. This
makes me say to myself in the morning: 'Today is the first day of the rest of my
life, and I am going to do everything possible to make the most of it and do
everything right.'

I have always been a positive person and ready to acquire new positive habits,
acquiring them through repeated acts (much like I learned the multiplication
tables), also by making some physical or mental effort. Likewise, uprooting a
negative habit requires a continuous effort of renunciation (like quitting smoking). I
was able to achieve this through a promise to my daughter, which I made on my
birthday at her request to quit smoking. It was a quick response: 'I'll quit by the end
of the year,' thinking that those nine months would be a long time. No one knows
better than oneself the habits that must be eradicated and those that it is
convenient to acquire, such as finishing and treasuring time, essential to achieving
success in whatever one undertakes, acquiring perseverance as a new habit. This
means getting used to being able to finish everything one starts, resisting the
temptation to abandon things halfway, as there is nothing left in the hands except a
feeling of emptiness and failure.

I belong to that unique battalion of sales advisors, of those who are looking for
opportunities every hour of the day, every day of the year, thinking about where
to find our potential star client or pretending to find a new commercial niche.
Without forgetting that our motivation, perseverance, and self-discipline are the
optimal fuel that provides all the strength we need to be effective and efficient.
The true 'sales advisor' who values themselves as such possesses these
characteristics in their mission as an advisor, an area that I know very well
because I have been in it since I became independent at the age of 16.

"Failure is a great opportunity to begin again with more intelligence." (Henry

Ford, 1863—1947. American industrialist).

Attitude is the way a person reacts to certain situations or events. I believe I have a
strong personality, supported by certain habitual attitudes, which can be
summarized in these four: serenity, decisiveness, enthusiasm, and affability.

Serenity is perhaps the most characteristic attribute of my personality. It's

synonymous with calmness, composure, and self-confidence that provides me with
control over situations and a position of dominance.

My decisions lean towards acting without being influenced by doubts, fears, or

what the naysayers of failure might say, those who have hundreds of reasons why
something can't be done. People also choose by not choosing. It's not just about
what we do, but many times, also about what we don't do. So, I always worked for
what I wanted, without being afraid to dream, without missing opportunities, with
which I achieved some of my goals, turning a deaf ear to the voices that tried to
demoralize me, to which I never gave any importance.

It would always depend on me to choose the voice I wanted to listen to: the one
that tells you that you can't, or the one that says 'of course you can!'. This also
entails staying in a state of constant alertness to act when necessary, without any
hesitation.

Being enthusiastic stems from my absolute conviction that I can achieve the goals
I have set and required total dedication, without reservations or ambiguities,
without fear of commitment.

After what I've experienced in my life, I founded personally the idea that being
enthusiastic pleases others and forms an image of ourselves, making us appear
attractive, creating an image that others find interesting. This undoubtedly favored
my interpersonal relationship, predisposing me to others, creating greater trust and
credibility, smoothing out conflicts, and eliminating suspicions. 'Belonging, being
supported by a sincere feeling and being authentic,' is being oneself. Thanks
to all this, as an individual, I was able to achieve success when opportunity,
proper preparation, and the courage to act coincided.

The first thing I achieved is to change my attitude, giving myself the courage to live
with my new reality, and thus being able to see if I wanted to be able to recognize
my new potentialities and weaknesses, which allowed me to have a better
understanding of my personality. That was the key when thinking about teaching
and learning situations within my new physical reality.

This can be seen as the most satisfying, based on my personality and what I do for
fun or conviction. There is a theory that says that each person learns and
processes their experience of the world in a different way. This is called 'learning
style'. Knowing what learning style I have helped me even when I didn't
understand why I had difficulties with some activities and when I excelled in others.

"Intelligence and knowledge become an asset when useful order is created

from intellectual capacity. That is, when a coherent form is given that can be
described, disseminated, exploited, and when it can be used to do something
that couldn't be done before. Intellectual capital is useful knowledge
packaged." (Laurence Prusak).

The standard of my self-esteem has always been high, it was what marked the
deepest vision I had of myself. If I had had low self-esteem, possibly, the disease
that accompanies me would also be part of the conflicts and problems that humans
suffer from. Nowadays, self-esteem is talked about everywhere and rightly so. It's
basic, fundamental. It's not one of those passing fads that no one will remember in
five years. Like organic products and calcium pills, respect for one's own value is
something good, both now and in the future. So, we must ask ourselves how our
self-esteem is doing. Perhaps a tune-up wouldn't hurt. Basically, it's about knowing
to what extent we value ourselves. If deep down we believe that we are not much,
not beautiful, not intelligent, somehow not worthy of being loved, our self-esteem
could use a morale boost. We are not alone. Everyone has changing levels of self-
esteem. Even men and women with fame, fortune, and everything else often feel
deep down that they are a fraud as people and that someone, someday, will realize
it.

We ourselves forged our self-esteem during our childhood, so it is extremely

important that our children receive positive messages about themselves and about
life in general, without lying to them, because what they learn they 'are' or 'are not'
will open the door or prevent them from becoming healthy, fulfilled, and happy
adults.

Having good self-esteem is basic for everything we face in our lives, if one does
not love oneself it is inadmissible that they manage to love another, simply
because they cannot offer what they do not possess, 'no one can give what they
do not have'. There are many people willing to help, but they don't help
themselves. It is extremely difficult for anyone to transmit happiness and, no matter
how much they demand it, they surely feel terribly unhappy. The vision we have of
ourselves pushes us to relate to certain people and not others, for better or for
worse. We cannot deny that the element 'luck' is not part of existence, since luck—
as a friend says—is a plant that we water every day, being the first step to change
it. Virgil said: "They can because they believe they can." My physical situation of
feeling constrained changed the same day I was diagnosed with Parkinson's.

Many believe that intuition is a thing of 'women' or that it is something that has no
value; in reality, it is an innate ability that only some people use, and anyone can
learn to develop it, understanding intuition as the ability to "perceive intimately
and instantly an idea or truth, as if it were visible to them".

We can imagine it as that compass that allows us to make accurate decisions. It is

a faculty we are born with, not everyone has it developed.

How to improve our self-esteem1:

 Always think positively for the proper development of intuition; it is very

important to have inner calm.
 Negative emotions such as anger, fear, stress, or sadness block the intuitive
channel.
 An effective way to calm emotions is by using positive affirmations.

Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm comes from the Greek and means "having a God within oneself."

Enthusiasm consists of the spirit of dedication, conviction, or the belief that you
possess the greatest idea in the world. There is no force more powerful in the
world than the effect of enthusiasm. It is a latent force that passes from one person
to another when one of them sincerely believes in what they are doing. And I truly
believed in my personality.

I have completely convinced myself of the qualities I truly possess. It is of utmost

importance in my daily life to have enthusiasm filled with positivity and excitement
about solutions to problems or setbacks. It is my own steam engine that drives me
to go beyond the extra mile every day.

Enthusiastic people are those possessed by one of the gods, guided by their
strength and wisdom, able to transform the nature around us and make things
happen.

1
I learned it when I took the Silva Method mental control course; it helped me
extraordinarily to improve my health.
Only enthusiasts are capable of mastering the daily challenge. It is necessary to
become enthusiastic to overcome the obstacles that arise when walking a new
path.

Enthusiasm is not built or developed. It is a state of faith, of self-affirmation, a

persuasion that approves your joy.

I am a full-fledged enthusiast; I believe in my ability to transform things, I fervently

believe in myself, I believe in others, I believe in my strength to transform the world
and my own reality. I am driven to act in the world, to transform it, moved by the
force and certainty in my actions.

Enthusiasm is what allows me to have a more enjoyable vision of life. It is

important to be able to discern between enthusiasm and optimism, as often both
terms are confused. Optimism means believing that something favorable will
happen, even longing for it to happen, it is seeing the positive side of things, it is a
kind stance towards the events that occur.

On the other hand, enthusiasm is action and transformation, it is the reconciliation

between oneself and the facts, the things. There is only one way to be enthusiastic:
to act enthusiastically.

I never expected or will wait for conditions to be ideal to become enthusiastic, I

always had enough reasons to do so. It was not, nor are, 'things going well' that
generated or generated my enthusiasm, it was enthusiasm that allowed me to do
things well.

There are people who wait for conditions to improve for success to come, for
something to change in their work, for their relationship with their partner or family
to strengthen before becoming enthusiastic... the truth is they will never be
enthusiastic about anything.

If we believe that it is impossible to be enthusiastic about the government we have,

about the mayor, etc., it is most likely that we will never get out of the situation we
are in.

It is necessary to believe in oneself, in the ability to do, to generate, to transform

oneself and the reality that surrounds us. To give up negativity, skepticism, to stop
being incredulous and to be enthusiastic about life, about those around us, and
about oneself.

To be effective or efficient?

Etymologically, the word 'effective' comes from the Latin effectivus (productive).
Being effective means being active, producing an effect. "The definition of
effective alludes to what is certain, affirmative, true, real, or certainty, the opposite
and opposed to doubtful or chimerical. It has the efficacy, efficiency, or aptitude of
something. It is said of a job or dignity that it is permanent, in opposition to
temporary. It is said of money, in coins or bills as a means of payment. Fully coined
currency."

Etymologically, the word 'efficient' is of Latin origin under the name efficiens or
efficientis. It refers to the rational use of means to achieve a predetermined
objective (i.e., to fulfill an objective with…).

Being efficient means being competent. "It is said of the person who has some
capacity, efficiency, effectiveness, disposition, or usefulness to obtain or achieve
what is intended: some objective, purpose, will, purpose, aspiration, or intention
using or employing any means in an appropriate or suitable way."

Ten minutes after the diagnosis, I set out to find the ATTITUDE with which I should
face Parkinson's, so that it becomes the most common disease among the delicate
ones. For this, it was important for me to know firsthand how it would affect me in
order to fight it. I asked myself: How far do I want and can I go?

I put into practice my ideas and precise planning of my goals to develop the
necessary self-confidence, initiative, imagination, enthusiasm, self-discipline in
rehabilitation, and concentrated effort to do a little more each day. All this served to
achieve the intended goal with my peers, which made me feel fulfilled. For this, we
must be both 'effective' and 'efficient'.

_____________________________

https://definiciona.com/palabra/efectivo/

https://definiciona.com/eficiente/

Journey Through Life

Traveling involves embarking on a journey, passing through different stages,

feeling multiple sensations: happiness when everything goes as expected and
when we are fully enjoying the moment; uncertainty when we don't know how to
proceed; a little fear if we get lost. However, something inevitably happens: when
we finish a journey, we are no longer the same, because something called
experience has occurred. Following the ideas of the philosopher and educator
Jorge Larrosa, we can say that experience is the possibility of something
happening to us; it's not what happens, but what we do in response to what
happens, because it leaves us with traces, marks.

In my particular case, I reached a stage in my life where I felt the need to pursue a
university degree, with all that it implied, with a teenage daughter, where my work
and consequently my income would be compressed; additionally, my wife had to
support me when many activities we were accustomed to would be affected due to
my studies. I firmly believe it was an excellent decision to embark on the journey I
undertook, and it was, in my case, quite a challenge to study after the age of 50!

The journey through university allowed the incorporation of new concepts that led
me to take a sort of panoramic photograph of what the law entails, and of the
teaching and learning processes. Thanks to the journey, I was able to project
myself very conveniently, thinking about multiple possibilities and approaches to
design different proposals.

What truly drove me to study was my daughter, the desire to show her that in life,
one can achieve their dreams. Of course, it was difficult for me at first to adapt to
the new university language, but the clear objective alone of achieving the dream
that I wanted to accomplish as a young man, but was hindered by life events, was
what kept me firm in my purpose. Today, I am traversing the last kilometers of the
journey started with a backpack full of hopes. Thanks to my wife Liliana, who was
my unwavering support; thanks to my daughter Yamila, who had postponed
outings, distractions, and many things so that her dad could study.

The biological clock marked the passing of the years lived, but the youthful spirit
remains intact, and I believe that it has kept my predisposition and initiative in
studying from diminishing, coupled with being surrounded by younger classmates,
who made me feel like one of them, sharing not only studying but also their
friendship.

I changed my strategy when life presented me with a reality that would bring about
a great change in my life: I was diagnosed with a progressive disease. It was at
that moment when I began to question, 'Why me?' Immediately finding the answer:
'Why not me?'. That's when I began to retrace the path of my daily life with a very
different scenario, where I had recognized my illness and was learning to manage
my existence in a way that nothing disturbed my mood without losing the essence.

As a result of what I have expressed, in my case, it was enhanced through

emotion; positively channeled, emotions drove me and prepared my body to
continue with the journey undertaken, with the same strength.

When I recognized my reality, my emotions became positive, making the little

everyday events bring me happiness, recognizing and facing those negative
emotions that cause anguish and worry. In my case, when I was diagnosed with
PARKINSON, I had three essential antidotes: confidence, optimism, and joy about
my future, living every moment of my academic journey with total integrity in the
different scenarios.

What drove me to keep motivating myself every day is the great desire to achieve
the goal of becoming a LAWYER, but during the journey, I found different
attractions such as pursuing the University Teaching Degree. The mere fact of
allowing myself to travel the first stretch, completing the Law degree, and
embarking on the second stage that will place me as a university professor, is
enough to prove to myself that beyond circumstances, age, it is possible. In
addition to fulfilling my duties as a dad, husband, and work obligations, I was able
to carve out my own space and time to go through this beautiful journey and enjoy
it as it should be done. Today, my level of commitment, energy, and dedication is
very different from what it was when I was at the ideal age to study, right after
adolescence.

The relationship I have with my study peers is sensational and is based on

absolute respect and appreciation and protection of the companion's figure. I am
grateful to each of them.

Of course, I could have stayed halfway or at home, enjoying its comfort or reveling
in my youth over 60. But I am convinced that it is never too late when you have a
clear goal, something that people of my age know well.

Due to various circumstances in life, I couldn't study what I dreamed of when I was
young, but today I feel privileged to pursue a university degree, not having left it as
a pending matter. It's worth saying it out loud: it's possible, even after 50 years or
more.

While I have not yet reached the end of the journey undertaken, as I travel it, I feel
internally that I have within reach that postponed dream. But I cannot forget to look
in that rearview mirror to see everything I have been traversing; and thank those
roadside assistants who contributed their part so that I could continue the journey
towards the 'PROPOSED GOAL'. Therefore, I must give great recognition to my
wife, without whose help it would have been impossible for me; to my daughter
Yamila, who carried in her hands the flag that marked the state of the road
permanently; I cannot forget the tireless work of the journey director, Dr. Efraim
Torres, as a fundamental conductor of UCEL and its body of teachers, who
contributed not only to my acquisition of knowledge and the foundations to take the
necessary steps to achieve what I dreamed of but also to prove that time is not
eternal as it is usually perceived in tender years, but neither is it elusive for me to
face new challenges and future journeys.

My fervent desire to study was the pleasant pleasure of discovering what it feels
like to acquire knowledge and to fulfill the pending subject. The best part was not
losing motivation to continue involving myself in university life; that is undoubtedly
the engine that increasingly increases my enthusiasm, pushing me to resign hours
of leisure and rest in pursuit of the coveted diploma, which is now almost within my
reach.

Additionally, I want to highlight that my work history did not allow me to engage in
systematic teaching, but it did allow me to immerse myself in the necessary culture
of reading on the most diverse topics and to search and delve into all those
subjects that were of interest to me, those that brought me closer to the world of
study. When I entered the Law degree, I felt that a university degree is not a
guarantee of success in an individual's life, but it does give me the confidence of
better performance, with differentiated knowledge; and now, with little journey of
the trip, I feel that the University Teaching Degree is a very different presentation
card, in addition to enabling me for various activities within teaching, beyond the
experience or work results that I could have obtained along the way.

The word 'experience' comes from the Latin experientia, meaning the fact of having
witnessed, felt, or known something. It is the form of knowledge that arises from
these experiences or observations, achieved through the daily work we do.

Learning is experience. That's why I cannot fail to mention the pleasure of my

journey as a student. For this, I would like to talk about my school biography
starting at the high school level several years ago. Moments when a key question
arose: How far do I want and can I go? But, of course, an important detail was
missing that the University taught me, 'PLANNING'.

When I started building my house, it required planning, a blueprint for the builder to
know what to do. In my personal case, I didn't have the planning, so I lacked clarity
in my objectives, I lacked the map, the roadmap. I knew what I wanted to study,
where to receive a high-quality education. I think that, perhaps, at the beginning of
my educational stage, they did not know how to motivate me to find that thing
called 'burning desire', which leads us to stumble upon the desire to continue the
search for knowledge.

The difference between the desire to study and the burning desire is fundamental.
Surely, all students wish for the best teachers as educators and motivators to
deepen their knowledge. However, when I remember myself in my role as a
student, with those experiences of my educators, it was not enough for me to
undertake and visualize myself in life with fame, money, a good house, a good car,
to be respected, etc. The general criteria for what constitutes good teaching or
good teachers were not defined in the individuals who held the role of teachers,
who should impart knowledge to me. Likewise, I value that I had other mentors
who taught me to professionalize myself and seek the fulfillment of my objectives
and decide to achieve my goals to the point where they become an obsession; and
if we support that obsession with continuous effort and sensible planning, then the
precision of the objective will have been awakened and developed.
Once I learned to harness the unlimited potential of my mind and organize the
knowledge I already possessed, I could transform it into the power necessary to
achieve the main objective I had discovered and set for myself as a goal.

I put my ideas into practice and the precise planning of my objective to develop the
necessary self-confidence, personal initiative, imagination, enthusiasm, self-
discipline, and concentrated effort. I realized that when one "looks towards the sun,
the shadows will be left behind".

And if I analyze it coldly, all this is necessary for me to become a respected

professional, as well as in life and in whatever I propose in my profession. Surely, I
will have to seek my own 'specialization', which is what leads to perfection. The
prize depends fundamentally on my capacity for work and continuous study, and
on the precision of the objectives I set for myself.

"If we are able to see an opportunity as quickly as we see the faults in others, we
will soon achieve our goals".

At this point in the journey, it was possible to think and think of myself in the
exercise of the profession. I believe that in the course of this continuous and
persevering journey, I will have to develop the ability to make decisions promptly,
since professionals make decisions quickly and firmly. In contrast, those who do
not have enough expertise take longer to make decisions when immediacy is
required, they are embraced by doubt and often change their minds.

Professionals who have further developed their knowledge do not seek

cooperation because, by having clear objectives, they develop confidence in their
own integrity and character, which allows them to attract favorable attention from
others and inspire cooperation. They demonstrate that they are capable of
determining what their main battle is, and those who have embarked on their
personal journey will recognize and want to help their fellow travelers.

Specifying objectives opens our minds to a quality known as Self-Confidence. It

allows our minds to be positive and frees them from the limitations of life,
discouragement, indecision, and procrastination. These limitations are some of the
main obstacles faced by someone striving to reach their goal.

We must promote in ourselves the attitude of 'I can do it and it will turn out well'.

So now I know: I stopped bothering and delaying with thoughts and attitudes of
pessimism and frustration and started to encourage myself to change my ideas
about myself and about my present and future reality.

With surprise as a traveler, I found over these years of productive life that all of us
who aspire to be excellent professionals must develop what is known as
'charisma', which for me is like the 'gift of the gods'.
To be respected requires a permanent state of positive dissatisfaction. Having a
clear horizon.

Discontent + conviction + enthusiasm + decision = Achievement.

And with a great commitment, we must ask ourselves if we are positive or negative
dissatisfied.

Making our work an eternal need to acquire knowledge that becomes a habit
because "habits, at first, are cobwebs, and over time, cables".

I embrace the thought of Walter Bagehot, because thanks to that thought, the
journey is more delightful when you are told aloud 'you won't be able to do it', but
inwardly, you know that you will be able to do it, etc.

"The greatest pleasure in life is doing what others say we are incapable of doing."
(Walter Bagehot).

The effort that will guarantee us conquest is the one that brings together the
following invaluable elements: commitment + discipline + preparation + strategic
niche + obsession.

Commitment: Basic questions, who do I want to become? When will I return from
my journey? Fear of return produces failure, but faith allows us to achieve the goal.
It's that simple and abysmal difference: commitment is having faith in ourselves.
For that, we must always be fully convinced that we will achieve what we are
looking for; it is not worth trying anything if we are thinking about how difficult the
path of teaching is, without the permanent need for improvement.

Discipline: Nothing can be achieved without perseverance; in fact, it symbolizes the

backbone of the winner, it is the rudder of the will that guides us towards the goal.

Preparation: Today and always, the only thing that ensures our survival on the
return to the beginning is knowledge. The motivation to succeed is not enough; in
addition to the knowledge we possess, we must know how to apply it. It has
traditionally been said 'where there's a will, there's a way', but we must add
preparation, because if I wanted to play a musical piece on the piano today and
now, despite the great enthusiasm and motivation, it would be impossible for me.

Strategic niche: I have asked myself, why do very capable people fail? I think it's
because of the lack of preparation we get; in other words, it is not enough to be a
good rider, we must also choose a good horse that ensures us winning the race. In
such a diversified world, few subjects or disciplines will not house specialization; it
will help us achieve what we set as our goal: finding the right path to travel our
return.
Being obsessive: For the effort to produce results, total, unconditional, and
obsessive dedication is needed, without sparing time and resources until we
achieve what we desire. We are almost always responsible for what happens to us
and we reap what we sow.

The Character of the Respected Professional

Traditionally, the teacher has been an authoritarian figure with the ability to suspend and
punish. Their teaching was based on respect earned through discipline (in a pseudo-military
sense). Fear was the foundation of authority. But that is not the type needed by 21st-century
schools.

The teacher should be a respected and observant professional. At all times, they must be
attentive to their students (to their facial expressions, their tone of voice) to pick up
revealing emotional clues that allow them to know if what they are explaining or doing
arouses interest or, on the contrary, arouses indifference or even disdain. The teacher must
be empathetic, capable of analyzing the individual attitudes of the students and also those
of the group or class.

Ignoring the emotional atmosphere of the classroom is one of the most common mistakes of
respected teachers. What matters to many educators is that students learn, but they care
little or nothing about how they do it. Teachers should leave traces, not scars.

In summary, professionals in any field must be motivators, capable of bringing out the best
in each person they come into contact with. They should not impose or hold absolute
power, but rather be able to listen, be flexible, and know how to work as a team (with their
followers and with other professionals).

Hopefully, our schools would provide an education that does not base its essence on failure
but on learning. This would allow professionals to be better teachers for their students.

The respected teacher can be defined as the willingness to control events, with the
necessary understanding to set a course and the power to carry out a task, cooperatively
using the skills and abilities of other people.

"A respected teacher is like beauty: difficult to define, but easy to appreciate."

"The teacher is merely half of themselves; the other half is their expression."

Factors that Compose the Essence of the Teacher

Self-discipline. It means that the teacher tends to structure their life around a set of rules or
principles that they have determined to be appropriate for themselves and acceptable to the
members of their school. They do not need external motivation to ensure performance.
Determination. It means developing intense resolution to achieve their vision and goals.
Intense determination boosts morale and spirit within the educational community. This
allows the teacher to harness the strength developed by the educational community to
which they belong, which will be of great value in achieving their set and planned
objectives.

Achievement. The teacher defines success in terms of meeting the needs of their peers. The
reward they will achieve is the result of their leadership as a good teacher who fostered
teamwork. The basis of achievements resulting from effective action is determination,
decision, energy, simplicity, balance, and timeliness.

Responsibility. The esteemed professional exercises the role of a leader, taking on the
duties and obligations that result from earned trust and power. The most fundamental of
these obligations are clear perception, resolute action, and above all, concern for the
interests of those they lead. They are respected and take responsibility for the results of
their decisions and actions, sharing the consequences with their peers.

Knowledge. It is the foundation of the professional who continuously seeks learning

opportunities. Knowledge has three aspects:

1. Fundamental knowledge: studying science, history, and human nature; learning the
basic principles of art and leadership.
2. Strategic knowledge: understanding the needs and objectives set by peers, helping
them plan through effective operations to achieve their goals.
3. Tactical knowledge: focused on identifying emerging threats, reacting within the
strategic framework through creativity, innovation, and improvisation.

Confidence. They understand the nature of the social and moral contract (psychological
contract) established between them and their followers. They lead and mobilize them with
healthy motivation, receiving a share of power from them and, to a large extent, their ability
to achieve timely results. Therefore, they must work in cooperation with them to achieve
agreed-upon objectives. Leadership is one of the most important factors and absolutely
necessary to ensure that their followers are engaged and achieve their own goals.

Example. It means that a professional aiming to take on the role of a respected leader must
become a role model for the members of their peer group. Additionally, the leader's
character sets the moral tone. Their values become the standards by which their group is
governed. The respected professional is observed and imitated in all situations; at all times,
they demonstrate through their actions the preferred or ideal behavior. The respected leader
sets an example, whether intentionally or not.

"A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving." (Lao Tzu)

The journey back was not straight but filled with various obstacles along its path.
The journey back is full of obstacles, with curves called 'failures,' where 'courage' assists
me, encountering the aforementioned 'confusion,' which I will overcome with 'firmness,'
alongside 'confidence.' The known hills called 'friends' will help me overcome them with
'perseverance'; along the way, I will find caution lights known as 'family,' who will guide
me with determination in the face of crossings called 'discouragements.' After the forks
known as 'laziness,' punctures will occur that I will evacuate with 'tenacity,' to find myself
facing work, which I will achieve with 'determination' to then continue on my highway
back to where I started the journey.

But... if my courage were to wane in the face of repairs known as 'discouragement,' I can
overcome them with 'determination.' 'Tenacity' will be my engine, fueled by its outstanding
fuel known as 'persistence,' along with my driver known as 'courage,' assured in the
distinguished company known as 'faith,' in my vehicle brand 'tenacity,' model 'knowledge,'
with traction control known as 'expertise.' I will reach my destination thanks to the GPS
known as 'boldness and perseverance,' where I will share the knowledge gained with the
motivation of having embarked on the journey back, reaching the goal known as
'determination to success.'

Many times, we believe in destiny and that with mere belief, we will achieve what we set
out to do. Many of us wait for things to happen, to occur naturally, and we forget the most
important thing: to fundamentally believe in ourselves.

We settle instead of daring to do a little more than what we are paid for, without thinking
that every passing day will never return. Nothing is written, nothing is done, everything
must be conquered. Nothing in this activity is limited or impossible, not even what is
supposed to be impossible.

It all depends on our own construction and our will. From that inner strength that says 'yes,
I can,' 'I will do it,' in the face of every challenge. Being aware that we hold immense
power, and when we are determined, when we are convinced, when we truly desire
something, no obstacle can stand in the way of our conquest.

If we truly set our minds to it and want it, we can go further than we anticipated. If we
want, we can reach just as high or even higher, but never beyond what we have set out for
ourselves. If we want, we can do anything. We just have to set our minds to it and
remember that we will never be greater than our dreams.

"We have learned to fly like birds and to swim like fish, but we have not yet learned to live
like brothers." (Martin Luther King)

________________
4. http://www.salvarojeducacion.com/2014/08/el-docente-como-lider-del-aula.

On the Verge of Knockout

Diagnoses of illnesses bother us, especially when they are unexpected like Parkinson's; they
come with a wheelbarrow of medication prescriptions and therapies to undergo.

In my case, when I received the diagnosis, it felt like a right cross to the jaw that almost
knocked me out.

Of course, I took enough time to take a deep breath and gather myself; right there, in the
doctor's office, I reacted with a positive attitude towards the diagnosis. In that same space
and place, I told Dr. Sergio Vesco that if I had to live with my road companion until the end
of my days, I shouldn't go around boxing with life.

It's part of my attitude towards the contingencies that life itself puts in front of me; it's
undeniable, we are all different and react differently.

I believe that when life was given to me, it was to live it and not to analyze and understand
it; that's why I choose to live it in a positive state. I live every moment with joy of doing
what I love and fully enjoy it. And I only remember my road companion when I talk about
him.

Yes, I know it sounds strange. It's just that when something frustrates or annoys me, I
confront it so that it doesn't hurt me. My way of being is part of my identity and my way of
seeing and living life.

To illustrate, it's like when someone says, 'I don't know how you can listen to that music,'
without considering that it speaks to their tastes, not mine. I choose to live without letting
anything bother me. What is important to me is not important to other people, even when it
comes to attitudes towards life like the way I chose to face the things that happen to me.

I have relatives and acquaintances for whom health is their priority; they live by taking care
of themselves and neglecting other aspects of their lives, even though they are aware that
they could live enjoying the aspects of life that it presents and that when faced with a
Parkinson's diagnosis, they give up and their life begins to deteriorate at an unexpected
speed.

We must strive to make the world a better place for our children, and this, through our
actions, will reflect the way of life we choose. We must have empathy and respect the fact
that people have the right to live as they please, according to their own values and
principles, cultivating their interests and preferences. This means that we have to focus on
acting according to our own principles and values.

'What if I had done this or that, wouldn't this have happened?'

We are surrounded by people who live in anguish and repeatedly ask themselves if I had
done this or that, wouldn't this have happened? because they dislike the current events, and
they question and answer within indecision: What if I act this way and then regret it?
Indecision paralyzes us, it kills us, we don't know which way to jump on the track and the
train is coming at us. We must not waste time on regrets because, in the case of facing a
problem or a painful event, I can think that this event may be an opportunity. And the best
opportunity is to remind ourselves that we must strengthen ourselves more in life. This is
the task that corresponds to us.

While attending a training session at a company where I worked, they sent me a story that
can be very enlightening on this matter. I don't know its authorship, but that doesn't
diminish the validity of the narrative. It can be very useful when we find ourselves
entangled in 'What ifs?', bearing in mind that we will never know if what is happening to us
is good or bad for the future, all we can do is accept events as they come and continue
walking through life. Yes, directing our steps to where we decide to go.

The Hermit's Animals

It tells the story of an older man who retired one day to live in solitude, atop a mountain.
Many people came there wanting to consult him about something, but the hermit always
claimed to be busy. One day, a traveler asked him:

-I don't see that you have anything to do. You only have your clothes and a bed made of
tree leaves. What do you spend all your time on? Why do you say you're so busy?

The old man turned and replied calmly:

-I have many animals to care for and watch over. You don't see them, but I must train two
hawks and two eagles, constantly calm two rabbits, discipline a snake, motivate a donkey
day after day, and tame a fierce lion...

-But, where are all these animals? —the man asked again.

-Within you —said the hermit, pointing his finger at the visitor. —And within me...

Seeing the man's astonished face, the hermit explained:

-My two hawks swoop down on everything they see, they are very curious, but I must
prevent them from swooping down on the bad and only sticking to the good. They are my
eyes. And the eagles have very powerful claws, they could do a lot of harm, so I must train
them not to harm anyone... they are my hands.

And yes, my two rabbits are very easily frightened. As soon as they encounter a difficulty,
they try to turn back or find an alternative route to avoid facing the problem. They get very
nervous, and I must calm them down. They are my feet.

Now, the animal that gives me the most headaches is the snake... I have it locked in a cage,
and as soon as it comes out of it, it tries to bite someone at the slightest carelessness. I must
be very careful because its bite is poisonous... It is my tongue.
The poor donkey complains every day. He is very stubborn because he says he is tired, and
I must convince him every day that he can continue with his work. It is my body. And last
but not least... there is the lion. He is very fierce and difficult to tame. I have been trying for
years, but as soon as I think I have succeeded, he roars loudly again. He is vain and always
thinks he is the king. It is my ego. You see, I have no time for anything else... that's why I
am so busy.

The traveler descended the mountain and told his story to everyone. Moral: "Do not forget
that among your daily tasks is to control all your flaws."

This interesting reading of 'The Hermit's Animals', whose origin is unknown, is fantastic
for discussing all these topics:

—The need to control flaws.

—How to master impulses.

—Ego and vanity as one of the most harmful flaws.

—The relationship between our body and emotions.

Reflections on this interesting story

The reading of 'The Hermit's Animals' warns us of the need to control our body, our
emotions, and our flaws. It is a tough job that will take a long time. The idea of comparing
the body and flaws with animals is very useful for drawing all these conclusions:

—The eyes, the gateway: In the story, the hermit talks about the eyes as those hawks 'that
swoop down on everything they see,' without considering whether it is good or bad. The
eyes, which also represent our constant curiosity, must be trained to learn to observe beauty
and everything good and separate it from the bad. It seems simple, but often noticing the
beauty of things is not so easy, nor marveling every day at something we have seen many
other times. And seeing goodness is a higher step that eyes can also reach.

—Beware of anger: In this fable, the hands represent outbursts of anger, tantrums, and the
thirst for revenge. Hands can be constructive or destructive. That is why the hermit insists
on training these 'eagles' with powerful claws, so that they know how to use them for good
and not to harm.

"Hands can build or destroy. It is we ourselves who choose and order their task."

—The fear that paralyzes us: In this story, rabbits symbolize our fears and limitations.
Every time we collapse in front of an obstacle, we act like those easily frightened rabbits.
The hermit insists on the need to encourage and reassure them so that they do not turn back
and can face all the difficulties of life.

—The viperous tongue: How many times have you regretted something you said that hurt
someone else? Words can be crueler than a slap. The hermit knows this, and that is why he
watches 'the snake,' which is the tongue, so that it does not lash out and hurt anyone
because afterward, we always regret it.

—Our constant complaints and lack of self-esteem: A realistic person can see the difficulty
or problem and proposes ideas to change it, while the pessimist only complains and prefers
to give up without further ado since he feels incapable of doing it. The donkey is, in this
story, our tired body, our defeatism, our lack of faith in ourselves, that 'I better not continue
because it will go wrong.' However, the hermit gives us the solution to end that defeatism,
and it is to constantly motivate ourselves. Phrases like 'you can do it,' 'of course, you will
succeed,' 'a little more,' or 'surely there is a way out' will overcome the apathy and fatigue
of our body.

"Words often do more harm than deeds themselves. Hence, we must think very carefully
about what we say and how we say it."

Let's imagine a doctor who in the morning goes to visit his interns and greets them in the
following way: - 'Hello! How are you today?' Using the same words, he could also greet
them as follows: 'Hello! How are you today?' It's not the same, even though the words are
the same, and it has the opposite meaning.

—That great flaw... vanity: Pride and vanity can be, without us realizing it, terribly
destructive to ourselves. Ego blinds us to the point that we lie to ourselves and believe in a
reality parallel to what others see. It is dangerous because it makes us behave really
stupidly and only achieves the rejection of others. The vain person ends up alone and is
capable of annihilating even making humility invisible.

In the fable, the ego is identified with a lion. Taming that 'fierce lion' that we all carry
inside, we will make the ego just right to provide us with self-esteem and respect.

When we were children, we learned many life lessons through fables. But these short (and
ancient) stories with animals or things as protagonists also give lessons to adults, especially
entrepreneurs.

Here is a well-known fable by Aesop:

The Lion and the Mouse

A lion was sleeping when a mouse started to play on top of his body. The lion woke up and
caught him. About to be devoured, the mouse begged for forgiveness, promising to repay
him in the future. The lion laughed and let him go. Days later, hunters captured the king of
the jungle and tied him with a rope. Hearing the lion's lament, the mouse ran to the place
and gnawed the rope, setting him free. —"A few days ago —he said— you mocked me
thinking that I could do nothing for you in gratitude. Now it is good for you to know that
small mice are grateful and fulfilled."

Lesson: Never underestimate your size or that of others. It is likely that someone may feel
you are small compared to the greats and that you can't do anything to share with them or
offer value. The key is to meet their needs and seize opportunities to gradually gain
traction. Know yourself and discover what you can do for others.

Likewise, never underestimate someone because of their size, position, or condition. In

your territory, consider the opinions of your collaborators, regardless of their area or
position, since you never know where your next great idea may come from; nor judge
someone by their condition or name, the person you least expect can become your next
great friend.

And lastly: always keep your word. Don't blame anyone, never complain about anything or
anyone because fundamentally you have made your life.

Accept the responsibility of building yourself and the value of accusing yourself of failure
to start over, correcting yourself. The triumph of the true man arises from the ashes of error.

Never complain about the environment or those around you, there are those in your same
environment who knew how to overcome, circumstances are good or bad according to the
will or strength of your heart.

Don't complain about your poverty, your loneliness, or your luck, face them with courage
and accept that in one way or another they are the result of your actions and the test you
have to overcome.

Don't get bitter about your own failure or blame it on someone else, accept yourself now or
you will continue to justify yourself like a child, remember that any moment is good to start
and that none is so terrible to give up.

Stop deceiving yourself, you are the cause of yourself, of your need, of your failure. If you
have been ignorant, irresponsible, it is only you, only you, no one else could have been for
you. Don't forget that the cause of your present is your past, as the cause of your future is
the present.

Learn from the strong, from the bold, imitate the energetic, the victors, those who do not
accept situations, those who overcame despite everything. Think less about your problems
and more about your work, and your problems without food will die.

Learn to be born from pain and to be greater, which is the greatest of obstacles. Look at
yourself in the mirror of yourself.
Start being honest with yourself by recognizing yourself for your courage, your will, and
your weakness to justify yourself.

Remember that within you there is a force that can do anything; recognizing yourself as
freer and stronger, you will stop being a puppet of circumstances, because you yourself are
destiny and no one can replace you in the construction of your destiny.

Rise and look over the mountains and breathe the light of dawn. You are part of the force of
life. Never think about luck because "luck is the pretext of the failures" (Pablo Neruda).

We are today the direct result of the actions we have taken in the past, not luck. For me,
luck is a plant that we water every day. The degree of happiness and success that you can
enjoy today is the product of what you have done with your life in the past and the luck you
watered every day, with the study and motivation to leave home every morning to do
enough to achieve your goals. If you are not where you would like to be today, then you
need to act differently every day to change your future, with a greater effort. The thoughts
we have at every moment condition our lives. The way we see the world undoubtedly
determines the posture, attitude, and actions of day-to-day life. Therefore, it is logical to
believe that with an optimistic projection of life, everything can go well.

The level of success and happiness we achieve is the direct result of our effort and habitual
actions. It is not the product of actions we take from time to time but of daily effort, since
the only place where you will find success before work is in the dictionary. Habits are the
rudder that leads our lives. We need to be careful with the habits we develop if we want to
achieve a goal of success.

Unfortunately, in most people, habits are the result of impulsive and emotional decisions,
not the result of a system and method of work or logical, mature, and planned decisions. If
they have had a significant amount of negative emotions, then they will tend to produce
negative reactions, with negative results. James Allen, a British philosophical writer known
for his books, used to say: "As a man thinks through his heart, so he is. Not only does it
encompass his being, but it comes to understand every condition and circumstance of his
life. A man is literally what he thinks, his character being the sum of all his thoughts."

The thoughts in the mind forge, shape, and generate people's actions. Everything I think I
turn into a story, and those data that are missing I add personally.

The thoughts we have, at every moment, condition our lives. The way we see the world,
undoubtedly, determines the posture, attitude, and actions of day-to-day life. Therefore, it is
logical to believe that with an optimistic projection of life, everything can go well.

The most powerful and useful tool at your disposal to help you take control of your habits
is your level of motivation. If you motivate yourself, your desire becomes unstoppable to
travel the path towards the goal and achievement of your goals, leaving behind your fears
of failure. A motivated person is capable of overcoming obstacles and taking the
opportunities that life presents.
To increase your level of motivation, there are some indications, specifying as clearly as
possible each of the goals, which are what give purpose to your life.

—Make your goals public. In this way, you will commit to your environment, making the
commitment so immense that it will become a great motivator in your life.

—Act daily. Once you determine your goals, make a plan in which you demand yourself, at
least, to take a step every day to achieve them. No matter if it's a small or big step. It can be
a phone call, making a contact, reading something, a letter, anything you do every day.
Each of these steps will take you a little closer to your goal and will motivate you for higher
achievements. Remember that a habit is formed by repeated behavior. By performing daily
actions, you will form powerful successful habits that will allow you to act automatically in
the future.

—Get excited! We are not creatures of pure logic; we are emotional beings. While our
minds produce the most successful plan conceived in life, it is emotion, our desire, that
moves us to execute the plan. Activate all the good feelings you have or can think of. Every
time you achieve something, small or large, every step you take forward, feel and get
excited to realize that you are now walking closer to your goal. Another good technique is
to write down all the reasons why you want or need to achieve a goal. Also, jot down all the
things you will lose, everything you will not free yourself from, and that you detest in your
life if you do not achieve your goal. Keeping in mind the two primary emotions, motivation
and fear, you will choose the strength of desire to achieve your goals.

-Take responsibility! Don't leave responsibility to others. Stop blaming your parents, your
childhood, your children, your spouse, the economy, the government, your boss, or anyone
else. Don't say 'if only I could' or 'I would'. Now say: 'I can and I want to'. There may be
many justifications for accepting how things are now, but only you can change them, to
change the consequences. If you do your best at this moment, you put yourself in the best
place for the next moment.

Can one learn to be optimistic?

Definitely yes. Israeli psychologist Tal Ben Shahar teaches the most popular course at
Harvard University, where he teaches how to be happy. We can learn to be positive. It's a
slow but rewarding process filled with possibilities to improve our physical and mental
health. Optimism is a way of capturing the present moment because happiness is not what
happens to us, but how we interpret what happens to us. People who have achieved the
most in life had an optimistic view of the world and of people, and they knew how to
communicate it to others. The optimist sees a project while the pessimist always finds an
excuse not to start.

1— Our brain has great neuroplasticity. It can be trained. Illusion is to the brain what
exercise is to the muscle. Passion for life increases neural connections and produces a
movement of neurons towards the hippocampus (area of memory and fear). As Santiago
Ramón y Cajal, Nobel Prize winner and father of neuroscience, said, "Every human being,
if they propose it, can be the sculptor of their own project."
2— We must learn to discover what each adverse circumstance teaches us. It takes patience
and time. Sometimes we have to wait to understand negative events. Winston Churchill
said, "The optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity; the pessimist sees a calamity in
every opportunity."

3— Hopelessness, apathy, and demotivation block areas of our brain and prevent us from
seeing solutions. They decrease blood flow in basic brain areas for problem-solving. We
must learn to live with hope, which is the key to inner peace.

4— Goethe thought, "If you treat a person as they are, they will remain as they are; but if
you treat them as if they were what they should and could be, they will become what they
can and should be." This works both for ourselves and for the people around us. Dream big,
act small.

5— Grow in the face of adversity. Not disappear or wish to disappear. Fight persistently. In
my work, I observe the lives of people who have moved forward and, despite having
suffered greatly, have been able to rise and start over. Defeat shapes us, teaches us what
success prevents us from seeing.

6— Find models, examples that drive us. "If you see a good man, imitate him; if you see a
bad man: examine yourself," said Confucius. Reading about the lives of people who have
managed to move forward despite difficulties will inspire us not to be discouraged or
overwhelmed by the difficulties of the present moment.

Happiness is a way of seeing reality; therefore, the task of learning to be optimistic consists
of practicing, looking at that reality, looking at people kindly, and looking at the world with
hope and enthusiasm. As Gilbert Keith Chesterton pointed out: "An optimist is someone
who looks at your eyes; a pessimist is someone who looks at your feet."

Optimism

The secret lies in the eyes. The optimist has learned to educate their gaze to discover the
positive that lurks around them. It's not that they are incapable of perceiving the negative,
but rather that they focus more on the good than the bad.

Their vision scans reality, but in their retina, heart, and mind, the most valuable things
reside. It's all in the way of looking.

Life is like a maritime adventure. The sea doesn't always present itself serene and calm, but
as something alive, in motion, with ups and downs, storms, and days of open horizons.
When the sea begins to roughen and the waves demand passage and take the lead, one
adopts certain defensive measures to stay safe.

Every biography has moments of shipwreck. The best life has gone through boundary
experiences, with the danger of not staying afloat. The optimist doesn't lose their calm
when everything seems to collapse. They know how to keep it together. They have strength
and serenity. They put things into perspective. They fight against the elements. They are
attentive to everything but looking into the distance because favorable winds will return.
They grow in adversity. It's not easy to defeat them beforehand. They always offer
resistance that counterbalances fate. Misfortune and negative conditions for navigation do
not make them succumb to the worst forebodings, but rather they fight, remedy, devise
ways not to be swept away by those whirlwind elements of nature.

Optimism is not a flat and simplistic view of reality but the ability to accept another angle
of the facts, always putting a positive note and applying it with judgment. The optimistic
person knows how to differentiate what is substantial from what is anecdotal and
peripheral.

Edgar Allan Poe recounts in his 'Descent into the Maelstrom' something that clearly
illustrates what I mean. Three fishermen are caught in a whirlpool of sea at full speed. A
huge circular funnel forcefully drags the first two. The third, cooler in the analysis of
dizzying events, does not lose his composure amid what is looming and observes what is
happening. Not everything is lost; the suction occurs in an orderly manner; there is a
system.

And in the midst of the terrifying experience, he realizes that circular objects enter the
whirlpool, spin around, and are expelled, thrown forcefully outward. He ties himself to a
barrel, enters the whirlpool, spins around, and then is shot out several meters away.

The boat in which the fishermen were sailing is absorbed and devoured, while this third
crew member does not allow himself to be fooled by an enraged sea but rather counteracts
the waves' uproar with the best of himself.

Optimism is a way of navigating.

We Are What We Think

"A mind tormented by doubt cannot concentrate on the path that leads to success." (Arthur
Golden).

Any dominant idea or goal maintained in our conscious mind through repeated and excited
effort, generated by a burning desire to achieve it, is incorporated by our subconscious,
which does not think, reason, or deliberate; it acts on instinct in response to basic emotions
and carries out actions through any natural and logical means available.

The only thing over which we have complete and absolute control at all times is our mental
attitude. This means that we are the owners of what we want to think. We must learn to
exercise this right as a habit. The conscious mind is where reasoning and thinking take
place. It is where the information received is evaluated, acting as a jealous guardian of the
door to the subconscious.
Our conscious mind develops as a result of experience. The differences between people are
marked by the way they have trained their conscious minds. Because subconsciously, we
are all very similar. The subconscious could be compared to a car, while its driver could be
the conscious mind. The power is in the car, not the driver; the driver must learn to unleash
and direct that power.

As a result of all this analysis that humans have been doing throughout their existence,
perhaps the greatest discovery was achieved: human beings can change their lives if they
are able to change their mental attitude.

This means that if you change your way of thinking and your attitude towards reality, you
completely change your way of life, resulting in a change in mindset. So, you know: stop
bothering and delaying with thoughts and attitudes of pessimism and frustration. Cheer up
and start changing your ideas about yourself and your present and future reality. Stick to it,
and you will be surprised at your life.

Promote in yourself the attitude of 'I can do it, and everything will turn out fine.'

Dr. Archibald Hart, in his book 'Mind Habits,' states the following: "Our body is a servant
of the mind. It obeys mental operations, whether chosen deliberately or expressed
automatically. Health and illness, as well as circumstances, are rooted in thought."

Much of what happens to us in our lives is because we do not control our thoughts, and,
being unable to do so, our emotions, reactions, and actions gain ground and lead us down a
path we did not want to take, whose destination is nowhere. We are what we think, and we
get what we are thinking. To exemplify this, nothing better than through an article that
appeared in the magazine "Muy Interesante" in July 2002, where we will learn about the
wonderful power of the mind.

A scientist from Phoenix, Arizona, wanted to test a theory. He needed a volunteer who
would go to the extreme. He found one in a penitentiary. It was a death row inmate who
would be executed in the St. Louis penitentiary in the state of Missouri, where the death
penalty by electric chair exists.

He proposed the following: the volunteer would participate in a scientific experiment, in

which a small cut would be made on his wrist, where the pulse is normally taken, enough
for him to lose all his blood, drop by drop.

He had a chance of surviving if the blood coagulated. If that happened, he would be

released; otherwise, he would die from blood loss, which would be a painless death. The
inmate accepted because it was preferable to that than dying in the electric chair; besides,
he had a chance of survival.

The inmate was placed on a high hospital bed, and his body was tied down so he couldn't
move. A small cut was made on his wrist. Underneath his wrist, a small aluminum vessel
was placed. He was told that he would hear his blood dripping into the vessel.
The cut was superficial and did not reach any artery or vein, but it was enough for him to
feel like his pulse was cut. Without his knowledge, there was a bottle of serum with a small
valve under the bed. When the pulse was cut, the valve of the bottle was opened so that he
believed, by the sound, that it was his blood dripping into the vessel.

In reality, it was the serum in the bottle that was dripping. Every 10 minutes, the scientist,
without the inmate seeing it, would close the valve a little, and the dripping would decrease.
Meanwhile, the inmate believed that his blood was decreasing.

Over time, he became paler, losing color. When the scientist completely closed the valve,
the inmate had a heart attack and died, without even having lost a drop of blood.

The scientist managed to prove that the human mind fulfills, to the letter, everything that is
sent to it, whether positive or negative, and that such action involves the entire body,
whether in the organic or psychic part.

You may consider this story gruesome, yet it could be the story of your life. Do you take
care of your thoughts while you are awake? There are so many thoughts that pass through
our minds that sometimes we do not distinguish reality from fantasy; our mind records and
fulfills what is sent to it.

You can't change people, but you can change the way you think and react. Be mindful of
what you think during the hours you're awake. The story of the prisoner could have had a
different outcome if he had clung to reality rather than the fantasy of his thoughts. The
result was what he imagined.

Stop being the cause of your frustrations, make the idea that you can achieve your dreams
your own. Visualize yourself enjoying your dreams; don't scare away success. Renounce
being a victim of your negative thoughts. Don't seek pity. Be the commander in chief of
your destiny. You will be as your thoughts dictate.

"Whoever thinks of shipwrecking, has already done so before setting sail." "Whoever
thinks of succeeding, has already traveled halfway."

We must learn to live in a state of illusion. That state will allow us to always face life and
its inconveniences with an attitude; we should not consider ourselves slaves to our setbacks
or the situations we may face, nor should we resign ourselves to such situations because if
we manage to be excited by a vision, to see what we pretend, the finished objective, our
daily life will be within a positive framework, because we will be seeing that goal with
excitement, as shown in the following story.

"Some workers were chipping stone in front of a huge building under construction. A
visitor approached one of the workers and asked:

—What are you all doing here?

The worker looked at him harshly and replied:

—Are you blind not to see what we're doing? Here, chipping stone like slaves for a
miserable salary and without the slightest recognition. Look at that same sign. Over there,
they put the names of the engineers, the architects, but not ours, who are the ones working
hard and leaving our skin in the work.

The visitor then approached another worker and asked the same question.

—Here, as you can see, chipping stone to build this huge building. The work is hard and
poorly paid, but times are tough, there's not much work, and something has to be done to
feed the children.

The visitor approached a third worker and, once again, asked what he was doing. The man
replied with great enthusiasm:

—We're building a hospital, the most beautiful in the world. Future generations will admire
it, impressed, and they will hear the constant coming and going of ambulances, announcing
God's help for men. I intend to see it finished because I want to be part of this extraordinary
adventure."

The same work, the same salary, the same lack of recognition. Three different ways of
looking at and living the same reality: the first considers himself in a state of slavery; the
second lives with resignation; on the other hand, the third lives his time with passion,
enjoying the adventure and the challenge of being part of the completion of the project.

If you think or believe that the world you live in is hell, undoubtedly that will be the result
of the world in which you will live.

William James was one of the great psychologists and philosophers of the United States.
Once he was asked what he considered to be the most important discovery in the field of
human development in the last hundred years. His response was as follows: "Until now it
was thought that to act one had to feel. Today it is known that feeling appears when we
begin to act. This is, for me, the greatest discovery of the century in the field of human
development."

James summarizes the discovery with the following adage: "The bird does not sing because
it is happy, it is happy because it sings." Even if you get depressed, if you start acting as if
you were happy, you will end up feeling happy, and therefore you will be. Behavior
changes feeling, feeling changes thinking.

Most people say, 'I'll do it the day I feel good.' That's not the way. Start acting immediately,
and things will change inside and outside of you. Intention without action is illusion. Dare
to do it, and power will be given to you.
Much of what happens to us in life is because we do not control what enters our minds
daily, because there are more disseminators of bad news than of good ones. Faced with
promoters of bad news, our thoughts change, become contaminated, and see that an
apocalypse is brewing, and since we cannot have a positive outlook in this situation, due to
the information provided to us, our emotions react and act so that we behave in a way we
don't intend, as shown in the following story, because fear is devastating.

"It tells the story of a man who sold delicious donuts on the side of a road. The business
was booming so much that he didn't even listen to the radio or read the newspapers. He also
paid little attention to the television. In the summer, his son, who was doing a postgraduate
degree in Business Sciences in the USA, came to visit him, and he gave him some news:

—Dad, you don't listen to the radio, you don't read the newspapers, today the world is
suffering from a huge crisis. This is over, it only has a very short time left and it sinks.

The father thought, 'My son has studies, he is informed and knows what he is talking about.'
So he bought fewer ingredients to reduce his donut production. In order to maintain the
price, he lowered the quality of the ingredients, which led to decreasing sales day by day,
and after a short time, he started to suffer losses. The man called his son at the university to
tell him:

—You were right, son. We are immersed in a very big crisis."

Before our decision, a mountain of doubts always appears, even more so when faced with a
declaration of war by a superpower against a peaceful country. We look at the doughnut
seller who didn't listen to the radio, read newspapers, or watch TV, but of course, his son
conveyed to him what they showed at the university, teaching him about a country where
things were previously established, not like his father's where life was marked by customs
and everyday events. He made the decision very quickly, without having all the necessary
information. A good strategy would have been to make the decision based on things that
depended on him, such as knowledge of his business, the market he served, and its
evolution. Modifying something can lead us to make a mistake and be wrong. But it is also
true that we can almost always rectify, we can go back and take a new path. Making
decisions is assuming the consequences.

We are the result of what we think. Don't blame anyone, or complain about anything or
anyone, because we are the result of what we think.

Accept with courage recognizing your mistake to start over by correcting yourself, because
the conquest of success arises from the ashes of missteps. If you can avoid some, even
better. Do it without complaining about where you were born, the circumstances, or the
environment that surrounds you, because there are those in your same situation who knew
how to succeed.

Scenarios are good or bad depending on how you view reality. Because it's not the problem
that makes the difference, but what you do in the face of the problem. If we learn to turn
every adverse scenario into our best weapon for achieving our goals. As an example, the
story of the two salesmen who, on a rainy day, the first one thinks, 'how do you expect me
to go out selling in such weather'; on the other hand, the second one thinks: 'this rainy day
is fantastic for me, I'll find everyone at home'.

Thought changes depending on how you face your reality, where and how you were
educated, the environment in which you were born, the parents you were lucky enough to
have. It will be relative if you have the courage and accept the result of your creation. Do
not blame yourself for unwanted events or blame them on others, because if you do, all you
will achieve is to continue justifying yourself like a child.

Stop lamenting your sadness, your need, your pain, or your failure. You decided to build
yourself that way.

If you want to transform your construction, you have to rise again from love, honoring your
parents, and you will be greater than the greatest of obstacles, inside you will find an
unbeatable being who can do anything.

The cause of your present is your past, as the cause of your future will be your present.
Learn from the strong, the bold, reproduce from the brave, the winners, from those who do
not accept impossible situations, from those who are not attracted to the easy path, who do
not accept shortcuts and do accept the challenge of what is demanding, achievable with
effort.

Living without fear of social stigma

We will explore some tips and strategies that will help you overcome the fear of social
stigma and live fully without the burden of others' judgment. We will discuss how to handle
the situation when faced with discrimination and how to educate people in your
environment about Parkinson's disease.

Many Parkinson's patients suffer from shame due to social stigma and discrimination,
which is one of the biggest concerns for those living with the disease. They often feel
watched, judged, misunderstood, and even somewhat discriminated against and
marginalized because of their condition. However, it is important to remember that social
stigma is the result of ignorance and lack of knowledge.

We must learn how to communicate effectively with our loved ones, friends, coworkers,
and the community in general to share our experience and help break stereotypes. It is also
crucial to participate in Parkinson's patient associations, where you will discover the
importance of support groups that will show you how to address each moment of the
disease, as it is progressive. In those moments of distress due to the appearance of new
symptoms, you are not alone, and there are fellow sufferers from many organizations and
support groups who can provide help by sharing how they resolved it with their experience.
With the right information and tools, you can live a full and satisfying life without feeling
limited by social stigma. Learn to see beyond your condition and value your abilities,
achievements, and potential. Don't let social stigma hold you back!

It is important for Parkinson's patients to know that their positive attitude can significantly
contribute to improving their psychological health. Here are some suggestions to help you
manifest this idea:

-Congratulate the Parkinson's patient for their achievements and progress, no matter how
small. Let them know that their perseverance and positivity are important for their well-
being.

-In my personal case, it helped me a lot to talk about my illness by naming Parkinson's,
very different from my wife who only managed to name it years after my diagnosis. It is
worth mentioning that I have her unconditional support and patience, even with my dreams
and nightmares.

-We share with other Parkinson's patients stories of people who have managed to overcome
similar obstacles. This helps to feel like a member of the group, even a little bit like an
owner, in addition to motivation to maintain a positive attitude.

When it comes to Parkinson's disease, a positive attitude can make a big difference in the
patient's mental and physical health. While it does not cure the disease, a positive attitude
can help reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, which in turn improves the patient's quality
of life.

To manifest this to the Parkinson's patient (PP), it is important to explain the relationship
between the mind and the body, reminding them that what the mind believes, it achieves. If
the patient believes that their condition is a death sentence or a limitation to enjoying life,
they may fall into a state of depression and anxiety that will affect their quality of life. On
the contrary, if the patient maintains a positive and optimistic attitude, they can face the
challenges of the disease with greater strength and energy; improving the patient's self-
esteem also increases their sense of control over their life.

-Encourage the PP to focus on the things they can still do, instead of focusing on the
limitations that the disease may have imposed on them. Encourage them to do activities that
make them feel good and do things for themselves, such as hobbies, relaxation and
meditation exercises, and social activities that keep them in touch with friends and family.

-Remind them that their positive attitude not only benefits them but will also be a great
encouragement to those around them. With the emotional support and encouragement of
loved ones, they will face the disease with determination and courage.

-Meditation can help focus their mind on developing mindfulness, reducing negative
thoughts that may arise due to the illness. Meditation helps the patient observe thoughts and
sensations without judging them. This skill will make them more aware of their emotions
and allow them to have a more positive outlook on life.

-Relaxation, on the other hand, will help reduce muscle tension and release anxiety. It can
be breathing exercises, yoga, tai chi, massages, or hot baths; the idea is to find a practice
that suits the patient's needs and preferences.

-It is important to remember that neither meditation nor relaxation is a cure for Parkinson's
disease, but they can be a valuable tool for improving the patient's quality of life. Both
practices can help reduce symptoms of the disease, such as tremors, stiffness, and slowness
of movement. It is important to remind the patient that self-care and well-being are a
valuable part of their care plan. Encourage the patient to experiment with different practices
to find what works best for them.

In life, we typically find two types of people:

-Those who always expect the worst in any situation.

-Those who imagine the best and expect a positive outcome.

Which group are you in? Are you with the pessimists or the optimists?

Hopefully, you are one of those who, when proposing something good, start generating
ideas to see how it can be done.

Indeed, it is frustrating to deal with those people who seek reasons and nonsense to show
that something cannot be done for a hundred different reasons; surely there will be some of
them in every family or group of friends.

Hopefully, a rainy day is a different day for you and not a terrible day.

Hopefully, you see a challenge in every obstacle and not a problem. It is proven that we
attract what we think. Therefore, if you expect the worst, you will undoubtedly find it.
Choose to focus on the positive.

Poor you if you see surgery in every wound, pneumonia in every cold, and a storm in every
drizzle.

Keep in mind that the optimist always wins because they look for answers and, assuming
things worsen, they do not anticipate their pain or distress but choose to contemplate the
smiling face of existence.

Hopefully, you are one of those who, when proposing something good, embark on
founding new ideas to see how it can be done.
Indeed, it is shameful to deal with those who scrutinize reasons and outrages to show that
something cannot be done.

May you distinguish in every obstacle a bouquet of new opportunities and not an
insurmountable problem.

It is confirmed that we attract what we think. Therefore, if you expect the worst, you are on
your way to finding it. Choose to focus on the positive because there everything is possible.

In summary, optimism and pessimism are two different mental attitudes that influence how
people face life situations.

Optimism refers to a positive and hopeful mental attitude that focuses on the positive
aspects of a situation and seeks opportunities for growth and improvement. Optimistic
people tend to be more resilient and have a greater ability to face challenges and overcome
obstacles. They also tend to be more proactive and have more confidence in themselves and
their ability to achieve their goals.

On the other hand, pessimism refers to a negative and defeatist mental attitude that focuses
on the negative aspects of a situation and tends to anticipate the worst. Thus, pessimistic
people are more likely to experience anxiety and depression, and have less motivation to
take action to improve their situation.

In summary, the main difference between optimism and pessimism lies in the mental
perspective that people adopt in a situation. While optimism seeks opportunities and
solutions, pessimism focuses on problems and limitations, believing that something will not
work or cannot be achieved.

My grandparents used to say that in bad weather, you have to put on a good face, which
reminds me of a story about one of Mr. Winston Churchill's visits to the United States. He
remained very optimistic and cheerful throughout, which surprised everyone, as the
economic and financial situation was dramatic. Someone asked him why he was so
cheerful, and Churchill commented:

"When things go wrong, you have to be in a better mood because misfortunes flee from
those who ignore them."

On one occasion, Martin Luther King was about to give one of his famous speeches on
human rights when he noticed a little black boy in front of his audience. He was surprised
and asked one of his assistants about it, who indicated that the boy had been the first to
arrive at the venue.

When he finished his speech, balloons of different colors were released into the sky, which
the little boy couldn't stop looking at. This caught Martin Luther King's attention, and he
hugged him, lifting him up in his arms.
The boy looked at him intently and asked if the black balloons also flew to the sky. Martin
looked at him tenderly and replied:

"Balloons do not fly to the sky because of the color they have but because of what they
carry inside."

And the question we should occasionally ask ourselves is... Are the thoughts we carry
inside us pessimistic or optimistic? Which ones will allow us to reach the sky?

The optimist sees an opportunity in every calamity, expresses a positive attitude in the face
of life's adversities, and can inspire others to seek the positive side in difficult situations. In
contrast, the pessimist does not see a beautiful sunrise through the window; they see the
specks of dirt on the glass. The negative outlook shows how the pessimist focuses on the
negative aspects of situations, even when there is beauty or hope around them. It is crucial
to remember that our perception of things can significantly change our quality of life and
emotional well-being depending on whether the outlook is optimistic or pessimistic.

Let us reflect on the following dream:

"One day, a little caterpillar was walking towards the sun. Near the path, there was a
grasshopper.

— 'Where are you heading?' — the grasshopper asked. Without stopping, the caterpillar
replied:

— 'I had a dream last night: I dreamed that from the top of the mountain, I looked out over
the entire valley. I liked what I saw in my dream, so I've decided to make it a reality.'
Surprised, the grasshopper said as her friend walked away:

— 'You must be crazy. How could you ever get to that place? You, a simple caterpillar! A
stone would be a mountain, a small puddle a sea, and any log an insurmountable barrier.'

But the caterpillar was already far away and didn't hear her. Her tiny feet kept moving.

Suddenly, the voice of a beetle was heard:

— 'Where are you heading with such determination?'

Sweating, the caterpillar said, panting:

— 'I had a dream, and I want to make it happen. I will climb that mountain and from there,
I will contemplate our entire world.'

The beetle couldn't help but laugh; he burst out laughing and then said:
— 'Not even I with such large legs would attempt such an ambitious endeavor!' The beetle
remained on the ground, laughing, while the caterpillar continued her journey, having
already advanced a few inches. Likewise, the spider, the mole, the frog, and the flower
advised our friend to give up.

— 'You will never succeed!' they said, but deep inside, there was an impulse that compelled
her to keep going. Exhausted, without strength, and on the brink of death, she decided to
stop to rest and, with her last effort, build a place to rest.

— 'I'll be better off' — were her last words, and she died.

All the animals of the valley came to see her remains for days. There lay the craziest animal
in the town.

She had built, as her tomb, a monument to foolishness. There was a tough shelter, worthy
of the one who died trying to achieve an unattainable dream.

One morning, when the sun was shining in a special way, all the animals gathered around
what had become a warning to the daring. Suddenly, they were astonished. That hard
cocoon began to crack, and with amazement, they saw eyes and an antenna that could
belong to the caterpillar they all believed was dead.

Little by little, as if to give them time to recover from the shock, the beautiful rainbow
wings of that impressive being emerged: a butterfly. There was nothing to say.

Everyone knew what she would do; she would fly to the great mountain and fulfill her
dream: the dream for which she had lived, for which she had died, and for which she had
come back to life.

We have been created to fulfill a dream. Let's live for it, work to conquer it, strive to reach
it, put our lives into it, and if we realize that we can't, perhaps we need to pause on the
journey and ask for help from the group that will allow us to experience a radical change in
our lives."

And then, with a different outlook, with other possibilities, we will achieve it. It's
wonderful that motivation drives me to reconquer a dream, like the one I was able to
achieve recently of discovering my family origins. Reconnecting with the history and
legacy of my family was a magnificent, very gratifying, and enriching experience. Besides
connecting with it, it allowed me to discover new and interesting aspects about my identity
and ancestral culture.

Having been able to walk on the ground where my grandparents and my father walked, and
getting to know my relatives and delighting in their affection and love, is a very exciting
experience. It allowed me to recreate even stronger bonds with my newly discovered
relatives and learn from their history and traditions. I will also be able to explore the region
where my grandparents and father were born and discover new places.
I have the firm goal of returning. It's a need that moves me today and that will allow me to
reconnect with my identity and my family history. I know it will be another wonderful
journey full of reunions and exciting discoveries!

The need I have to return to Croatia and reconnect with my family history is due to several
factors. On one hand, curiosity to learn more about my roots and the place where my
ancestors grew up; and on the other hand, to embrace the rest of the family not yet
personally known and connect with the culture and traditions of Croatia to better
understand my own cultural heritage.

The trip to Croatia will allow me to establish deeper emotional connections with my family
and personal history. By revisiting the places where my ancestors lived and experiencing
their culture and daily life, I will be able to gain a more complete understanding of my roots
and myself.

In summary, it will be another exciting and meaningful experience for me, seeking to
connect with family identity and history. It will allow me to learn more about my ancestors,
connect with my cultural heritage, and establish deeper emotional connections with my
family and its history.

Just the thought of it brings me joy and excitement. The opportunity to reconnect with my
roots, share special moments with my loved ones, and immerse myself in family traditions
and customs fills me with great emotion and is shaping my sense of belonging, making
Croatia feel like my own homeland.

We are creatures of habit.

When I was studying at the University, a professor read us the story of the elephant and the
stake, quite famous on social media and published by Jorge Bucay, which goes like this:

"When I was little, I loved circuses, and what I loved most about them were the animals,
especially my favorite, the elephant.

During the show, the enormous beast impressed everyone with its weight, size, and above
all, its colossal strength... but, after its performance and until shortly before returning to the
stage, one could find the elephant behind the main tent, tied with a chain that fastened one
of its legs to a small stake driven into the ground. The stake was just a tiny piece of wood,
barely buried a few inches into the earth.

And although the chain was thick and powerful, it seemed obvious to me that this animal,
capable of uprooting a tree with ease, could easily tear the stake out and escape.
The mystery is evident: Why doesn't the elephant flee, tearing out the small stake with the
same effort I would need to break a matchstick? What mysterious force keeps it tethered,
preventing it from escaping?

I was about seven or eight years old and still trusted in the wisdom of adults. So I asked my
parents, teachers, and uncles, seeking answers to this mystery. I didn't get a coherent
answer; age is not an impediment to perceiving coherence or its lack in what people tell us.

Over time, I forgot about the mystery of the elephant and the stake... Until a few days ago, I
found someone wise enough who gave me an answer that finally satisfied me: 'The circus
elephant doesn't escape because it has been tied to a stake all its life, since it was very
small.'

I closed my eyes and imagined the little elephant, just a few days old, tethered to the stake.
I'm sure that at that moment the little animal pushed, pulled, shook, and sweated trying to
break free. And despite all its effort, it couldn't break loose.

The stake was certainly very strong for it. I could swear that on the first day it fell asleep
exhausted from the fruitless effort, and that the next day it tried again, and the next and the
next, until it resigned itself to its fate.

The elephant stopped struggling to free itself.

This huge and powerful elephant doesn't escape because it believes it can't. It has engraved
in its mind the memory of its then useless efforts, and now it has stopped fighting, it is not
free because it has stopped trying to be. It never tried to test its strength again.

Each of us is a little like that elephant: we go through the world tied to various (hundreds)
of stakes that take away our freedom. We live believing that 'we can't' with heaps of things,
simply because once we tried and failed.

We grew up carrying that message that we imposed on ourselves and never tried again. The
only way to know what our limitations are now is to try again, putting all our heart into the
attempt." (Published in "Cuentos para Demián", 1994)

People with Parkinson's disease (PD) suffer from what is known as self-devaluation, which
can arise from various factors. Some possible reasons include changes in physical
appearance; while it is true that not all Parkinson's patients are the same symptomatically or
in the way they manifest, in some, motor symptoms such as tremors, muscle rigidity, or
walking difficulties can affect their physical appearance. These changes can make the
person feel embarrassed or concerned about how others perceive them due to their
limitations, leading to them becoming invisible. To make people with Parkinson's visible,
we must promote their active participation in society and raise awareness about the disease.

In my case, I spread awareness about PD and how to live with it, and it doesn't make me
any less of a person or devalue me to be identified by society as someone with Parkinson's.
But it is a way to support making people with Parkinson's visible. This led me to generate
projects in society, such as going to the City Hall and proposing a tree planting to
commemorate the 206 years since Parkinson discovered the disease. The idea is to plant the
same number of trees as years celebrated, repeating annually (next year will be 207 trees),
and having the task carried out by students from schools. This aims to raise awareness in
society about the disease, raise awareness about environmental protection, and leave a mark
that will increase every year with new plantings.

Education and awareness, along with the information provided about Parkinson's and its
dissemination, can help create awareness and understanding about the disease. Every April
11th, in homage to Parkinson, we organize talks, educational events, or awareness
campaigns in the community. This is not only an effective way to spread knowledge but
also raises awareness in society.

Bucay's elephant story was used by my professor to illustrate the psychological concept of
'learning through devaluation.' This concept refers to the acquisition of negative beliefs and
attitudes toward oneself through interaction with others who devalue or make them feel
inferior. This can occur throughout life, from childhood to adulthood, and can have a
significant impact on an individual's self-esteem and confidence.

This type of learning can manifest in various ways, such as constant criticism, ridicule,
mockery, belittlement, and lack of emotional support. When someone is devalued, they are
made to feel that they are not good enough or capable of achieving their goals.

Learning through devaluation has a negative impact on a person's life; it can lead to low
self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, and difficulty in establishing healthy interpersonal
relationships. It can also affect a person's ability to achieve their goals, as they may believe
they are not good enough to achieve them.

Learning through devaluation is not acceptable and has negative consequences on a

person's mental and emotional health. It is important to seek professional help if you have
experienced this type of learning to overcome it and build a positive self-image.

Positive reinforcement, emotional support, and constructive criticism can be effective ways
to overcome the damage caused by learning through devaluation. People with Parkinson's
should be made to feel like they possess a healthy and positive self-image. It is also
important for them to surround themselves with people who provide emotional support and
unconditional acceptance to promote confidence and self-esteem.

This type of learning can manifest in various ways, such as constant criticism, ridicule,
mockery, belittlement, and lack of emotional support. When someone is the object of
devaluation, they are made to feel that they are not good enough or capable of achieving
their goals.

Learning through devaluation has a negative impact on a person's life; it can lead to low
self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, and difficulty in establishing healthy interpersonal
relationships. It can also affect the person's ability to reach their goals and objectives, as
they may believe they are not good enough to achieve them.

Learning through devaluation is not an acceptable practice and has negative consequences
on the mental and emotional health of the individual. It is important to seek professional
help if you have experienced this type of learning to overcome it and build a positive self-
image.

Positive reinforcement, emotional support, and constructive criticism can be effective ways
to overcome the damage caused by learning through devaluation. People with Parkinson's
should be made to feel like they possess a healthy and positive self-image. It is also
important for them to surround themselves with people who provide emotional support and
unconditional acceptance to promote confidence and self-esteem.

According to Seligman's studies, learned helplessness refers to the subjective feeling of

being unable to do anything in the face of a problem, situation, or unpleasant stimulus.
Even though there may be real opportunities to change the aversive situation by avoiding
unpleasant circumstances or obtaining positive rewards, the person or animal does not
engage in any behavior to seek to avoid the aversive stimulus or obtain reinforcement.

Often, this is due to previous experiences where the person could not control or act on the
situation, so they 'learn' that nothing can be done. Even if the situation or conditions change
in the future and there are opportunities to act, or we have the ability to intervene or change
things, our belief that we cannot do anything keeps us immobilized.

Many times learned helplessness is due to negative evaluations, judgments, that have been
internalized by the person throughout their education: 'you're not good at studying,' 'you're
bad at sports,' 'you never finish what you start,' and they are internalized in such a way that
they begin to believe them, unable to get started even if they have the ability to advance in
their studies because they do not feel capable and do not see any achievement in any
activity.

How to overcome this learned devaluation? Precisely by unlearning what has been learned,
using techniques to 'detach' from judgments and pre-established beliefs, learning to
objectively assess our current abilities, focusing on what we can do to solve a situation and
trying.

Learned helplessness is a psychological concept that refers to the perception of lack of

control over the situations a person faces. This can arise when someone is repeatedly
confronted with aversive situations and cannot change or control them, which can lead to
the belief that nothing can be done to change their situation.

The theory of learned helplessness has been applied in various fields of psychology, such as
depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. In general terms, the theory holds
that when a person finds themselves in a situation where they feel helpless, they can learn
that they have no control over their environment and, therefore, develop a pattern of passive
and helpless behavior.
In a practical example, if a student has a teacher who always gives them bad grades no
matter how much they try, they may come to believe that no matter what they do, they will
never be able to succeed academically. If this pattern of behavior is repeated in other areas
of life, such as interpersonal relationships or work, the student could develop a learned
helplessness attitude that prevents them from taking action to improve their situation.

It is important to note that this does not mean that the person is inherently incapable or
lacks resources to cope with difficult situations, but it can be overcome with the help of a
mental health professional and the support of friends and family.

The meaning of life

The term 'life' comes from the Latin vita and has several meanings. It can signify both the span of
time from the moment of conception, some moment during gestation, or birth until death, which
can be of a being or entity, of a body or organism, as well as life itself. It can also mean a
phenomenon that animates and gives life to matter; the existence and ability of living beings to
develop, reproduce, and sustain themselves in an environment; the duration of objects; and also
the manner or set of activities or actions, means, and processes of relating to living. To have life, a
living being needs to grow, metabolize, move, reproduce or not, and respond to external stimuli.

Life has a great characteristic, which is offspring, the ability of a life form to generate offspring that
are more or less similar to their parents and even have some characteristics of their own. This
change characterizes evolution. Here we encounter the study of genetics. Genetic material consists
mainly of DNA and RNA.

The origin of life has been explained through many theories, such as astronomy, biology,
astrophysics, and religious theories. Some say that microbial life is the most widespread on Earth's
crust and in various locations in the depths of the oceans. Life is based on carbon and energy
obtained from the presence of free oxygen in the air or through the reduction of compounds such
as sulfates, etc.

The existence of life elsewhere in the Universe is still unknown, with the exception of fossil
evidence of possible bacterial life on Mars. Through NASA's spacecraft, Spirit and Opportunity, the
theory has emerged that Mars had water on its surface in the past.

According to some religions, life is the state of the soul and spirit after death. Also, life is the union
of the soul with the body; there is the life of the body, which is mortal, and the life of the soul,
which is eternal.

The Power of Thought

There is a story that is said to be true, apparently it happened somewhere in Africa.

"Six miners worked in a very deep tunnel extracting minerals from the depths of the earth.
Suddenly, a collapse left them isolated from the outside, sealing off the tunnel's exit. In
silence, they looked at each other. With a glance, they calculated their situation. With their
experience, they quickly realized that the big problem would be oxygen. If they did
everything right, they had about three hours of air left, at most three and a half hours.

Many people outside would know that they were trapped there, but a collapse like this
would mean digging the mine again to reach them, could they do it before the air ran out?

The expert miners decided that they should save all the oxygen they could. They agreed to
exert as little physical strain as possible, turned off the lamps they carried, and lay silently
on the floor.

Silenced by the situation and motionless in the darkness, it was difficult to calculate the
passage of time. Only one of them had a watch. All questions went to him: How much time
has passed? How much time is left? And now?

Time stretched, each pair of minutes seemed like an hour, and the desperation with each
answer exacerbated the tension even more. The head miner realized that if they continued
like this, anxiety would make them breathe more rapidly and this could kill them.

So he ordered the one with the watch to be the only one to keep track of time. No one
would ask any more questions, he would inform everyone every half hour.

Following the order, the one with the watch controlled his device. And when the first half
hour passed, he said 'half an hour has passed.' There was a murmur among them and an
anguish that could be felt in the air.

The man with the watch realized that as time passed, it would become increasingly terrible
to inform them that the final minute was approaching. Without consulting anyone, he
decided that they did not deserve to die suffering. So the next time he informed them of the
half hour, it had actually been 45 minutes. There was no way to notice the difference so no
one even suspected.

Encouraged by the success of the deception, the third update was given almost an hour
later. He said 'another half hour has passed'... And the five of them believed that they had
been trapped, in total, for an hour and a half, and they all thought about how long the time
seemed to them. This is how the man with the watch continued, every complete hour he
informed them that half an hour had passed. The crew hastened the rescue task, they knew
which chamber they were trapped in and that it would be difficult to reach them before four
hours had passed.

They reached four and a half hours. The most likely outcome was to find the six miners
dead. They found five of them alive.

Only one had died from suffocation... the one with the watch."
Reflection: He surely died because he was the only one who knew the actual time that had
passed since they were trapped.

We must understand which behaviors are generated from critical thinking, just like
emotions. Let us accept that we should know that our thoughts decree and shape our
character, that we point to ourselves by determining our actions.

We could change our thinking, the way of perceiving or looking at reality in the midst of
events, we should learn to visualize, although it is not an easy task.

When we achieve it, we can have another attitude towards such extreme situations,
developing a confidence of great strength that multiplies and transcends the group.

Irrevocably, in the face of the possible event of an inevitable outcome, the reasonable
attitude of seeking resignation to face the unavoidable appears.

In my personal case, when Parkinson's began to show its signs, I began visiting doctor after
doctor searching for a diagnosis. The first symptoms began in 2008, but it wasn't until 2014
that they could name my disease. Despite this, I didn't live constantly watching the
inexorable passage of time; if I had stopped to watch the time, surely, I would have been
moved by my way of being, always looking at the bright side of things, as it is the way that
allows me to enjoy life more.

In the face of Parkinson's, affected people usually adopt two basic attitudes: some become
patients, while others, like me, investigate the symptoms, we are people who carry the
disease to overcome it. This second option, to accept that we are someone with a disease to
overcome it and continue living with projects and goals, allows us to keep our integrity
intact. I feel responsible for my life and involved in taking care of myself as the protagonist
of my own life. I carry the disease not fighting against it, but in favor of it, adapting to feel
the symptoms and finding the balance between myself and my surroundings.

This situation taught me to leave behind the burden of unresolved problems and emotional
baggage from the past; instead of 'worrying' about googling the disease, where undoubtedly
the worst diagnoses for the near future are found, I focused on the present with all my
energy, aware of what I was doing, and I improved day by day. Living with Parkinson's
was and is a challenge, but it doesn't intimidate me.

This generated in me a spirit of constant achievements in work, in economic matters, in

spiritual matters, and the most important of all, was to discover the land of my ancestors,
making me walk with Parkinson's, in the 40 days that my trip lasted, no less than 226 km,
which demonstrates that I remain with a spirit of constant struggle, enjoying having
traveled with my daughter, my wife, and my cousin.

Then new challenges arose, such as generating in Venado Tuerto the 1st Transdisciplinary
Parkinson's Congress, bringing together experts from various disciplines related to
Parkinson's, such as doctors, researchers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists,
psychologists, and social workers, lawyers, nutritionists, and physical education teachers.
This allows the exchange of knowledge, ideas, and advances in research, contributing to a
better understanding and treatment of the disease.

It can also bring a series of significant benefits both for the professionals involved and for
people with Parkinson's and their family members and caregivers, as knowledge is
exchanged. The congress provides a platform for sharing research, studies, medical and
therapeutic advances related to Parkinson's. This allows professionals from different
disciplines to share their knowledge and experiences, which can lead to a greater
understanding of the disease and promote more effective treatment approaches.

Today, with Parkinson's, I have more work activity and projects than before the diagnosis,
making me have no wasted time for most of the day. Most importantly, I help other patients
who in one way or another find themselves with an attitude of prostration, devaluing
themselves as individuals without the will to fight for something.

The Transformative Courage

Transformative courage is possessed by those who are energetic whirlwinds in the face of
their reality, living out their bravery and determination so that the illness does not harm
them. They grow stronger day by day and empower themselves, overcoming obstacles that
obstruct their path to achieving their goal or objective.

Those who live with Parkinson's can experience and enjoy different aspects of their lives
that may be present in their life story:

1. Physical Courage: Overcoming the physical challenges associated with Parkinson's,

such as muscle stiffness, tremors, and difficulty moving. It requires bravery to
confront and adapt to changes in the body and to seek ways to stabilize oneself
actively and functionally.
2. Attitude of Acceptance: Accepting the reality of the Parkinson's diagnosis and
recognizing that it is part of life. Acceptance does not imply resignation, but rather
finding the strength to face challenges and seek the best way to live with the
disease.
3. Goals and objectives should be important in the Parkinsonian's story, as they reflect
their determination and pursuit of improvement.

In my case, my goal is to learn strategies and techniques to manage Parkinson's symptoms

more effectively. This includes physical exercises, occupational therapies, dietary changes,
or medications, in order to minimize the negative effects of the disease on my daily life. In
my search, I found exercises that can contribute to improving the quality of life for people
with Parkinson's. I also discovered therapies to improve posture and achieve greater
balance, such as Nordic walking with poles, physical movements that include a variety of
exercises and techniques to improve mobility, balance, muscle strength, and coordination.
This involves stretching exercises, muscle strengthening, balance training, aerobic
activities, and specific walking techniques for people with Parkinson's. Because of this, I
have been delving into the internet to learn about this topic, which allowed me to present a
project to the municipality that is now a reality.

I always had a goal, even knowing that nothing great would happen until someone gets
excited and makes it happen. In other words, someone gets excited about an idea, a new
concept, or something they like, and immediately wants to tell the whole world about it. As
I began working on improving my quality of life, an amazing force began to drive me
forward. That magnetic force compelled my peers to get excited and take action,
accompanying me.

There is no greater force in the world than the enthusiastic zeal for dedicating oneself to
achieving a personal goal that one has set. We can take designers as an example who may
have to make hundreds of designs before achieving one that works; however, they work
hard and with dedication and conviction to achieve their goals. Truly, there can be no doubt
about the power of a dedicated person with that inner fire for a cause.

First, you must identify your cause, which is what drives you to conquer your 'goal.' If you
don't have a goal yet, just choose one for which you would give everything. Then, when
you start on the path toward it, remind yourself of what you most desire from the bottom of
your heart.

It is common among men and women in the world to lack the desire to go the extra mile to
conquer that goal, it is a natural force. The one who overcomes it and succeeds is the one
who develops a burning desire to achieve their personal goal. Think about the great things
you have done in your life, conquering them despite the disadvantages you had to face.