Tag Archives: life

Lessons from the Lift: Finding Peace, Perspective and Perseverance when you are stuck

I got stuck in a lift a few days ago. It was a one hour ordeal. It was not the best day of the week already, and as I entered the lift and realised it didn’t close properly nor could open, I had to face the reality – the reality of getting stuck in a lift for some time till help comes.

The thing about this incident is that it reminded me of some issues in my life I had been stuck in for ages, that I would rather not have been reminded of it. But a mini miracle happened that day, and rather than going down the usual spiral of negative thought patterns – this time – I managed to find some gems and life lessons through this harmless ordeal.

God’s 555 book: Grace underserved yet given freely

I been having an unusual wrestling match with God.

Having grown up as someone disciplined upbringing wise, I always understood the reward system very well, but find it hard to accept grace for myself.

When ‘paiseh’ goes a little too far: Learning to receive even when you feel shy

There’s a Hokkien term that I grew up hearing – the word ‘paiseh’.

In English, it simply means to be embarrassed, sorry or shy and can be used in various situations. For example, when you accidently stepped on someone’s feet, it is absolutely appropriate to say ‘paiseh, paiseh.’ Another reasonable use of this word is when a person doesn’t know how to feel ashamed in a situation where he should, or ‘tak tau malu’ in Malay terms. In this instance, an example will be, ‘ Hey you, don’t you feel paiseh cutting the cue?’.

The Surrender Box: A 7 step method to processing painful memories

Physical wounds hurt. And if left unattended, can cause some major damage to a person. Emotional wounds hurt, yet they are often not seen. Subsequently, these wounds, if left unattended, can cause serious damage and dysfunction.

We all go through bumps and bruises emotionally. Sometimes the issue is not that big, kinda like a scratch and can be ignored. But what if there are memories or events in our lives that keep coming back – in our dreams, our daily walk, or are triggered by certain situations?

When you have to restart from zero: Finding perspective in the midst of loss and devouring

I stayed in the home of an elderly couple about 2 years ago. It was a beautiful experience, one that I will not easily forget. One of the highlights of staying with people who have gone through way more years than you, is the opportunity to sit and listen to their stories.