Ang Sulat na Natengga sa Draft Box

January 2024 was the last time we spoke, and it felt like the universe whispering the final lines of a story I wasn’t ready to close.

I was drained—physically, mentally, emotionally. After almost 400 km on the road with no sleep, I rang her phone with nothing but the weight of everything unsaid. Despite her busy schedule, she was gracious enough to answer my call, though I sensed it wasn’t out of warmth—but ultimate closure.

When I heard her voice, it was like stepping into a familiar storm, one I had already been swept away by too many times. I knew this was it—the last time our worlds would ever collide. She sounded tired, not just from work but from everything that had led us to this point. And though she had already warned me that she had nothing left to say, she still agreed to listen.

So I spoke. I poured out everything that had been choking me for months, knowing full well that words wouldn’t save what was already lost.

But before I get into that last conversation—the moment where everything I feared became real—let me take you back to where it all truly began. 

The Last Goodbye

In January 2023, at a coffee shop we often visited, we said our final physical goodbye. After five months of what felt like the calm before the storm—the most stable, peaceful stretch of our relationship—the moment I had dreaded finally arrived. She had to leave the country, to chase a future that had no room for me.

It wasn’t sudden. It wasn’t a betrayal. It was something we had both known would happen. It was inevitable. A reality I had agreed to long before, back when I thought I was strong enough to handle it. But as she stood there, ready to walk away, every ounce of that strength crumbled.

I had already decided that she was the woman I wanted to spend my life with. And yet, in the cruelest twist of fate, that same love—the love I had taken for granted for so long—was now the reason I was about to lose her.

I wanted to fight. I wanted to throw away every agreement, every logical reasoning, and just beg her to stay. I wanted to tell her that her dreams didn’t have to take her away from me, that we could build something here—something worth staying for. That I’d take on her burdens, that I’d work myself to the bone just to keep her close.

But I knew the truth.

I couldn’t compete with what was waiting for her. The life she had spent years working for, the opportunities that would finally give her everything she deserved—I was nothing against all of that. I was just a man in love, armed with nothing but desperate words and an empty promise to fight a battle I had already lost.

So, I did the only thing I could. I swallowed the lump in my throat, took her hand, kissed her for the last time, and looked into her eyes as I whispered the final “I love you” I would ever say in person.

She didn’t cry. She never did. She had always been the stronger one between us. But I saw it. The weight in her eyes. The silent acknowledgment of everything we had been, and everything we would never be again.

And me? I broke. I shattered right in front of her. I wept like a man being stripped of his soul. Because in that moment, I knew—I wasn’t just losing the woman I loved.

I was losing the only version of myself that had ever felt whole.

I rode my motorcycle home, but I wasn’t sure if I’d ever really make it back. Not to who I used to be. Not to the life I thought I had.

Somewhere on that endless road, through every stopover where I had to wipe my eyes just to see, something inside me stayed behind.

And she took it with her.

The Rock Bottom That Followed

After she left in early 2023, I spiraled into the worst state of alcoholism I had ever known. My health, especially my mental state, collapsed. I hit rock bottom. She endured so much of my mental decline, carrying the weight of my self-destruction until she finally broke.

She ended our long-distance relationship.

At first, I acted as if I was okay with it. I even agreed, pretending I understood. But after a few weeks, reality hit me—we were really done. This wasn’t just another fight. There was no “fixing it later.” No grand comeback.

That’s when things got even worse.

My alcoholism was at its peak, and every bit of weakness I had tried to hide was laid bare. I had no discipline, no self-control, no dignity left. And the worst part? She saw all of it. She saw me drowning, but she had already given me a thousand lifelines before. This time, she let go.

And that’s when the real desperation began.

I tried to manipulate her. I played mind games, twisted words, and clung to any ounce of hope I could fabricate. And when none of that worked, I did the worst thing imaginable—I threatened her.

Not because I ever wanted to hurt her, but because I wanted her to feel what I was feeling. I wanted her to see the damage, to see the wreckage she had left behind, as if that would make her stay. But she didn’t. She finally chose herself.

All because I couldn't accept that she was tired. That she just wanted peace.

And so, in January 2024, when I was at my lowest—after months of begging, after every attempt to pull her back into my misery—she finally agreed to hear me out one last time.

I still remember everything about that call.

I was exhausted. I had just come from an almost 400 km motorcycle ride, still running on no sleep. My body was breaking, but it was nothing compared to the weight in my chest.

She answered.

Her voice was calm, but distant. She sounded drained, the way a person does when they’ve been carrying something too heavy for too long.

I started with an apology—one she had probably heard a hundred times before. I admitted everything. That I was an alcoholic. That I was out of control. That I had been selfish, manipulative, and blind to her needs. That I had made her life a living hell instead of being the man she deserved.

She listened.

For the first time in a long time, she really listened.

And I let everything out. I told her I was going to change. That I was going to fight my demons, rebuild myself, and become someone worthy of her love again.

Then I asked her the question I was afraid to hear the answer to.

“Do you still have feelings for me?”

She sighed. And after a long pause, she said it.

“No. Wala na.”

That was it. No sugarcoating, no hesitation. Just the plain, brutal truth.

And at that moment, my world shattered.

I had been holding onto the idea that somehow, deep down, she still felt something. That maybe, just maybe, if I tried hard enough, I could reignite whatever was left. But she had already closed the book. I was the only one still flipping through the pages, searching for an ending that didn’t exist.

She said she had nothing more to say.

So I said my last words to her. A goodbye that I knew, this time, was final.

And then, just like that, she was gone.

The Cycle of Relapse & Redemption

After that final conversation, I swore to myself—I would change. This time, for real.

At least, that’s what I kept telling myself.

But the truth was, I had no idea how to start. I was still the same wreck, except now, I had nothing left to hold onto. The very person I was trying to change for had already walked away. And so, I did what I always did when things got unbearable—I numbed the pain.

I told myself I could handle it. That I was strong enough to fix myself. That I didn’t need help. But the cycle was relentless. I'd manage a few days of sobriety, convince myself that I was getting better, and then fall back into the same pit at the slightest trigger. Streak, relapse, streak, relapse. Every time I clawed my way out, I’d slip back down, deeper than before.

Then came March 2024.

The month I finally stopped fighting.

Alcohol had sunk too deep into my system. The battle was over. I had lost. So I gave in.

I let go of my goal. I had no support system, no real motivation left—so why the hell was I still trying? The first two weeks of March were the ugliest, most destructive drinking sessions I had ever put myself through. I didn’t need a reason. I didn’t need company. I drank in the morning. I drank before sleeping. I drank just because I was awake.

I lost my job. My life was in absolute ruins.

And then came the worst relapse of all.

It was late at night. The alcohol had burned through whatever self-restraint I had left. My mind, already drowning in self-loathing, convinced me of one last, desperate move.

I grabbed my phone.

I typed out every hateful, violent thought my broken heart had kept bottled up. Every resentment, every blame, every ounce of self-pity disguised as anger. And then, I hit send.

I wanted her to feel my suffering. To see the wreckage she left behind.

But she didn’t even give me the satisfaction of a reaction.

She blocked me. On everything.

She erased me from her world for good.

And that’s when it hit me—the final, devastating realization.

It wasn’t the drinking. It wasn’t the pain. It wasn’t even the breakup.

It was me.

I was the problem.

It took losing the last shred of respect she had for me to finally see it. I wasn’t some tragic hero in a sad love story. I was pathetic. A weak, entitled mess who thought that just because I was hurting, I had the right to drag her down with me.

And for the first time, I didn't feel anger.

I felt disgust.

Not at her. Not at the situation.

At myself.

And that was the moment something shifted.

For the first time, I wasn't drinking to forget. I was drinking because I had nothing left to believe in—not even myself.

And when you hit that level of rock bottom, there are only two ways out.

You either stay there. Or you claw your way up.

I chose to fight.

But it wasn’t some dramatic, overnight transformation. There was no grand redemption arc, no sudden burst of motivation that made me throw away the bottle and start over.

It was slow. It was painful. It was dragging myself through hell, one agonizing step at a time.

I didn’t know where it would lead.

But I knew I couldn’t stay here.

The Final Realization

Now, in 2025, after staying consistent with my alcohol-cessation goal since March 2024, I found myself revisiting our last conversation. And with that, I toyed with the idea of reconnecting with her.

Because why not?

After all, I had done exactly what I said I would. I had changed. I was alcohol-free, mentally stable, and even physically stronger. The wreckage I once was? Gone. Replaced by a version of myself I could actually be proud of.

Wasn’t that the whole point?

Didn’t I promise her that one day, I’d come back as a different man?

And if that day was here… didn’t I at least owe it to myself to let her know?

So, I wrote a long letter.

I poured everything into it—every milestone, every hard-fought victory, every ounce of self-discipline that got me here. How I had let go of my pride, my ego, and my selfish ways. How I now understood exactly what went wrong, how I could finally say with certainty: I am not the same man you walked away from.

It was my testament. My proof.

And if I was being completely honest?

It was my plea.

For another chance.

For days, I obsessed over it. I reread the words. I edited, reworded, second-guessed. It was perfect. It had to be. Because if there was even a slight chance she still had something left for me, this—this letter—was the key.

Or so I thought.

Then, the moment of truth.

I hovered over the send button. And I stopped.

I hesitated.

Then I hesitated again.

And then the questions hit me.

What do I really want?

Is this truly about love, or do I just want to be validated?

Have I really changed… or am I just playing a more refined version of my old self—someone who still thinks he can control the outcome?

And then, the hardest question of all—

Who the fuck am I to her anymore?

I had been so busy constructing the perfect version of her in my head, keeping alive the goddess-like figure I had worshipped for years. She had even started appearing in my dreams.

But in reality? She had moved on. She had built the life she always dreamed of, and she was still rising.

Meanwhile, just because I had managed to put my life together, I was suddenly claiming the right to step back into hers?

Was I justified in sending this letter?

Would it be a wasted chance if I didn’t?

Or was this just another desperate attempt to rewrite the past?

I stared at the screen.

The cursor blinked.

The answer was right there, wasn’t it?

And yet, I still wasn’t sure.

The Final Test

One day, on my day off, I hopped on my motorcycle with no clear destination. The weight of my own thoughts had been paralyzing me for weeks, and I needed to do something—anything—to break free from this cycle.

So I let my instincts take control.

I let the wheels carry me to the places we once called ours.

The first stop shattered me.

I parked outside, staring at the entrance like it was some haunted relic from my past. A year ago, I sat at that farthest corner table, drowning in heartbreak, burying my face in my hands so no one would see the mess I had become. I had lost her. That was where it hit me the hardest.

Now, I was back.

I forced myself inside, ordered the same coffee, and sat at the exact same spot. I thought I had built enough armor, convinced myself that I was unbreakable now.

I was wrong.

The moment I looked at that empty chair across from me, it all came flooding in.

The way she stirred her drink absentmindedly. The way she rested her chin on her palm, half-listening to my ramblings. The way her presence alone made the whole world feel still.

She wasn’t here anymore.

And yet, she was everywhere.

I clenched my fists under the table. My jaw tightened. I fought it—I really tried. But the tears came anyway.

I still love her.

All this time, I thought I had rebuilt myself. That I had turned my pain into fuel, sharpened myself into someone who could look back without breaking.

But here I was. Still breaking.

Still her fool.

I needed one last test.

So I made one final stop—her family’s house.

Her mom greeted me like nothing had changed, like I was still welcome. And in her eyes, I saw something I didn’t expect. Not judgment. Not resentment. But pride.

She looked at me—not as the wreck I once was—but as the man I had become.

"The changes you've made," she said, smiling, "I'm so proud of you."

A mix of emotions hit me. Gratitude. Sadness. A desperate need for validation.

And then, she said it.

"You should message her. Just check in. See how she’s doing."

The invitation was there. An open door.

This was it. The moment I had been waiting for. The chance to prove to her that I had truly changed.

I felt my heart race. My hands trembled slightly.

I could do it.

I should do it.

And yet—

I took a deep breath and forced a smile.

"It's all good now. I don't want to disrupt the good things happening in her life."

And just like that, I let go.

Or at least, I told myself I did.

I rode away from her house that day with a strange mix of emotions—pride, regret, relief, and a sadness so deep it settled into my bones.

I had the opportunity. I had the right to reach out.

So why did it feel like walking away was the real victory?

Why did it feel like—after everything—I had finally passed the test?

Or had I just wasted my last chance?

I don’t know.

I still don’t know.

Moving Forward

I’ve made up my mind.

She deserves her peace.

And I deserve mine.

I could spend a lifetime wondering what could’ve been if only I had been stronger when it mattered most. If only I hadn’t drowned myself in vices. If only I had fought for us the way I should have—when I still had the chance.

But I can’t rewrite the past.

What I can do is let her go, wish her well—genuinely—and keep rebuilding myself, not for her, not for anyone else, but for me.

The letter? It remains unsent. Not because I lack the courage to send it, but because I no longer need to. It will stay with me—not as a burden, but as a testament to how far I’ve come. A symbol of my vulnerability. My failures. My redemption.

It reminds me that if I could overcome the worst version of myself, then I can push even further. That this is only the beginning.

One year of change does not erase decades of mistakes. I still have my lapses, my triggers, my moments of weakness. But whatever good comes from this new life, it’s mine to reap. And nothing feels better than knowing I am finally free from my own worst enemy—myself.

I love her. Maybe I always will. But love isn’t about possession. It isn’t about winning.

It’s about gratitude.

For the time she gave me. For the lessons I had to learn the hard way.

For the happiness she allowed me to experience, even if it wasn’t meant to last.

And if this is the price of true love—wishing the best for the one who left, not to control them, not to drag them back, but to genuinely want them to be happy—then I will pay it in full.

So, I walk away.

Not because I’m giving up, but because I no longer need to hold on.

She was never an opponent to defeat, nor a prize to reclaim. She was a chapter—a beautiful, painful, unforgettable one. But the story moves forward, and so do I.

I Choose to Keep Pushing Myself To Limits

Habang sakay ako ng motor ko papunta sa gym pagkatapos ng maghapong paghahanapbuhay, di ko talaga lubos maisip kung bakit ako nagpapakahirap sa pagwoworkout kung pwede naman ako humilata na lamang sa bahay at mag-scroll sa socmed at manuod ng reels at manuod ng youtube or magnetflix or mag-games. Bakit di ko na lang aliwin ang sarili ko sa hundreds of different visuals sa parihaba kong gadget na nakukunsumo ko sa loob lamang ng ilang minuto? Mga impormasyon na di ko naman kailangan pero at least naaaliw ako nakakalimutan ko mga problema ko. Bakit di na lang ako tumulad sa iba na kinukunsumo ang natitirang mga oras sa araw nila na naglilibang at nagpapasarap na lang? Nagpapakapagod ako, nagpapawis at sumasakit ang katawan for what?

Ganito ang routine ko sa halos araw-araw. Gigising nang 4:30, magkakape, magseself-reflection hanggang 5:00 then tatakbo for 20 minutes. 10 minutes bago ang shift ko, naghahabol pa ko ng hininga, naliligo pa ko sa pawis pero nakaharap na ko sa PC at nagchecheck ng emails. Sisimulan ang madugong bakbakan sa mundo ng conveyancing hanggang sa halos hindi na kaya mag-function ng utak ko at kinekwestyon ko na ang mga life choices ko sa bandang hapon. Ikaw ba naman kase ang nakuha pang tumakbo ng ilang kilometro bago bugbugin yung utak mo. Pero di pa dun natatapos ang kalbaryo at yun nga, magwe-weights pa ko sa hapon. Anong kalokohan to?!! Pero kung dati ka pang nagbabasa ng blog ko, alam mo kung saan ako nanggagaling.

Now that I'm approaching at my target days ng sobriety, wala na sigurong mas maangas pa kesa saken. Nakaya ko yun? Isang taon walang inom ng alak? Tapos may pa-running at weights pa. San ka pa? Pero napansin ko, as I get closer and closer to my goal, pababa nang pababa yung intensity ko. Pabawas nang pabawas yung motivation ko. It sucks kase feeling ko ang weak ko na tao na porke feeling achieved na, parelax-relax na lang. So ano magsstart na naman ako tumagay? Maghahambog na naman ako sa mga tropang hindi naman ako pinansin nung nasa proseso ako ng pagbabago. At para maplease sila dahil feeling alone ako sa tinahak kong changes e babalik ulet ako sa laro nila? No way friend! I dare to lose barkada if they are not gonna help my cause. So I choose to keep grinding kahit hindi na ganun kataas yung motivation ko kase its no longer "what keeps me moving?" but "why I'm not moving?" Its all about DISCIPLINE now!

Why the fuck na ang blessed na tulad ko na biniyayaan ng work from home setup na halos walang nasasayang na oras (maliban sa occasional na OTY) dahil matic nasa bahay na after shift e GUGUGULIN ang p*****-i**** oras sa mga walang kapararakan, purong pagsasayang ng oras na mga bagay?!! Tapos ano pag may gout, pag may acute gastritis or hindi na halos makaya ang sariling timbang tuwing kumikilos, maghahanap ng sisisihin? Pag sinusumpong ng malalang anxiety, malalang moodswings, magdadrama at iiyak na lang sa isang tabi? Ikaw na p*****-i** ka na mas piniling mag-scroll at lantakan yang sangkatutak na processed foods sa tabi mo, pasalamat ka kase baka nasa 20s ka pa lang ngayon at kaya pa ng katawan mo. Pero magbilang ka lang ng ilang taon pa at tingnan natin kung paanong ikaw at ang katawan mo ay maghuhumiyaw sa panghihinayang na sana...sana nung bata ka pa, pinalakas mo na ang mga maskels at mga buto-buto mo. At ikaw naman na hindi na bata, ano na? Asa na lang sa medical maintenance? Awit sayo lods.

No slowing down for me. NO ALCOHOL for life? CHECK! HEALTHY DIET for life? CHECK! EXERCISE and ACTIVE LIFESTYLE for life? CHECK! They say life begins at 40? Mine is beggining now. Di na ko maghihintay mag 40. The best time is now. My version 2.0 has just been unleashed and theres no stopping sa path ko for greatness.

"Discipline isn’t about feeling motivated—it's about showing up even when you don’t feel like it. Comfort is the death of progress. Keep grinding." 💪🔥 #NoExcuses #StayRelentless

Alcohol-Free Day 329 -I'm Loving the Process

Discipline is Freedom, Not Restriction

329 days without alcohol. Almost a year of absolute sobriety.

Some people ask me how I do it. How I don’t relapse. How I stay consistent.

The truth? I fell in love with the process. I rewired my brain to enjoy discipline—not just in fitness, but in every aspect of my life.

Because discipline isn’t suffering. It’s liberation.

When I gave up alcohol, I didn’t just quit drinking—I rewired my brain to function without it. I trained myself to enjoy every sober morning, every clear-headed workout, every moment where I chose control over impulse. The same way I push myself in the gym is the same way I push myself to stay away from alcohol. The process is the reward.

If I waited for motivation, I would’ve failed. If I focused only on the result, I wouldn’t have lasted. What worked? Loving the grind itself.

If we want to develop unshakable discipline—whether in fitness, work, or personal battles like quitting alcohol—we need to master dopamine, mindset, and self-control. Let’s break it down.

Dopamine & Motivation: Why "Loving the Process" Works

🔹Our Brain is Wired for Anticipation, Not Just Reward

Dr. Robert Sapolsky (Stanford neurobiologist) studied dopamine and discovered that the biggest dopamine spike doesn’t happen when we get the reward—it happens when we anticipate it.

Example:

• The excitement before eating your favorite meal is usually greater than the satisfaction after eating it.

• The anticipation of hitting a PR in the gym feels better than the actual moment it happens.

• The buildup to a major life event is often more exciting than the event itself.

If we associate excitement with the process (not just the result), discipline becomes effortless. 

In my sobriety journey, the real reward wasn’t reaching "X number of days without drinking"—it was waking up clear-headed, feeling strong, and knowing I was in control every single day.

🔹 The “Dopamine Prediction Error” & Why Goals Lose Their Magic

Studies show that when we finally achieve a goal, dopamine actually drops.

This is called dopamine prediction error—the brain expected more excitement than it got.

Example:

• You dream of hitting a 200lb deadlift. You finally hit it. Instead of feeling permanent satisfaction, you think, "That’s it?" and chase the next number.

• You stay sober for 100 days. Instead of feeling a huge sense of accomplishment, you think, "Okay… now what?"

This is why many people hit big goals—then feel empty. The real joy was in the journey, not the achievement. We must train ourselves to find fulfillment in the daily grind, not just in the end goal. 

For me, every sober morning is a win. Every workout is a win. Every day I choose discipline over indulgence, I am winning.

The "Growth Mindset" vs. The "Fixed Mindset"

🔹 Growth vs. Fixed Mindset

Dr. Carol Dweck (Stanford psychologist) discovered that people with a growth mindset—who enjoy challenges and effort—become more resilient than those who focus only on outcomes.

Fixed mindset people believe talent and success are fixed—so if they don’t see results fast, they quit.
Growth mindset people thrive in discomfort—they enjoy learning, improving, and overcoming struggles.

If we focus only on results, failure feels like the end. If we focus on effort, failure is just part of progress.

In my fitness journey, I didn’t start strong—I built strength. In my sobriety, I didn’t wake up "fully recovered"—I built discipline through daily choices.

Some Wisdom About Discipline & the Process

🔹 Nietzsche: “Become Who You Are”

Friedrich Nietzsche believed that struggle and challenge are what make life meaningful.
He argued that suffering in pursuit of mastery isn't something to avoid—it’s something to embrace.

If we hate the struggle, we’re doomed to be miserable. If we learn to love it, we’ll thrive.

🔹 The Stoics: Discipline = Freedom

Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus all preached that discipline is the key to true freedom.

If we’re ruled by comfort and pleasure, we're actually a slave to them. If we master ourselves, we become free.

Enjoying discomfort makes us unstoppable. If we rely on motivation, we’ll always be weak.

MAG-REALTALKAN TAYO:

✔ Focus on the Process, Not the Prize.

Toxic Mindset:

“Mag-eexercise ako para pag nakita ko ex ko, who you sya saken.”

“Gusto kong yumaman para matahimik na ang mga kamag-anak kong mahilig manghamak.”

“Magpapapayat ako para sa reunion! Dapat ako ang pinakapalung-palo sa lahat.”

Tamang Mindset:

“Mag-eexercise ako for my overall health.”

“Gusto kong yumaman for financial security.”

“Kelangan ko magdiet para hindi hello highblood, goodbye. Importante present ako sa reunion at sa mga susunod pa.”

*Hindi nakasalalay sa validation ng iba ang dahilan para kumilos tayo. Ang matibay na foundation ay idinidikta ng mas malalim nating dahilan sa mga sarili natin.

✔ Micro-Progress = Macro-Results.

Toxic Mindset:

“Wag muna mag-business. Wala pa malaking puhunan.”

“Hindi pa ako mag-aaral ng English hangga’t wala akong full online course.”

“Hindi pa ako magsusulat ng libro hangga’t hindi buo ang plot.”

Tamang Mindset:

“Magsisimula ako ng business kahit maliit lang, at palalakihin ko ito unti-unti.”

“Mag-aaral ako ng English kahit isang bagong salita lang kada araw.”

“Gagawa ako ng book kahit isang paragraph lang bawat araw hanggang mabuo ko ito.”

*Small steps lang kada araw. Walang ibang perfect timing kundi ngayon na.

✔ Rewire Dopamine: No External Validation Needed.

Toxic Mindset:

“Dapat bida-bida ako sa mga gym post ko. More heart dapat. Sayang naman membership at oras ko dito.”

“Gagawa ako ng TikTok video pero dapat mag-viral agad, or wag na lang kung di lang din benta.”

“Pag walang nag-like sa bagong post ko tungkol sa achievements ko, pakawalang kwenta ko.”

Tamang Mindset:

“Masaya ako sa fitness progress ko kahit walang ibang nakakapansin.”

“Gagawa ako ng TikTok videos dahil gusto ko gawin, hindi dahil gusto kong sumikat.”

“Hindi ko kailangang i-post ang lahat ng achievements ko. Ang mahalaga, satisfied ako.”

*Kapag masyado kang nakadepende sa likes, comments, at validation ng iba, madali kang madidiscourage. Ang tunay na self-improvement ay hindi kailangang i-broadcast para lang masabing totoo.

✔ Love the Boring Days.

Toxic Mindset:

“Ayoko mag-workout today, kawalang gana.”

"Need ko magwalwal today bago ako magstart ng boring na alcohol-free lifestyle."

Tamang Mindset:

"Workout is life pa din. Ke tinatamad o hindi, gym pa din."

"Simulan na ang boring na process ngayon. Kung gusto ko, kaya ko at kung magiging boring ang buong 365 days, so be it! 1 year alcohol-free day one now!"

*Hindi araw-araw exciting. Keep trying everyday...keep winning everyday. 

Love the Process!

Most people fail at discipline because they see the process as suffering instead of a privilege.

We don’t suffer through the process—we find joy in it. If we learn to love the grind, we’ll never stop progressing.

Discipline isn’t about suffering. It’s about rewiring our brain to love the work. Let's fall in love with the process, commit to it, then marry success.

The Warrior’s Way: Move On Like a Ninja

The Power of Silent Battles (The Ninja’s Path of Discipline)

Listen up, maggot! You think moving on is about posting cryptic quotes on social media and making sure your ex sees your glow-up? Negative. You're a soldier, not some boy/girl scout trying to earn a badge in emotional resilience. You’re a warrior. A warrior moves in silence, levels up in the shadows, and when he resurfaces—he’s unrecognizable. Stronger. Sharper. Untouchable.

They say the best revenge is success? Wrong. The best revenge is making your past irrelevant. Like a ninja who vanishes into legend, you don’t just “get over it” — you erase the need to care.

Gear up! The war isn’t over. It’s just beginning.

I. The Psychology of Moving On Like a Warrior (The Art of the Silent Strike)

Why Closure is Overrated (The Shadow Step Escape)

You think you need a 'final talk' for closure? You think an explanation will set you free? Let me tell you something, kid—if closure were real, wars wouldn’t be fought, history wouldn’t have unsolved mysteries, and nobody would be ugly-crying in the shower to a sad playlist. The world keeps spinning, the universe keeps expanding, and not a single celestial body gives a damn about your need for a neat, satisfying ending.

"Why did you cheat on me?" – "I don’t know, I was lost."
"Bakit mo ko iniwan?" – "Di na kase tulad ng dati..."
"Minahal mo ba talaga ako?" – "Oo naman, kaso ganun na talaga."

What do these answers actually do for you? Nothing. They don’t erase the pain. They don’t undo the betrayal. You’re still left with the same reality—except now, you wasted time digging for answers that won’t change anything. And for what? A closure speech that sounds like a scripted teleserye breakup scene?

✔ Your brain craves unfinished business (Zeigarnik Effect)—but ninjas don’t wait for apologies. They disappear. Your brain fixates on unfinished business—meaning, if something is unresolved, it keeps replaying in your mind like a cliffhanger in a telenovela. Be like a waiter who remembers a table’s order—until they’re served, done, proceed to the next one. Admit that not all netflix shows have complete seasons.

A warrior doesn’t wait for the enemy to explain why they attacked—he moves forward. Don’t give your brain the illusion that closure is necessary. Some things don’t need a perfect ending—you just need to walk away. And trust me, "manganganak lang ng manganganak yung mga tanong mo" and you will never be satisfied to answers. 

You create your own closure! Leave the battlefield without looking back..or stay and die in it—your choice.

✔ Emotions fade when unacknowledged. Imagine this: You have a wound. Every day, you poke it.

You open it.
You keep scratching it.
You keep asking people if it looks bad.

Tapos p*****-**a ka magtataka ka bakit hindi gumagaling! You keep checking their profile, revisiting old chats, overanalyzing what went wrong...ang dami mong time!

Stop putting a gas on fire. Stop scratching the itch you stubborn son of a b***. Starve your emotions with attention and let it fade. 

✔ Detachment is the ultimate weapon. It's NOT about suppressing emotions. It’s about accepting them but refusing to be controlled by them.You’re not running from pain. You’re growing past it.

Why Most People Fail at Moving On (Breaking Free from the Enemy’s Grip)

A samurai doesn't hold onto a broken sword. That’s because it’s useless. So why are you holding onto an ex who’s already gone?

✔ Seeking validation—"Let me show them I’m doing better"—is a trap. Ninjas don’t fight for approval; they fight for mastery. 

✔ Hoping for a reaction is weak. Your ex isn’t watching, and even if they are, who cares? Your mission is bigger than them. 

✔ Focusing on revenge means you’re still focused on them. And a real warrior never lets the enemy live rent-free in his/her head.

You don’t need closure. You need progress.
You don’t need apologies. You need discipline.
You don’t need them. You need YOU.

II. The Science of Resilience & Emotional Mastery (Mastering the Mind Like a Shinobi)

The Brain’s Role in Emotional Strength (Mental Training in the Dojo of Life)

Your brain is a battlefield. What you train it to focus on, it strengthens. If you keep replaying heartbreak, betrayal, and regret—guess what? You’re hardwiring yourself for pain, weakness, and self-destruction. But if you train it like a warrior—discipline, resilience, and self-mastery—it rewires itself to make you unbreakable.

✔ Neural Plasticity: What You Focus On, You Reinforce - Your brain is not fixed—it’s flexible. This is called neuroplasticity, which means your neurons (brain cells) rewire themselves based on what you repeatedly think about. If every day you stalk your ex, reread old messages, and dwell on "what ifs," your brain strengthens the neural pathways related to heartbreak and longing. You are literally training yourself to be stuck.

Focus on pain? You deepen the wound.
Focus on growth? You build a new mental pathway.

Pain is not permanent. But if you keep feeding it, it will be.

✔ Dopamine Discipline: Your Ex Was a Drug. Withdraw. Build New Rewards. - Dopamine is your brain’s "reward chemical." Love, attention, sex, validation—all of these spike dopamine. Your ex was your main supplier. When they left, your brain went into withdrawal, just like an addict without a fix. Ever wonder why people keep checking their ex’s profile, waiting for a message, or hoping for attention? It’s not about love anymore. It’s the brain craving dopamine hits.

A drug addict says, "I need one last hit."
A heartbroken person says, "I just need one last conversation."

Same addiction. Same trap.

The only way to rewire your dopamine system is to replace your old "rewards" with new ones.

* Gym, fitness, or martial arts - Trains your body and gives you dopamine naturally.

* Skill mastery (writing, business, etc.) - Shifts focus from external validation to self-improvement.

* Deep work & personal growth - Transforms pain into productivity.

You don’t need a "fix" from your ex. You need to detox and rebuild a stronger brain.

✔ The "Self-Authoring" Technique (Jordan Peterson): Rewrite Your Past. Tell the Story Where YOU Win, Not Where You Beg. - Jordan Peterson, a psychologist and philosopher, teaches that how you narrate your past shapes your future. If you tell yourself a victim’s story, you will stay a victim. If you tell yourself a warrior’s story, you will become a warrior.

Activity for you. Revise the following:

"I was left, betrayed, and abandoned. I was helpless. I suffered."

"She was my everything. Now that she’s gone, I have nothing."

"I wasted years on that relationship. I regret everything."

"I was weak. I begged. I embarrassed myself."

"I’ll never love again. I’m too broken."

I'm not gonna tell you my revisions of those lines. You create your own. If you're too fucking dumb or lazy to even try to turn them into a non-victim lines, stop at this point coz nothing that I'm going to say next will make sense to you.

Write down your past. But write it in a way where YOU WIN.
Turn every failure into a stepping stone.
Turn every heartbreak into a source of power.

"We're all writing a book. What's your book look like?" - Kevin Hart

You are NOT just a passive character in life. You are the author. Change the story.

The "Fight, Not Flight" Approach (Facing Triggers with Shinobi Precision)

Instead of running away from pain, you face it head-on and master it. Like a warrior training in the battlefield, you expose yourself to your triggers in a controlled way until they lose power over you.

✔ Expose yourself to pain until it stops affecting you. Like a soldier desensitizing to gunfire, train yourself against triggers. - Your emotional triggers—seeing your ex’s name, passing by a place you used to go together, hearing your song—these are like gunfire in a warzone. The first time you hear it, you flinch. You panic. But soldiers don’t stay weak. They train until gunfire becomes background noise.

You used to cry every time you heard that one song. But instead of avoiding it, you play it again and again until it becomes just another song. At first, it stings. Then, it annoys you. Then, you don’t care anymore. That’s desensitization. That’s power. 

Face the pain without reacting emotionally. You build tolerance, not avoidance.

✔ Controlled Exposure vs. Emotional Relapse (There’s a difference between sharpening your resilience and reopening wounds.) - Not all exposure is healthy. The key is control. You don’t rip open a healing wound—you build tolerance without self-sabotage.

Healthy Exposure (Controlled Exposure):
✔ Seeing your ex’s name and choosing not to react.
✔ Visiting old places as a strong, new version of yourself.
✔  Allowing old memories to surface without letting them dictate your emotions.

Unhealthy Exposure (Emotional Relapse):
✘ Drunk-texting your ex at 2 AM, saying “Naalala mo pa ba yung gabing…”
✘ Stalking their social media, overanalyzing their posts.
✘ Revisiting memories with the hope of reigniting something.

Observe your emotions like a shinobi (ninja) studying an opponent. You do not let them control you.

✔ Turn pain into fuel. (Don’t avoid the memories—use them. A ninja sharpens his blade on the stone that once cut him.) - Pain is a weapon. You either let it weaken you, or you use it to make yourself sharper, stronger, and more dangerous. 

Activity for you. Revise the following weak lines:

"I can’t go back to that café, it reminds me of them."

"I can’t work out because heartbreak drained my energy."

"I have to block them because every time I see their name, it ruins my day."

"I don’t want to hang out with our mutual friends anymore because they might talk about my ex."

"I can’t take this route anymore because it reminds me of our dates."

"They moved on so fast. I’ll never be okay without them."

"I feel empty. I should text them just to see if they still care."

You earned it at this point since you answered the previous activity (or you did not, you just skipped to this part you fucking cheater). Here are some of my answers. You answer the rest for yourself:

Warrior lines:

"I will not let a name on a screen control my emotions. I will train myself to see it and feel nothing."

"I will walk through the same streets, eat at the same places, and reclaim them as mine. They were never just ours."

"Their journey is theirs. Mine is mine. I don’t compare—I focus on my own growth and legacy."

*Comparison is weakness. Focus is power. You move forward, not sideways.

"I will channel all my anger into lifting weights. Every rep is a reminder that I’m becoming stronger."

Running away from pain keeps you weak. Facing pain and mastering it makes you a warrior. Triggers are not your enemies—they are your training ground. Every battle scar is proof of your strength.

III. The Warrior’s Code: How to Move On Without a Sound (Ninja Principles of Detachment)

Cut Off Access (Total Disconnection Strategy)

This is NOT just about cutting them off—it’s about removing every trace of their influence on you without giving them the satisfaction of knowing.

✔ No blocking (too obvious), no unblocking (too weak). Ninjas do not leave traces. 

Block and make them think you still care to react. Unblock later and make them think you're weak and now back to square one. Why don't you fucking leave that "block" button alone and stay silent, stop reacting by your movements. Silence is power. Disappear from their world without a trace, without closure, without making it a scene. Blocking is an emotional reaction. It shows you’re affected (which fuels their ego). If you unblock later, you just admitted to yourself that you’re still checking (which reinforces your addiction). A true ninja doesn’t announce their exit. They become ghosts. 

P.S.

Why do you even unblock them later? To check if they are doing the worse than you do? Leave them alone you idiot. At this point of this article, you probably already know what other insults I can throw at you so go ahead and sit on those questions, pagnilay-nilayan mo before you proceed.

✔ Change your habits—so your past doesn’t fit into your present anymore. - A ninja does not linger in old battlefields. The warrior who evolves renders the past irrelevant. 

The old YOU was predictable—you used to check their socials, listen to “your songs,” visit “your places.” The new YOU doesn’t do that anymore because your habits have changed. If they ever look for you, they’ll realize you don’t exist in the same places anymore. Dahil dyan kapatid, you don't fucking go to the same Alfamart that you used to buy chicharon ni Mang Juan with her just to see if you can accidentally bump with her para makaepal ka. Discover new places, new hobbies, and build an entirely new routine that the past version of you wouldn't be recognized. 

✔ Social Media Cleanse: Stop posting for them. Ninjas don’t perform; they execute their mission. A shinobi does not seek applause. He moves in silence. 

-Posting a “glow-up” selfie just to make them see it? That’s still an emotional reaction.

-Making mysterious “deep quotes” about moving on? That’s indirect attention-seeking.

-If you really moved on, you wouldn’t care if they see you or not.

Posting a gym progress photo with the caption: “Revenge body. Ako nga pala yung sinayang mo.” How's that sound to you? Stupid and pathetic right?

Build an Unshakable Mindset (Training in Emotional Combat)

✔ No “revenge glow-ups” — glow up because you demand excellence from yourself. - The moment you do something for them, they still control you.

If your motivation to improve is revenge, you’re still emotionally attached. True mastery comes from self-discipline, not proving a point. A silent glow-up is 10x stronger than one that screams for validation.

If you are really itched to post something about your fitness development, associate it with other personal improvements that you are also working on, "Gout free day 100. Thanks to barbell squats." Mga ganun...and congrats dahil wala ka nang gout. Munggo pa more. (Though munggo is not really bad for gout. I'll let you do your own research for that)

✔ No reaction = ultimate power. Silence frustrates those who seek control. - A ninja does not react. He moves strategically.

If they try to provoke you (a random message, an indirect post, etc.), your reaction is what they want. If you respond, even negatively, they still have power over you. If you stay silent, they question everything—which is psychological torture for them.

Be unbothered. They may react sa fitness and overall physical developments na pinost mo indirectly that may sound like bashing sa sarili nilang post pero stay silent. Just keep doing the good thing that you're doing. If they are on a new relationship, good for them. Wag mo na i-process, masyado kang busy sa own business mo. Your silence forces them to realize they no longer have control over your emotions.

✔ Live in a way that makes your past self irrelevant. The ninja who returns is no longer the same person who left. - Your past self is dead. The new you has no connection to them.

You don’t just “move on.” You evolve to a point where your ex wouldn’t even recognize the new you. The best revenge? Becoming someone who would never even consider dating them again. A new mission, new purpose, new goals make your past look like a training arc.

Make them feel that they never deserved you in the first place. Not saying na ipangalandakan mo yung mga naachieve mo para mapansin ka nya but let the nature do its course. If magmeet kayo unexpectedly, so be it. You're a new you and you're no longer a pathetic son of a...

Don’t just move on. Move so far ahead that they become a distant memory.

This isn’t just moving on. This is mental warfare.
This is detachment as a lethal strategy.
This is how you turn heartbreak into the sharpest weapon.

✔ You don’t block. You erase your presence.
✔ You don’t glow up for them. You evolve beyond them.
✔ You don’t react. You become unpredictable.

A true ninja doesn’t announce his moves. He just wins.

P.S.

Here are my answers to the first activity because now that you've finished the whole thing, you've earned them:

"I was left, betrayed, and abandoned. I was helpless. I suffered."

"I was tested, broken, but I chose to rise. I sharpened myself. I became someone I respect."

"She was my everything. Now that she’s gone, I have nothing."

"I gave love, and I lost. But in losing her, I found myself. Now, I am everything I need."

"I wasted years on that relationship. I regret everything."

"Those years were my training ground. I may have lost time, but I gained wisdom. No experience is wasted if you grow from it."

"I was weak. I begged. I embarrassed myself."

"I fought for what I wanted, and that takes courage. Now, I fight smarter. No more begging—only building."

"I’ll never love again. I’m too broken."

"I was shattered, but I rebuilt myself stronger. Next time, I will love from a place of strength, not dependency."

Now do things in practice coz words are cheap. Move on and move on with style...be a warrior! Unleash the inner ninja in you!

Move On: Be Better, Not Bitter This Valentine’s Day (Science, Philosophy, at Biblical Takes sa Pagmo-Move On)

 

"Bakit Ang Hirap Mag-Move On?"

Valentine’s na naman. Ang iba, may date. Ang iba, may jowa tapos ikaw? Nagtitimpla pa rin ng 3-in-1 habang nag-aabang kung may magse-“seen” man lang sa’yo sa Messenger. Mahirap ba magmove-on kapatid? Kasing hirap ng pagsagot sa exam na hindi mo nireview dahil inuna mo ang landi? O mas mahirap pa dun?

Sabi nila, “Past is past.” Pero bakit ganun? Bakit kahit gustuhin nating kalimutan, bumabalik pa rin ang memories? Kahit busy ka, kahit maraming ginagawa, marinig mo lang yung "Tahanan" by Adie (or kung anumang theme song nyo na kakornihan) o madaan ka lang sa favorite nyong Alfamart, mage-emo ka na naman. Ano bang meron sa utak natin?

Madalas nating marinig “Hayaan mo na, move on ka na.” sabay lagok ng redhorse. Sapat na yun? Move on lang? Paano kung hindi lang pagmove-on ang kailangan natin ate para mahinto na yang pagkakape mo mag-isa tapos lumalamig din naman kase tulala ka malala?

Himayin natin ang topic na ito katulad ng kung paano himayin ng ex mo yung isdang ulam nyo dahil saksakan ka ng pabebe. I-touchbase natin ang Science, dantayan natin ng Philosophy at budburan natin ng mga aral sa Bibliya. Tantanan mo na yang kakadistract sa sarili mo at subukan mong intindihin kung bakit ka nagkakaganyan. Di ka marunong bumitaw e. Dati ka bang tuko?

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1. "Adik ka kahit di ka aware." (Scientific Take)

Ayon sa neuroscience, hindi lang puso ang nasasaktan kapag iniwan ka—buong utak mo, affected. Minsan, kahit anong pakiusap mo sa sarili mo na "tama na, let go na", nagigising ka pa din na sya ang nakarehistro sa utak mo kahit di naman kagwapuhan.

Sabi ng mga scientist, kapag in-love ka, dopamine at oxytocin ang nagpapagana sa’yo—mga chemicals para sa happiness at attachment, dahilan kung bakit feeling high ka pag-inlab. Kaya kahit toxic na yung relasyon, kahit pinagpalit ka na sa mas magaling na Tiktoker, kahit hindi ka na masaya and finally yun nga, nagbreak na kayo, bumabalik-balik ka pa rin kase hinahabol mo yung pagiging bangag mo sa pagmamahal na dala ng mga nasabing kemikal sa utak mo. Literal kang may withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms na dahilan kung bakit bumabalik ka pa rin sa old convo, old pics (kahit mukang panakot sa daga), stalk-stalk pa din kahit blinock na (create lang ng dummy acct) at ang malala...naghihintay ka pa din na may bumalik. Kase everytime na nag-aattempt ka na bumalik sa nakaraan, may konting dopamine pa din na sumisipa sa sistema mo na nagbibigay pa din ng konting saya sayo pero hindi na pangmatagalan kase later on, magtutubig na naman ang mata mo. Pero repeat pa din kase feeling mo yun na lang ang kaya mong gawin after break up. Gusto mo yung ganyan na lang?

Para kang adik talaga.
Kaya pag sinabing "Mag-move on ka na", para mong sinabihan yung adik na "Wag ka nang gumamit." So kung may tokhang lang sa mga di makamove-on, baka nasa listahan ka na kase after kang payuhan ng friend mo (na di naman lahat magaling), iniisip mo pa din yung ex mo habang nagkakape (tigilan mo nga muna yang kakakape. Adik!).

At eto pa ang matindi:
Sabi ng studies, ang rejection ay may parehong epekto sa utak na para bang sinaktan ka ng pisikal. Kaya minsan, years na ang lumipas, may hapdi pa din. Parang injury na bumabalik-balik dahil sa tinatawag na lateral habenula na parte ng utak na naghahandle ng rejection at negative experiences. Irereplay nya nang irereplay yung hapdi na dinanas mo hanggang magkamental health issues ka na. At mahirap syang kontrolin unless may mental toughness ka at lumalaban. Eto pa malala, ipupush ng utak mo yung mga positive na pinagsamahan nyo to the point na unti-unti na nyang binubura yung toxic memories nyo na dahilan para mabaliw-baliw ka na at tuluyan nang magparamdam ng "balikan". John Lloyd and Bea mode ka na ngayon. Worth it ba makipagbalikan? Most of the time, ang sagot mo "OO" kase nga adik ka na...pero di ka aware.

Di lahat ng idea ng balikan ay okay, OK? Mag-psychology naman tayo. Sabi ni lolo Freud, malamang "id" mo na lang ang nagsusumigaw sayo na makipagbalikan. Sobrang lala ng emosyon mo at wala ka maisip na makakapagpatahan sayo kungdi "sya". Tsk, tsk, tsk.. That's immature ate/kuya. Kase as per lolo Freud, with "ego" marerealize mong hindi priority na habulin mo sya para lang maging ok ka. Iprocess mo nang husto at wag kang childish na nagmamaktol dahil nasaktan. In reality, sa kailaliman ng sarili mo manggagaling yung solusyon  at madalas...pag-move on talaga yung the best. Lastly, mula naman kay Carl Jung, "Your urge to reconnect might be your shadow self forcing you to face deeper questions: Was he/she really "the one," or am I chasing something in myself that I haven’t resolved? So ang ending, baka meron ka lang sa sarili mo na dapat mong hukayin para maging OK ka.

🔹 Eto ang tools kapatid:
Kung gusto mong maka-move on, kailangan mong i-rewire ang utak mo. Para bang sa android, i-factory reset mo.

✔ Maghanap ng bagong dopamine source—fitness, hobbies, bagong goals, diskarte mo na yan.
✔ Iwasan ang mga trigger—wag mo nang i-stalk pakiusap! May tinatawag na neural pathways sa utak na dahilan kung bakit naaatach ka pa din kahit gusto mo na mag-move on. Everytime na pine-feed mo ang utak mo ng mga alaala at triggers, lalong lumalakas yang neural pathway na yan na dahilan para sabihan kang tanga ng bestfriend mo. Magdeactivate ka kaya or baguhin mo na playlist mo. Mag 711 ka na lang instead na Alfamart. Mga ganun.
✔ Baguhin ang routine—kung dati, araw-araw kang nag-aabang ng bagong mababasa sa chat nya, bakit di ka magbasa ng libro? Puro ka kalandian pero yung reading comprehension mo pang grade-4 pa din. Try mo naman kaya paganahin utak mo sa ibang bagay.

Huwag mong hayaang utak mo ang kumontrol sa’yo. Ikaw ang dapat na kumontrol sa utak mo.

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2. "Minsan, Ang Pagmo-Move On Ay Hindi Pagtatapos, Kundi Pagpapalaya." (Philosophical Take)

"One must have chaos in oneself to give birth to a dancing star." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Sabi pa ni lolo Nietzsche, the highest form of love isn’t attachment, but the ability to love someone without needing to possess them. Kung totoong mahal mo, pakawalan mo na at wish all the best na lang sa kanya. As in yung totoong "I wish you all the best ha". Hindi yung break na, nag last goodbye na tapos biglang "need natin ng closure...". Mga galawan ni kuya oh.

Sabi naman ni Plato, ginawa daw tayo originally na may dalawang ulo, apat na kamay at apat na paa pero isinumpa at hinati sa dalawa ng diyos. Kung gusto daw natin maging buo ulet, hanapin natin yung kalahati natin...yung soulmate natin. Etong si ate, g na g magpost sa facebook tungkol sa soulmate nya (daw) tapos nagbreak din. Kaya broken na broken daw sya kase nahanap na nya soulmate nya, nawala pa.

Wag tayo mag-gaguhan dito. Kahit si Plato, hindi sya nag-agree na porke natagpuan mo na ang "other half" mo e happily ever after na. Minsan may dumarating sa buhay natin na hindi nakatadhana mag-stay, pero nakatadhana na turuan tayo. Therefore, may mga pag-ibig na ang purpose e maging stepping stone lang natin, maging daan lang natin...hindi maging destinasyon natin. Kase yung past na yun ang magdadala saten sa "the one". Sinang-ayunan yan ni Dostoevsky na para naman sa kanya, minsan higit pa sa nawalang jowa yung matatagpuan natin kungdi yung malalim na purpose talaga natin kung bakit tayo nag-eexist. Love can transform us and shape us into someone new which will lead us into better chance of finding our best half.

Ang tanong naman ni lolo Aristotle, sure ba tayo na Philia at Agape yung pag-ibig natin kay ex o baka naman puro Eros lang? Eros love is more on physical or strong attraction lang na mababaw while Philia is with deep respect and Agape is unconditional love. Hindi lahat ng pinaglalaban natin e totoong pag-ibig. Minsan obsess lang talaga tayo.

O baka naman nanghihinayang ka na lang dun sa "what ifs" at hindi na talaga dun sa tao? Sabi ni Kierkegaard, "The most painful state of being is remembering the future you can no longer have." Kung ganun naman pala e bakit di ka na lang magsimula ulet and this time mahalin mo na yung tao talaga, hindi yung idea lang ng pagmamahal, hindi lang yung mga ilusyon na kalakip ng pagmamahal.

Now get one whole and answer the following. 25 pts. each. Mahuling magpasa auto-singko:

🔹 Sobrang sakit? Pero paano kung meant ‘yan para maging mas malakas ka?
🔹 Feeling mo siya na yung The One? Pero paano kung siya lang ang stepping stone mo papunta sa taong talagang para sa’yo?

Minsan, kailangan nating bitawan ang isang bagay hindi dahil wala nang halaga, kundi dahil natapos na ang halaga nito sa buhay natin.

✔ Accept the lesson.
✔ Grow from the experience.
✔ Gamitin ang masakit na kahapon para maging better at stronger version ng mga sarili natin.

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3. "May Mas Malaking Plano Ang Diyos." (Biblical Take)

Sabi sa Ecclesiastes 3:1, “There is a time for everything.”

Kung hindi kayo tinadhana, baka kasi hindi siya talaga para sa’yo.
At kung sakaling siya nga, darating siya sa tamang panahon, sa tamang paraan.

🔹 Pero paano kung mahal mo pa?
Tama lang na malungkot. Kahit si Hesus, umiyak nung namatay si Lazarus. Pero hindi Siya nanatili sa lungkot.

Sa halip na tanungin kung bakit kayo nagkahiwalay, tanungin mo: Ano kaya ang tinuturo ng Diyos sa’yo ngayon?

✔ Baka natututo kang mas mahalin ang sarili mo.
✔ Baka may mas magandang darating na mas deserve mo.
✔ Baka kailangan mo munang maging kumpleto mag-isa bago pumasok sa relasyon.

Ang pagmo-move on ay hindi lang tungkol sa paglimot, kundi sa pagtitiwala na may mas magandang plano para sa’yo.

“Kalimutan na ninyo ang mga nangyari noong unang panahon; huwag nyo nang alalahanin pa ang mga lumipas. Ako ang Diyos na gagawa ng bagong bagay; ito’y nagaganap na, hindi pa ba ninyo namamalayan? Magbubukas ako ng daan sa disyerto, at magkakaroon ng ilog sa ilang.” (Isaias 43:18-19)

Bitterness chains you to the past. Growth sets you free.

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FINAL THOUGHTS: "Be Better, Not Bitter."

Hindi mo kailangan maging bitter ngayong Valentine’s. Kung iniwan ka, kung hindi natuloy ang love story niyo, wag mong hayaan na ‘yun ang magde-define sa’yo.

✔ Aayusin mo ang mindset mo (Science).
✔ Laliman mo ang pananaw mo sa buhay (Philosophy).
✔ Ibibigay mo kay God ang mga bagay na di mo kontrolado (Biblical Wisdom).

At sa susunod na makita mo ang ex mo sa feed mo, wag mo na tanungin kung "Kamusta na siya?"
Mas magandang tanungin ang sarili mo:

"Kamusta na AKO?"

At kung kaya mong sagutin ‘yan ng may miracle glow-up at peace of mind, congrats.

‘Yan ang tunay na move on.

The Sweet Betrayer That’s Been Playing You for a Fool

"Self-discipline is saying no to the things that betray you in disguise."
— Probably a time-traveling version of me, warning my past self about sugar.

Alright, listen up, sugar addicts and closet snack hoarders. If you still think sugar is some innocent, harmless treat, you’re in for a reality check. Sugar isn’t your buddy—it’s a two-faced backstabber that lures you in with a dopamine rush before leaving you an anxious, bloated mess. And the worst part? You keep running back, like a hopeless romantic chasing a toxic ex.

Today, we’re putting sugar on trial. No mercy. No sweet-talking. Just the raw, ugly truth.

The Moment I Realized Sugar Was Screwing Me Over

Picture this: It’s lunchtime, and after eating a “balanced” meal, I reward myself with something sweet—because, you know, I "deserve it" (spoiler alert: I didn’t). Fifteen minutes later, my heart starts racing. My energy dips. Suddenly, I’m stressed about things I wasn’t even thinking about five minutes ago. By the time my shift ends, I’m exhausted, irritable, and on the verge of questioning my entire existence.

Science backs this up: A 2017 study found that men who consume excessive sugar are 23% more likely to develop depression. Another study shows that sugar spikes your blood sugar like a rocket before dropping it like a deadbeat dad—leaving you tired, cranky, and craving another hit. Sugar is a scam. A legal, socially accepted scam.

My Sugar-Free Awakening: From Jittery Mess to Battle-Ready

Quitting sugar wasn’t just a diet change—it was an exorcism.

At first, my body protested like a spoiled brat. Cravings hit hard. But once I pushed through, I felt unstoppable. My focus sharpened, my energy levels stabilized, and my mood stopped acting like a gender-swapping crab (yes, some crabs can change gender when needed, just like sugar messes with your hormones when you least expect it).

No more sugar crashes. No more mid-afternoon existential crises. Just raw, unfiltered energy ready to take on anything. Science explains it: Sugar wreaks havoc on your gut, causing inflammation that directly affects your brain. Translation? Sugar doesn’t just make you fat—it makes you stupid.

The Sneaky Little Bitch That’s Everywhere

You think you’re safe because you don’t eat cakes and candy? Guess what? Sugar is hiding in your “healthy” yogurt, your “light” dressing, your damn breakfast cereal. Reading food labels is like trying to decode enemy intel—except the enemy is winning, and you’re unknowingly funding its war against your health.

And don’t even get me started on the social aspect. Try skipping dessert at a party and watch people look at you like you just declared war on fun. The pressure to conform is real, but here’s a fact: Every time you cave, you’re feeding your addiction, not your happiness.

A Time-Traveling Slap to My Past Self

If I had a time machine, I’d go back and roundhouse kick that Snickers bar out of my hand. “You don’t deserve this, idiot,” I’d say. “You think you’re ‘treating’ yourself, but you’re just signing up for mood swings and brain fog. Put the sugar down and eat your kamote instead (or boiled banana or anything whole foods).”

My past self wouldn’t listen. He’d probably laugh, shove another cookie in his mouth, and say, “Relax, bro, it’s just sugar.” That’s exactly why my present self exists—to warn you before you repeat my mistakes.

What I Gained Since Kicking Sugar to the Curb

Now that I’ve ditched sugar, I’m operating on a whole different level. My energy is consistent. My mood is steady. My brain actually functions without needing a constant glucose IV drip.

I feel like a high-performance machine—not some rusty tricycle barely making it up the hill. The best part? I don’t feel deprived. I feel free. Free from cravings, free from crashes, and free from the bullshit lie that sugar is “happiness.”

To All the "Sugar is Life" Deniers

If you're still out here defending sugar like it’s some kind of sacred relic, let me ask you something: Do you feel amazing every day? Do you wake up energized, mentally sharp, and emotionally stable? No? Then maybe—just maybe—sugar isn’t the friend you think it is.

If you’re a grown-ass adult still out here saying, “But I need my sweets,” take a hard look in the mirror. Your sagging man-boobs and energy levels, your sluggish afternoons, your rollercoaster moods—they’re all red flags. Sugar has been playing you for a fool. It’s time to wake up.

Final Roundhouse Kick: The Science of Staying Sharp

Here’s the undeniable truth: Sugar fuels inflammation, hijacks your brain’s reward system, and turns you into an energy-craving zombie. It’s not just about weight—it’s about your mind, your discipline, and your ability to function at your peak.

Winners don’t rely on sugar. They rely on discipline, discomfort, and delayed gratification.

So here’s my challenge to you: Drop the sugar. Reclaim your focus. Master yourself. Because the best version of you isn’t found in a candy wrapper—it’s forged through self-control and a refusal to be played by something as stupid as sugar.

Now, get out there and prove that you’re not just another weak-willed pawn in sugar’s game. Own your mind, own your body, and leave that sweet betrayer in the dust.