Lizette Claudio » RANDOM THOUGHTS

When you don’t know…

2 January 2013

I love picking out my word for the year. In reality, I’ve only done it once, but I got pretty excited about that one time back in 2011. My word for that year was COURAGE. In 2012 (also known as the year of my blogging incompetence), I didn’t choose a word. But as I look [...]

Learning from stories

14 April 2012

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I love learning, I love stories, and I love learning from stories. There’s nothing like being so captivated by a story that you lose track of time. Great stories can ignite emotions in the depths of one’s soul and unlock new ways of thinking–that’s why I love them so much. Here are some stories that [...]

Hello, courage.

12 March 2012

11 Comments

Today I did something difficult. It was difficult, but I knew I had to do it if I wanted to heal, grow, and live in freedom. In the midst of doing what needed to be done, I was surprised that I actually felt calm and at peace. But as soon as I finished what I [...]

Breaking out of a rut

29 January 2012

4 Comments

I hate being stuck in a rut, and yet, it's so hard to get out. For some reason, I often think that being stuck in a rut is like being stuck in quicksand. I'm afraid of making any moves because I think things are just going to get worse. ©iStockphoto.com/DNY59 I know I'm not the only one with this problem. Why do we let ourselves stay stuck? Maybe it's because once upon a time, we made a move and we got hurt. Maybe we're just paralyzed by the fear of making a big mistake. Maybe we're just too numb, too overwhelmed, or too tired. Maybe it's all of the above.

Why detours can be blessings

1 November 2011

6 Comments

“Gradually I began to realize that the best planned outings, where everything went as anticipated, left me somehow empty afterward. By contrast–unplanned surprises–contrary to my temperament and my expectations–often left the happiest memories. The more I had anticipated the results in detail, the less satisfying the outcome proved to be.” - Thomas H. Green, S.J., [...]

How important is it to be noticed?

24 October 2011

2 Comments

Have you ever felt overlooked? Have you ever secretly wished that people would notice you more? Have you ever been frustrated because someone else took credit for something that you did? ©iStockphoto.com/CamiloTorres I'll be honest--I can answer "yes" to all of those questions. But a couple of months ago, I learned a valuable lesson from a fascinating leader named Bob Goff: being noticed isn't really all that important. Your popularity doesn't define your purpose, and becoming well-known isn't a prerequisite for making an impact. [...]

Be where you are, lead where you are.

10 July 2011

9 Comments

Here's a little peek into my life. If you were sitting at my desk, this is what you would see: This is the spot where I work on my papers, go through my books, pay my bills, write letters to my friends, and have Skype chats with my family. [...]

Should you stay or should you go?

23 June 2011

8 Comments

New experiences can be very tough. Ever since I was a kid, I've always been slightly afraid of meeting strangers. I'm constantly worried that I wouldn't know how to introduce myself or I'd run out of things to say. ©iStockphoto.com/SimmiSimons People who know me say that they can't imagine that I'm like that, especially since I used to work in a field that required me to meet and interact with a lot of people on a daily basis. But trust me, I didn't just cruise into that type of work easily. Maybe I was good at putting up a strong front, but deep inside, I had to summon up a lot of courage to be able to get by. Thankfully, after some time, things got easier. [...]

Is it possible to be faithful and foolish?

6 June 2011

2 Comments

Recently, I started reflecting again on the story of Abraham. I’ve always admired Abraham’s faith. Hebrews 11:8 says that “By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.” Have you ever wondered [...]

How to communicate with God

1 June 2011

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One of my greatest pleasures these days is receiving mail. Every morning, I look forward to opening my computer and checking my e-mail accounts. While I'm asleep in the U.S., people in the Philippines are wide awake. On a good day, I usually have a couple of emails from my friends and family waiting in my inbox in the morning [...]

Seeing the beauty in every season

30 May 2011

6 Comments

It’s Memorial Day here in the US, which marks the transition from spring to summer. I arrived here in the winter and now it’s already summer? I barely had the chance to enjoy spring! Oh, how time flies! At the beginning of the year, when I prayed about it and I decided to settle down [...]

Do you have a support system?

22 March 2011

5 Comments

Moving to a new place is no joke. It's exciting, but it's also exhausting. It's full of promise, but it comes with pain. In spite of the challenges, I realized that there's much to be thankful for because God makes sure I have everything--or everyone--I need. Sometimes I just don't see it. ©iStockphoto.com/joeshmo

What’s your next step?

14 March 2011

8 Comments

A wise woman once told me: "In moments of fear or confusion, take the next best step. It's as simple as that. Take the next best step. Don't worry about where you'll be in 5-10 years... just handle today. There is freedom in abandoning the 'what if's' and life plans created in our minds. Let God be good... He'll open and close doors!" I never forgot Bianca's advice. It was simple, but it was powerful. Now, every time I feel lost, I ask myself: "What's the next step I need to take?" ©iStockphoto.com/Fenykepez Sometimes, I arrive at some pretty convicting answers. But most of the time, the answers are kind of funny.

The Cure for Boredom and What I Learned About Learning

4 February 2011

2 Comments

BORED…that’s a word I haven’t used in a really long time. When I was a kid, I said it all the time. In fact, when we were in school, my friend Carla and I would pass each other notes that would almost always start with the sentence: “I’m bored.” (Kids, don’t follow my awful example.) [...]

The Best Place on Earth

1 February 2011

0 Comments

Right now, I’m sitting in a peaceful library, staring at the serene rose garden outside the window on this beautiful sunny day. The rays of light are shining in between the trees, and the water in the pond is sparkling. I ask myself, “How did I get here?” And the only answer I can come [...]