Passionate about Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, Family and Health. Received Certification in Nutrition and Health from Wageningen University, Introduction to Psychology, Managing Emotions from Yale Center of Emotional Intelligence, and Emotional and Social Intelligence by UC Davis. Currently studying Graphic Design under California Institute of Arts as her first love - Art <3 사랑
Oh how we love charming and funny dramas like this one! Korean dramas are expanding their theme from the usual lovey-dovey romance or conflict to more deep & relevant topics like psychology.
When the legendary Royal physician Yoo Se Poong (Kim Min Jae) was expelled from the royal court, he moves to a quaint and beautiful Gyesu village. There he meets Kye Ji han (Kim SangKyung) that will help him transform to a doctor who heals hearts.
Watch or stream it in Viu, Netflix and original network is TvN.
Season 2 of Alchemy of Souls dubbed as “Light and Shadow” premiered last December of 2022. At that time I was still finishing Dodo-Solsol-Lala-Sol also starring Lee Jae-Wook & I decided to wait for more episodes of season 2 to air.
Alchemy of Souls – is one of the period pieces fused with fantasy and folklore. Many got captivated by season 1 as it ended with tragedy and mystery.
Season 1 / TVN
Like previous drama reviews, I avoid lengthy posts and prefer to point out the best in every series. I’m sure you’d agree, actors here have stunning visuals and exceptionally good-looking 😉
The genius of AOS is that they didn’t use actor heavyweights, the acclaimed writers – Hong sisters (Hong Jung-eun and Miran) presented a captivating storyline paired with carefully concocted visual effects to impress viewers worldwide.
Season 2 / TVN
Currently in episode 6 and I can’t help but to pity Yul again as another heartache is about to happen… 💔
Finished with this drama and ending is just superb! Happy ending for everyone.
Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for all that you’ve allowed into our lives this past year, the good and the hard things that have reminded us how much we need you and rely on your presence filling us every day.
We pray for your Spirit to lead us each step of this New Year. We ask that you will guide our decisions and turn our hearts to deeply desire you above all else.
We ask for your wisdom, strength, and power to be constantly present within us. We pray you would make us strong and courageous for the road ahead. We pray for your protection over our families and friends. We ask for your hand to cover us and keep us distanced from the enemy’s evil intent; that you would be a barrier to surround us, that we’d be safe in your hands. We pray that you would give us discernment and insight beyond our years, to understand your will, hear your voice, and know your ways.
This year has been the most difficult for me. The emotional impact of endometriosis is so immense and it’s more debilitating than physical pain.
Perhaps I’m in no position to render advice, and this may appear to you as superficial and ordinary. But I know God can touch us in many ways than we can imagine. He reaches out to us even if we fail to remember Him.
God remembered us when we were down, His love never quits. – Psalm 136:23
When we hold on to worry, we give it life. Jesus told us these exact words…
Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34
Do you know that God doesn’t want us to carry our burdens? He asks us to lay them down at the foot of the cross. He wants us to surrender our heavy loads to him. Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Come to me all who are weary and burdened,and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28
More than a decade ago, I was first diagnosed with endometriosis and then adenomyosis. Two similar medical terms, both are giving pain and suffering to millions of women worldwide.
Endometriosis is often equated with period pain but it is much more than period pain. It’s a chronic condition and many lack awareness and resources to help them with this disease.
A term was coined – “endowarrior”. Many organizations are built to raise awareness and spread word about endometriosis. And help fellow sufferers in their journey.
There’s power in weakness / pain – a life motto that I cling to. A decade long of this indescribable pain and suffering. Resounding symptoms of pain, stomach upset, bloatedness, body weakness and recently low mood. My last ultrasound revealed progressive adenomyosis and adenomyoma, reoccuring hydrosalpinx and ovarian cysts.
An endometriosis journey can be described as trailing down a long dark road without any maps, tools, or light to help guide the way. A journey without being understood or heard. At least, that has been my experience.
Proud of our endo-community in Instagram, endowarriors give each other support and advices. After 10 years of TTC (trying to conceive) and enormous amount of pain, I’ve decided to just have everything removed. Yes, one tough decision that endowarriors go through… 😦
While waiting for season 2 of Alchemy of Souls, I was recommended to watch this after Because this is my first life. Both Korean dramas starred our favorite couple – Lee JaeWook and Jung So-min (but separately).
I like Jung Somin character in Because this is my first life, however this post is dedicated to Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol starring no less than Lee JaeWook.
KBS
Why you’ll love this K-drama?
super funny
dog named “mimi” is the cutest
the positivity of Rara is contagious
unique kind of fairy tale
This drama revolves around RaRa (Go Ara) who is the heiress of RaRa cosmetics. Like what I said – she is an optimistic talented lady who sees the best in people and in every situation. Her positivity is contagious and brings good vibes everytime. Tragic events happened during her wedding ceremony and meets Sunwoo Joon (Lee JaeWook) a good looking warm-hearted man who is the complete opposite of Rara.
Fond of her beautiful curls which remind me of mine and her bubbly character that’s like no other.
Eventually they developed feelings for each other as things become complicated.
Watch or binge it in streaming sites like Netflix.
OpenLine News Media Forum is a new program by MyTV Cebu Philippines that airs every Tuesday morning and can be livestreamed via social media channels like Facebook, YouTube and their website.
The host/moderators are veteran broadcast journalist Erik Espina and captivating Andrea Patena-Matheu. This show tackles current and relevant issues in the Philippines.
OpenLine News Media Forum is where all lines are open. Journalists, media and even viewers can participate by posting their questions and suggestions in the comment section.
Ive’sNarcissus concept in “Love Dive” became an instant hit since its debut comeback. They even won multiple awards with this song (congrats Ive). Not only it is catchy but the dance choreo (my favorite) is addictive. There’s a particular move – “mirror princess” where members look into a “mirror”. A symbolic of Narcissistic adage.
Love Dive – Ive
What is Narcissistic?
– by Merriam-Webster definition, relating to or characterized by narcissism; extremely exaggerated sense of self-importance, marked by or characteristic of excessive admiration of or infatuation with oneself.
Narcissism comes from the story of Narcissus. In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a hunter known for his beauty. He fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water, staring at it until he drowned. At that spot, a flower bloomed which is now called as the narcissus plant or the daffodil.
A tragic story like many mythologies I’ve read, has a lesson worth noting. Pride and self-obsession for Greeks are obstructions to piety and religion. Proving the cruel fate of Narcissus.
Narcissistic personality disorder NPD is a mental health condition in which people have an unreasonably high sense of their own importance. They need and seek too much attention and want people to admire them. People with this disorder may lack the ability to understand or care about the feelings of others. But behind this mask of extreme confidence, they are not sure of their self-worth and are easily upset by the slightest criticism.
Mayo Clinic
A narcissist can have many problems in different areas of life. They are disappointed when they’re not given the attention they believe they deserve. And symptoms are as follows;
Have an unreasonably high sense of self-importance and require constant, excessive admiration.
Feel that they deserve privileges and special treatment.
Expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements.
Make achievements and talents seem bigger than they are.
Be preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate.
Believe they are superior to others and can only spend time with or be understood by equally special people.
Be critical of and look down on people they feel are not important.
Expect special favors and expect other people to do what they want without questioning them.
Take advantage of others to get what they want.
Have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others.
Be envious of others and believe others envy them.
Behave in an arrogant way, brag a lot and come across as conceited.
Insist on having the best of everything.
The hallmarks of NPD are grandiosity, lack of empathy for other people, and the need for admiration. They are described as self-centered, manipulative and demanding. They also have trouble handling criticism. To them, criticisms are just personal attacks.
These people think there’s nothing wrong with them. They are resistant to changing their behavior even when it’s causing them problems. Their tendency is to pass the blame to others.
Narcissists believe they are better than everyone else and often exagerrate their own achievements and talents. They live in a fantasy world that supports their delusions of grandeur. They have a sense of entitlement and consider themselves as special.
For their overly inflated ego that needs to be constantly fed so they surround themselves with people who are willing to cater to them. This kind of relationship is usually one-sided. Since they lack empathy, they often take advantage of others to get what they want.
There are more topics (and medical terms) related to NPD, however I’d like to emphasize the problem with them – they are not even aware of their own behavior. Thinking – what could be wrong really? Yes, it is sad especially when you know someone who is one! but stay calm – real and lasting relationships are based on mutual respect and love.
Since narcissists are not capable of reciprocating your love and affection, it’s all about them as the center of the universe. It is best to set healthy boundaries and don’t take things personally. It’s not about you, it’s them.
And lastly, don’t argue with a narcissist.
It’s pointless.
Ending with this reminder – spend time and make memories with people who are worth your precious time (and life).
Yes people come and go in our life and they also influence us in one way or another. My constant prayer as a parent is for my child to meet friends who will be of “good” influence to her. I grew up in a traditional manner, raised by strict grandmother and parents, choosing good friends is important.
A motto that marked indelibly in my heart is this saying;
Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.
– anonymous
There are many versions of this quote but they all mean the same thing. In Social Psychology, this influence is being recognized and scientifically proven. Your closest associates (sometimes called – reference group) can determine much of your success in life. Our friends influence us subtly yet powerfully, and that can either be good or bad.
Research shows we do not have as much control over our thoughts and behavior as we think. We take cues from our environment, especially other people, on how to act.
– Psychology Today
Another powerful quote by Jim Rohn – “You are the average of the 5 people you hang around with.” The first quotation stayed with me since highschool. And recently, studying Psychology out of interest helps me gain more insight in relationships and human behavior.
You can’t choose your family, but you have the power to decide who to be close with. You also have the power to avoid certain people – toxic ones, for they will definitely shape who you are.
From my notes in Managing Emotions (Social Emotional Learning SEL) by Yale University – Humans are social creatures, we are influencing each other’s feelings whether we realize it or not.
Surrounding yourself with good people is not a strategy, it is a necessity. Having family and friends who motivate and help you become better (or best) version of yourself is a blessing.
Brainwashing is defined in the Psychology Dictionary as that which “manipulates and modifies a person’s emotions, attitudes, and beliefs.” It reduces a person’s ability to mentally defend themselves and makes it easier for another person to control them.
Brainwashing (also known as mind control, menticide, coercive persuasion, thought control, thought reform, and forced re-education) is the concept that the human mind can be altered or controlled by certain psychological techniques.
– Wikipedia
History
The term brainwashing was first coined in the 1950s when journalist Edward Hunter in his article in Miami Daily News entitled – “Brain-washing Tactics Force Chinese Into Ranks of Communist Party.” He described how Mao’s Red Army used ancient techniques to manipulate the masses. He called this hypnotic process – brainwashing, the process to change the mind drastically (Smithsonian Magazine).
It is a theory that a person’s core beliefs, ideas, affiliations and values can be replaced, so much so that they have no autonomy over themselves and cannot think critically or independently.
In 1956, Albert Biderman studied how prisoner of war camp personnel got U.S. prisoners of the Korean War to give them tactical information, collaborate with propaganda, and agree with false confessions. Biderman stated that inflicting physical pain was not necessary to “induce compliance,” but psychological manipulations were extremely effective for that purpose. His report included what has come to be known as “Biderman’s Chart of Coercion.”
In Biderman’s chart, he summarized the tactics in brainwashing;
Isolation
Monopolization of perception (fixes attention on immediate predicament; eliminates “undesirable” stimuli)
Induced debilitation; exhaustion
Threats
Occasional indulgences (provides motivation for compliance; hinders adjustment to deprivation)
Demonstrating superiority
Degradation
Enforcing trivial demands
Not all eight elements need to be present in order for brainwashing to occur. Each element can have some power to distort reality, interfere with perception, reduce a person’s self-confidence, and gain compliance.
How are you brainwashed?
Based on the mechanisms from Biderman’s chart, you can somehow notice that this person is trying to control you. But first, this person who will try to brainwash you will want to know everything about you in order to manipulate your beliefs. Everything – find out what your strengths are, your weaknesses, who you trust, who is important to you and who you listen to for advice.
They will begin with isolation, it may come in a form of not allowing an access for family or friends. The brainwasher must have a complete control of the target.
In the process, brainwasher will attack the victim’s self esteem, making them vulnerable and easier to control. This can be done through physical or verbal abuse, threats, etc.
you are not who you think you are.
– how stuff works
The abuser denies everything that makes the target who he is: “You are not a soldier.” “You are not a man.” “You are not defending freedom.” The target is under constant attack for days, weeks or months, to the point that he becomes exhausted, confused and disoriented. In this state, his beliefs seem less solid (exhaustion).
Most psychologists believe that brainwashing is possible in the right conditions and settings. Plan must be systematic and relentless making it tiresome for the victim.
While the identity crisis is setting in, the brainwasher is simultaneously creating an overwhelming sense of guilt in the target. He/she repeatedly and mercilessly attacks the subject for any “sin” the target has committed, large or small. The victim now feels a general sense of shame that everything he/she does is wrong.
The ultimate goal of brainwashing is Blind Obedience. The victim follows orders without question. This is usually achieved by positively rewarding the person when they please the brainwasher and negatively punishing them when they do not (indulgences and punishment).
Brainwashing is real.
Yes, it is not just in fictional books and movies. Brainwashing is real!
However, this mind/psychological control should not be feared, and target/prospect having knowledge makes any tactic less effective. Here are some ways that you can do to avoid being brainwashed;
Don’t believe everything that you read
Don’t buy into fear or scare tactics
Watch for someone’s hidden agenda
Look out for less obvious messages, try to listen for both sides of the story
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