“Kawawa naman ako.”
Or in English: “Poor me.”
Believe it or not, I spent half of my career stuck in this victim mindset.
I kept thinking:
💭“I’m doing so much work, yet I’m not being recognized enough.”
💭 “People decide for me—how much work, when to finish, what’s next.”
💭 “Someone gets a bigger bonus even though I’m better than them.”
💭 “The corporate game is rigged… and it’s rigged against me.”
😞 Poor me.
Sound familiar? This mindset feels safe because it shifts responsibility away from us.
But here’s the truth: it keeps us powerless.
What Changed?
I became tired of complaining and started asking:
👉 “What can I do right now to change this?”
That single question turned frustration into empowerment. 💪
But it wasn’t a quick fix.
I had to be mindful of my daily choices—how I responded to every interaction and situation.
One decision at a time, I learned to take responsibility for the results of my actions, good or bad.
With repetition, I grew more confident and steady in my steps.
People who genuinely cared about my well-being played a major role in this transformation—and I’m deeply grateful for them. 🙏
When I focused on their encouragement instead of the doubts in my mind and the voices of naysayers, it sustained my energy and motivated me to keep improving.
You don’t have to go through this alone.
A strong support system helps, but so does realizing the wealth of tools and information available at your fingertips in today’s digital age.
The Power of Access
A few months ago, I watched Evy Poumpouras—a former U.S. Secret Service Special Agent, NBC Law Enforcement Analyst, and author of the best-selling book Becoming Bulletproof—at DOAC, and I was blown away by the principles she teaches. Her insights validated the practices I’ve been using to build a stronger mindset:
✅ Action Over Emotion – Take action even when you don’t feel ready.
✅ Reject Labels – Stop calling yourself “victim.” You’re resourceful.
✅ Instrumental Mindset – Shift from “Why me?” to “What’s the goal?”
✅ Control Your Reactions – Pause, breathe, respond deliberately.
✅ Harness Fear – Use fear as fuel, not identity.
✅ Build Resilience – Every challenge is training, not punishment.
✅ Focus on Yourself – Stop chasing validation; own your decisions.
Practical Steps for the Workplace
How can we apply these principles in the corporate space? Here are simple, actionable steps:
🔷 Reframe Language: Replace “Kawawa naman ako” with “This is tough, but I can handle it.”
🔷 Micro-Actions: Start with small wins—reply to that email, schedule that meeting, finish one task.
🔷 Boundary Setting: Protect your energy by saying no to unnecessary drama or tasks that derail your focus.
🔷 Preparation Rituals: Anticipate challenges and plan responses; confidence comes from readiness, not luck.
🔷 Mentorship & Feedback: Seek guidance, not sympathy. Surround yourself with solution-oriented people.
My Most Important Habit
After applying these principles and practical steps, one question remained:
What truly sustains me when things get tough?
No matter how hard life gets, the habit that keeps me grounded is attending midweek and weekend worship services. 🙏
The best recharge isn’t just physical or mental—it’s spiritual.
Science defines depression as persistent sadness and loss of interest, but here’s something powerful:
If you don’t miss worship, you’ll be uplifted every three to four days.
That rhythm strengthens my spirit and clears my perspective.
If you’ve ever felt stuck in “Poor me” mode, you’re not alone.
But you don’t have to stay there.
One action—or one habit—you start today can reclaim your power! 🔑
