“Learned helplessness”

That’s lifted from a posting in February 2015, with the title, “Developing a hardy mindset.” It appears the blog is left to recycle the same message if not old news repeatedly. Because it’s same old, same old instincts we demonstrate that, unsurprisingly, are captured in the media.

“As I have listened to individuals who feel trapped and stressed, unable to muster the energy to facilitate change, I think about Martin Seligman's research related to the concept of ‘learned helplessness,’ a concept which basically captures the belief that ‘regardless of what I do nothing really will change, so why even put in any effort to change.’ Once a feeling of learned helplessness begins to dominate one's mindset, most difficult situations elicit feelings of resignation, defeatism, and stress.” [Stressed Out or Stress Hardy (?), Robert Brooks, Ph.D.,http://www.drrobertbrooks.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/1999/04/Stressed-Out-or-Stress-Hardy-Part-1.pdf]

Are we Pinoys in a state of “learned helplessness”?

Consider: “Too many delays in infrastructure building, law-making, and most especially in the delivery of justice will be the country’s unraveling.” [Deadly sin of delays, Rey Gamboa, The Philippine Star, BIZLINKS, 2nd May 2019]

“The numbers tell us this crisis didn’t just happen now. [Those] numbers, however, do not tell the whole miserable story. [I] don’t know if we can assume DOE planners had those numbers because with DOE, we cannot assume competence. If they did, why didn’t they do something? 

“Given that the solutions are long term, it takes five to six years to build a power plant, they could have warned the public by January to start an energy conservation habit.” [Numbers behind power crisis, Boo Chanco, DEMAND AND SUPPLY, The Philippine Star, 3rd May 2019]

"Without increasing our exports, the current pattern of rising deficits as we increase our integration with other economies will persist. A carefully crafted industry support scheme that is time-bound, targeted, transparent, and performance-based is necessary. Moreover, there is the need to attract investments that will bring in new technologies – such as artificial intelligence, robotics, Internet of Things, 3D printing, etc. – and incentivize firms to upgrade; and move up the value chain, reskill and upskill their workforce; invest more in R&D; and promote start-up development.” [Trade deficits and industry competitiveness, Rafaelita M. Aldaba, Yellow Pad, BusinessWorld, 28th Apr 2019]

“Schools should focus on teaching the ‘four Cs’ – critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Aside from technical skills, students should be taught general purpose life skills. Students must learn to deal with change, learn new things throughout their entire life, and be able to reinvent themselves again and again. 

"All these suggestions are based on a foundation that has been called ‘liberal education.’ One clear evidence is that the most highly recommended business books by top CEOs are not business textbooks. 

“As we get more and more deluged by data – real and fake – we can only survive and flourish in the future world if we have a clear world view partly derived from an education that has taught us the critical need to learn history, philosophy, and the humanities.” [Education for the future,Elfren S. Cruz, BREAKTHROUGH, The Philippine Star, 5th May 2019]

The blog is on its tenth year yet we Pinoys seem unable to move beyond square one, a century if we go by Rizal’s admonition, to wit: “Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow? And that they will be such is not to be doubted, for he who submits to tyranny loves it.”

In other words, there must be an underlying cause – or causes – to explain our learned helplessness. The things we see and can talk about – from infrastructure building to law-making to the delivery of justice to the rising deficit to the need to attract investments to learning critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity to a clear world view – are symptoms of a more significant problem. Also, even our love for tyranny falls under this humongous challenge, this umbrella.

Consider: “In contrast, there are other individuals, faced with seemingly similar situations, who remain more optimistic and more positive and as a result are able to solve problems with greater effectiveness. [One] approach [is] based on the research of Suzanne Kobasa and her colleagues. Kobasa defined three characteristics of what she called the ‘hardy personality.’ Individuals who possessed these characteristics experienced and responded to stressful events in a much healthier and more effective way. [I] prefer to refer to these characteristics of a ‘stress hardy’ person as features of a mindset, a mindset that defines the way in which we understand and approach all aspects of our life.

“Why cast this concept of ‘stress hardiness’ in the framework of a mindset? The reason [is] that mindsets can be changed, that they do not have to remain fixed ideas that are cast in stone. I realize that many people have held on to certain self-defeating ideas for years, but with insight, courage, and support these ideas can be changed. I call the components of ‘stress hardiness’ as outlined by Kobasa the ‘3 C's’ since the first letter of each of the words of the mindset begins with the letter C.

“Commitment. Challenge. Control. Kobasa described commitment as being involved rather than alienated from aspects of one's life. When commitment is present, individuals have a sense of purpose and meaning for why they are doing what they are doing. When we have a purpose, when we are guided by a vision, when we never lose sight of why we are doing what we are doing, energy and passion are triggered that give meaning to our lives and lessen the impact of stress.

“Challenge is based on the belief that change is a constant in one’s life. Successful people tend to see change as challenges to confront and master rather than as stress to avoid. They do not deny problems, but instead appreciate that change is an opportunity for self-reflection and growth. It is interesting to note that in the Chinese language, the same word symbolizes both ‘crisis’ and ‘opportunity.’ While opportunity is housed in many difficult situations, in my consultation and therapy activities, I have witnessed countless individuals who react to these situations with dread, who would rather remain frozen in a ‘comfort zone’ even if that zone brings them little satisfaction or joy.

“Since the word ‘control’ may be incorrectly interpreted as ‘controlling’ others, I typically refer to this third ‘C’ as ‘personal control.’ The feeling of control or ownership is at the root of almost every theory of effectiveness and motivation. When individuals possess this third ‘C’ they tend to focus their energy on those events that they have control over rather than on situations beyond their control. They believe that they are active participants in plotting the course of their own destiny, of solving problems and making decisions about their own life, of wasting little time worrying about things that are beyond their influence. People become more stressed when they attempt to alter uncontrollable circumstances, often feeling that they are hitting their heads against the wall. When individuals delineate a clear plan of reasonable action for situations that they can alter, their stress lessens. Even when their actions do not lead to success, they at least feel a sense of accomplishment in knowing that they have not passively sat back and, in addition, they are likely to adopt the view that they can learn from what went wrong.” [Brooks, op. cit.]

We in the elite class better internalize this challenge of Juan de la Cruz. Because we are the group of people that can touch the bases – that constitute the Pinoy instincts; see below – and are equipped to turn this nation around. However, we must first turn ourselves around – from being the problem to be the solution.

Consider: “A long time ago, when we were young and foolish, Malou Mangahas and I were booted out of The Manila Chronicle for standing up for Bobi Tiglao.

“We had wanted Bobi to succeed Amando Doronila as editor of the newspaper. We thought he had the chops to lead the Chronicle, a paper shuttered by martial law, but which had reopened months after the fall of Ferdinand Marcos.

“How wrong we were.           

“Since then, Bobi has morphed from being a fact-based journalist to an intellectual apologist for a clampdown on our hard-won freedoms. As a columnist for The Manila Times, he wants us shut down or in jail, based on spurious claims that we are somehow violating the Constitution and are ‘tools to advance US hegemony over Filipino consciousness.’

“This is really more than just a story of a friendship gone sour. It is an assault on the idea of an independent press and on the role of journalists as watchdogs of society.  Bobi’s attack on us, since echoed by Yen Makabenta, another Times columnist, is straight from the playbook of Russian President Vladimir Putin. It softens the ground for a clampdown on the press and civil society.” [Just the facts: Foreign funding isn't the problem, Sheila S. Coronel, Philstar.com, 2nd May 2019]

The writer knows neither Coronel nor Tiglao. Moreover, those familiar with the blog may recognize its common themes around our instincts: We are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism, rely on political patronage and oligarchy, that at the end of the day ours is a culture of impunity.

Indeed, we in the elite class are the ones that can demonstrate how to overcome these instincts. That we can talk about our challenges and offer solutions put us in good stead.

Gising bayan!

“Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow? And that they will be such is not to be doubted, for he who submits to tyranny loves it.” [We are ruled by Rizal’s ‘tyrants of tomorrow,’ Editorial, The Manila Times, 29th Dec 2015]

“Now I know why Paul dared to speak of ‘the curse of the law’ (Galatians 3:13). Law reigns and discernment is unnecessary, which means there is little growth or change in such people. When you do not grow, you remain an infant.” [Faith and Science, Open to Change, Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation, 23rd Oct 2017]

“As a major component for the education and reorientation of our people, mainstream media – their reporters, writers, photographers, columnists and editors – have an obligation to this country . . .” [Era of documented irrelevance: Mainstream media, critics and protesters, Homobono A. Adaza, The Manila Times, 25th Nov 2015]

“National prosperity is created, not inherited. It does not grow out of a country’s natural endowments, its labor pool, its interest rates, or its currency’s value, as classical economics insists . . . A nation’s competitiveness depends on the capacity of its industry to innovate and upgrade.” [The Competitive Advantage of Nations, Michael E. Porter, Harvard Business Review, March–April 1990]

“You have to have a dream, whether big or small. Then plan, focus, work hard and be very determined to achieve your goals.” [Henry Sy Sr., Chairman Emeritus and Founder, SM Group (1924 - 2019)]

“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” [William Pollard, 1911-1989, physicist-priest, Manhattan Project]

“Development [is informed by a people’s] worldview, cognitive capacity, values, moral development, self-identity, spirituality, and leadership . . .” [Frederic Laloux, Reinventing organizations, Nelson Parker, 2014]