Know thyself

Gnothi Seuton

Yesterday, I was obligated to give a small talk about psychology as a program. It was one ritual that transpires yearly where freshmen students were formally welcomed and accepted in the university. It was quite a task since one is presented in the middle of the orientation, and as an interruption, there is the unconscious quest to be relevant and impressive for at least five (5) minutes. I did the same thing last year and comparatively speaking – In my personal estimation, I did better this time.

I got to introduce “gnothi seuton” (know thyself from Socrates) and in the span of the allotted five minutes, got to answer three philosophical questions:

1. Who am I?

2. What can I do?

3. How can I contribute to others?

Personally, the bigger news of the day is the announcement that for the first time in twenty five years, there is a budget surplus of 26.26 B php last April. By comparison, the biggest budget surplus that GMA had was only 2.6 B php in her decade of being in office. The budget surplus is attributed to increased revenue collection as well as prudent fiscal management.

Now 26 B php is a substantial figure. In nearly a year in office, President Noy Aquino is proving to be a better administrator than PGMA. Though no one could predict the future, the trajectory is quite certain, the former will definitely be a better president than the latter.

The current presidential fumbling, the lack of direction and definition is somewhat reflective of PNOY’s inability to know and define himself. Foremost, should be the knowing of himself, of what kind of a leadership projection he would use and the willingness to pursue such a framework.

Besides, no greatness is ever achieved by someone who does not know himself.