OUR LADY OF LOURDES COLLEGE FOUNDATION

Vinzons Ave., Daet, Camarines Norte, 4600 Philippines

COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
FIRST SEMESTER
S.Y. 2022-2023
FINAL MODULE

GEC-UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

LESSON 13: THE SPIRITUAL SELF
Introduction:
The spiritual self is the most intimate, inner subjective part of the self. It is the most intimate
version of the self because of the satisfaction experienced when thinking on one’s ability to argue and
discriminate of one’s moral sensibility and conscience and of our unconquerable will (James 1890) is
purer than all other sentiments of satisfaction. (Green 1997)

Overview:
This lesson helps us better understand ourselves on how our religious beliefs and practices affect
the development of self. It tackles some major world religions and a theory that may help us see the
meaning of life and its connection to what we believe. Seeking the meaning of life is a journey that the
spiritual self is on.

Learning objectives:
At the end of this module, the students are expected to:
1. Describe the development of their spiritual self.
2. Appreciate one’s self based on their religious beliefs and practices
3. Value the meaning of their life.

Lesson Proper:
Religion
Rebecca Stein (2011) works on the definition of religion “as a set of cultural beliefs and practices
that usually includes some of basic characteristics. These are:

1. A belief in anthropomorphic supernatural being, such as spirit and gods.

2. A focus on the sacred supernatural, where sacred refers to a feeling of reverence and awe.
3. The presence of supernatural power or energy that is found on supernatural beings as well as physical
beings and objects.
4. The performance of ritual activities that involves the manipulation of sacred object to communicate to
supernatural power or energy that is found on supernatural beings as well as physical beings and objects.
5. The articulation of worldview and moral codes through narratives and other means
6. Provide the creation and maintenance of social bonds and mechanism of social control within a
community; provide explanation for unknown and a sense of control for individuals.

An individual life in a society where there are many practices of religion. The choice of religious
belief lies within the spiritual self. Although the choice may be influenced by the society and its culture.

Ritual
Ritual is the performance of a ceremonial acts prescribed by a tradition or sacred law (Britannica 2017).
Ritual is a specific, observable mode of behavior exhibited by all known societies. It is thus possible to
view ritual as a way of defining or describing humans.

Some World Religious Beliefs and Practices

There are different religions with different beliefs and practices. Some of the major world religions are
Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, and Judaism. (Excerpt of some religious beliefs and practices
are found in the University of London’s Religion and Belief Guide 2017).

BUDDHISM

Beliefs
Buddhism believes that life is not a bed of roses. Instead, there are suffering, pain, and frustrations. When
people suffer, they want to experience the goodness of life and avoid disappointments. It becomes a habit
known as the reactive cycle of wanting and hating, like and dislike, and craving and aversion. This
Understanding The Self / 1
reactive cycle can be broken through the practice of meditation, acquiring more wisdom and deeper
understanding, and acceptance of things as they are.

Customs and Practices

There are two types of meditation practices: samatha and vipassana. Samatha is practiced as mindfulness
of breathing and development of loving – kindness. Vipassana practices aim at developing insight into
reality. Acquiring wisdom is by studying Budhha’s teaching, the Dharma. Through the reflection of
Dharma, Buddhists can achieve a deeper understanding of life. Buddhists believe in non – violence
principle.
Some of the major Buddhist celebrations are Parinirvana Day in October, and Sangha Day in
November.

CHRISTIANITY
Beliefs
Christians believes in Trinitarian God. One God in three personas: God the Father (Creator), God the Son
(Savior), and God the Holy Spirit (Sustainer). Eternal life after death will be achieved through faith in
Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is, God the Son, who came into flesh, to spread the Good News of Salvation. He
died on the cross for the sin of the humanity but resurrected from the death, so that anyone who believes
in Him will be saved and have eternal life. The Holy Bible is a selection of books, which is divided into
two, the Old Testament and New Testament.

Customs and Practices

Sacrament of Baptism and Sacrament of Communion are practiced by Christian churches. The Sacrament
of Baptism symbolizes the birth in Christian World, while the Sacrament of Communion is an act of
remembrance of Jesus Christ’s sacrificial love. Jesus Christ teaching in unconditional love that is
expressed in loving the poor, oppressed, and outcast of the society.
Christmas and Resurrection (Easter) are the two major celebrations in Christianity. Christmas,
usually on December 25, commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ while Resurrection Sunday (depends on
the lunar calendar, sometimes in March or April) celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ from death.

HINDUISM
Beliefs
Hinduism covers a wide range of traditional beliefs and religious groups; thus, there is no single founder
or leader. Hindus believe that existence is a cycle of birth, death and rebirth, governed by Karma. Karma
is a concept where the reincarnated life will depend on how the past life was spent. Hindus believe that
the soul passes through a cycle of successive lives and its next incarnation is always dependent on how
the previous life was lived. Vedas are sacred scriptures of Hindus. Mahabharata and Ramayana are two
other important texts the Hindus.

Customs and Practices

Diwali, and Navrati are the most celebrated festivals of the Hindus. Diwali is the festivals of Lights while
Navrati is the festival of nine nights, which celebrate the triumph of good over evil. Hindus have set dates
to honor particular manifestations of God.

ISLAM
Beliefs
Muslims believe in Allah, who is their “One God”. They believe in the unity and universality of God.
Muslims also have a strong sense of community or “ummah” and an awareness of their solidarity with all
Muslims worldwide. Islam means “willing submission to God.”

Muslims believe that Mohammed is the last and final prophet sent by God. Mohammed was born in
Mecca in 570 CE and received revelations from God through the Angel Gabriel over a period of 23 years.
The Holy Book of Islam is called the Quran, which was taught to be recited in Arabic because any
translation is seen as inadequate.

Customs and Practices

Muslims believe in the five pillars of Islam, which are the foundation of Muslims’ life:
1. Shahadah – statement of faith: “There is no God but the one true God and Mohammed is his
messenger.”
2. Salat – the prayer that is practiced five times a day.
3. Zakat – the monetary offering for the benefit of the poor. It comprises the 2.5% of a Muslim’s assets.
4. Hajj – the yearly pilgrimage to Mecca. Muslims who can afford are asked to do the pilgrimage at least
once in their lifetime.

Understanding The Self / 2

5. Sawn – the fasting. Muslims do fasting, from food, drink, and sexual act, during the celebration of
Ramadan. Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar. The fast is from dawn to sunset.

Two major festivals in Islam are Eidul-Fitr and Eidul-Adha. Eidul-Fitr is the celebration of
Ramadan, while Eidul-Adha is celebrated within the completion of the Pilgrimage, the Hajj.

JUDAISM
Beliefs
The Jews believe in the God of Abraham, the same God that liberated the Hebrew slaves from Egypt to
Canaan, the Promised Land through the leadership of Moses and later, Joshua.

The Jews believe in the coming of Messiah, the Savior. The sacred scripture of the Jews is called the
Torah or the Law. The Torah is the guide of the Jewish living. The study and interpretation of Torah is
part of the Jewish culture.

Customs and Practices

There are five major festivals observed by the Jews:
1. Rosh Hashanah – The New Year
2. Yom Kippur – The Day of Atonement
3. Pesach – Passover
4. Shavuot – Pentecost
5. Sukkot – Tabernacles. The Jewish Sabbath begins on Friday evening at sunset and is an
important time when families gather for the Sabbath meal.

Religious beliefs, rituals, practices, and customs are all part of the expression of the spiritual self.
What to believe and how to manifest the belief is entirely dependent on the individual, to the self. A
person might believe that there is a higher being, a supernatural being, usually termed as God, but not
necessarily wants to be affiliated or identified with a certain religious group. Other may have religious
practices which are perceived to be contrary to the practices of other groups. Religious beliefs and
practices, therefore, are formed relative to its context and culture.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE SPIRITUAL SELF AND IDENTITY

It is not about who the person is. It’s not about how many millions of pesos that person has in the
bank, but it is about his beliefs and his relationship to his creator. It is about recognizing himself that there
is somebody up there who is more superior to him. It is He who directs his path and maneuvers his life.

Human beings are special in his creator. This is simple truth! This vital statement needs to be
shared to our family members, friends and colleagues. It would be a wonderful time to show them that
they are special because they were made for a reason. Every individual was designed with a purpose of
his existence. So, one must not be discouraged, they have to continue nurturing their spiritual self.

Merriam Webster Dictionary defines spirituality as the equality or state of being concerned with
religion or religious matters. Adolescents equate their spiritual identity to their religious affiliation. With
respect to religious identity, they were able to appreciate the commonalities to different religions,
understanding that one can worship their God irrespective of whether one does this in Church, a temple, a
chapel or a mosque. Religion emerged as a significant aspect of an adolescent spiritual identity (Cobb,
2001).

FINDING AND CREATING MEANING OF LIFE

Another extensive study of self can be found in the works of Dr. Viktor E. Frankl. He was born
on March 26, 1905 in Vienna, Austria, where famous psychiatrists Sigmund Freud and Alfred Adler
lived.

Logotherapy
Logotherapy is a psychotherapy introduced by Dr. Viktor Frankl, who is considered the Father of
Logotherapy. The main belief of logotherapy is that “man’s primary motivational force is search for
meaning.” Logotherapy help individuals find personal meaning of life whatever situation they may be.

In logotherapy, meaning can be discovered by creating a work or doing a deed, experiencing

something or encountering someone and the attitude toward unavoidable suffering. According to Viktor
Frankl Institute of Logotherapy, it uses the philosophy of optimism in the face of tragedy, where people
are capable of “turning suffering into human achievement and accomplishment; deriving from guilt the

Understanding The Self / 3

opportunity to change onseself for the better, and deriving from life’s transitoriness an incentive to take
responsible action.”

Basic Concepts of Franklian Psychology

Franklian Psychology basic concepts are the following:

o Life has meaning under all circumstances

o Main motivation for living is our will to find meaning in life
o Freedom to find meaning

Furthermore, Franklian Psychology aims to:

✔ Become aware of spiritual resources

✔ Make conscious spiritual resources

✔ Use “defiant power of the human spirit” and stand up against adversity

Logotherapy Assumptions

1. The human being is an entity consisting of body, mind and spirit.

2. Life has meaning under all circumstances.
3. People have a will to meaning.
4. People have freedom under all circumstances to activate the will to find meaning.
5. Life has a demand quality to which people must respond if decisions are to be meaningful.
6. The individual is unique.

Frankl’s Three Sources of Meaning

a) Purposeful Work
Finding the meaning of life starts with holding a future goal. Each individual has each own future
goal to achieve or a task to perform. That task or goal to fulfill becomes the meaning of their life.
Therefore, meaning of life is unique to every individual.
b) Courage in the Face of Difficulty
A meaningful life is a life with suffering. Suffering is inevitable part of life. To find meaning of
life is to recognize suffering, pain, and death as part of life and to have the courage to face these
life difficulties.
c) Love
Dr. Frankl’s definition of love: “Love is the only way to grasp another human being in the
innermost core of his personality. No one can become fully aware of the very essence of another
human being unless he/she loves him/her…”
The ultimate factor to find meaning of life is Love.

LEARNING ASSESSMENT: Use long bond paper or yellow pad.

Answer the following questions honestly.

1. What is meant by being a spiritual individual?

2. Have you found meaning in your life? If so, write one of your goals and write how you were
able to accomplish them.
3. If you will be given a chance to write a message to God, what would you say? If there is none,
explain.
4. According to Dr. Frankl, the ultimate meaning of life is love. Do you agree? Why or why not?
5. What is your own definition of love?

References:

Tomas, Rodrigo Dp ., et. al., Understanding the Self (Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House, 2018).
Alata, Eden Joy P., et. al., Understanding the Self (Quezon City: Rex Book Store, 2018)

Understanding The Self / 4

 OUR LADY OF LOURDES COLLEGE FOUNDATION
Vinzons Ave., Daet, Camarines Norte, 4600 Philippines
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
FIRST SEMESTER
S.Y. 2022-2023

GEC - UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

LESSON 14: THE POLITICAL SELF
Introduction:
The Philippines as we know it today has only emerged in the 1890s after over three centuries of
colonization of the Spaniards. Foreign culture, beliefs, language, and religion have made a huge dent on
our own by setting a foundation to the contemporary Filipino identity and culture. To date, colonial
mentality remains an issue. Given the wide discrepancy between the liberation period and today’s time,
would it be safe to say that Filipinos have truly developed an identity of their own? Or are we still living
in the shadow of our colonial friends?
Overview:
In this lesson, you will learn that an individual’s race, ethnicity, and physical characteristics are
not the only factors that make a person’s national identity. Values and traits are also important indicators
that set apart one nationality from the other. Through common goals, principles, and values of its people,
a nation empowers itself.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this module, the students are expected to:
1. develop a Filipino identity;
2.reflect on your selfhood in relation to your national identity; and
3. practice the different Filipino values and traits.

PRELIMINARY TEST
ACTIVITY: Who is a Filipino? Cut out pictures or illustrations from magazines and newspapers or
from the internet that show what being a Filipino is all about. Paste them in one long bond paper or
yellow pad. After doing so, answer the following questions:
1. How do the pictures remind you of being a Filipino?
2. Are you proud of being a Filipino? Why or why not?
3. If you were given a chance to change your nationality, what do you prefer? Explain briefly.
4. In what way you can show respect to our country?

Lesson Proper:
WHO IS A FILIPINO?
Technically, according to the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Filipino citizens are “…those whose
fathers or mothers are citizens of the Philippines…” However, citizenship is not the only marker of being
a Filipino. Culture and history have greatly influenced the manner Filipinos learn, live, and behave to
date. People who were born and grew up in the same culture develop and share common personality traits
and values. Generations after generations, common traits and values have been passed on that the
Filipinos of today still embody.
FILIPINO VALUES AND TRAITS
1. The Filipino Hospitality

A Filipino trait that is known everywhere is the Filipino’s brand of hospitality. Filipinos welcome
their guests and tourists as if they are their own brothers and sisters; they always make their guests feel at
home, offering them something to eat, or even a place to stay. They will bring out their best sets of plates
and chinaware for their honored guests and would even go as far as spending a lot of money and going
into debt just so they can satisfy them. They are also fond of giving pasalubong or tokens from their
travels and pabaon or farewell gifts to their visitors.

Understanding The Self / 5

 2. Respect for Elders

Filipinos greet their elders by kissing their hand while saying “Mano po!” and constantly using “po”
and “opo” in conversations. Forgetting to address older people properly will regard them as rude and
impolite. There are also a wide array of references to elder people such as ate for older sister;kuya for
older brother; Tito and Tita for uncle and aunt, respectively; Lolo and Lola for grandmother and
grandfather; and Manong and Aling for older people outside the family.
3. Close Family Ties

Filipinos maintain a tight relationship with their families regardless if the children are old enough and
already have families of their own. They are also fond of family reunions during birthdays, holidays, or
fiestas year-around. Some Filipino families even opt to live in a big house where everyone can stay
together. Nursing homes are almost always not an option for family members and choose to take care of
their elders themselves.
4. Cheerful Personality

Filipinos have a habit of smiling and laughing a lot. They smile when they are happy, or sometimes
even when they are sad or angry. Smiling has been a coping strategy for many Filipinos especially during
trying times and calamities. For example, Filipinos smile and wave at the camera while being interviewed
even after a fire of flooding incident. They always try to maintain a positive outlook in life which makes
them resilient and able to manage almost everything with a simple smile.
5. Self-sacrifice

The self-sacrificing attitude of Filipinos can be seen as an extension of the Filipino hospitality.
Filipinos go out of their way to extend help for their friends, families, and loved ones. They wish comfort
and better lives for their loved ones and would even go to the extent of working abroad hundreds of miles
away to earn more money and save up for then. There are also times when the eldest among the children
would give up school to work and provide for the rest of the family and educate his/her siblings.
6. Bayanihan

Bayanihan is the spirit of communal unity and cooperation of Filipinos. It is also about giving
without expecting something in return. Filipinos are always ready to share and help their friends and
loved ones who are in need. It may not always be in monetary form, but the time and effort they give also
count as a form of help for them.
7. “Bahala Na” Attitude

“Bahalana” is the Filipino version of the famous line “HakunaMatata,” meaning no worries. The
phrase is said to have originated from “Bathalana,” where Bathala means God, and the phrase meaning
leaving everything into God’s hands. It can also be viewed as something similar to the cheerful and
positive attitude of Filipinos and allowing situations take care of themselves instead of worrying about
them.
8. Colonial Mentality

Colonial mentality is regarded as the lack of patriotism and the attitude where Filipinos favor foreign
products more than their own. This does not only concern goods, but also the desire to look more foreign
than local and keep up with foreign beauty trends. It is attributed to the centuries of colonization Filipinos
had experienced under the Spanish, American, and Japanese rule.
9. “Maňana” Habit

This is the Filipino term for procrastination. It was derived from a longer Filipino phrase called
“Mamayana”meaning dawdling things, which could have been done at an earlier time. It is a poor habit
of laziness that results in heavier workloads.
10. “NingasKugon”

“Ningas” is a Filipino term for flame and “kugon” is a Filipino term for Cogon grass that easily
burns out after it is put into flames. NingasKugon refers to the attitude of eagerly starting things but
quickly losing eagerness soon after experiencing difficulty, just like how fast the fire of a Cogon grass

Understanding The Self / 6

burns out moments after being ignited. Laziness is a common problem among Filipinos; that is why
Filipinos are regarded as “Juan Tamad” or Lazy Juan.

11. Pride

Most Filipinos hold on to their pride as if they are more precious than keeping a good relationship
with family and loved ones. When two parties are not in good terms, they find it so hard to apologize and
wait until the other party asks for an apology first.

12. Crab Mentality

This is the toxic trait among Filipinos where one resents the achievement of another, instead of
feeling happy for that person. Just like crabs in a container, they pull each other down and ruin each
other’s reputation rather than bringing them up, resulting to no progress. Filipinos should change this
troublesome attitude and focus more on their own inadequacies to improve one’s self.
13. Filipino Time

Filipinos have this common attitude of arriving late at commitments, dinner, or parties especially if
they are meeting someone close to them. They tend to not observe punctuality altogether. The 7:00 PM
call time becomes adjusted to 7:30 PM and almost everyone arrives at the same time because everyone is
using Filipino time.
FILIPINO MARKERS
What then are the hallmarks of our being a Filipino? What makes us truly relish in our being a
Filipino? The following are constant reminders of our nationality.
A. Proverbs or Salawikain

Filipino proverbs, just like any other proverbs, are sayings that convey lessons and reflections on
Filipino practices, beliefs, and traditions. Damian Eugenio regarded as the Mother of Philippine Folklore.
An example of a Filipino proverb is the saying “Kung may tiyaga, may nilaga,” which means that
hard work will be rewarded if one is persistent.
B. Superstitions

Filipinos also subscribe to their own set of superstitions passed down from generation to generation.
Some of these may be influenced by beliefs from other cultures, but Filipinos have retold these
superstitions according to their own experiences and they sometimes end up even more interesting.
C. Myths and Legends

Due to the Philippines’s rich culture and history, numerous myths and legends have sprung about
things that are beyond one’s imagination. These stories are aimed to explain the origin of things, at the
same time, teach a valuable lesson.
A famous Filipino legend is about the origin of the pineapple fruit. It is a story of a young and lazy
girl named Pina who always asked where her mother kept the things she needed where she hid her things,
her mother wished that eyes be planted on Pina’s face so she would start using them. To her mother’s
surprise the next morning, Pina was gone and a fruit sprung in the yard, implanted with “eyes” all around
its body which was later called ”pinya.”
D. Heroes and Icons

Heroes serve as a reminder of true patriotism and nationalism as they sacrificed their lives for the
sake of their country’s freedom and progress. Famous Filipino icons such as Lea Salonga, Manny
Pacquiao, and our very own national hero, Jose Rizal, also as important Filipino markers as they have
made the Filipino name more pronounced worldwide through their own expertise.

HOW TO BE A GOOD FILIPINO

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 Now you know that your traits and values are important indicators of being a Filipino. The problem
now is how to truly become one and how you can be useful to the development and progress of our
country. The following are few ways on how to be a good Filipino:
I. Be an active Filipino citizen

A good Filipino citizen is aware of the current events and participates in government programs that
aim for the country’s progression and development. By simply exercising your right to vote, you also
become an active citizen. When it comes to voting, the rich and the poor have equal voting rights – every
Filipino citizen of legal age have a chance on choosing the right leaders for the Philippines who are
genuine in helping and caring for the Filipino people.
II. Study the Philippine history

The road of the Philippine history is long and bloody, and by learning and fully understanding the
events of the Philippine history, you will learn so much as to why it is so important for you to love your
country with your life, extend help to your fellow Filipinos in need, and recognize abuse of political
power.
III. Support local products

When you buy local products, you do not only support local manufacturers and businessmen, but you
also help strengthen the local economy. How is this so? There will be more demand of local products,
thus, local businesses will be in need for more employees, which will open new job opportunities. The
business owners will also invest within the country and are less likely to leave. Supporting our local
products also displays our creativity, innovativeness, and resourcefulness.
IV. Speak the Filipino Language

The history of the Filipino language was as long and hard as the Philippine history. Jose Rizal
highlighted the importance of speaking a national language as a way of displaying the love for one’s
country. Speaking Filipino also serves as a unique identifier of being a Filipino. It has been a decade-long
debate whether to use Filipino as the instructional language in school and to translate textbooks into
Filipino; however, this is still not strictly imposed.
V. Do not spread fake news and be democratic in engaging with dissent

The period in the history of the Philippines has seen how the internet has spawned tons of
possibilities for people, both good and bad. For instance, it is easier for Filipinos working abroad to
communicate with their loved ones left in the Philippines through internet. Despite this, the internet has
also made the spread of fake news very common. It is part of being a good Filipino to understand and
verify what you read online, especially in social media, before actually believing in it like wildfire.

LEARNING ASSESSMENT:
Answer the following questions in long bond paper or yellow pad. (You may use filipino in answering the
questions.)
1. Make an acrostic below which will describe you, in relation to you being a Filipino:

F-
I-
L-
I-
P-
I-
N-
O-
2. Among the Filipino values and traits, choose at least five (or as many as you want) that you think
best define yourself. Give concrete example each based on your experience.
3. Among the five given ways on how to be a good Filipino, choose one that you think you seldom
do. Explain briefly.
4. Choose one Proverb or salawikain that you think best define yourself. Explain briefly.
5. How can becoming a better Filipino influence your duty to become a better version of yourself?

Understanding The Self / 8

References:
Alata, Eden Joy P., et. al., Understanding the Self (Quezon City: Rex Book Store, 2018).

OUR LADY OF LOURDES COLLEGE FOUNDATION

Vinzons Ave., Daet, Camarines Norte, 4600 Philippines
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
FIRST SEMESTER
S.Y. 2022-2023

GEC – UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

LESSON 15: THE DIGITAL SELF

Introductions:
These days, more people are becoming active in using the Internet for research, pleasure,
business, communication, and other purposes. Indeed, the Internet is of great help for everyone. On the
other hand, people assume different identities while in the cyberspace. People act differently when they
are online and offline. We have our real identity and online identity.
Overview:
The number of people who are becoming more active online continues to increase worldwide.
More than half of the population worldwide now uses the Internet. Hence, in this lesson, we will explore
the role of digital world on the continuous development of our selves.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this module, the students are expected to:

1. Define online identity and digital footprint;

2. Compare real identity versus online identity; and
3. Practice the proper way of demonstrating values and attitudes online.

Lesson Proper:

DIGITAL NATIVES AND DIGITAL IMMIGRANTS

Digital natives are those who were born after 1980, who have access and skills to use digital
technologies especially social media. Digital natives live most of their lives online, without distinguishing
between online and offline. Digital natives are constantly connected. They have plenty of friends, in real
space and in the virtual world and a growing collection of friends they keep in their social network sites.
Students today are all “native speakers’ of the digital language of computers, video games and the
Internet (Prensky, 2001).
Those people were born prior to 1980; who were not born into the digital world but have, at some
later point in our lives, become amazed by and adopted many or most aspects of the new technology are
called Digital Immigrants.
DIGITAL IDENTITY
Digital Identity has a number of different definitions in the literature. It can refer to the usernames
and digital footprint that individuals choose and leave behind after using the Internet for different
purposes such as banking or purchasing goods. Digital identity is formed by personal profiles, cultural
capital and records – such as videos on YouTube. Paraphrasing the famous quote by Rene Descartes (I
thing, therefore, I am) by creating a social media update, one may say, “I am linked therefore I am”. From
this, we infer that digital identity is created by interacting between individuals.
Digital identity, particularly on social media is “a conscious construction, it can evolve
subconsciously over a period of time, or it could simply be a reflection of the user in real life.” They
contend that the virtual self can be at odds with reality and because of this, individuals can see their selves
as ‘superficial, artificial or even fraudulent’. They go on to state that “it is worryingly difficult to find the
person in among all the digital artifice”. This is called self-regulated self-presentation.
According to Goffman (1959) and Leary (1995), self-presentation is the “process of controlling
how one is perceived by other people” and is the key to relationship inception and development. To

Understanding The Self / 9

construct positive images, individuals selectively provide information about them and carefully cater this
information in response to other’s feedback.

DIGITAL FOOTPRINT
Digital footprint or digital shadow refers to one’s unique set of traceable digital activities,
actions, contributions and communications that are manifested on the Internet or on digital devices.
When you walk on the beach, you leave footprints in the sand. If you look over your shoulder as
you walk, you can see the steps you’ve taken. And if someone else takes a walk on that same beach, they
can see your trail of footprints too. Your footprints show where you’ve walked.
You also leave trail whenever you go online. Every search you make, website you visit, and
photo you upload adds to this digital trail. The evidence of your online activity is called your digital
footprint (Lindeen, 2017).
Simply put, a digital footprint is the record or trail left by the things you do online. Your
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and other social media activity, the information and content on your
website, the website that you’ve visited as reflected in your browsing history, your online subscriptions,
any photo galleries and videos you’ve uploaded – essentially, anything on the internet with your name on
it.
Passive and Active Digital footprint
There are two main classifications for digital footprints: passive and active. A passive digital
footprint is created when data is collected without the owner knowing, whereas active digital footprints
are created when personal data is released deliberately by a user for the purpose of sharing information
about oneself by means of websites or social media.
GENDER AND SEXUALITY ONLINE
According to Marwick, while the term “sex”, “gender” and “sexuality” are often thought of as
synonymous, they are actually quite distinct. The differences between the common understandings of
these terms and how researchers think about them yield key insights about the social functioning of
gender.
Sex is the biological state that corresponds to what we might call a “man” or “woman.” Gender,
then, is the social understanding of how sex should be experienced and how sex manifests in behavior,
personality, preferences, capabilities, and so forth. A person with male sex organs is expected to embody
a masculine gender. While sex and gender are presumed to be biologically connected, we can understand
gender as a socioculturally specific set of norms that are mapped onto a category of “sex”. Gender is
historical. It is reinforced through songs, sayings, admonition, slang, language, fashion, and discourse,
and it is deeply ingrained.
Sexuality is an individual expression and understanding of desire. While like gender, this is often
viewed as binary (homosexual or heterosexual), in reality, sexuality is often experienced as fluid.
DIGITAL OVER PHYSICAL
A digital identity has the potential to live forever where in the physical world we are faced with
death. Traditionally genetic codes are passed on to offspring and offer a family history that lives forever,
or through a lineage. An online identity is remembered for how it interacted in a particular time in a
digital environment. The difference is an online identity may remain dormant for decades and still have
the potential to influence, inspire, and generate new concepts or thoughts. This tends not to happen
decades after the death of a person in the physical world.
As digital identities continue to integrate with our physical lives, and through advancements in
human computer synthesis, humanity will be faced with interesting questions about the definition being
human. The difference between humans and machines will become harder to distinguish, since a user of a
digital profile could become emotionally connected to a virtual environment.
SETTING BOUNDERIES TO YOUR ONLINE SELF: SMART SHARING
o The following guidelines will help you share information online in a smart way that will protect
yourself and not harm others. Before posting or sharing anything online, consider the following:
Understanding The Self / 10
 o Is this post/story necessary?
o Is there a real benefit to this post? Is it funny, warm-hearted, teachable – or am I just making noise
online without purpose?
o Have we resolved this issue? An issue that is still being worked out at home, or one that is either
vulnerable or highly emotional, should not be made public.
o Is it appropriate? Does it stay within the boundaries of our family values?
o Will this seem as funny in 5, 10, or 15 years? Or is this post better suited for sharing with a small
group of family members? Or maybe not at all?

RULES TO FOLLOW
Here are additional guidelines for proper sharing of information and ethical use of the Internet according
to New (2004):

✔ Stick to safer sites

✔ Guard your passwords

✔ Limit what you share

✔ Remember that anything you put online or post on a site is there forever, even if you try to delete it.

✔ Do not be mean or embarrass other people online

✔ Be choosy about your online friends

✔ Be patient

LEARNING ASSESSMENT: Use long bond paper or yellow pad.

Answer the following questions honestly.

ACTIVITY: MY DIGITAL IDENTITY

1. What social media accounts you have? (Facebook, twitter, IG, etc)
2. List down your “bio” in every social media accounts you have. If there is none, what bio you
want to indicate?
3. What is the meaning of your “bio” to yourself?
4. In your social media accounts, list down your last post/share/tweet. (Kindly indicate the date).
5. Based on your answer in #4, what is the relation of your last posts to your digital self? Explain
each briefly.
6. Does your digital identity differ from your personal identity? Why? Why not?

References:
Tomas, Rodrigo DP., et. al., Understanding the Self (Malabon City: Mutya Publishing House, 2018).
Alata, Eden Joy P., et. al., Understanding the Self (Quezon City: Rex Book Store, 2018).

Understanding The Self / 11

 OUR LADY OF LOURDES COLLEGE FOUNDATION
Vinzons Ave., Daet, Camarines Norte, 4600 Philippines
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
FIRST SEMESTER
S.Y. 2022-2023

GEC – UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

LESSON 16: DO NOT JUST DREAM, MAKE IT HAPPEN
Introduction:
Jack Canfield is an epitome of success. He has authored seven books listed in the Guinness Book of
World Records as New York Times Bestseller, beating Stephen King. One of Canfield’s featured quotes
about success is: “By taking the time to stop and appreciate who you are and what you have achieved –
and perhaps learned through a few mistakes, stumbles and losses – you actually can enhance everything
about you. Self-acknowledgement and appreciation are what give you the insights and awareness to move
forward toward higher goals and accomplishments”.
Overview:
In this lesson, we will learn more about Canfield’s quote through Albert Bandura’s self-efficacy theory,
Dweck mindsets theory, and Locke’s goal setting theory.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this module, the students are expected to:
1. use Bandura’s self-efficacy theory for self-assessment;
2. differentiate growth and fixed mindset by Dweck; and
3. design personal goals adapting Locke’s goal setting theory.

PRELIMINARY TEST
Answer the following questions in long bond paper.
ACTIVITY I: 5-10-20 Selfie
1. Draw or cut out pictures of your envisioned “Future Self”. Who would you be in the following
years:
a. Five years from now
b. Ten years from now
c. Twenty years from now

ANALYSIS: Envisioned Self Plan

2. Who are you or what would you become:
a. In five years
b. In ten years
c. In twenty years
3. What are your motivations for your envisioned self:
a. In five years
b. In ten years
c. In twenty years
Understanding The Self / 12
 4. Outline your plans on how you will make your envisioned self into reality:
a. In five years
b. In ten years
c. In twenty years
5. How do you feel after doing this exercise?
6. What is your perception on goal setting?

Lesson Proper:
ALBERT E. BANDURA’S SELF-EFFICACY
The Bobo Doll Experiment
In the 1950s, Dr. Bandura had a study known as the Bobo Doll Experiment. In this experiment, the
sample children were presented with new social models of violent and nonviolent behavior toward an
inflatable redounding Bobo Doll. The result were: the group of children who saw the violent behavior
model became violent to the doll, while the control group who was presented with the nonviolent
behavior model was rarely violent to the doll. This experiment has proven right the hypothesis that social
modeling is a very effective way of learning.
Dr. Bandura introduced the social learning theory that focuses on what people learn from observing and
interacting with other people. Bandura’s social cognitive theory states that people are active participants I
their environment and are not simply shaped by that environment.
Summary of Self-efficacy Theory
Weibell summarized Albert Bandura’s self-efficacy theory:
“Self-efficacy theory is based on the assumption that psychological procedures serve as a means of
creating and strengthening expectations of personal efficacy.”
Weibell stated that Dr. Bandura defined self-efficacy as “people’s beliefs about their capabilities to
produce designated levels of performance that exercise influence over events that affect their lives,” such
as:
1. Approach difficult tasks as challenges to be mastered;
2. Set challenging goals and maintain strong commitment to them;
3. Heighten or sustain in the face of failures or setbacks;
4. Attribute failure to insufficient knowledge and skills which are acquirable; and
5. Approach threatening situations with assurance that they can exercise control over them.

In contrast, people “who doubt their capabilities”;

1. Shy away from tasks they view as personal threats;
2. Have low aspirations and weak commitment to goals they choose to pursue;
3. Dwell on personal deficiencies, obstacles they will encounter, and all kinds of adverse outcomes,
rather than concentrating on how to perform successfully;
4. Slacken their efforts and give up quickly in the face of difficulties;
5. Are slow to recover their sense of efficacy following failure or setbacks;
6. Fall easy victim to stress and depression.

Dr. Bandura described four main sources of influence by which a person’s self-efficacy is developed and
maintained. These are:
1. Performance accomplishments or mastery experiences;
2. Vicarious experiences;
3. Verbal or social persuasion; and
4. Physiological (somatic and emotional) states.

Understanding The Self / 13

Mastery performance or physical performance accomplishments are the most effective ways to create a
strong sense of efficacy.
Vicarious experiences through observance of social models also influence one’s perception of self-
efficacy. The most important factor that determines the strength of influence of an observed success or
failure on one’s own self-efficacy is the degree of similarity between the observer and the model.
Verbal or social persuasion also affects one’s perception of self-efficacy. It is “a way of strengthening
people’s beliefs that they have what it takes to succeed.” Verbal or social persuasion can provide a
temporary boost in perceived ability.
People also rely on their somatic or emotional states when judging their capabilities. Stress and tension
are interpreted as signs of vulnerability to poor performance. People with high sense of self-efficacy may
perceive affective arousal as “an energizing facilitator of performance, whereas those who are beset by
self-doubts regard their arousal as a debilitator.

CAROL S. DWECK’S FIXED AND GROWTH MINDSET THEORY

Dr. Dweck described people with two types of mindset. People who believe that success is based on their
innate abilities have a “fixed” theory of intelligence, and goes under fixed mindset. On the other hand,
people who believe that success is based on handwork, learning, training, and perseverance have growth
theory of intelligence, which goes under growth mindset.
According to Dr. Dweck, individuals may not necessarily be aware of their own mindset, but their
mindset can still be discerned based on their behavior. These two mindsets play an important role in all
aspects of a person’s life. Dr. Dweck argues that the growth mindset will allow a person to live a less
stressful and more successful life.
In a fixed mindset, students believe their basic abilities, their intelligence, their talents are just fixed traits.
In growth mindset, students understand that their talents and abilities can be developed through effort,
good teaching and persistence. They don’t necessarily think everyone’s the same or anyone can be
Eintein, but they believe everyone can get smarter if they work for it.

EDWIN A. LOCKE’S GOAL SETTING THEORY

The goal setting theory was first studied by Dr. Locke in the middle of 1960s. The basic contents of goal
setting theory are summarized in terms of 14 categories of findings discussed in the article.
Goal Attributes
Goals have both an internal and an external aspect. Internally, they are ideas; externally, they refer to the
object or condition sought. The idea guides action to attain the object. Two broad attributes of goals are
content and intensity. Qualitatively, the content of a goal is whatever the person is seeking.
Quantitatively, two attributes of content, difficulty, and specifically, have been studied.
14 Research Findings
1. The more difficult the goal, the greater the achievement.
2. The more specific or explicit the goal, the more precisely performance is regulated.
3. Goals that are both specific and difficult lead to the highest performance.
4. Commitment to goals is most critical when goals are specific and difficult.
5. High commitment to goals is attained when:
a. The individual is convinced that the goal is important and attainable
6. In addition to having a direct effect on performance, self-efficacy influences:
a. The difficulty level of the goal chosen or accepted;
b. Commitment to goals;
c. The response to negative feedback or failure; and
d. The choice of task strategies.
7. Goal setting is most effective when there is feedback that shows progress in relation to the goal.
8. Goal setting mediates the effect of knowledge of past performance on subsequent performance.

Understanding The Self / 14

 9. Goals affect performance by affecting the direction of action, the degree of effort exerted, and the
persistence of action over time.
10. Goals stimulate planning in general.
11. When people strive for goals on complex tasks, they are least effective in discovering suitable
task strategies if:
a. They have no prior experience or training on the task;
b. There is high pressure to perform well; and
c. There is high time pressure (to perform well immediately).
12. Goals, in combination with self-efficacy, mediate or partially mediate the effects of several
personality traits and incentives on performance.
13. Goal-setting and goal-related mechanisms can be trained and/or adopted in the absence of
training for the purpose of self-regulation.
14. Goal serve as standards of self-satisfaction, with harder goals demanding higher accomplishment
in order to attain self-satisfaction than easy goals.

LEARNING ASSESSMENT:
ACTIVITY II: Goal Setting Plan
● In one long bond paper, create a goal setting plan using any form of diagram that shows how you
are going to survive your college life. Explain briefly.

ACTIVITY III: Dream Board

● In one long bond paper, make your dream board, five years after college graduation. Explain
briefly.

Reference:

Alata, Eden Joy P., et. al., Understanding the Self (Quezon City: Rex Book Store, 2018).

Understanding The Self / 15

 OUR LADY OF LOURDES COLLEGE FOUNDATION
Vinzons Ave., Daet, Camarines Norte, 4600 Philippines
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES
FIRST SEMESTER
S.Y. 2022-2023

GEC – UNDERSTANDING THE SELF

LESSON 17: LESS STRESS, MORE CARE
Introduction:
The American Psychological Association has these statements about stress: “Stress is often as a feeling of
being overwhelmed, worried, or run-down. Stress can affect people of all ages, genders, and
circumstances and can lead to both physical and psychological health issues. By definition, stress is any
uncomfortable emotional experience accompanied by predicable biochemical, physiological, and
behavioral changes. Some stress can be beneficial at times, producing a boost that provides the drive and
energy to help people get through situations like exams or work deadlines. However, an extreme amount
of stress can have health consequences and adversely affect the immune, cardiovascular, neuroendocrine
and central nervous systems.”
Overview:
In this lesson, we will learn and distinguish different types of stress and the human response to it. More
so, we have to be familiar with other approach to a healthy lifestyle, which is self-care.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this module, the students are expected to:
1. explain the effects of stress to one’s health;
2. examine cultural dimension of stress and coping; and
3. design a self-care plan.

PRELIMINARY TEST
Answer the following questions honestly.
ACTIVITY I: Perceived Stress Scale (See page)

Lesson Proper:
Stress and Human Response
Hans Selye defined stress as the body’s nonspecific response to any demand, whether it is caused by or
results in pleasant or unpleasant stimuli. It is essential to differentiate between the unpleasant or harmful
variety of stress termed distress, which often connotes disease, and eustress, which often connotes
euphoria. Eustress is stress in daily life that has positive connotations, such as marriage, promotion, baby,
winning money, new friends, and graduation. On the other hand, distress is stress in daily life that has
negative connotations such as divorce, punishment, injury, negative feelings, financial problems, and
work difficulties.

Understanding The Self / 16

During both eustress and distress, the body undergoes virtually the same nonspecific responses to the
various positive or negative stimuli acting upon it. However, eustress causes much less damage than
distress. This demonstrates conclusively that it is how an individual accepts stress that determines
ultimately whether the person can adapt successfully to change.
Selye hypothesized a general adaptation or stress syndrome. This general stress syndrome affects the
whole body. Stress always manifests itself by a syndrome, a sum of changes, and not by simply one
change.
Three components of General Stress Syndrome
1. The Alarm Stage – represents a mobilization of the body’s defensive forces. The body is preparing
for the “fight or flight” syndrome.
2. The stage of resistance – the body becomes adaptive to the challenge and even begins to resist it.
The length of this stage of resistance is dependent upon the body’s innate and stored adaptation
energy reserves and upon the intensity of the stressor. Just as any machine wears out even if it has
been properly maintained, the same thing happens with living organisms – sooner or later they
become the victim of this constant wear and tear process.
3. The exhaustion stage – the body dies because it has used up its resources of adaptation energy.
Thankfully, few people ever experience this last stage.

Techniques to Counter Chronic Stress

1. Relaxation response. Dr. Herbert Benson, director emeritus of the Benson-Henry Institute for Mind
Body Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital, has devoted much of his career to learning how
people can counter the stress response by using a combination of approaches that elicit the relaxation
response. These include deep abdominal breathing, focus on a soothing word (such as peace or calm),
visualization of tranquil scenes, repetitive prayer, yoga, and tai chi.
2. Physical activity. People can use exercise to stifle the buildup of stress in several ways. Exercise,
such as taking a brisk walk shortly after feeling stressed, not only deepens breathing but also helps
relieve muscle tension. Movement therapies such as yoga, tai chi, and qi gong combined with fluid
movements, with deep breathing, and mental focus, all of which can induce calm.
3. Social support. Confidants, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, relatives, spouses, and companions
all provide a life-enhancing social net, and may increase longevity. It is not clear why, but the
buffering theory holds that people who enjoy close relationships with family and friends receive
emotional support that indirectly helps to sustain them at times of chronic stress and crisis.

Self-Care Therapy
A positive way to counter stress is self-care therapy. Nancy Apperson of Northern Illinois University has
provided steps for self-care:
1. Stop, breathe, and tell yourself: “This is hard and I will get through this one step at a time.”
2. Acknowledge to yourself what you are feeling. All feelings are normal so accept whatever you
are feeling.
3. Find someone who listens and is accepting. You do not need advice. You need to be heard.
4. Maintain your normal routine as much as possible.
5. Allow plenty of time for a task.
6. Take good care of yourself. Remember to:
a. Get enough rest and sleep
b. Eat regularly and make healthy choices
c. Know your limits and when you need to let go. Some problems are beyond our control. If
something cannot be changed, work at accepting it for what it is.
d. Identify or create a nurturing place in your home. A rocking chair, a nice view, and a
soothing music are important components to a nurturing place.
e. Practice relaxation or meditation.
f. Escape for a while through meditation, reading a book, watching a movie, or taking a short
trip.

Self-Compassion Therapy

Understanding The Self / 17

Self-compassion is another way to counter stress. Kristin Neff has discussed self-compassion in her
article, “The Science of Self-Compassion.”
Self-compassion entails being warm and understanding toward ourselves when we suffer, fail, or feel
inadequate, rather than flagellating ourselves with self-criticism. It recognizes that being imperfect and
experiencing life difficulties is inevitable, so we soothe and nurture ourselves when confronting our pain
rather than getting angry when life falls short of our ideals.
Self-Compassion Phrases
Neff provided self-compassion phrases when feeling stress or emotional pain, perhaps when you are
caught in a traffic jam, arguing with a loved one, or feeling inadequate in some way. It is helpful to have a
set of phrases memorized to help you remember to be more compassionate to yourself in the moment.
You can take a deep breath, put your hand over your heart, or gently hug yourself (if you feel comfortable
doing so), and repeat the following phrases:
a. This is a moment of suffering
b. Suffering is a part of life
c. May I be kind to myself
d. May I give myself the compassion I need

These phrases capture the essence of the three components of self-compassion.

Self-Compassion and Emotional Well-being
One of the most consistent findings in the research literature is that greater self-compassion is linked to
less anxiety and depression. A key feature of self-compassion is the lack of self-criticism, and self-
criticism is known to be an important predicator of anxiety and depression. However, self-compassion
still offers protection against anxiety and depression when controlling for self-criticism and negative
effect. Thus, self-compassion is not merely a matter of looking on the bright side of things or avoiding
negative feelings.
Self-Compassion, Motivation, and Health
Research supports the idea that self-compassion enhances motivation rather than self-indulgence. For
instance, while self-compassion is negatively related to perfectionism, it has no association with the level
of performance standards adapted for the self. Self-compassionate people aim just as high, but also
recognize and accept that they cannot always reach their goals. Self-compassion is also linked to greater
personal initiative – the desire to reach one’s full potential. Self-compassionate people have been found to
have less motivational anxiety and engage in fewer self-handicapping behaviors such as procrastination
than those who lack self-compassion.
Self-Compassion versus Self-Esteem
Self-compassion is moderately associated with trait levels of self-esteem as one would expect, given that
both represent positive attitudes toward the self. However, self-compassion still predicts greater happiness
and optimism as well as less depression and anxiety when controlling for self-esteem. Moreover, the two
constructs differ in terms of their impact on well-being. Self-esteem had a robust association with
narcissism while self-compassion had no association with narcissism. In contrast to those with high self-
esteem, self-compassionate people are less focused on evaluating themselves, feeling superior to others,
worrying about whether or not others are evaluating them, defending their view points, or angrily reacting
against those who disagree with them. While self-esteem positions the self in competition with others and
amplifies feelings of distinctness and separation, self-compassion enhances feelings of safety and
interconnectedness.
Less Stress, Care More
We should be in control of the stress that confronts us every day. Otherwise, when we are overwhelmed
by stress, it can be detrimental to our health. Self-care and self-compassion are two ways to positively
confront stress. We should love and care for our self-more and more each day.

LEARNING ASSESSMENT:
ACTIVITY II: Self-Care Plan

Understanding The Self / 18

 ● In one long bond paper, design for your self-care plan for the whole school year.

ACTIVITY III: Creative Work.

● In one long bond paper create a diagram on how to be a stress-free person. Indicate short
explanation.

ACTIVITY IV: Poem or Spoken Poetry

MAKE YOUR OUTPUT PRESENTABLE:

● Compose a POEM or SPOKEN POETRY about your SELF. Choose the best title for your
masterpiece.
● You may use either Filipino or English language in composing.

● There will be no minimum and maximum number of stanzas. Express yourself freely.

● Any form of Plagiarism will automatically get a failing grade.

PRELIMINARY TEST

LESSON 17: LESS STRESS, MORE CARE

Name:____________________________________________ Course:______________________

PERCEIVED STRESS SCALE

The Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) is a classic stress assessment instrument. This tool, while originally
developed in 1983, remains a popular choice for helping us understand how different situations affect our
feelings and our perceived stress. The questions in this scale ask about your feelings and thoughts during the
last month. In each case, you will be asked to indicate how often you felt or thought a certain way. Although
some of the questions are similar, there are differences between them and you should treat each one as a
separate question. The best approach is to answer fairly quickly. That is, don't try to count up the number of
times you felt a particular way; rather indicate the alternative that seems like a reasonable estimate.

For each question choose from the following alternatives:

0 – never 1 - almost never 2 – sometimes 3 - fairly often 4 - very often

_____1. In the last month, how often have you been upset because of something that happened unexpectedly?
_____2. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were unable to control the important things in
your life?
_____3. In the last month, how often have you felt nervous and stressed?
_____4. In the last month, how often have you felt confident about your ability to handle your personal
problems?
____ 5. In the last month, how often have you felt that things were going your way?
_____6. In the last month, how often have you found that you could not cope with all the things that you had to
do?
____ 7. In the last month, how often have you been able to control irritations in your life?
____ 8. In the last month, how often have you felt that you were on top of things?
_____9. In the last month, how often have you been angered because of things that happened that were outside
of your control?
____10. In the last month, how often have you felt difficulties were piling up so high that you could not
overcome them?

Figuring your PSS score:

You can determine your PSS score by following these directions:

Understanding The Self / 19

First, reverse your scores for questions 4, 5, 7, & 8. On these 4 questions, change the scores like this:
0 = 4, 1 = 3, 2 = 2, 3 = 1, 4 = 0.

Now add up your scores for each item to get a total.

My total score is ______.

Individual scores on the PSS can range from 0 to 40 with higher scores indicating higher perceived stress.

Scores ranging from 0-13 would be considered low stress.

Scores ranging from 14-26 would be considered moderate stress.
Scores ranging from 27-40 would be considered high perceived stress.

Reference:
https://www.nysut.org/~/media/files/nysut/resources/2013/april/socialservices/socialservices_stressassessments.pdf?la=en
(Accessed December 1, 2020)

ANALYSIS:

Answer the following honestly.

1. How do you feel while you were doing the Perceived Stress Scale?
2. Is the result near to your present perceived stress level? How do you feel with the result?
3. What is your perception about stress and self-care?

Understanding The Self / 20