Philippines has just experienced a 15-year low in remittances from its workers abroad last March 2018. It was 9.7% lower than the last year’s remittance in the same month. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas attributed this largely to the continued (at times, and more often than not, forced) repatriation of Filipinos especially from the Middle East countries.
In the local scene, (meaning in Saudi Arabia), it can be observed in the sparser crowd in supermarkets, the schools are one section less for every grade level than last year and you heard from people you know that so-and-so have gone back to the Philippines for good. I wonder if the frequent sales in malls are also due to lesser shoppers and that store owners are trying to pluck every riyal they could from everyone’s wallets. Putting it in other words, Saudization is real.
This scene makes us feel a little bit agitated about the future. We feel insecure about the tenure of our work in the kingdom. We may have to redesign our plans, re-think about the future, make some adjustments in our forecasts, forego with what was arranged earlier and even veer away from what could’ve been our goal. We have to do the necessary preparations if and when that happens. After all, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Amidst this uncertainty, there is one thing that you should do: Believe in yourself.
It is easier said than done. Trust me, I know. I’ve been there, done that.
But here’s how we could at least try and do it. If all else fails, sleep and repeat again the next day.
Embrace uncertainty in your OFW Life
We all want to be in control. We avoid discomfort. We bask in the security of having a job abroad and that money flows at the end of the month (or during paydays). We dread losing our job. Uncertainty makes us uncomfortable. But the good thing about uncertainty is not all is doomed. As it is, nothing is certain. Anything could happen. Anything is possible. Nothing is set in stone. And that every successful person would tell you, that they took risk/s. They try, not really knowing what the outcome would be. Perhaps the looming uncertainty now is what you needed to step out of your comfort zone, to stop being mediocre and to start being great. When life pushed you and cornered you to a wall, shove back and take control.
We can come up with Plan A, Plan B, C, D and E. There is chance that the thing you would do could just be the success that you were pining for. Since nothing is certain, it is worth a try. As Thomas Edison once said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work!” Be patient. Your time will also come. Bilog ang mundo.
Find your greatness
We all have greatness in ourselves that is waiting to see the light of day.Embraced difficulties because that is when our creative juices flow. We should look at hardships on a different light because it is when we are more inventive and resourceful since we don’t have any choice but to find a solution. Diamonds are once coals but after immense pressure, they became a most sought-after gemstone.
Self-doubt will make you weak. It paralyzes you into not doing any action about the situation. But if you believe that there is something in you that just needed awakening, this is the time. Reflect on your strengths, and of course your weaknesses as well because the sooner you have realized and accepted your shortcomings, the sooner you would be able to come up with solutions and remedy your inadequacies. If you have the tendency to self-doubt, perhaps it’s because you keep on listening to other people discouraging you about finding your inner greatness. If this is your weakness, do something about it and stop listening to these toxic people feeding your insecurities. Avoid telling them your plans, instead, show them your results!
All of us have our own God given talent and if you are not yet sure what is yours, take the time to know it, to know yourself. It is in the process of finding ourselves that we grow, we create opportunities, and become more confident as a result. Ask your family and friends what makes you great and bank on this.
Just as need is the mother of invention, dissatisfaction is the path to greatness.
The narrative that you tell yourself matters. If you could be supportive of others and you are not short of encouraging and egging them to reach for their dreams, why couldn’t you do the same to yourself?
Tap into your previous successes
Admit it or not, you are (insert the number of years here that you are an OFW), richer than you were. What to be afraid about, now that you have improved your life, earned more than what you could have if you are working in the Philippines and have gained additional experiences and more lessons in life?
Surely, you are a richer person, not only financially, but also in experience and you’ve a wider network of new friends and contacts who could introduce you to the right people.
Remember those times when you were successful.Look back when you applied to be an OFW for job abroad, when you were chosen from among the many candidates. Remember when you got your diploma for your degree. Remember when you got your diploma for your degree. Your efforts and perseverance have paid off and brought you to where you are right now. Tap into these previous successes and build more confidence in yourself. Armed with more experience, you can replicate another success.
Make it a habit to also write down your accomplishments and achievements. Have a gratitude journal and even if it is small or minor successes, write them down. This journal or list would be a powerful tool for your perusal during the times when you are feeling down, and you are thinking nothing is going your way. When you are reminded of your previous successes, you would also be reminded how you did them in the first place. We all needed an ego boost every once in a while, and to stimulate us into thinking “I’ve already succeeded before. I could do it once more.”
Plan
Write down your options. Plan your courses of actions. It doesn’t have to be big and grand. It doesn’t have to be detailed and step by step.It doesn’t matter if you haven’t figured all of it now. What matters is that you start. You could figure out the rest as you go on. Just like when you plan to work out. By putting on your rubber shoes, you are likely to proceed with the exercise. You feel more confident to face the future if you know that somehow you have a plan to pursue. You also minimize the risk of being overwhelmed and getting lost because you have a guide towards your goal. All of your decisions and choices should ultimately lead you to your aspiration. The chance for this plan to be successful becomes even higher when you write them down.
Of course, after you made your plans, you have to think about your course of action as well. These days uncertainty is a compelling reason for your plan of action. Remember that “a plan without action is just a dream.” Writing them down is your first act because having it in paper will make your plan more real, more feasible, more achievable. Putting your plan in paper would also ensure that whatever action you have thought of with regards to your plan will not be forgotten since you already have a record. Read and reread your plans and adjust accordingly. Be flexible when it comes to your plans and deadlines.
Trust
Trust that the Almighty has something for you. He brought you to where you are right now and allowed you to become an OFW because He knows the desires of your heart. Believe that He will continue to guide you. Everything that is happening has a reason and a purpose.
It might be difficult to see it now but in the long run you would soon see why you need to experience the challenging times because after all the stress and the problems, you’d soon realize that you emerged a better, stronger individual who is ready to face whatever life is going to throw at you. Strengthen your faith and conviction and life’s curveballs would not deter or sway you because you know, all of these are important for your growth.
Believe that the universe conspires for you to be successful. Manifest what you want and sooner than later, you’ll see that it has already become your reality. Don’t listen to those telling you that you would not be the person you are aiming to be. Don’t be discouraged if success does not happen overnight. Work for it and don’t quit. Who knows perhaps you are only one day away from your big break.
There is life after OFW days. It all starts from within.
Hi, I'm Cecille. I have been an OFW in KSA for 13 long years. I have been there, done that. I'd say I was lucky because for most of those years, my family was with me. I'd like to share in this blog what makes those years worthwhile, the lessons I learned and bits and pieces of info that may pique your interest as bagong bayani.