Yo Work Fun Nation!

Grabe wala ako masabi. Andaming nag reply and nag share ng sentiments nila on how we all self-sabotage. 

Salamat sa confidence and tiwala ninyo. 

Maraming nag-share about what they felt, which I know many of us Pinoy freelancers, as people can relate to. 

Clear pain point talaga to!

Your stories, your questions, and your insights are a huge part of what makes the Work Fun Home Nation thrive. Kaya wag sana kayo mag-sawa sa engagement para we can help each other.

“It's as if you know me and you're telling my story I'm currently struggling to pick myself up. That line  - - - You can't help but wonder if you'll ever find the courage to believe in yourself again.- - - really hit me.”

“Sapul naman ako dun sa pala "congrats" sa mga wins ng co- freelancers..”

“Days, months, taon na po ang nagdaan… Saklap talaga Coach!“

“Napa reply na naman ako dito sa newsletter mo hehe. What you just sent speaks volumes about what I am going through, so I can't help but relate.”

I know the feeling. Hindi din naman sya totally nawawala for me din. 

Like I said in a previous email, you can only minimize and be aware of it, but as life happens may instances pa din talaga where we don’t catch it. 

For example, may past trauma ka na nag-resurface, or something buried triggered for the first time just now.

Or you’re normally living your life naman, but may event sa adult life mo na mag form ng negative core memory and affect you. 

“Before I became a freelancer I worked for an LGU for 6 years. During my 5th year, my boss told me that for every task he assigned to me, I did not do a very good job except for one. For a year after that, I felt as though I wouldn’t be good at anything at all. Kahit alam ko naman sa sarili ko na hindi ‘yon totoo.”

Heck, just the other week, I caught myself procrastinating na naman on a project for a premium client na recurring for the third year na. (not retainer but marami lang talagang work na binibigay, almost every month) 

Naging kampante na naman ako kasi chicken na lang uli yung gagawin, and I thought of the deadline as a suggestion na lang. 

It was looming, but instead of buckling down and working hard, I found myself doom scrolling social media and watching YouTube videos na naman, in the name of research daw.

Tapos I totally forgot my purpose na. 

At first, I was frustrated with myself. 

Why was I sabotaging my own success? E known client ko na nga to e, 3 years profitable na to.

I knew I needed to get this project done, but it was like some unseen force was preventing me from doing what I knew I should. 

Para syang evil force, omg.

However…  This time nagawan ko ng paraan kahit papano kasi I’m able to delegate na, and I now have reliable teammates. 

Crisis Averted. 

But then I saw it! 

Self-Sabotage Sigbin casts Essence Drain! SHODEN casts ***b*****! Essence Drain is ineffective!

Andyan pala yung mortal enemy natin as Freelancers!

The Self-Sabotage Sigbin.

I’m creating an avatar and visualizing it as a Sigbin para closer to home. It’s a pinoy mythical creature that is often described as grotesque and repulsive, has a hunched back, elongated body, and goat-like hind legs. 

Nobody seems to really agree on what it looks like, kasi mythical nga. 

Pero here’s my AI-ttempt. 

My artistic representation of the Self-Sabotage Sigbin. (SSS)

Rendered with Leonardo AI (somehow the five legs and pincer sa likod makes it more creepy and compelling lol)

Pero here’s the twist. I added a magic system around this avatar. 

Ano na naman tong mga kalokohan mo CoaSH?! 

Ano ba tong pinasok ko?! 

This will make sense soon, I promise. Haha

The Self-Sabotage Sigbin grows stronger every time you feed it the following things: 

Self-Doubt, Fear of Failure, Procrastination, Fear of Rejection

Okay lang guys if you left me na, I can accept that. 

I’m not afraid to fall flat on my face. And you can totally reject me sa email ko ha. 

Unsub na din while you're at it.

For all you know, bullshit pala tong lahat. After all, I am not your guru. haha

What I’m trying to do is visualize and gamify the experience of dealing with self-sabotage just like the RPGs, and fantasy novels we used to love growing up, from Dungeons and Dragons, Warcraft, Baldur’s Gate or yung fantasy novels like Lord of The Rings, Wheel of Time, etc. 

It’s essentially Positive Reinforcement from things we already love and using it to confront our personal challenges AND build good habits to train the negative behaviors out of our system.  

I am attempting to give you a different framework around this that hopefully will nullify the impact of self-sabotage by externalizing it, making it “visible”, and heightening our awareness of it. 

And syempre, may panglaban tayo sa Self-Sabotage Sigbin. (SSS)

Ang Talaga Namang Tikbalang! (TNT)

Rendered through Canva AI create

I’m also using the lore used in the Trese series, where Tikbalangs are regarded as noble creatures, not the traditional evil portrayal. 

Shoden casts Tikbalang! +10 Strength +10 Focus is applied!

Hahahaha

Homaygash, ang haba na nitoooo! 

Ginabi na ako dito grabe hahaha. Do you want to know more about how this works? Reply lang “Part 2 Please!”

No really, I think I’m on to something here.  

And no, I didn’t pull this out of my ass guys ha. 

I mean sure, I did create the game mechanics and visualizations from thin AI air. That came from me.

But, think about it. 

If everything else you’ve done to address self-sabotage hasn’t worked for you, what’s the harm in trying this crazy method? 

Games, stories, and fantasy novels externalize the enemy all the time, para may clear steps ang heroes on how to fight them.

Why can't we apply that to our real-life saboteurs? Pwede kaya ito mag work?

Tapos sheet, nag-research ako if meron ba talagang mga therapeutic and counseling methods using visual representations and avatars. 

I actually found three. 

Narrative Therapy: Developed by Michael White and David Epston, narrative therapy focuses on separating individuals from their problems by externalizing them. Visual representations, such as drawings or sculptures, can be used to symbolize these problems and facilitate discussions.

Gestalt Therapy: Fritz Perls, one of the founders of Gestalt therapy, emphasized the use of creative techniques to externalize and explore different aspects of oneself. Visualizing and dialoguing with parts of self, including self-sabotage tendencies, is an approach used in this therapy.

Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy: Developed by Richard Schwartz, IFS therapy recognizes that individuals have different “parts” within them. Using visual representations or imagery, individuals can identify and interact with their self-sabotaging parts, fostering self-understanding and healing.

Sheeeeet! 

I think may chansuu ito.

Who wants to be my beta-testers sa isang game framework that will train the self-sabotage out of you, without you even realizing it?!

Of course pwede mag-flop tong idea na to. I'm thinking of creating a deck of cards na pwede mong i-play yourself, tapos you just follow the steps in there.

Have no idea how to make it but kung sino man sa list ko may expertise sa game theory and psychology na interested, pa reply please.

Happy weekend!

Shoden “TNT” San

ps. Update our 65-vers Sprint™ (a social experiment sa prospecting starting on Oct 2). 29 people so far, pero far pa sa goal natin of 50 participants. We didn't make it. Oh well, next time na siguro to guys.

💡 Need guidance and clarity on your own reinvention? I’m opening a few paid slots after several of you messaged me about getting some extra coaching outside of TFMT. Limited lang ito, and first come first served basis. I'm starting with clarity calls muna with a 90-day action plan. Learn more about it HERE.

🎉 Pst. Don't Keep Me A Secret. Refer this newsletter to your freelancer friends and earn rewards worth $$! (kung naisahan ka dun sa mga pranks ko in some of my emails and gusto mo ng kadamay, share mo to hehe)

🔥 Send Freelancing Questions. I'm planning to show up more on Reels and TikTok. Help me out naman guys with your freelancing-related questions. I need to make a lot of videos.

☠️ Too many emails from me? I totally understand the need to declutter your inbox. Haha ako nga nagsabi na mag-declutter ka e. I hope my tips have helped you work smarter as a freelancer. No hard feelings. Just click below (may maliit na link dyan na kulay grey).