Joy, Compassion, Contentment

HACEMOS is a 501c3 non-profit focused on college scholarships, championing STEM, professional/personal development, and volunteerism. Our Mission is "To foster an environment where people support and encourage each other to succeed professionally, personally, and in the community." We have 43 Chapters across the USA and 10,000+ Members. Only AT&T employees can become Members. Our operational budget is strictly for raising scholarship funds.

Dear HACEMOS Leaders – it is a time for joy, compassion, and contentment. 

Want to be more joyful?  Wake up every morning and list out loud ~33 things you are grateful for…. the first five will come easily (faith, family, health, work, friends) but then, you must pinpoint all the little things in your Life that contribute to your joy: clean water, electricity, internet, your smartphone, clean clothing, delicious food, a refrigerator, a dishwasher, easy transportation, sunny weather, a comfortable bed, soft covers & pillows, running sewer, trash collection, a safe shelter, entertainment options, a passport that allows you to explore the world & explore amazing cultures, etc.… Make grateful your new habit and it will sprout a deep sense of joy throughout your days. While our great Nation promotes & protect your right to pursue happiness, your soul is truly thirsty for joy.

Want to be more compassionate?  Yes, you can feed the hungry, clothe the destitute, or provide a few bucks to the homeless. That’s a good start. A great follow up would be to focus on the daily compassion you could consistently exercise with those closest to you: your family, your friends, and your colleagues. And just like any effective habit, it must be practical in order to be consistent.  a) When someone is seeking to dialogue with you, drop all distractions (especially smartphone), turn your body towards the person, connect with the eyes, listen generously, and end my summarizing what you just heard. b) Find a quiet space and for 15-minutes of holy silence, visualize a situation where someone was suffering and rehearsed wishing for the relief of that person’s suffering.  And if it is you who is suffering, shrink your inner-critic poking at your inevitable imperfections by expanding your awareness on the interconnectedness of your suffering with your immediate world. Think of different ways to re-frame the suffering. c) Assume the best intentions. Too often, there is a gap between our intentions and our actions. Ironically, we desire to be judged by our intentions, not our actions; thus, extend that virtue graciously.

We live busy. It is too easy to feel a sense of loss. Being compassionate has a powerful way of jolting/resetting our spirit towards the fruitful connections that nourish our joy.

Want to be more content?  Commit to starting with the first two.  And if you want to add another commitment, go travel internationally! Develop a sound awareness for the symphony of colors & cacophony of sounds that Life treat you with daily. The new and interesting has a way to hyper-focus our senses and help us develop greater awareness. Eventually, you will reach a point where you can remain equitable in spirit: never too elated by your success, or too disappointed by your short-comings. 

All these three skills can be built and practice consistently.  Start with one and commit to doing it for 30 days. Then add another one. Scale habitually. 

 I am super grateful for your consistent engagement with HACEMOS, AT&T and the community.  When you lend us your Time, Talent and Treasure, you are taking decisive steps to be more joyful, compassionate, and content. 

 I celebrate you!

 Feliz Navidad!  Happy Holidays! And I look forward to crossing paths with you in 2020.  

 With joyful gratitude,

Yovany Jerez

National President 2018-2020

PS. The most powerful book I have read in the past two years is “The 6 Stages of Cultural Mastery” by Ricardo Gonzalez. And in a world where we are desperate to inflate our bias passions into something noble, Ricardo offers a powerful formula for connecting with the nobility of “the other” and for disarming our tendency to vilify those with opposing viewpoints. Greet 2020 as a Cultural Master!