I can only pray for the safety of people affected by the recent earthquake in Chile, and now to possible casualties of the tsunami. I've heard over the news and read in the websites about the possible effect and I really hope everybody may be spared from this untoward event.

[caption id="attachment_1189" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="George Salud of Merger Suits visits LLOYDLUNA"]<a href="http://www.lloydluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMG_2593.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1189" title="George Salud" src="http://www.lloydluna.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/IMG_2593-300x225.jpg" alt="George Salud" width="300" height="225" /></a>[/caption]

Last week was one of the busiest weeks I've had since the beginning of a new decade. I've had to receive several guests in my new office. I'm happy to know that people appreciate the feel and look of it. They're all amazed by its simplicity.

That is because I put my heart on its interior and I personally gave a hand to the workers who worked on it. The result is of course an amazing work space out of labor of love.

In these times, nobody seems to be safe and sound. Many of us may find it confusing as to where we can position ourselves. Anywhere else in the world, uncertainty seems to be a buzz word—in career, business, financial, health—name it. And this column is about being safe and sound.

In my years of experience as a student of life, I've worked and dealt with people from different walks of life. One remarkable learning is that the more people get certain, the more they tend to achieve something.

What does it mean, really?

Most people fail because they're more conscious about their "work" environment rather than their "self" environment. Every time this happens, the more they get puzzled by the circumstance. Most of the time, people simply get tired of finding out what really is happening. Because the markets are down and the job markets seem to be overpopulated, most of them feel the end of the world.

Being conscious about the work place or the job market isn't bad at all. But putting more time figuring out what's happening outside rather than what's happening inside makes us less and less sure about our future. Simply put, we're getting lost of what really matters.

"Self" environment is about finding one's meaning and passion. It's about being aware of who we are as a person and what we can do more than what the environment can do for us. It's about being conscious of our strength and contribution to the improvement of other people's lives.

Of course this sounds too generalized. Well, it's because it really is! I may not know who you are and what you do presently but I feel that whatever it is the you do and wherever you are in the world, you can trust that this philosophy works: If you want to be safe, you only have yourself to depend on—certainly not the economy or the school that you belong to or anything else.

So this week, the good news is you can be certain about yourself. That can make you stronger and more certain about your future. Whatever it is that comes your way can be nothing less than what you can bear and accept.