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Borneo Post
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
The quiet power of letting go
Letting go is not giving up; it is choosing to honour what is real instead of clinging to a dream that no longer brings peace. — Photo from / RDNE Stock Project WHAT does it really mean to explore your own mind? It's more than just thinking — it's noticing how thoughts come and go, how emotions shape them, and how habits quietly run the show. Ever heard of the phrase 'minding the mind'? I've seen it in some mindfulness writing, but what does it really mean? To me, it means slowing down and getting curious about our thoughts – asking things like, 'Why did I think of that?' or 'Where did that feeling come from?' Have you ever caught yourself doing that? It might seem small, but it actually opens the door to something big – cognitive psychology. This field helps us understand how our minds work: why we think, feel, remember, or get stuck the way we do. So if you've ever wondered why your brain does what it does, let's dig in. Cognitive psychology shows that feeling stuck often comes down to how our minds work. And that some memories stick because they are emotional or repeated, while others fade away. If we keep filling our minds with doubt or stress, it becomes the mental loop that we live in. The best part? Cognitive psychology shows us that we are not stuck thinking the way we always have – we actually can change how our minds work. Pretty empowering, right? What we focus on shapes what stays. Being gentle with ourselves and more aware of what we feed our thoughts can shift how we remember, think, and find our way forward. And that is where real growth begins. I watched my partner stream the video game 'Clair Obscur: Expedition 33' recently, and it really pulled me in. It is a stunning role-playing game (RPG) on the surface, but what has stuck with me is how deeply it gets into the human stuff – grief, memory, and the stories we hold onto. Just a heads-up, if any of you are thinking about playing the game, there is a pretty big spoiler coming up. I usually try to avoid giving anything away, but this story is just too good not to share. Aline's story hit especially hard. She created the world of 'Lumière' to escape the pain of losing her son by literally painting over reality just to survive it. In the game, she becomes the 'Paintress' – a figure who reshapes the world around her with her brush, crafting a world where her son still exists. The world she creates is beautiful but fragile, and the characters must journey through it as time and memory begin to fall apart. Watching that unfold, it made me think about how we all do that in our own ways – holding on to certain memories, avoiding others, and getting stuck in loops we don't even notice. Sometimes, holding on feels like part of you is underwater, trying to breathe and move at the same time – every day hurts a little more. You keep telling yourself it is just a rough patch. You go back through old memories, hoping to find something to hold onto. But slowly and quietly, the reality starts to sink in: trying is starting to feel heavier than the pain of walking away. Eventually, your tight heart has to let go. Not because you have forgotten, but because you need to stop hurting and finally catch your breath. Letting go isn't giving up. It's choosing to honour what is real over clinging to a dream that is no longer bringing you peace. In the same way, Aline uses painting to cope with grief in a deeply personal way. For her, painting becomes a quiet anchor. Through the activity, she gives shape to emotions that are too heavy for words. It helps her slow down, process the shock, and reconnect with herself. However, while painting helps the grief-stricken mother cope, she also gets pulled too deeply into that inner world. It becomes more than just healing; it becomes an escape. Grief can do that. But that's part of what makes her story human. In her case, the canvas becomes a place where time and reality lose their grip, and she risks getting stuck in memory and emotion instead of moving forward. Her art is powerful, but it also shows how easy it is to get lost when trying to make sense of pain. Losing someone you love and still trying to show up for work, for your responsibilities, or for others – it's brutal. You get up, do the things and smile when needed. But inside, there's this ache that doesn't quite go away, and the world keeps spinning like nothing happened. That's what makes Aline hit so hard. She is this quiet, steady force, fixing things alone in her little corner – all while clearly carrying something unspoken. When I first saw her as the 'Paintress' in that imaginary world she'd created, you could just feel the loneliness around her. Even though she was painted as the villain at first, there was this quiet sadness she never spoke about. It's like grief: invisible to everyone else, but you're living in it every second. And still, she holds it together not because she feels okay, but because something in her decides to keep going. That's also the heartbeat of Expedition 33. So many of the characters are carrying loss – of people, of purpose, and of meaning. And yet, they keep trying. Keep building. Keep hoping. Sure, it's just a fictional video game, but honestly, the way it captures grief feels incredibly real. It really took me by surprise. Grief doesn't stop you from doing good, but it changes how you do it. Maybe you're quieter now. Maybe more thoughtful. Maybe more tired. But the love and effort you give still matter – maybe even more, because you're offering it while holding on to your own broken pieces. * The writer is a psychology graduate who enjoys sharing about how the human mind views the world. For feedback, email to [email protected].
UPI
29-05-2025
- Business
- UPI
Remittance tax could shave half point off GDP in some Latin American nations
A 3.5% tax on money sent by people in the United States to relatives in other countries, including Latin America, would have a major impact on some of these nations' economies. Photo by RDNE Stock Project/ Pexels ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay, May 29 (UPI) -- A proposed 3.5% tax on remittances from the United States could cost some Latin American countries up to half a percentage point of gross domestic product, sparking concern in nations where money sent to families back home account for a significant portion of economic output. On May 22, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly passed a budget bill 215-214 that includes a 3.5% tax on remittances sent by non-U.S. citizens. The bill still needs approval from the Senate. A vote has not yet been scheduled, but lawmakers are expected to move forward in the coming weeks with a goal of passing the bill before the July 4 recess. The measure is part of President Donald Trump's proposed fiscal package known as the "Big Beautiful Bill" and would particularly affect countries like Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Haiti and Jamaica, where remittances account for between 17.9% and 27.2% of GDP, according to the U.N. Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. Remittances are not only a vital source of foreign currency for these countries, but they also play a critical role in sustaining local economies, especially in rural and low-income communities. Related How Donald Trump can short sell Mexico to become president While the commission emphasizes that remittances do not resolve structural poverty, they serve as a financial lifeline for many families. Remittances improve quality of life and provide access to essential goods and services. José Manuel Salazar-Xirinachs, executive secretary of the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, said a remittance tax could reduce the amount those families receive or even discourage people from sending money altogether. "The Inter-American Development Bank estimates that remittances reduce poverty by up to 5.8% in El Salvador and by 0.8% in Mexico. Put another way, poverty in these countries would be higher without remittances," Salazar-Xirinachs said. In a country like Guatemala, which relies heavily on remittances from the United States, a 3.5% tax on those transfers could have multiple effects. One likely consequence is a negative impact on the balance of payments, which runs a yearly deficit and is offset in part by remittance inflows, Guatemalan economist Juan Roberto Hernández said. A drop in the supply of dollars could also put pressure on the exchange rate and make imports of food, medicine and fuel more expensive. This would likely be accompanied by a decline in consumption and investment. In 2024, Guatemala received $21 billion in remittances, representing about 20% of its GDP. The Inter-American Development Bank estimates that between 70% and 80% of remittances go toward basic needs such as food, housing, health and education. "Any decline would likely contract domestic demand and hurt key sectors like retail and services, with consequences for tax revenues and overall growth," Hernández said. In Mexico, although remittances represent a smaller share of GDP, the country receives the highest volume in the region -- $65.2 billion in 2024. Thousands of families could see their incomes reduced if the 3.5% tax takes effect, Salazar-Xirinachs said. A study by the Center for Latin American Monetary Studies found that about 11% of Mexican households received remittances between July 2023 and August 2024. Those households received an average of $549 per adult recipient each month, a significant amount considering the country's minimum wage is about $450 per month. Remittances from the United States to Latin America totaled an estimated $160.9 billion in 2024, a record for the region. However, while the total volume increased, growth slowed to just 5% -- the lowest rate in a decade due to limited labor mobility and slower job growth among migrant populations. The Trump administration estimates that a 3.5% remittance tax would generate $22 billion between 2026 and 2034, an annual average of $2.7 billion, or roughly 0.01% of U.S. GDP and 0.03% of federal spending. However, experts warn that revenue may fall significantly as senders shift to alternative transfer methods, including cryptocurrencies. Still, recipient families would most likely feel the impact through reduced remittance amounts or higher transfer costs, according to the U.N. economic commission.
