How does a heart hope? BYUH student answers through story of becoming and dreaming of more
In the book “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho, a famous quote reads, "You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it's better to listen to what it has to say." How does one know when the heart has something to say? What things does a soul yearn for? Monique Regio-Ramirez, a sophomore from the Philippines majoring in psychology, answered such questions by reflecting on her past and pondering about her future. “By doing so, one is able to truly understand their identity and write their own destiny,” she said.
Yearnings of the heart
Opportunities to pause and reflect are important experiences in Ramirez's life because these are the best times for her to get to know herself better, dream of the future and hope for things to come, she said. She shared that she uses these moments to remind her of how far she has come and how much more she can achieve, bolstering her for the road ahead. "Whenever I find myself daydreaming or reflecting on my life, my heart is healed a little bit because I am able to ground myself and remember what really matters," she said.
"It's always in the temple where I get to ponder about these dreams, because that's where I feel the most comfort and peace," Ramirez shared. She said, because the temple is where she is closest with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, pondering there convinces her that all her dreams could come true. Her reflections in life feel significantly more fulfilling and validated in the temple because she is able to view it with an eternal perspective and with her purest identity, she shared.
Ramirez said her reflective and hopeful characteristic stems from her experiences with her mother. "My mother has always taught me about trusting in the Lord, and I've seen how her hopes for us have been achieved because of that," she shared. Because of her mother, she shared, she knows that no dream is too far-fetched and the best dreams are found when one listens to their divine heart.
A life's desires
"Since I was a child, I've always dreamed of having my own family and being a mother," Ramirez shared. She said this is what she usually reflects on when she finds herself pondering because it is something she had always yearned for after growing up in a broken family. She was raised by a single mother with two lovely sisters she can always rely on, she shared, but knows that there's even more love to be cherished as she pursues the great joy of a complete family. She said now that she's married, she has seen that desire slowly fulfilled as she prepares to be a mother of her own children.
Ramirez said she is deeply grateful for the blessings and miracles she received through her loved ones as she grew up, and because of that she hopes to do her best in being an instrument of love and help as well. "I have these dreams and aspirations because of my family. I wanted to give them the best I can, and be the best version of myself for them," she said.
Because being a light unto others is such an important aspect in her life, Ramirez strives to someday become a psychologist, she shared. "I want to make more people feel like they belong despite the challenges they have," she said. Because she felt and experienced moments of isolation, disconnection and anxiety in her life and was able to overcome and understand them, she felt that helping people heal was also part of her life's purpose, she continued
Ramirez said the dream to become a psychologist first started when she served her mission as a service missionary in the Philippines Missionary Training Center. "I was a service missionary and had my own mental health challenges, but was blessed to be surrounded with people who I can relate to," she said. Many challenges in life are just preparations for bigger and more fulfilling callings, she shared.
Charting the uncharted
Ramirez said before she could truly understand the purest ambitions of her soul, she first had to meditate on her life's journey, where it has already taken her and where it will lead her next. Describing and mapping out her experiences, she said, "It is like a long drive going to a beautiful place, yet filled with unexpected stops and turns, both challenging and beautiful." She said life will never have any guarantees in the journey and there is no way of knowing how easy or difficult it will be, but it is enough to know that the destination will always be reached and it will always be a beautiful one.
The end of the chapters of our journey will always be meaningful and fulfilling. If it doesn't look like that yet, then that chapter of your life hasn't ended yet.
She knows that her decisions in life will determine if she reaches her dreams, and finds power in the fact that the future is what she will make it to be, she shared. "Happiness for me is having a fulfilling life, and always looking forward to whatever the world throws at you and still being enthusiastic," Ramirez said. The only way she can achieve her dreams is by recognizing the small but consistent steps she has made and finding hope through her life's purpose, she shared.
