the secret to being HAPPY
The singer/dj/actress/blogger talks to cosmo about taking charge of her life.
Saab Magalona-bacarro rocks our world with her real-girl advice
Happiness is...
Singing your heart out My band Cheats is my most prized possession. When you write a song and people sing along to it, it’s the craziest thing. We had a gig at Saguijo, and people were singing along to songs that weren’t even released online yet. That was a turning point for us. It was like, “Oh my gosh, we’re doing it! We’re doing really well because they know the songs.” That was one of the best feelings ever.
Saying yes to new things
I really had so much fun doing the play #Nofilter. Director Toff de Venecia was amazing. The mere fact that he thought I could do it and wanted me in the play boosted my confidence. I didn’t know I could do something like that. That was the start of my saying yes to new things. I was always afraid of public speaking—before #Nofilter, I had the worst stage fright. During my firstever public talk, I almost cried. I’m so weird in front of a crowd, except if it’s with my band.
Silencing your inner critic
We overthink everything because we’re so critical of other people. I used to be like that, and I’d criticize myself when I spoke or wrote in my blog. I was like, “Oh my God, you sound so dumb.” I had to overcome that and tell myself, “Hey, maybe don’t be so self-absorbed. Maybe you should just do what you want. Maybe no one will care or maybe people will appreciate [what you say]. Maybe you’ll be helping people out.”
De-cluttering your Space
I just read The-life-changing-art-of Tidying-up by Marie Kondo, so I’m de-cluttering right now. It’s so therapeutic. My office was a mess and I had to get rid of a lot of books. It’s super fun! My closet space is so much bigger now. I used to have two dressers, now I have one nalang, ’cause I got rid of a lot of things that don’t “spark joy,” as Kondo recommends. claiming your own happiness My mom told us, no matter what you’ve gone through during your childhood, once you turn 18, you can’t blame your childhood for anything. I really believe in that. I believe you’re in charge of your own destiny. Even if I go through stuff, I’m not going to turn to drugs or blame it on my dad’s passing away. The world is not going to adjust to you. You have to move on and take charge of your life. I also really like what Toff told me: If we know life is going to end, what’s the point? You can a) end it now because you want to be in control; b) do nothing; or c) live a full life and accept the fact that life is going to end, but make the most out of it.
GONDO-LOVE: Honeymooning with her hubby Jim The Force is strong with
Saab.
#Nofilter On Saab’s happy
list: pizza! Why De-cluttering Makes
You Happy According to a study in Saab’sdog/ bearjoey
coming home to a clean house decreases women’s cortisol or stress hormone levels, while a messy space
keeps women’s cortisol levels up.
Saab loves performing with h er Ch eats
barkada! How c ool is C heats’
album c over? One of Saab’s favorite
reads
Personalityand Socialpsychologybulletin, noplacelikehome:hometourscorrelate withdailypatternsofmoodandcortisol
BY darby SAXBE and rena repetti