The Thrill Of The Hunt

The Thrill Of The Hunt

Why are the safaris so popular in Kenya and the rest of Africa?  Why hass so many have gone crazy with deer hunting?  Why does the Amazon continue to lure the most daring hunters?  If there is a commonality between all of them, it is because  they all have That Thrill Of The Hunt.  No amount of success can supplant that sense of fulfillment 📗📙📘

But, before we end up in a disconnect, let me clarify that our thread today is NOT literally about hunting but instead, this is about HUNTING for opportunities, HUNTING for changes and HUNTING for breakthroughs.  So, I might get asked:  Why do we need to go HUNTING for all these in life?  Simple.  Those windows of opportunities are not for our taking📌📌📌

So, what happens if we DON'T go HUNTING because we DON'T find the THRILL with it?  Nothing catastrophic OR disastrous but simply put, what that means, you will lose by default.  WHY?  Because you missed out unearthing and uncorking opportunities that were all over the place except that they were planted in obscurity like land mines.  So you might ask me, did I have that THRILL OF THE HUNT?  Absolutely.  That explains I did 'bring home the bacon' many times💊💊💊

So, you might push me against the wall and ask as to what are the PERILS of HUNTING?  Just one too many.  First of, you got to be willing and raring to take the risk.  As the old adage goes, NO GUTS, NO GLORY.  So, if there is a non-negotiable pre-requisite here, it is for you to have that intestinal fortitude to take risks and be ready to fail [because many times, you will fall flat on your face].  And since you are bracing for failures and shortfalls to happen, reset your expectations that once you fail, your setback means you will take steps back from where you fell [because that's a SETBACK]✅✅✅

BUT we should NOT feel daunted despite the daunting prospects ahead.  WHY?  Because going for HUNTING is a WIN-WIN for you.  You got nothing to lose the fact that you're on that HUNTING.  If you need to be egging yourself to go for those HUNTS, think about the THRILL OF THE HUNT because that will be your biggest motivator.  Nothing beats you❗❗❗

BEWARE: Things Will Worsen Before It Gets Better

BEWARE:  Things Will Worsen Before It Gets Better

BEWARE:  Things Will Worsen Before It Gets Better.  This is neither scare tactics nor Armageddon-like forecasts.   But have we ever wondered why some things get WORSE before they get BETTER?  Like when we opt to avail of professional counselling [to address a chronic issue like anxiety], and then just when you are about to commit to a CHANGE, you notice that every little thing seems to make you more anxious and stressed out.

Maybe our issue that's bothering us is our temper, so you start to pay attention to how often you get mad, you seem to become angrier.  If you experience an increase in the behaviors you're trying to fix, you might even decide to quit that counselling because you would conclude prematurely that it ISN'T working.  BUT hold on.  Before throwing the towel, it is imperative to know that what you are experiencing, feeling WORSE before feeling BETTER is entirely normal

Although getting WORSE before getting BETTER isn't a steadfast rule, it does happen to a lot of people a lot of the time.  As with many things in life, when we decide that we want to improve ourselves, we end up undergoing a series of CHANGES.  And that first CHANGE involves admitting to ourselves that indeed there is a problem to be FIXED

As a whole, let's admit it that it is NEVER easy for us to identify our flaws and surely, we DON'T like changing them.  Acknowledging that there is an issue is the correct first step but that alone is NOT going to make a difference.  Instead, we need to explore what's going on and that reflective process becomes our self-awareness.  Self-awareness requires us to place our issues under a MICROSCOPE and scrutinize each little detail.  As one would imagine, that is an experience that can set off a TIDAL WAVE of emotions including shame, fear, anger and even pain

Once we feel we're in control, a door of endless opportunities will begin to open.  And when that door opens, we may realize that we just CANT tackle our issues alone.  Unfortunately, many people go into counselling looking for a quick FIX but truthfully that's NOT how it works.  Odds are we DIDN'T get to where we are overnight because THINGS WILL WORSEN BEFORE IT GET BETTER❗❗❗

Do We Have POWER In Our VULNERABILITY?

Do We Have POWER In Our VULNERABILITY?

We used to believe that we humans are fragile, frail and worst, vulnerable.  Which, in essence, is never farther from the truth.  But several years ago, I did come across my own realization that indeed, we can turn our weakness into strength.  Without redefining things, i realized that we should NOT bottle up emotions.  While most of us were taught to hide our emotions or run away from them, frankly, this causes undue  and continuous pain, which translates into stress.  So, Do We Have POWER In Our VULNERABILITY❓❓❓

And if there is one thing we should invoke and leverage on, it is our own COURAGE  to take on our vulnerabilities.  Unfortunately, our modern cultures tend to err on the side of suppressed feelings in an effort to display strength.  BUT psychologists have proven in their studies that VULNERABILITY is anything but a weakness.  They say farther that it takes true STRENGTH and COURAGE to allow yourself to be vulnerable💊💊💊

WHAT'S our next move?  In everything we do, FEAR and CRITICISM will always be there to greet us [and make us COWER in FEAR].  In fact, FEAR is that restrictive force that stops most of us from ever stepping ore than one foot outside our own comfort zone towards realizing our true desires.  And since FEAR and CRITICISM will always be there in some form, our best course of action is always to SHOW UP and MOVE FORWARD📌📌📌

Now, I grabbed this poster of our worries that define our FEAR of VULNERABILITY.  No matter what we're doing, let us SHOW UP everyday to do what we were meant to do and DON'T let these hindrances stop us.  WHY?  It's because the more we stand up to these NEGATIVE FORCES, the more we'll FLEX our COURAGE and resilience, eventually with us coming out stronger for it [despite that challenge]✅✅✅

Indeed, LIFE is a BLUR.  So how do we run counter to this?  Psychologists do advise us to go and aim for EXCELLENCE [and NOT perfection] because they say perfectionism is that belief that we live perfectly, look perfectly and act perfectly [when we are NOT].  So, DO WE HAVE THAT POWER IN OUR VULNERABILITY?  Absolutely, we do have that❗❗❗

Earning It Beats Inheriting It

Earning It Beats Inheriting It

Please DON'T get me wrong.  I like and I love to be inheriting.  It's the best thing that we can receive BUT come to think of it, isn't it Earning It Beats Inheriting It?  I was watching the Netflix Series 'Inventing Anna [Episode 2 - The Devil Wore Anna] and I did catch this very relevant one-liner that Earning It Beats Inheriting It and instantly, I got this realization that this message really resonates with me because in the first place, my parents [who worked hard for our education and future] were, sadly, financially strapped to even let us inherit possessions that are liquid enough.  It was a realization that was NOT late because every step of my run [even before hitting the next pit stop], I badly knew that I need to grind and EARN it

Even in the rat race out there, with so much entitlement these days, it is NOT surprising why so many real estate agents and even account portfolio officers feel like they DON'T need to [or SHOULDN'T have to] learn HOW to get their own clients.  They join a team WHERE everything is handed to them, they NEVER have to generate their own leads [from a sales perspective]

Let's face it, many of us take many things for granted especially when we are given things on a SILVER PLATTER.  Surely we would have witnessed this, whether in friendships, family, love, or even the smallest things in life.  DON'T look far.  Instead, let's relook at those friendships.  Would you prefer to find an 'instant' friend who happens to be a friend of your friend?  OR do you want to build a friendship on your own volition?

American Bassist Billy Cox was aptly quoted  about RESPECT.  And the best example here is the Japanese Culture where RESPECT, while it is inherited, it is always EARNED.  And from a human standpoint, how does it feel when you did EARN the RESPECT you deserved?  Contrast it to an authoritarian manner where it happens by duress❓❓❓

Taking things further, when it comes to RESPECT, earning it has been proven when you yourself will give that RESPECT on your own volition.  Let's swing over to our family relationships.  Rather than enforce things [like via 'BRUTE FORCE'], think about it if you let the water run spontaneously and exert everything from your end, all in GOOD FAITH because that leads you to be a step closer to that expectation which you know you deserve.  Going back to financials from an EARNING versus INHERITANCE, it's even a no-brainer.  By EARNING it with your sweat, the more you'll prove that you deserve every $$$$ you EARNED❗❗❗

Why Not Be FRONT & CENTER?

Why Not Be FRONT & CENTER?

Who Does Not Want To Be FRONT & CENTER? We do understand our unique personalities, like I could be that shy, withdrawn introvert BUT if by being that introvert, if I will deny myself that chance to be FRONT and CENTER because that's when and where opportunities may pop up and that's the opportunity that will offer us the best probability to be on the upside💎💎💎

Fly in the ointment is that everyone of us did go through stretches of MELANCHOLY, which with all certainty I can admit it's no picnic.  In my own experience, finding a reason to go on was never to the point of hopelessness.  As part of my coping, I had to identify my false and 'misplaced' beliefs  as well as taking inventory of what I was good at.  All these years, these coping skills did help me get over the rough patches when everything seems to go wrong and goals remain elusively far away⏳⏳⏳

Just DON'T miss those opportunities because we have simply because you've given in and allowed MELANCHOLY to rule you.  That does NOT only become a mistake but it becomes a recipe for continuing emotional pain and a loss of our life's potential.  So, how can we inch our way to be, at the very least, somewhere near [if NOT right] front and center?  First off, never miss out that everyone is at the same footing.  It's an level playing field and if there is a perceived discrimination, that has got to be flagging  down💊💊💊

Now, as you may be hitting rough patches along the way, KEEP GOING.  True, at some point you're bound to hit a wall and want to want to quit at one time and or another.  Sometimes the reality you tend to experience is that feels like you want to crawl under the covers and completely blank out the world.  Now is when you must call on your strength and determination because that will likely lead you towards the FRONT and CENTER📌📌📌📌

True, to get around that FRONT and CENTER takes a bit of effort [and many times, I've proven it a zillion times that TIMING can make or break things].  They call it LUCK when you seem at the RIGHT SPOT at the RIGHT TIME.  But to complement that sheer luck which way beyond our control, you got to be constantly steering yourself towards the FRONT and CENTER because that's where life really is❗❗❗

That Bottom Of The Barrel

That Bottom Of The Barrel

For many obvious reasons, next to Purgatory and Hell, That Bottom Of The Barrel is the most dreaded place to be in.  And as a personal attestation, I admit that I did hit That Bottom Of The Barrel in my life and living through those phases in my life has been a humbling experience to say the least.  To be more precise, maybe instead of saying that I lived during those phases, I should say I EXISTED💊💊💊

Through those times, life did throw me punch after punch [and you could imagine those fatal punches thrown by world champions like Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, I could see 'STARS' whenever I did get hit with a punch that floored me].  Problem with hitting the bottom of the barrel is that you will get hit hard, no less.  Problem is, no one else in this world will counsel us how to deal with the extreme failures in our life.  That time, I have to admit that I didnt have any idea WHAT to do, WHERE to go, or WHO to talk to💎💎💎

My family may be aware but sadly, nobody and nobody could pull me out of that tailspin.  I had to do it myself.  Unfortunately, during those darkest phases, I did nothing.  I let the punches hit me time and time again until I actually felt numb to them📌📌📌

It wasn't long then that I started to wake up from the 'FOG'  and realize that I had to take back my life.  And I did.  HOW?  Let me share now.  For the most difficult part, I needed to FEEL THE PAIN.  It's akin to throwing out in the in the windows those 'PAINKILLERS'.   That way, I could stand [again] on my own to get back into life. And as I genuinely felt all the feelings of vulnerability and even fear, I did rise from the abyss✅✅✅

Now, this is when our SELF-COMPASSION must creep in.  After I gave myself that 'permission' to feel the PAIN, I reached that point where I had to MAKE PEACE and accept whatever happened to me.  And I did it by practicing SELF-COMPASSION that needs you to have that gumption to reframing your thoughts to prepare yourself in terms of resiliency IF/WHEN one day, you will hit That Bottom Of The Barrel❗❗❗

Google Never Forgets

Google Never Forgets

I guess this is non-debatable that indeed, Google Never Forgets.  So what's the fuss?  The fuss lies in the fact that despite this common knowledge that Google Never Forgets, once we start through the search engines, we're totally oblivious that we are captives and hostages of the digital environment we live in, very much connected across

How time flies.  Even cloud-based infrastructures have taken multiple quantum leaps through the decades.  I remember not so long ago, just about fifteen years back, 2008 to be precise, I was based in India managing a Pan-India-wide project.  From my hotel [The Resort @Mumbai], I was connecting via a 64kb dial-up.  Yet, way back that time, I was already submerged with tons and mountains of information.  Ten to fifteen years later till to date, these search engines have like taken over us

Today as we speak, can we agree that we are all shackled with these SEO-based search engines like Google?  Did we realize that there is NO WAY to get these search engine companies to erase the mountains of information from within their infrastructure.  That is the HARSH LESSON the lawyers and censors should learn from the way Google is running the show

That inherent right involves removing search result information that are inadequate, irrelevant or simply excessive.  In fact, now Google offers an 'application form for those who want to clean up their searchable histories.  There was one time wherein in four days, more than 100,000 people invoked that form.  Next day, there was a purported profiling leak of a small sampling of those 100,000 people.

Perhaps, it is fair that people's pasts should NOT affect their current lives if they have done time.  Discussing the fairness of their requests is beside the point, though, because their right to forget WON'T be granted in any meaningful way.  FACT CHECK:  Google now tells those who submit that form to GET IN LINE and that the privacy requests will be processed by real people and NOT through sheer algorithms.  There is even a senior committee who will review that process.  So, before we search and/or post, take note that, not just Google but the whole internet NEVER FORGETS❗❗❗

Popularity Is Irrelevant, period

Popularity Is Irrelevant, period

Who wants to be POPULAR?  YES I DO, YES I WANT....  Of course, who doesn't want to?  BUT that's a totally different tone if you ask, should we go al-out for POPULARITY? Unless you are a politician,  or social influencer, WHY should we be angling for POPULARITY because Popularity Is Irrelevant, period💎💎💎

Popularity bias is a long-standing challenge in our life.  Even talking about things in life, popular items are overly recommended at the expense of less popular items.  Such a bias exerts detrimental impact on both users and item providers, and many efforts have been dedicated to studying and solving such a bias.  Problem is, most existing works situate the POPULARITY BIAS in a static setting, where the bias is analyzed.  Popularity Is Irrelevant, period💊💊💊

Being POPULAR is whether you want to admit it or not, something we all are tempted to want.  This is just totally normal and understandable.  We all want to be safe from ridicule and exclusion.  None of us want to be left out or overlooked.  With that in mind, it becomes obvious why POPULARITY is something so many of us strive for.  The POPULAR kids seem to have it all together.  They seem to be protected from the bullies.  They seem to be the people everyone wants to be around.  The BIGGER problem is, that is just an illusion📌📌📌

Let's face it though. People who are that POPULAR, have just as many problems as others do.  They struggle with identity, with self-worth and low confidence.  And at times, they can get so desperate to cling to their status that they will do anything to keep from losing it.  All of this is rooted in FEAR.  Which, when you think about it, makes sense✅✅✅

Kids who DON'T have the 'right; shoes get teased.  The girl who DOESN'T have the latest social media app will be railed about it.  Being different shines a giant spotlight unto us and makes us the target of awful, horrible words.  So indeed, the FEAR makes sense.  BUT what do we do about it?  The solution is to be able to stand up in the face of that fear and be yourself NO MATTER what others say.  But that is easier said than done [BUT IT CAN BE DONE] because POPULARITY IS IRRELEVANT, period❗❗❗

The Rise & Fall & Rise [of Former South Carolina Gov Sanford]

The Rise & Fall & Rise [of Former South Carolina Gov Sanford]

Last night, I was watching the Netflix Series "THE FAMILY" but I got [intentionally] side-tracked when I stumbled across that part where the travails of Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford started to unravel.  And before I knew it, I was 'googling' more and more about Governor Sanford, his legal tiffs with his ex-wife Jenny and even his rough and tumble relationship with Maria Chapur, his girlfriend who's an Argentinian journalist.  BUT it was NOT the clashing relationships that captured my attention.  It was the realization that we are all BOUNCY BALLS and regardless our skids and tumbles in life, it is not bad BOUNCING BACK because the natural inertia of the BALL in us will BOUNCE BACK.  Apologies I am NOT wearing another hat here as a physicist because I'm NOT✅✅✅

Going back to the 'Governor Sanford Saga', if I may call it that way, his story as a 'COMEBACK KID' was NOT one typically found in scripted movies.  In fact, after he reappeared and hosted a media conference a week after he disappeared, everyone [AS IN everyone] have all given up on him, down to his rabid followers and acolytes.  And when he had 'ONE FOOT IN' for the impeachment process, after all the political balancing acts, the South Carolina 'powers that be' decided to let him finish his term instead of giving things on a silver platter to the then Lt. Governor who had his fair share of despised political foes💊💊💊

Fast forward, what really captured my time [and self-volunteered captivity] in that 'Governor Sanford Saga' was that, after he finished his one-term governor on a very 'SOUR NOTE', everyone [wrongly] thought [and that included myself] that the last thing we would have heard about Governor Sanford is his 'political epitaph'.  Lo and behold, in less than a decade since he went into a 'political oblivion' that left him NOT only lickin' his wounds but family-less, homeless and penniless, he launched an ambitious [and many described it as an INSANE one] attempt for a political comback to run as a congressman [still in South Carolina].  AND HE WON [and that was INSANE, I thought! ]  And he served as a congressman for another three terms, whew💎💎💎

What are my realizations after this riveting 'Governor Sanford Saga'?  A couple of lessons here.  First, I'd like to state the obvious that AS LONG AS YOU'RE NOT MORTALLY DEAD, no one and no one should write you off [regardless of the severity and impact of your worst mistakes ever.  Secondly, YOU and YOU YOURSELF is the primary catalyst for you to BOUNCE BACK.  Not anyone else, not even your family.  Thirdly, to quote a captivating one-liner in 'THE FAMILY' Netflix Series, where you have crossed the line, ADMIT, REPENT and get on track back to your RECOVERY ROAD.  Definitely, BOUNCING BACK from one's darkest and worst mistake[s] ever is a tall order [BUT certainly, NOT AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM].  I may NOT be an American [and ceetainly NOT from the Palmetto State of South Carolina] but I truly admire how Former South Carolina Governor Sanford 'rose from the ashes' to become a successful three-term Congressman, stamping a positive note as he closed out his political career.  I absolutely salute Governor Sanford for his epic BOUNCE BACK both in his political life and even in his political life💊💊💊

In a nutshell, this is the quick narrative of the RISE and FALL and RISE [again] of a South Carolina Governor who later on became a three-term congressman [and most importantly, he was once one of the favored 'presidential timbers' of the GOP [Republican] Party.  Icing of the cake here, in his 'political resurrection', without the slightest hesitation, he was front and center, locking horns with them GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump.  And in the Netflix "THE FAMILY" Series, he unabashedly drew comparisons between himself and King David [of that infamous David and Bathsheba Story] and NOT about that David and Goliath stuff.  Oh, DON'T miss  the TWO ROADS DIVERGED book authored by Governor Sanford himself.  It's worth it⏳⏳⏳

What If You Don't Have It Right, For What It's Worth

What If You Don't Have It Right, For What It's Worth

When you feel down and 'out of sync' with your thoughts, you would probably show signs that you have a low sense of self-worth without even realizing it.  You may second-guess yourself when someone questions you or try to fit into a mold that someone else wants you to be in.  BUT What If You Don't Have It Right, For What It's Worth?  Oh Oh, while it's completely normal to go through self-doubt every once in a while, having a low sense of self worth can dictate and control every decision you'll make💎💎💎

BUT then again, knowing your SELF-WORTH doesn't mean you have to be cocky and arrogant.  Instead, it's all about being comfortable in your skin, trusting your ideas and gut feelings and knowing that you deserve to live a successful and fulfilling life, no matter what other people may say.  Your WORTH is probably the most valuable thing you have, got to nurture it📌📌📌

Psychologists have released their studies confirming that many of us tend to settle for 'SELF-ESTEEM' for feeling good about how we act, look, feel or think, instead of seeking what lies beneath.  We fail to get to know our true selves because we're too caught up in the very selves we create.  No matter how much we learn to love WHO we seem to be on the outside, we will never fully embrace our WORTH until we dig deeper⏳⏳⏳

Now, why DON'T we figure out those tell-tale signs that probably we're bordering or about to breach that low sense of SELF-WORTH.  Now, do you want to CONSTANTLY PLEASE OTHERS?  Doing this all the time can allow you to forget your own needs and wants.  Now, do you allow others to treat you poorly?  Have you ever said 'SORRY' when someone else bumped into you?  Be careful because people will treat you the way you want to be treated✅✅✅

Now, how often you think you DON'T deserve much?  Having a high sense of SELF-WORTH allows you to take control of your life.  Listen, you WON'T allow another employee to boss you around or have a friend disrespect you by talking down to you.  Then, how often you feel like you're NOT yourself?  Sometimes people lose their sense of SELF-WORTH due to a traumatic event, like being fired from job.  After such traumatic situations, you may start to feel helpless and lost.  WHAT IF YOU DON'T HAVE IT RIGHT, FOR WHAT ITS WORTH❓❓❓