Is Mediocrity Getting Into Your Way?

Is Mediocrity Getting Into Your Way?  Good question BUT quite frankly, WHO cares and WHO bothers to ask that question?  Rarely and hardly any, to be frank about it.  WHY?  Blame it to human nature WHEN we simply shrug off our shoulders.  BUT hey, if we are embracing [even unconsciously] MEDIOCRITY, it goes against the grain, it goes against everything we were taught to believe📗📙📘

Across cultures and centuries, we all witnessed and learned that hard work was valued through and through.  The idea that anyone can succeed with enough hard work forms the backbone of our own dreams.  And surely, our respective dreams have evolved over time and as we speak now, surely we all heard that the concept about dreams has now been associated NOT just with material wealth BUT more in furthering the common good.  Nevertheless, it has always placed a premium on progress, on striving to be better individuals and even as a people💚💛💜

In the most recent times, our own dreams have been more often closely aligned with the kind of economic prosperity required to own a big home, a nice car and even the latest iPhone, with cash to spare for a glamorous holiday every summer.  The catch there is for one to pursue that prosperity in the midst of our capitalist society, anyone NOT born into immense wealth has to work for it.  So, it's least surprising that, regardless of cultures, we all lionize hard work, and that we're raised to earn and achieve as much as we can💦💦💦

From an early age, we are taught that we can be anything we want to be, that with enough elbow grease, we can accomplish grandiose things.  The subtext being that we should accomplish BIG things no matter WHAT it takes to get there.  And for the longest time, I bought into that mindset.  As of 2024, more than three quarters of adults report feeling stressed at work and almost 60% of them experience elements of 'burnout' and another 20% feel that they work in a 'toxic environment❎❎❎

Our takeaway:  Unsurprisingly, studies show that ambitious people did achieve more lucrative and prestigious careers BUT when it came to life satisfaction, the researchers DIDN'T find a strong connection to ambition.  In spite of professional success, 'go-getters' were NOT significantly happier OR healthier than less ambitious people. Problem here can be traced all the way back to MEDIOCRITY especially if it's getting into our way😔😔😔

Keep WINNING Even On Your WORST Days!

 

No one likes to be dubbed as a loser.  On the other hand, twice OR thrice in the past, I heard someone stand out in a motley crowd WHEN he blurted out:  WINNING CAN BE LOSING and LOSING is WINNING.   Just recently, I accompanied a relative for a medical consultation, WHERE in turn, the specialist advised him to undergo a CT Scan.  I thought my 'patient' will be kind of relieved once he went through that CT Scan BUT instead, I noticed him to be fidgety, seemingly nervous.  So WHEN I asked to validate my observation, he admitted his worries of the possible outcome arising from that CT Scan.  Right in the face, I told him that even assuming [in a worst case scenario] WHERE an hitherto unknown illness gets detected, we should be thankful instead of that illness remaining incognito.  This was aligned to Keep WINNING Even On Your WORST Days!!!

This reminds me of an idea WHICH I CAN'T just simply ignore.  We can easily feel that failure is the end of the road [ouch, I was in that cul de sac many times before] BUT that is only one perspective to consider [perspectives WHICH I missed badly in my own soul-searching before].  Throughout my own life journey, I can claim to having seen OR witnessed first hand the many good things that did arise from LOSING rather than WINNING.  Oooops, this is NO literary piece BUT nothing less than an insightful sharing.  In my multiple WINNINGs, it's true I did celebrate those WINs BUT looking back, I learned more from LOSING than all the WINNINGs [even WHEN all rolled and combined]💚💛💜

One key realization I learned albeit late, in all those spate of WINNINGs and SUCCESS milestones I achieved, those things WHICH I needed to work on are OR were never revealed for me to realize it.  Simply put, during those misses, I hardly grew up, if at all, because I NEVER learnt the lessons I needed to rightfully learn.  Veering into simile and metaphors, A NEW DOOR CANNOT OPEN IF I AM NOT WILLING TO CLOSE THE ONE THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN CLOSE ALREADY.  LIKE if I get into those business forays, a business venture is NOT meant for me if I needed to lower OR even let go of my values, principles and ethics.  LET GO.  FOLLOW YOUR GUT!!!

True, letting go is damn difficult, especially in a venture you were so passionate and determined to push through.  BUT the thing is, in life, we were NOT promised to achieve all our dreams simply because we dreamt for it.  So, letting go will more likely be difficult especially where there are pecuniary considerations, that monetary value connected to those prevailing circumstances BUT it will never rise to better possibilities if you cling to it❎❎❎

Our takeaway:  NOT to be one dampening the positivities BUT to me, WINNING is and will remain as WINNING ONLY IF I enjoy the process itself.  WINNING in something WHICH I did NOT enjoy OR one that goes against my values, is in fact and in truth, losing.  YES, admittedly, following my own 'joy' is more important that the opinion of others.  Too many of us pursue the road that seems to promise the most monies, most success BUT it's for you to make that judgment call so that you keep WINNING EVEN WHEN LOSING dude😃😃😃

When The Well Runs Dry.

 

These days, much as water is indispensable, YET, many of us really WON'T be bothered as to its source [UNLESS there is a local breaking news that the source of water is about to breach the threshold].  And things become cataclysmic indeed When The Well Runs Dry.  Returning to the same broken well over and over again WHEN it is no longer supplying usable water is NOT going to make the well spontaneously fix itself📗📙📘

And this seems obvious WHEN we are talking about water itself, BUT it becomes less obvious [though NO less true] WHEN we consider the life-giving water of emotional support and encouragement that is necessary to keep our flickering hopes and dreams very much alive [and kicking].  So, HOW do we respond WHEN our usual sources of support dry up OR become contaminated?  Looking back at our respective lives, unless you were just born yesterday, almost everyone of us have our own narratives of 'broken wells' in our life, that is, people and even relationships WHICH I'll go to hoping for encouragement, reassurance, approval and even support BUT WHAT IF the well, is NOT able to support my need?   And each time I attempt to return, I end up finding myself hoping that that trip to the well will be different [and successful].  YES, many times in the past, I kept hoping [sometimes against hope]💚💛💜

Now let's face it.  WHEN any of us will come face to face with 'broken wells' in our life, it will disappoint us over and over again.  WHO WON'T anyways?  YET, some of us [and I was one of those before] kept coming back, hoping that I'll succeed in my latest attempt.  Sometimes I do that out of habit, that habit formation of NOT giving up, NOT raising the white flag because it will hit me hard💥💥💥

True, in my life, I do operate out of the assumption that the well is NOT working because maybe it is me WHO seems 'broken'.  In short, I end up returning and returning hoping that eventually my bucket will get filled up BUT it never is.  This becomes an addictive need to draw life-giving water from a 'broken well' that CAN'T give it to me.  And in the meantime, I continue to grow more and more thirsty, and driving that addictive habit deeper into my own patterns of behavior.  And along the way, freedom comes only in the moment that we are able to recognize that indeed the well is damn broken❌❌❌

Our takeaway:  Let's paint a different WHAT IF scenario now.  WHAT IF all through the years, your well never dried up at all.  WHAT do we do then?  WILL we wait till it dries up?  NO sirrrrrrrs!  Instead, plan ahead and equip yourself way before that well dries up.  That's our most common fault in life.  WHEN the sun is shining and dandy, we tend to forget to be prepared for the coming rainy days, those very harsh weather conditions, and WHEN THE WELL RUNS DRY😌😌😌

Default Settings In Life?

 

All along, we always hear DEFAULT SETTINGS for our windows device, IOS or Android smartphones BUT how about our DEFAULT SETTINGS in our life?  True, all of technology has its settings including our internet browser, the fridge and even the vacuum's default brush.  In short, many of us DON'T change the defaults or our tech, so they stay that way for a long time.  So, do we humans also have our own DEFAULT SETTINGS?  In essence, yes we do.  As for myself, my DEFAULT SETTINGS are my repeated behaviors and beliefs📗📙📘

WHEN I do something by default, I do it WITHOUT even thinking about it, AS IF I am on autopilot.  WHICH brings me to the next question.  WHY would I be on autopilot?  YES, being on autopilot makes me more efficient.  In technology, DEFAULT SETTINGS ensure that new users get value right away WHEN using a new product for the first time.  And just like there in the technology space, the DEFAULT SETTINGS in our life can be that incredibly useful.  And WHEN a repeated action becomes second nature, I can finish it without even having to think about it.  Especially in my daily commute, I am essentially on autopilot📌📌📌

Question is, in life, WHERE do these DEFAULT SETTINGS come from?  YES, I realized that this differentiates us humans from technology because we are born with NO DEFAULT SETTINGS.  Instead, our first defaults are set by our parents.  WHEN I was little, my parents looked after me and ensured that all of my needs were met so I could explore and grow.  And as a kid, I had NO important life decisions to make, although at times, it DIDN'T necessarily felt that way.  All decisions, WHERE I lived, WHAT school I'll go to, WHERE I travelled, were made for me in its entirety.  And as we matured, we then became more independent, going out into this world on our own and our family, friends, neighbors, teachers and people we meet start to determine WHAT kind of human I am becoming💥💥💥

Unconsciously then, we gradually adopt to those new-found DEFAULTS.  WHICH reminds me of a concept in psychology called GROUP IDENTITY which states that the group we identify with influences our personal goals and even actions.  The similarities and common interests within a group create stronger bonds and make it easier for members to relate to each other.  Heard of that old cliche:  TELL ME WHO YOUR FRIENDS ARE AND I'LL TELL YOU WHO YOU ARE.  BUT let's NOT take this literally though.  BTW, even our surroundings do influence our ideas, our DEFAULT SETTINGS.  Like if we're asked to name a country, more likely it's a country we've been to, heard of, OR read about it in the past.  In the end, it's a 'mash-up' of things💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  Verily true, a lot of life's DEFAULT SETTINGS are relevant and immediately useful BUT we should NOT and NEVER take things hook, line and sinker.  That's WHEN our maturity and evolving wisdom should come into play.  IF and WHEN you can get into an informed decision to OVERRIDE DEFAULT SETTINGS, go for it, make that OVERRIDE because we should NEVER live and breath via DEFAULT SETTINGS in its entirety😊😊😊

Why Are LISTEN & SILENT Spelled With Identical Letters?

Why Are LISTEN & SILENT Spelled With Identical Letters?  Indeed, this is one of the most trivial questions we can ever pop-up.  BUT let's dice and drill here.  LISTENING is NOT that always easy.  I bear witness to multiple times wherein we had an eloquent speaker in front BUT at the end of his piece, those messages hardly resonated to some amongst the target audience.  BUT a person is NOT always to be faulted!!!

These days, WHO are we to complain if we are surrounded by that constant cacophony of noise, controversy and worse, chaos.  YET, the most successful people on our global village are really NOT just skilled BUT have become experts in LISTENING.  NOW, back to the basic question as to WHY LISTEN and SILENT are both spelled with the identical set of letters?  Oh yes, this is NOT my own answer BUT I stumbled across this one in ChatGPT who says that TO BE A GOOD LISTENER, WE NEED TO FIRST LEARN HOW TO BE SILENT.  In the shortest words possible, LISTEN and SILENT are closely intertwined, inside-out💜💛💚

SO HOW?  I heard this sage advice.  A good LISTENER turns down the 'volume' of the environment.  WHICH means, without interrupting the speaker, let us remove WHATEVER distractions there may be.  And it's as basic as those most common no-brainers LIKE if you're in a meeting [regardless if it's virtual or F2F], mute and keep your smartphone NOT visible to your line of sight.  Of course there will be outliers, i.e. if you are then anticipating an expected urgent and/or critical call from either your client [which might end up as a deal breaker if you miss the call] OR a call from your stakeholder[s] WHICH would pertain to a key decision.  Problem is, many of us are guilty of keeping their smartphone visibly in his line of sight [even during ongoing calls].  Ouch, many times I was guilty of this in the past😡😡😡

NOT done with the no-brainers.  WHEN we're in a discussion, DON'T [as in DON'T] look at the time [again, UNLESS/EXCEPT there is/are outliers] BUT if time is an issue, be transparent to let the parties know HOW much more time you can spare.  And if you're in a public place, position yourself so you're NOT tempted to look at the passersby.  YES, to state the obvious, in SILENCE, it is much easier in WHAT IS and ISN'T being communicated.  And moreover, we need to recognize that there will always be issues below the surface, way below WHAT is obvious that we CAN'T either see OR hear.  Being aware of our own preconceptions and biases will also widen the net enough to help things to become crystal clearer than clear.  And if there is a brewing OR running conflict, let us keep an open mind that maybe the conflict is NOT about us❌❌❌

Our takeaway:  One basic rule many of us tend to be somehow guilty is the level of attention we pay to the person speaking OR communicating.  YES, it is easier to discern emotions conveyed by someone WHEN tuning into their voice, so it may even help if we either divert OR close our eyes WHEN listening [IF that is appropriate in the setting]. Little-little tips include making a mental note of the speaker's body language and observe if the speaker him/herself seems preoccupied, rushed OR seemingly distracted.  Oh yes, one last sage advice.  We DON'T always NEED TO TALK because WHILE we may be smart WHO feels saying something, withholding thar urge to talk may even help more.  YES, that explains WHY ARE LISTEN & SILENT spelled with identical letters dude😌😌😌

Those 'ICK' Moments!@#$%?

 

Just woke up and first things first, I asked myself, I could be our blog thread today.  Kabooom, that 'ICK' stuff suddenly popped up.  Surely, everyone one of us did go through those 'ICK' moments, either as a witness OR probably the 'guilty' party?  LIKE WHEN you're having that first date with your crush in a fancy restaurant and in the middle of things, he licks his finger?  OR you're in a damn serious business meeting trying to close a deal with a prospective client WHEN you suddenly gaslight?  OR probably you are in a longhaul flight and you'd rather go on movie streaming, exclaiming and blurting from time to time [to the annoyance of the stranger seated next to you]📗📙📘

We can go on and on, those 'ICK' moments seem endless.  BUT researchers were so curious  as to WHAT is really happening with our brains during those 'ICK' moments.  And the first thing they came about is that WHEN we're turned off with something, it ISN'T an automatic sign that there is something 'wrong' either with us OR with another person.  In short, NOT everyone is put off by someone awkwardly chasing an errant ping pong ball WHEN you are walking in serious thought💚💛💜

WHAT's intriguing researchers are questions to ponder LIKE WHAT keeps us bothered?  Do we have that tendency to bolt after the first sign of uneasiness?  Does that 'ICK' thing one of those tell-tale signs of potential incompatibility during the early dating stages?  True, even psychologists admit that it can be really tricky as to HOW much weight should be given for those 'ICK' moments💥💥💥

One consensus various studies revealed is that our own reactions to those 'ICK' moments can be subjective most of the time.  LIKE some people think it's disgusting to burp in public WHILE some find it hilarious.  BUT we are advised that before we look elsewhere, let's assess ourselves as to HOW we react to those 'ICK' moments, LIKE are we getting in our own way OR are we way too hard on people?  BUT WHAT's quite alarming is that most respondents in many studies showed that the vast majority of people are talking about their 'ICK' to everybody EXCEPT to the very concerned person, that fellow wh's eliciting that 'ICK' moment.  So, that's a miss from us most of the time😡😡😡

Our takeaway:  Some 'ICK' moments, however, could be serious enough OR worse, 'deal breakers'.  LIKE being rude to a restaurant waiter could be a real-life snapshot of HOW someone as a person handles potentially stressful situations.  And generally, experts tell us that 99% of the time, we can trust ourselves because our instincts are that powerful and in those 'ICK' moments, the most powerful message is 'THIS DOES NOT FEEL RIGHT OR GOOD FOR ME'.  Linking 'ICK' moments to relationships, experts advise us that a relationship is more than just a sum of its parts because at the end of the day, there is no pre-defined formula as to WHICH route you need to take, like take action for that 'ICK' or simply shrug it off???

When Your Value Is At Its Nadir

 

Do we hit ROCK BOTTOM?  Surely many of us did hit ROCK BOTTOM at least once in our lifetime.  That's WHEN YOUR VALUE IS AT ITS NADIR.  For alignment, let's agree WHAT it means to hit ROCK BOTTOM.  It could be one's domestic situation at its worst.  LIKE a failure in your immediate family relationships.  LIKE being jobless.  LIKE going through dire financial straits.  LIKE your business forays ending in a total disarray [a.k.a. bankruptcy].  LIKE one or his/her immediate family members being in a serious medical situation.  LIKE an untimely demise.  One too many scenarios here💚💛💜

True, life ISN'T always smooth sailing.  Sometimes, we would find ourselves at a place damn so low that we end up wondering if it's ever possible to climb back up.  I heard some folks asked LIKE:  'Am I at the lowest point of my life?' OR 'Can this feeling of depression and frustration go any deeper farther?'.  Either way, these are ROCK BOTTOM scenarios indeed.  According to mental health experts, such extreme stressors can trigger feelings of hopelessness depression and even anxiety.  BUT the complexity lies in the fact that every individual's experience remains unique.  WHAT feels LIKE the lowest point for one person may be different from WHAT someone else's situation💧💧💧

Truth is, no one's life journey is the same, WHETHER it's your friends, family OR colleagues, each one may hit their own 'low points' for entirely different reasons.  BUT WHETHER it's a marriage failure, a severe injury, a legal trouble OR a unique personal crisis, hitting one's personal ROCK BOTTOM often signals LIKE a 'wake up call', an urge to seek change OR even professional help.  WHAT is of most paramount importance is recognizing the signs that one has hit ROCK BOTTOM💥💥💥

NOW, before we end up sulking WHEN we hit ROCK BOTTOM, can we align and agree on those NOT so seemingly obvious upsides of hitting ROCK BOTTOM.  BUT again, WHETHER hitting ROCK BOTTOM is 'good' OR 'bad' really depends on one's perspective.  For many, it is an extremely painful 'wake up call' and it may feel LIKE you've lost your own sense of self your family's trust OR your life's purpose.  Yet for some, this lowest point can spark a realization that there's NOWHERE TO GO BUT UP.  WHEN you lost nearly everything that mattered most, you may feel a renewed push to seek help, be it from one's loved ones or even professionally.  Either way, at that point in time, regardless if help is forthcoming, we got to seek help, WHATEVER it means, WHATEVER it takes😡😡😡

Our takeaway:  Each one of us needs to realize that life's challenges can feel like huge big waves crashing over you.  Just as surfers learn to navigate those huge waves without giving up, each of us needs to figure out and find a way to rise up above an adversity that may even lead us to an utter failure.  And that climb up from ROCK BOTTOM might be difficult BUT every small step counts.   SO HOW?  Recognize that ROCK BOTTOM situation then roll up your sleeves to climb up dude❗❗❗

The Second Mouse Gets The Cheese

 

As always, everyone will say, THE EARLY BIRD CATCHES THE WORM BUT here's the catch.  THE SECOND MOUSE GETS THE CHEESE.  We can draw parallelisms to our own selves WHEN we are the neophytes OR novices in a specific endeavor we are diving into, be it in the job market OR be it commercial forays OR even in competitive sports.  Unfortunately, many of us [and that included me in the past] would always think otherwise, brimming with confidence [sometimes overflowing] that we are 'tops'💜💛💚

Truth is, WHEN we are the newest player in the field, true, we can be that bird WHO catches the worm BUT generally, neophytes OR novices are severely handicapped and in WHICH case, very much disadvantaged because our experience by then could likely lead us to mistakes and worst, even failure.  BUT the question, can the neophytes and novices pick a lesson OR two from their predecessors?  After having observed one too many failures in life [and I admit I have a share of those failures in my yesteryears], it is indeed human nature to be a little wary of trying new things💥💥💥

That FEAR of FAILURE tends to make us less likely to take risks even if we're NOT putting our lives in jeopardy.  YES, no one likes to lose money OR worse, even lose face on an idea that DOESN'T work in the first place.  WHICH reminds me of this poetic one-liner:  'EAGLES MAY SOAR BUT WEASELS ARE NEVER SUCKED INTO AIRPLANE ENGINES'.  In brief, many people are indeed motivated by that sense of security and WHEN I observe the differences, I can discern HOW and WHY it happens😕😕😕

Heard of this that a SECOND MOUSE RARELY LEAVES HIS COMFORT ZONE.  If only they can tell you frankly, like:  GO AHEAD, YOU TRY IT FIRST, I'LL JUST STAY OVER HERE IN MY SAFE COZY WORLD AND WATCH.  AND IF YOU DON'T DIE, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S SOMETHING TO GAIN, THEN MAYBE I'LL TRY.  Which reminds me of Mark Twain saying:  A MAN WITH A NEW IDEA IS A CRANK UNTIL THE IDEA SUCCEEDS✅✅✅

Our takeaway:  Our human desire for that level of security alongside the accompanying risk aversion and avoidance, that keeps us from even testing our potential.  And for the typical worker, as long as you're comfortably receiving a steady paycheck, you're NOT going to take that risk.  More than any other characteristic, it is that willingness to take risks that defines the innovator.  YES, WHEN it is impossible to know the rules, it makes it even scarier to try something new that could possibly break.  YES, security is nice to have BUT this is more about being vigilant that it is about finding a rule that will cover every exigency.  Otherwise, the SECOND MOUSE GETS THE CHEESE❗❗❗

When The Harshest Weather Is Over!

 

Very true, everyone would dread the harshest weather ever, be it the scorching suns breaching 50-degrees OR those biting winters that seem to bog down daily life itself.  And if everyone shares that most common anticipation, it is when the HARSHEST WEATHER IS OVER.   Just to state the obvious, supposedly, that's WHEN everyone of us would expect to literally bounce back into life, come up to speed, ramp up and go on a full throttle to make up for the lost time WHEN life seemed to be at a standstill📗📙📘

As Science is the farthest I can claim to know from my limited book of knowledge, scientists claim that life manages to survive in places as hot as volcanoes and as cold as the poles of our planet, scientists claim that organisms thrive in these extreme environments and somehow, our bodies have these unique adaptions to survive in such punishing and intense conditions.  BUT HOW do we humans manage the harshest weather in our life???

As much as planet Earth is vast, from scorching hot deserts to freezing cold glaciers along with a wide range of environments neatly pocketed throughout the globe, there is something that each place as in common and that's LIFE.  BUT similarly to the harshest weather conditions, we humans need to adapt further.  It's the equivalent of having to wear a sweater WHILE living in a cold country.  YES, you may be getting water food and shelter to survive BUT certainly, we would be more comfortable with a sweater than without one💥💥💥

NOW, let's face reality.  NO ONE is immune and safe from facing the harshest challenges ever in life.  NOT even Former Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte WHO ended up locked up at the ICC Jail at The Hague after taunting and challenging the ICC structure to arrest him before he dies.  These days, his so called 'courageous' wishes have now been fulfilled and only God knows, WHAT's in store for him now that he's languishing at the ICC Jail❌❌❌

Our takeaway:  TIME is of the essence here.  Once the horizons in life have cleared, let us NOT waste even the first one minute to grab that opportunity to recover up for lost time and lost opportunities.  And even as we know the regular cycles of weather, there are many unpredictable cataclysmic conditions that can hit us hard and NOT following the regular calendar of the weather cycle.  WHEN THE HARSHEST WEATHER IS OVER, let's roll up our sleeves, go for broke if we may before the next harsh weather locks us in that vicious cycle😌😌😌

Stop Searching For Happiness, Then It Will Find You!

NOT many donkey years ago, I was once plagued with angst and dissatisfaction, a manifestation that was sometimes met with bemusement instead of sympathy.  HOW often you did hear parents retort to their teens LIKE:  'The problem with your generation is that you always expect to be happy'.  And even when observing from a distance, I was more baffled than informed because we all agree that HAPPINESS is the very purpose of living and we should strive to achieve it.  Stop Searching For Happiness, Then It Will Find You📗📙📘

The challenge is, many of us are NOT prepared that melancholy as something that was beyond one's control.  And the ever-growing mass of wellness literature would seem to suggest that many others share that same view.  This past decade, though, there has been a spike of researches about HAPPINESS and all studies point to the same conclusion that our obsession with HAPPINESS and high personal confidence may be making us LESS content with our lives and LESS effective at reaching and achieving our pre-set goals.  In fact, we may be often HAPPIER WHEN we stop focusing on HAPPINESS altogether.  Can we, dude???

Much as those conclusions seem unwelcome, it's been replicated in multiple studies, only reinforcing the opinion that those experiments do reveal the quite dark side of our pursuit of HAPPINESS.  Besides reducing our everyday contentment, that constant desire to feel HAPPIER can make people feel just more lonely.  In the end, we seem to be so absorbed in our own well-being and in the end, we tend to forget the people around us, and we may even resent them for inadvertently bringing down our mood OR distracting us from more important goals.  And our pursuit of HAPPINESS can even have strange effects n our perceptions of time as that constant FEAR OF MISSING OUT [a.k.a. FOMO] reminds us just how short our lives are and HOW much time we must spend on😊😊😊

There was this research from Toronto which concluded that simply encouraging people to feel HAPPIER while watching a relatively boring film meant that they were more likely to concur that 'TIME IS SLIPPING AWAY FROM ME'.  And the same conclusion was arrived at WHEN the research participants were asked to list 10 activities that might contribute to their HAPPINESS, a subtle reminder that they could all be doing to improve their well-being placed them in a kind of panic as they recognized HOW little time they had to achieve it all.  And a side conclusion of those studies showed that our human tendencies to be paying constant attention to our mood will likely stop us from enjoying everyday pleasures, WHICH in the end, will deprive us of that genuine HAPPINESS we deserve after all💚💛💜

Our takeaway:  Let us 'LET OFF' the pressure from ourselves.  If you're an aspiring, put on hold visualizing yourself with those gold medals around your neck.  If you're an up and coming entrepreneur, temper your visualizations of yourself with that sartorial elegance, chairing a board meeting of your directors in a swanky plush board room.  If you're a dieter, temper that visualization of yourself in that ideal svelte figure you have been dreaming of [maybe for a decade].  And researchers do support this hypothesis that those 'POSITIVE FANTASIES' [and even the 'POSITIVE MOODS' they create] may likely lead to a sense of complacency.  YES dude, STOP SEARCHING FOR HAPPINESS, THEN IT WILL FIND YOU!!!