When Emotions Run High

 

When Emotions Run High?  Supposedly, that should NOT be worth like breaking news anymore.  Especially each time there is a BREAKING NEWS.  WHAT else is new?  Except we will witness either despair, delight, optimism, astonishment, sadness, dismay until things boil down to anger and for the optimists, that flicker hope refuses to die down.  Think of elections happening WHEN during the political campaigns, candidates will throw everything on each other, including that old, rusty, rickety kitchen sink.  And when the election results are officially released, obviously, there are just two sides of the coin.  That's WHEN EMOTIONS RUN HIGH.  BUT alas, a more mature society begins with more mature persons💚💛💜

YES, the very first person we need to focus on is the one staring back at us in the mirror.  So, as EMOTIONS RUN HIGH in the days ahead, WHAT else is expected from us BUT to double-down our efforts for us to be led by our values and NOT EMOTIONS.  So HOW?  We always hear experts counsel us to TAKE THE HIGHER GROUND!  WHAT a lofty statement BUT for someone caught up by his emotions, those are hollowed words no less💧💧💧

Dude, this does NOT imply that the experts are encouraging us to get detached, with that "I DON'T CARE" stance BUT rather it is for us to have that broader perspective that will enable us to see things beyond that immediate turbulence rocking an otherwise calm setting to WHAT lies past the immediate horizon and help others to elevate their respective sights as well💥💥💥

Hold on, though.  Please DON'T get me wrong that we're egging you to shrug off your EMOTIONS, NO sirrrrssssss, that's the last and least disservice we can to ourselves.  Instead, we got to acknowledge EMOTIONS BUT on the same breadth, let us focus and re-focus on WHAT needs to get done.  True, every EMOTION is valid [even if we DON'T share OR agree with it].  And WHEN we feel differently from others, it is even more essential to acknowledge their EMOTIONS WHILE reminding them of that "raison d'etre".  And in times of uncertainty, people follow the certain and people around us will want to be certain that we will lead with consistent values and that shared purpose😊😊😊

Our takeaway:  YES YES yowww, can we be like that stoic lighthouse, unperturbed and unbothered by WHATEVER weather conditions it witnesses at the edges of the waters.  YES, much as lighthouses are not human, can we emulate their seemingly deliberate CALM and OPTIMISM even as EMOTIONS are contagious and fear is the most contagious of them all.  Is it too much to ask us to inspire hope, cultivate courage and create space for others to process their EMOTIONS constructively and step forward more effectively even WHEN EMOTIONS RUN HIGH, dude❓❓❓

Kindness Comes Back Tenfold

 

Many would claim that KINDNESS as a talking point is just NOT worth it as it is one of the most boring stuff to talk about.  Really?  BUT for me, KINDNESS is more than just a behavior and that art of KINDNESS involves harboring a spirit of helpfulness, being generous and considerate, and doing so without expecting anything in return.  Rather than viewing it exclusively as an action, WHY DON't we think of KINDNESS as a quality of being WHICH we all can cultivate?  Giving KINDNESS often is simple, free and health-enhancing.  One too many studies have came up with results that yielded increases in self-esteem, empathy and compassion, and that's besides improving one's mood.  Medical experts tell us too that it can decrease blood pressure and cortisol, a hormone directly correlated with stress levels.  And people WHO give of themselves in a balanced way tend to be healthier and live longer.  Indeed, Kindness Comes Back Tenfold!!!

Other studies showed that KINDNESS has been shown to increase one's sense of connectivity with others, decrease loneliness, combat low mood and improve relationships.  It also can be contagious, encouraging others to join in with their own generous deeds.  This morning, our 'Go-to Handyman' sent me a messenger message, seeking help because today is his payment deadline to settle their overdue water utility bills.  Of course, I got concerned because I CAN'T imagine my own home's water source will be disconnected.  As they say, we would rather get cut off with our electricity source rather than the water source.  A need as basic as both electricity and water utilities will be a tough call to make but I realized this morning that I just CAN'T imagine myself OR my family household being in that predicament💧💧💧

If there is another realization that gets uncorked, looking for ways to show KINDNESS can give us something to focus on, especially IF we are anxious OR stressed in certain social situations.  I did hear that physiologically, KINDNESS can positively change one's brain by boosting those levels of serotonin and dopamine.  Experts tell us that these neurotransmitters produce feelings of satisfaction and well-being and in the end, cause the pleasure and rewards centers in our brain to light up.  Endorphins, our body's natural painkiller may also be released WHEN we manifest various forms of KINDNESS [BUT I need to qualify that such manifestations of KINDNESS need to be genuine enough💚💛💜

YES, WHEN we share KINDNESS, it is NOT just HOW we treat people BUT it's also about HOW we extend those same behaviors and intentions to even our own self.  It would be the mother of all ironies if we're so KIND to everyone except to our own self?  Truth is, we have this human tendency to be good at verbally beating our own selves up WHICH does NOT work as a pep talk.  Rather, NEGATIVITY often causes us to unravel and may even create a vicious cycle of regularly letting down our own self, ouch💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  Few weeks back, myself and my wife had to combine our efforts in a situation WHERE the solitary efforts of my KINDNESS was NOT sufficient.  WHAT I mean here is that at times, KINDNESS becomes a collaborative effort especially if there seems to be a gargantuan challenge tossed upon us.  And that was WHAT exactly our challenge a few weeks back.  Without getting into details, I have to admit that if I was all by myself, I would have failed in extricating someone from a highly potential tragic end.  BUT as the old cliche goes, TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE and voila, thanks God, that person's life is now back-on-track.  After all the dust settled down, myself and my wife were both thankful that it was us helping us [instead of others helping us out].  That's looking at a half-glass as half-full instead of half-empty😀😀😀

Do We Have More When We Have Less?

Across societies and cultures, there's hardly any difference WHEN dealing with this [default] belief that doing MORE is seen as a GOOD THING and doing LESS is seen as BAD.  Is that true?  Really?  BUT if we hear from some [from many quarters in fact] that in reality, sometimes doing LESS can help us to be more mindful and better able to enjoy WHAT we accomplish.  So, we would hear experts counsel us to start by trying to do just a little less each day to see how it affects our well-being. Problem is, working hard is viewed as that ultimate sign of being a good [and even outstanding] employee.  And learning MORE, taking MORE, doing MORE are positive attributes no less. So,  WILL HAVING  MORE lead to LESS?  Or LESS to MORE❓❓❓

Problem is, we [and I'm guilty of that in the past] DON'T put a lot of positive emphasis on quiet, relaxed moments.  Instead, NOT to a fault, many of us often get caught up by the frenzied and frenetic pace of life we all thought and believed is the way to go.  True, we may think of sleep as necessary BUT many of us DON'T really value the idea of rest for our brains and our bodies.  We even bring the same ethic to our sleep habits💚💛💜

Instead of finding ways to gradually wind down and let ourselves relax enough to fall asleep each night, we work till last minute, sometimes even in bed.  Just in the western world like the United States, studies show that 1 out of 5 adults have trouble sleeping every night.  NOT a big surprise since we have to be able to let go in order to sleep.  WHAT if we tried to do LESS everyday instead of MORE?  We might imagine slowing down and doing LESS would make us lazy OR inefficient❌❌❌

However, even scientific and anecdotal evidence show that DOWNTIME is crucial NOT just to emotional and physical health BUT also to our ability to think, accomplish difficult tasks and be productive.  For instance, still referring to those researches, taking BREAKS can improve our mood, boost our performance, and increase our ability to concentrate and pay more attention💥💥💥

Our takeaway:  Heeding WHAT the experts are telling us, doing LESS can help us to be more mindful and even enjoy WHAT we accomplish.  And using and exerting LESS effort to be more influential [and even more powerful] would NOT surprise many practitioners of mindfulness as slowing down and paying attention can help us 'craft a productive life' that we truly feel good about'.  Bottomline is, let us NOT get 'hostaged' by the 'rat race' we are in because a good number of them may run kaput.  YES dude, we can have MORE even WHEN we have LESS😊😊😊

That POWER of PERSPECTIVE!

 

Hello, here's a 'bonus question'.  Do we know THAT POWER of PERSPECTIVE?  THAT it can even fix our problems much faster, with LESS complexity and obviously likely with LESSER efforts?  Now, here's my confession.  Way back, I WASN'T aware of that at all.  I [wrongly] thought then that once I'm facing a problem, I go and deep-dive to fix it, mindful of the element of time that's ticking fast [WHICH is true] BUT then again, I was unaware that the horizons can change favorably based on our PERSPECTIVE of that problem at hand📘📙📗

Many times, I came across this one-liner:  THE WAY WE VIEW THE WORLD AROUND US [ESPECIALLY IN MOMENTS OF TRIAL OR HARDSHIP] AN DETERMINE WHETHER WE MARCH FORWARD WITH RESILIENCE OR STAY STUCK.  So, WHAT is PERSPECTIVE and WHY does it matter, if at all?  Let's simplify things by agreeing that PERSPECTIVE is that lens through which we view life, based on our experiences, emotions and even belief systems.  Simply put, HOW we PERCEIVE our circumstances can either limit OR empower us.  Two people can be in the same situation BUT could have completely different takeaways due to their own PERSPECTIVES📌📌📌

This reminds me of the Stephen Covey course [7 HABITS of HIGHLY EFFECTIVE PEOPLE] I attended years back.  And Covey tells us of a moment WHEN he got irritated by a father WHOSE kids were acting out on a subway.  And WHEN Covey asked the father to CONTROL his children, the father revealed that they had just come from the hospital WHERE they mother died.  In an instant, Covey's PERSPECTIVE shifted instantly from frustration to compassion💧💧💧

That story underscores HOW powerful a shift in PERSPECTIVE can be.  the circumstances HADN'T changed BUT Covey's view of them had, opening the door for empathy and understanding.  In that training I had, the resource highlighted that that ability to shift PERSPECTIVE did become crucial especially WHEN dealing with personal relationships, marriage OR even the much broader societal issues.  And one of the most profound takeaways from that training is the idea that PERSPECTIVE is a choice.  And looking back, I'll be the first one to admit that sometime in the past, I did find myself viewing situations from a more negative lens due to my past experiences as well💜💛💚

Our takeaway:  WHILE it seems easy to get caught up in negative experiences OR emotions [WHICH did hit me hard many times in the past], our key realization here is that we have that POWER to shift our focus to the good side of things.  Choosing to believe in that good side especially in people, can drastically change HOW we interact with the world and eventually, ease things up the way we handle difficult situations.  And the value of PERSPECTIVES can't be understated WHEN it comes to relationships.  And that principle applies broadly to all relationships.  If we shift our PERSPECTIVE to assume the best in others, we can avoid and pre-empt misunderstandings and instead, deepen our connections.  Talking about that POWER OF PERSPECTIVE😊😊😊

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???