People Have Long Memories

People Have Long Memories

Yes folks, People Have Long Memories but this is NOT meant with any undertone BUT simply to highlight the mysteries of our MEMORY and how it impacts our life.  Till now, many mysteries of our MEMORY remains as a mystery. How are our MEMORY gets encoded within the neurons of our brain?  How distributed in our brain are the cells that ENCODE a given MEMORY? And HOW does our brain activity correspond to HOW we experience MEMORIES?  How MEMORIES are formed, stored and recalled, all these are puzzles that will never end confusing the typical layman like us.  BUT that's NOT our concern.  Our thread today focuses on the value of our LONG MEMORIES💎💎💎

Indeed, there's no one place within our brain that holds all of our MEMORIES.  Scientists confirm that the different areas of our BRAIN form and store different kinds of MEMORIES and different processes.  Our emotional responses such as FEAR does reside in one specific region of our BRAIN.  MEMORIES related to skills are associated with a different region of our BRAIN.  And another BRAIN region is crucial for forming, retaining and recalling declarative MEMORIES✅✅✅

So where does all our awareness of our BRAIN's MEMORY lead us to?  For practical reasons, let us ask ourselves?  Should I be more mindful in my interaction with others?  Should I minimize, where possible, unpleasant things in life?  Can I encourage more positive human experiences?  So HOW, WHEN and WHERE can I influence my own behavior more to my positive advantage❓❓❓

Given all these, does it make sense that we should cherish and treasure all the BEST things happening in our daily life?  It is being "IN THE MOMENT" and NOT distracted by either the past or the future.  Like these two little girls, they are in the midst of enjoying their "IN THE MOMENT" situation, oblivious that one of their BRAIN's regions is starting to store those bits and pieces of their ongoing "IN THE MOMENT" situation💊💊💊

On the other hand, let's face it, there are various INEVITABLES in life, especially those unpleasant moments and just to be up front to you, one of our BRAIN's regions will be storing those INEVITABLES. And as we move on in our daily regimen in life, our awareness of that "HUGE" capacity of our BRAIN's various regions to store all our past should encourage us to endeavor being a STEP AHEAD given people's LONG MEMORIES 📌📌📌

Life Is Perfectly Imperfect

Life Is Perfectly Imperfect

Do we all agree with this pedestrian statement that Life Is Perfectly Imperfect?  Yesirrrrrrs absolutely.  This reminds me of this joke from Quora.com [courtesy of Euterpe Muse]:  Rakesh is 35 yrs old and still single.  One day, a friend asked, 'WHY ARE YOU NOT MARRIED?  Rakesh replied, ACTUALLY I'VE FOUND MANY WOMEN I WANT TO MARRY BUT WHEN I BRING THEM HOME TO MEET MY PARENTS, MY MOM DOESN'T LIKE THEM'💞💞💞

His friend pauses and says, 'JUST FIND ONE WHO IS JUST LIKE YOUR MOTHER'.  Few months later, they meet again and his friend asks, 'DID YOU FIND A PERFECT GIRL YET?  DID YOUR MOTHER LIKE HER?  With a frown on his face, Rakesh says, 'YES I FOUND THE PERFECT GIRL. SHE WAS JUST LIKE MY MOTHER.  MY MOM LIKED HER VERY MUCH'.  Then the friend asks, 'THEN WHAT WAS THE PROBLEM?' Rakesh replied, 'NOW MY FATHER DOES NOT LIKE HER'📌📌📌

Indeed, that's how frustratingly life can be imperfect.  Not even if you attempted AMERICA'S GOT TALENT.  Would you expect judges like Simon Cowell to give you a PERFECT 10?  HELL NO.  That's our problem with PERFECTION.  The desire to be PERFECT burdens many people and ironically dooms them to unhappiness,  At first, we might think that trying to be PERFECT is desirable.  Let's take a close look at that belief.  PERFECTION does suggest a state of flawlessness, without any defects for that matter.  Seeking PERFECTION at a particular task might be achievable and certainly, students can strive to attain a perfect grade✅✅✅

Yet Yet Yet, the goal of being PERFECT in life is altogether a different story.  Even a machine or electronic device may operate PERFECTLY [at least for a while].  Over time, it will wear down and require repair.  BUT hey, isn't it we humans were NEVER intended to be PERFECT!  That's part of the definition of being human.  Heard of the expression, "I'M JUST HUMAN".  We really need to remind ourselves that the goal ISN'T to emulate a machine BUT to embrace the imperfection of being human❗❗❗

Problem is, even in our cross-cultures, we move relentlessly towards greater emphasis on achievement and goal focus and when we do so, we seem to lose that capacity for wonder and awe.  Ironically, if someone ever could achieve that impossible state of PERFECTION, it is likely that very few people would accept that.  Again, it's all because LIFE IS PERFECTLY IMPERFECT➕➕➕

Truth Will Set You Free

Truth Will Set You Free

Do we believe that Truth Will Set You Free?  Allow me to share this Quora.com post by Cruisepower, a pilot.  As a pilot, he never missed a flight while working for one of the biggest global airlines.  One day, he didn't wake up as for some reason, his phone alarm didn't buzz.  Next thing he did was to call his chief pilot and told him the TRUTH.  The chief pilot then told him he'll call back in 10 minutes📗📙📘

That 10 minutes seemed like 10 hours [with all the agony of waiting].  Finally, the chief pilot said that a standby pilot took over his post for that flight and that incident should serve as his LAST WARNING.  Indeed Truth Will Set You Free,  And we can't argue further with this quote from Mark Twain, the father of American Literature:  IF YOU WILL TELL THE TRUTH, YOU DON'T HAVE TO REMEMBER ANYTHING💎💎💎

This is neither about religion nor has this got to do with the Bible verses.  Many years ago, I did flop at my work.  How did I handle it?  I told my boss that I missed out one step of the procedure.  On another instance, I delivered output whose QUALITY was less that stellar.  How did I wiggle myself out of it?  Truth Will Set You Free📌📌📌

So, what happens if we DON'T tell that darn Truth?  Obviously, there will be numerous consequences and implications.  First off, you are NOT achieving CLOSURE of that exception as you tend to cover it up or bury them under the bushel of oblivion.  Secondly, that issue arising from the exception may likely exacerbate and worsen instead of being managed and controlled.  Thirdly, by keeping that "PANDORA's Box" open, you are exposing yourself to undue stress and anxiety.  And at worse, it may even impact your health.  Isn't that mind-boggling?  Only Truth Will Set You Free but you got to grab the bull by its horns❗❗❗

So what's our FIX?  Fairly simple.  Stick to this mantra and never skirt it or five it a lip service:  Truth Will Set You Free and that will save you from tons and tons of unnecessary anxiety, stress and undue pressure [especially if you're guilty of that undoing].  BUT who doesn't make mistakes?  Think about this hardened TRUTH that Truth Will Set You Free✅✅✅

Get Rid Of Distractions

Get Rid Of Distractions

Do we agree that our common UNKNOWN and UNSEEN enemy are DISTRACTIONS?  Regardless of your vocation in life, regardless of your stratum in life, DISTRACTIONS are everywhere BUT the worst thing about DISTRACTIONS is that most of them exist INCOGNITO [NOT until when it strikes you down]💎💎💎

Statistics from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA] has been keeping track of how often drivers report using mobile phones while driving.  And the numbers are terrifying.  Less than 500,000 drivers in the United States are using mobile phones while driving in the U.S.  And while all age groups were included in that statistics, teenagers were the age group most prone to use phone while driving.  And isn't this scary and terrifying❓❓❓

Now, while it is simply impossible to obliterate DISTRACTIONS in our daily life, the good news is that we can REDUCE it, if only to increase our FOCUS.  HOW?  Primero, always have a TASK PLAN [the night before] for your next day.  Whether it's office work-related or it's related to house repairs, you got to have a PLAN, period.  Segundo, TURN OFF DISTRACTIONS, if you can.  Controlling your devices and NOT having that technology with you will be a BRAVE action✅✅✅

Tercero.  GET COMFORTABLE.  That means something different but enough for your comforts, be it the clothes you wear, the music you're listening and even the room temperature if you're working from home.  Cuarto.  SET MODEST GOALS.  Big goals may be great indeed for motivational speeches BUT they DON'T help anyone focus on getting important things done.  Consider breaking down your goals to smaller ones so that you can achieve even small milestone successes📗📙📘

Quinta.  Use VISUAL REMINDERS.  Stuck at the top of your work computer's LCD the three words of 'FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS'.  I myself, whenever I face difficulty sticking to a task or I want to escape quickly and get into social media, I would look at that reminder and I'd even repeat those words loud enough for me to hear.  That cue did help me many times to GET RID OF DISTRACTIONS as much as possible📌📌📌

What Happens Before FAILING Or SUCCEEDING?

What Happens Before FAILING Or SUCCEEDING?

What Leads To Either FAILING Or SUCCEEDING?  You might wonder, is that question either a riddle or a puzzle.  Neither because in these real-life circumstances in life, there is NO middle-of-the-road.  Simply put, we either FAIL or we SUCCEED.  For those who [WRONGLY] believe that they're smart, they will go into a 'HOLDING PATTERN' so that they won't be tagged as having FAILED.  Truth is, that [UN]smart person is simply delaying the prognosis and the obvious END-GAME result📌📌📌

Dashun Wang, the professor at the Kellogg School of Management believes that what we have heard from all the supposed success stories of Henry Ford and the like does NOT simply mean that WHO learn more as they go have the much better odds of succeeding in life.  Instead, Wang insists that there is that 'TIPPING POINT' and that is your ability to build on your earlier attempts which have all failed [because that's the takeoff point]💎💎💎

But Wang remains adamant that one's earlier attempts should be above a certain threshold as that gives you the inside track to succeed in the end.  But if it's even a hair below that threshold, one may be doomed to keep churning out FAILURE after FAILURE forever.  Wang highlighted that people on those two sides of threshold could be exactly the same kind of people but they will likely end up with different outcomes⏳⏳⏳

A growing body of research supports the idea espoused by Wang that FAILURE can make you better off in the long run.  Wang himself even found that an early career setback often set up scientists for a later SUCCESS.   But pick your SUCCESS story, whether it's about Bill Gates or Elon Musk, their respective roads to SUCCESS involved more than just a couple of debacles, failures and setbacks✅✅✅

Another school of thought which has been shot down was that SUCCESS arose out of either LUCK or LEARNING.  But scientists disproved this fallacy because although we do improve over time, we still FAIL more often.  But studies have proved that some people learn from their FAILED attempts more than others, with those who 'LEARN MORE' incorporating more components of their FAILED attempts into their later attempts.  This sheds light as WHAT HAPPENS BEFORE FAILING or SUCCEEDING❗❗❗

Is Our ATTENTION SPAN Alarming?

Is Our ATTENTION SPAN Alarming?

Is Our ATTENTION SPAN Alarming?  You may NOT agree with me but me thinks it is indeed ALARMING.  In one diabolical study @ the California State University, psychologists brought heavy and moderate smartphone users into the Lab for a unique experiment, hooking participants to skin conductor monitors measuring levels of arousal and took away their phones.  Then the researchers texted them multiple times💊💊💊

That time, their phones were close enough to hear BUT too far away to check.  When their phones buzzed, the participants' arousal level ALL spiked [and that caused their anxiety].  What's our conclusion here?  Turning off notifications is a good way to reduce distractions [what a CLASSIC TIP!] but it DIDN'T totally solve the problem.  Researchers found that external distractions accounted for only half of the interruptions n focus.  The other half was prompted by an 'INTERNAL MOTIVATION' to switch tasks💎💎💎

Interestingly, when the number of external interruptions waned, the number of self-interruptions rose.  The conclusion was that when we get into that 'pattern' of having short attention spans, when we're NOT interrupted by something external to us, we tend to switch gears and begin to interrupt ourselves📌📌📌

The hypothesis of the researchers was that those 'URGES' are caused by STRESS.  Research shows that heavier smartphone use is correlated with higher levels of 'CORTISOL' and other markers of STRESS.  Rising anxiety could become an internal signal to look at your texts or Twitter, even without that notification chime or vibration.  When there are NO notifications, people tend to 'GET A STRONG INTERNAL SIGN' from their anxiety system💊💊💊

Researches also showed that we grab our phones because we need a break.  Simply put, our brains AREN'T capable of focusing for long periods of time.  Sustaining attention and resisting distractions uses up cognitive resources and we need to replenish them periodically to regain focus.  So, why DON'T we run a check of our own ATTENTION SPAN if it's alarming❓❓❓

So What If We're RESILIENT?

 So What If We're RESILIENT?

So What If We're RESILIENT?  Indeed that has been debated many times.  Even naysayers claim that NO one knew what RESILIENCE is or was in the past [and we all survived]!  Indeed that is TRUE, even before RESILIENCE was added by Mr Webster, RESILIENCE was there existing.  The difference was, that time, we were all unaware that that existed [then].  Voila, today we tend to be self-proclaimed experts, whew⏳⏳⏳

Heard of narratives like, 'AGAINST ALL ODDS, SHE'S STILL ALIVE'?  Yes, they may seem outlier narratives but the truth is, such narratives do happen and it's primarily because of RESILIENCE.  Before anything else, studies did dispel that RESILIENCE is related either gender and/or a combination of age and even culture.  As per studies, NOT TRUE.  Instead, those studies have found out that there were two primary drivers of RESILIENCE which, when taken together, lead to an interesting description💊💊💊

First, this is a shocking finding, that RESILIENCE is a reactive state of mind created by exposure to suffering.  Looking back at the recent pandemic, the studies showed that 'PROXIMITY TO COVID-19 INCREASES RESILIENCE'.  It seems what drove that level of RESILIENCE was how intimately one was exposed.  In short, the more you're exposed, the higher your RESILIENCE level was💎💎💎

This strongly suggests that we tend to discover our RESILIENCE only when we are forced to meet unavoidable suffering full in the face.  It's when we face that reality and see ourselves and how we respond to it, that we tend to find the basis for RESILIENCE.  Frankly, the REAL is almost always less scary that the IMAGINED, and the reality of the disease helps us with knowing that we're capable of, which is strengthening✅✅✅

I can attest to it with humility.  As I have gone through the 'wringer' numerous times, I always credit those gut-breaking challenges to have molded and built my RESILIENCE levels [and I CAN'T ask for more because I would have NOT earned my spurs in any other lesser experience.  So what's our take for today?  Let us leverage on every single difficulty we face because that leads us to stand at the very precipice of RESILIENCE❗❗❗

Ending Up With Lower Priorities?

Ending Up With Lower Priorities?

How often does it happen to us NOT until we belatedly realize that we're Ending Up [doing] With Lower Priorities?  Yes, I've been guilty of that several times in my life [and my guilt feeling is overflowing when I realized that during the recent pandemic, I ended up watching some NETFLIX movies that did NOT deserve such time I spent for it⌛⌛⌛

Indeed, time is our valuable resource that often slips away unnoticed.  Many of us find ourselves immersed with some activities that contribute little, if at all, to our personal growth or overall well-being.  And this gets mirrored crystal clear these months our daughter is on a school break/vacation.  To nip things in the bud, I required [YES, it was a mandated ORDER] to read at least one blog article before her gadget time during daytime and another one before her gadget time in the evening.  To ensure that it won't be exercises in futility, she had to verbally present to me her synopsis/summary and as 'icing on the cake', I required her to learn at least three new vocabularies/expressions per reading💎💎💎

Truth is, instead of spending hours watching movies we DON'T care about, it just makes sense for us to reconsider utilizing our time for more productive endeavors.  To quote someone incognito, 'WHY NOT LEARN TO MASTER OUR TIME INSTEAD OF IT MASTER US?'  Common culprit here [and I'm guilty of this] here is our habitual tendencies to be so PASSIVE, like twiddling our thumbs📌📌📌

Our days these times of digital environments enveloping our daily lives, it is [damn] easy to fall prey into that trap of PASSIVITY.  Mindlessly scrolling through social media feeds, binge-watching shows can, at times, leave us feeling unfulfilled and dissatisfied.  Ooooops, allow me to exempt [but NOT to defend my wife, in this case, because after all the arduous cooking, she deserves those UNLI scrolls through the social media feeds].  BUT seriously, recognizing these seemingly unproductive habits is the first step towards reclaiming our time, redirecting it where it truly matters❗❗❗

Our insight today:  Where possible, before you hit the sack at night, ensure to have your TASK & PRIORITY LIST ready for your next day.  And where possible, DON'T deviate from your TASK LIST unless a higher prioritized task is warranted.  Otherwise, avoid ENDING UP WITH LOWER PRIORITIES✅✅✅

Life Is Like 'ROLLING THE DICE'

Life Is Like 'ROLLING THE DICE'

Neither am I a casino player nor a gambler but please allow me to have this thread for today because I always firmly believed that our Life Is Like 'ROLLING THE DICE'.   Our life kickstarts when we are given our deck of cards [after all the shuffling and wheeling-dealing].  BUT can we all agree that a meaningful life includes gambling for the desired outcome?  We 'gamble' to acquire limited resources for us to achieve more in life💊💊💊

Life itself is a 'gamble' and 'gambling' usually refers to a game of chance, however more generally, and related to mental health, we all gamble, making life decisions that may well never pan out.  In a positive sense, we tend to be compulsive about maintaining mental and biological integrity.  This 'compulsivity' is both innate and learned.  Let's quick go back down memory lane.  After high school, we start to gamble on a life path, from college to finally working.  We know the risks once we chose college📌📌📌

But sometimes, let's admit it.  Hypocrisy creeps in, sometimes.  People say one thing yet they do another.  During the pandemic, quite a big slice of the population resisted taking Covid-19 vaccines, so they were 'gambling' but if you ask them to go to the casino, they'll swear to God that they DON'T 'gamble'.  And as you move on in your life journey, you are facing probabilities, which at times are dwindling, diminishing💎💎💎

Certainly, we DON'T want to hear from someone that the ONLY REGRETS ARE THE ONLY CHANCES WE DIDN'T TAKE.  That's really the last regrets we want to hear because there's just NO way to recoup LOST time, LOST changes, LOST opportunities when all these will slip through your fingers like quicksilver.  Even if your chances is down to the lowest level, TAKE IT, TAKE IT✅✅✅

Yessssirrrs, all these 'gambles' in life bring along with it that element of GOOD LUCK.  Your consolation prize can get boosted to be as big as the grand lotto winner but hold on, this a common pitfall I've seen over and over again.  Many have included that element of GOOD LUCK as a near-assurance that things will most likely flip in their favor.  BUT it DOESN'T happen that way because LIFE IS LIKE ROLLING THE DICE❗❗❗

That Mix-up Of Empathy & Sympathy

That Mix-up Of Empathy & Sympathy

Many times in the past, I've heard and did witness some folks with That Mix-up Of Empathy & Sympathy.  But no sirrrrrrs, I DON'T profess to be an English grammar SME as I am just another dude but I will NOT claim near-expertise in grammar and vocabularies.  Having said this, I just want to inject my 2-cents with regard frequent mix-ups of EMPATHY and SYMPATHY because both have been used over and over again interchangeably but factually, they have different meanings✅✅✅

EMPATHY is understanding and sharing another person's feelings while SYMPATHY is feeling sorry for someone's situation.  
While EMPATHY involves putting yourself in someone else's shoes and feeling their emotions, it goes more than that as it requires a deep level of understanding and connection with the other person.  Once we show EMPATHY for someone, we can validate their feeling and even provide emotional support💎💎💎

On the other hand, SYMPATHY is more about feeling sorry for someone's situation.  And while SYMPATHY can be helpful, it does NOT provide the same emotional connection as EMPATHY.  Once we manifest SYMPATHY, we tend to acknowledge someone's struggle but you may NOT fully understand their feelings.  It is noteworthy that both EMPATHY and SYMPATHY are indeed valuable in various unique circumstances,  If someone is going through a difficult time, that person would need both EMPATHY and SYMPATHY📌📌📌

There is a tricky part on all these though.  If you'll say "I'M SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS", be careful and cautious because stating a common expression may have lost its importance.  In that sense, it may NOT be able to convey the depth of emotions that the person is feeling.  And this is when and where EMPATHY comes in💊💊💊

In contrast, showing EMPATHY can help bring stronger relationships and create a more supportive and understanding situation.  To conclude, we will thread a fine line in handling situations and manifesting either EMPATHY, SYMPATHY or a combination thereof❗❗❗