Have you ever observed, when you have a prolonged high fever, even the best food will taste horrible and the best vacation destinations will be unenjoyable. You won’t be able to watch any movie or play any game. Any kind of relationship will be more irritating than pleasurable. The things you enjoy the most in life, will begin to …
Dealing with the “Manipulation” Element of Maya Manipulation can be done by a single person or it can be done by a whole system or society. But again, no matter who the perpetrator is, the power of manipulation to completely screw up your thought process and life is well documented. In fact, you may be the most “evolved” person …
“Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can’t control that inner tranquillity and outer effectiveness become possible.” – Epictetus (Ancient Greek Philosopher) Most …
PSYCHOLOGICAL BIASES Confirmation Bias: Confirmation bias is a psychological phenomenon where individuals favor information that confirms their existing beliefs and reject the information that does not. We tend to seek out, interpret, remember, and share information in ways that affirm our preconceptions. This can lead to skewed perspectives and, often, poor decision-making. The classic case of confirmation bias …
I am going to share with you a story of a Mathematician named John Nash. Perhaps some of you may have heard of him, but if you haven’t, by the time you finish reading this unusual story, you will have tremendous respect for the man for what he achieved despite his severe problems. John Nash was always intelligent as …
How do you differentiate between the good and bad pleasures of life? Yes, pleasure is not unanimously good or bad! Unlike people who glorify pleasure or absolutely show a disdain for it, the truth is humans do need some pleasure to lead a good life, but there has to be a sweet spot, which contributes more to your life than …
“I hope everybody could get rich and famous and will have everything they ever dreamed of, so they will know that it’s not the answer.” – Jim Carrey I agree with Carrey, first hand. While I have obviously never seen fame or wealth to the degree that he did – I have seen them both to a tiny but significant enough degree to realize that beyond a point, they are both dead ends …
Quote 3 – “Don’t long for others to see you as sophisticated, unique, or wise. In fact, be suspicious if you appear to others as someone special. Be on your guard against a false sense of self-importance” Here Epictetus makes a really crucial point. He says, don’t long for others to see you as someone special, in fact, be …
For newcomers to philosophy, let me introduce you to a man named Epictetus. Epictetus was literally born as a slave in ancient Greece and spent all his life in slavery until he was eventually freed. If there is anyone from whom we can actually learn how to maintain our happiness even when literally surrounded by misery, it is him. …
Would you know what you look like if there were no mirrors or cameras? Consider the peculiar relationship we have with mirrors. Sometimes, when you’re looking in the mirror, try closing your eyes and ponder this: without mirrors, how would you know what your face looks like? In a way, it’s the mirror that gives you your face Extend that …