My aim is to inspire people around the world one blog post at a time.
This is the place to nourish your mind, heart, body and soul.
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It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch your own business. Maybe you want to escape the rat race and find peace in simple living. Maybe you want to improve your health. Whatever your dream is, it is valid!
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Dreams without action are just dreams. But taking action doesn’t necessarily mean quitting your job and burning the ocean. Small steps matter. It is the ability to plug away consistently at something over time that is the key. Small steps add up. You’ll get there!
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If you keep building slowly and consistently with passion each day, adding value that matters to you, then the growth will take care of itself. The keys to achieving success are patience and avoiding complacency.
Your Behaviour Isn’t As Consistent As You Think
Have you ever found yourself behaving in ways that surprise even you?
One moment, you're patient and understanding; the next, you're snapping at a loved one over a minor inconvenience.
This human inconsistency is not just a quirk but a fundamental aspect of our nature.
A renowned author and thinker, Malcolm Gladwell, stumbled upon a compelling explanation for this in the book "The Person and the Situation" by Richard Nisbett and Lee Ross.
The book argues that our actions are profoundly influenced by the contexts we find ourselves in, challenging the notion that we operate with a fixed set of moral and intellectual guidelines.
Instead, at the heart of our inconsistent behaviour lies a complex interplay between our internal traits and our external circumstances.
This dual influence can make us behave in seemingly contradictory ways. We are not always as consistent as we would like to believe.
Let's look at a few explanations for this.
Fooled By Randomness
Have you ever wondered how much of your success or failure is due to sheer luck?
Nassim Nicholas Taleb, a renowned thinker and author, delves deep into this question in his book "Fooled by Randomness: The Hidden Role of Chance in Life and the Markets."
He argues that much of what we attribute to skill or foresight is often the result of randomness. In other words, we are frequently "fooled by randomness."
It can be hard to swallow, especially for those who pride themselves on their hard-earned accomplishments. However, Taleb's argument does not undermine genuine skill and effort; instead, he aims to highlight how we often overlook the significant role of chance in our successes and failures.
His thesis is both provocative and insightful.
The Prisoner’s Dilemma
One of the fascinating insights from Game Theory comes from Professor Robert Axelrod, whose work reveals profound truths about cooperation, conflict, and human behaviour.
The "Prisoner's Dilemma" is a classic example of game theory, in which two individuals must decide whether to cooperate or betray each other.
It illustrates why two rational individuals might not cooperate, even if it appears that it is in their best interest to do so.
Two criminals are arrested and interrogated separately in the traditional Prisoner's Dilemma. Each can betray the other by testifying that the other committed the crime or remain silent.
If both betray each other, they each serve two years in prison.
If one betrays while the other remains silent, the betrayer goes free while the silent accomplice serves three years.
If both remain silent, they each serve only one year.
The catch is that the best collective outcome arises when both cooperate, but the best individual outcome happens if one betrays while the other cooperates.
Mindset Matters … Way More Than You Think
In 1945, the world record for running one mile (1600m) was 4 minutes and 1.3 seconds, set by Gunder Hagg of Sweden.
And that's where the record got stuck for the next nine years, seemingly unbreakable to many.
Finally, on 6 May 1954, in Oxford, England, Roger Bannister became the first person to break the 4-minute barrier in a time of 3 minutes and 59.4 seconds.
But this isn't the exciting part.
What is fascinating is that soon after Bannister's historic feat, other runners were inspired to follow suit, and they did so quickly.
How was this possible?
You May Be Smarter Than You Think
Most people are familiar with the concept of Intelligence Quotient (IQ).
IQ (Intelligence Quotient) tests have been the litmus test for intelligence for the last Century.
But IQ tests can inaccurately measure an individual's intelligence and cause problems, including low confidence, unrealistic expectations, and a generally flawed understanding of a person's potential.
After conducting the most extensive online intelligence study on record, a Western University-led research team has concluded that measuring one's intelligence quotient or IQ by a singular, standardised test is highly misleading.
So, is there a way to look at intelligence differently?
I Was Happy For Awhile
Have you ever felt delighted? Not just for a few fleeting moments here and there.
No, I'm talking about a long-term, deep sense of fulfilment. A feeling that makes you say, "Life is so worth living. I'm glad to be who I am, and I am grateful to be alive".
And you feel and say this every day and mean it.
Mmm, I thought so.
You are not alone. You may be surprised how many people don't feel deep-rooted happiness.
The question is, why is this?
Let's start by looking at the biology of happiness.
The brain releases several neurotransmitters, often referred to as "happy chemicals," that contribute to feelings of pleasure and well-being …
Stupidity is Universal and Dangerous
"Remember, when you are dead, you do not know you are dead. It is only painful for others. The same applies when you are stupid." - Ricky Gervais
Imagine a world where stupidity isn't a random occurrence but a predictable force governing human behaviour.
It sounds bizarre, right?
Well, that's precisely what Professor Carlo M. Cipolla, an Italian economic historian, dared to propose back in 1976.
He published an essay describing the fundamental laws of what he perceived as the greatest existential threat to humanity: stupidity.
The Boardroom Psycho
Imagine a world where the boardroom is a battleground, and the players wear suits instead of armour.
In "Snakes in Suits: When Psychopaths Go to Work," authors Paul Babiak and Robert D. Hare offer a chilling glimpse into this reality—one where psychopathy infiltrates the corporate landscape and leaves a trail of manipulation and destruction in its wake.
Contrary to popular belief, psychopathy is not solely confined to the criminal underworld.
While some psychopaths may engage in criminal behaviour, many others operate within legal boundaries, holding positions of power and authority in society.
Why We Judge What We Don’t Know
Have you ever felt that people are quick to judge? Are you sometimes quick to judge?
Have you ever wondered why we judge what we don't know or understand?
Even the most hardened criminal gets his day in court, where all evidence is carefully weighed before judgment is pronounced.
And yet, as humans, we struggle to extend the same courtesy to one another.
The fifth habit Steven R. Covey mentions in his best-selling book "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" is "Seek First To Understand, Then Be Understood".
I would argue that for most of us this is not the habit we have cultivated.
So, what are the reasons behind our inclination to pass judgment on what we don't know or understand?
The Search for Meaning
It's the height of World War II, and Viktor Frankl, a Jewish psychiatrist, finds himself imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp and experiences firsthand the horrors of the war.
Amidst unspeakable suffering and unimaginable loss, Frankl begins to uncover the fundamental truths about human existence and the elusive concept of meaning.
The result is a powerful memoir called "Man's Search for Meaning" that holds lessons for us all.
In this memoir, he describes, through his experiences, his search for purpose and meaning in life, even in the most terrible circumstances.
Some of the key lessons we learned from Viktor Frankl are …
Are You Ignorant About Your Ignorance ?
Imagine you're at a backyard braai (barbecue for my non-South African friends) where the smell of a lekker tjopie (chop) wafts, and you know that the neighbours are drooling. You sip your doppie (drink), and the conversation turns to the delicate art of braaing.
As a culinary maestro in your own right, you confidently jump into the discussion. You start sharing profound insights on the ideal grill temperature, meat marination techniques, and the sacred grilling-to-flipping ratio.
Congratulations! You might be experiencing the Dunning-Kruger Effect in action. It's that magical moment when you feel like the Gordon Ramsay of braai while your actual braai skills could use a bit of seasoning.
Anger is a Secondary Emotion
Have you ever felt angry, ready to explode like a shaken soda can?
My Afrikaans-speaking friends will know that we have some colourful expressions when we are angry, such as "Ek het my moer nou mors af gestrip", usually accompanied by one or two choice swear words in between.
But do you know that Anger is often just the superhero cape worn by other, frequently unnoticed, emotions? In other words, on the world stage, Anger isn't the main character; it's more like a sidekick that makes a dramatic entrance.