Wish you all a Very Happy New Year 2019.
The pleasures and probabilities of teens as we get into the last
year of teen in this century 2019.
In many ways many aspects
of life are interconnected and we need to consciously get inter related to
create positive vibrations and sensible synergy.
As even J.KRISHNAMURTHI says, “No one can live without relationship. You may withdraw into the
mountains, become a monk, a sannyasi, wander off into the desert by yourself,
but you are related. You cannot escape from that absolute fact. You cannot
exist in isolation".
How we relate with others
and everything define who we arebetter than what we claim ourselves to be.
"Anything that can be lost was never truly ours; anything
that we cling to only imprisons us"—Jack Kornfield.
"The beautiful
journey of today can only begin when we learn to let go of yesterday"-Steve Maraboli.
Here, ‘let go of
yesterday ‘does not mean chronology but psychology of approaching the new with
a new vision and renewed enthusiasm.
Otherwise, everything will be a mere extension of the old.
Life is all about evolution and metamorphosis.
In most areas and aspects they
[ evolution and metamorphosis] emerge involuntarily but in
certain areas and aspects we need to voluntarily make efforts or create
enabling environment, through well thought out and seriously developed
perspectives and attitudes which go on to impact how we relate with others , issues and things.
Somehow, most calendared observations of festivals and celebrations lose their charm,
amid myriad debates, differences, controversies
and they end up metamorphosising from festivals or celebrations into
mere ritualsbecause they lose their significance [ due to various reasons] or
we lose interest with both justifiable and unjustifiable priorities.
However, when many parts of the world have decided to accept the
Gregorian calendar with all its obvious short comings and celebrate January
First as New Year Day, though it is a mere chronological continuation, the word
‘NEW’ captures my attention and I tend to reflect and share with others the
importance of effecting something really ‘NEW’ in our routine lives.
I end up writing something every year which I feel can create at
least some impact.
This year I was too busy to write something more elaborate and
original but still, could not resist the temptation to write something.
Some write ups of previous years are indicatedat the end within brackets.
Thus, this follows.
None of the observations made below indicate anything as either
right or wrong.
Nothing can be a panacea
for all life forms.
However, individuals and humanity as a whole have immense
opportunities, enormous comforts and enough ways and means to utilize them all.
Either one of the
following or some of them or all of them become inevitable part of our frames
of reference for our perception and our perspective and they impact each and
every one of us at least in our formative years, if not longer.
In short, they are ideologically
indoctrinated identities of various hues and colors.
These identities could be
broadly generalized as being based on socio-economic, socio-cultural, socio-
religious, socio-political, ethno-centric, racial, caste and regional life
style etc.
In some cases they become
our second nature and which by extension also become part of our intellectual
firmament.
Besides the above list of
over generalized factors, there are many other very impactful influences like
the educational back ground and open or narrow mindedness of the family along
with social traditions and taboos.
So, whatever ideas,
thoughts, ideals are encountered initially they need to satisfy the confirmation
biases emanating from some or all of the above.
However we may try hard,
ultimately the above indicated factors are embedded in our brains and permeate
through us in all our opinions, reactions, understanding, interactions etc so
much so, that these not only get internalized but manifest in our evaluations
as extrapolations irrespective of whether they are relevant or not.
So, when we hatch out of our formative years and have the
freedom to explore and experience the world of ideas, thoughts, ideals, experiences
and so on beyond and besides these confirmation biases, and have the option to
evaluate differently, we are either too tentative out of lack of confidence or
in false bravado or hyper enthusiasm grab in awe the new found freedom without
realizing whether it can enhance any aspect of our life or it is just a
different set of confirmation biases or old vine in new fangled bottles.
This transition period is
a very important hinge which must ensure that on one side it must not be killed
by over protectionism and on the other side lulled by the intoxication of
suddenly unleashed new found freedom.
While the former may pull us back with a sense of lurking
feeling of insecurity to predominate all decision making and prefer to linger
in the past, the later may push us into absolutely uncontrolled and
irretrievable eccentric aberrations.
Those who are either too innocent or ignorant or ignorant of the
fact that they are ignorant or too pampered and mostly living in comfort zone
and some other categories may not even notice or be aware of this transition
from formative years.
Self proclaimed or labeled ‘Thought leaders’ lead me to think
only of these lines:-
Phenella writes in “The Unwritten Comedy”.
“To be ignorant of many things is expected
To know you are ignorant of many things is the beginning of
wisdom.
To know a category of things of which you are ignorant is the
beginning of learning.
To know the details of that category of things of which you are
ignorant is to no longer be ignorant.”
But then, they have
another chance when they migrate from the teens.
This phase is a really
volatile, vulnerable which moves around with emotional gullibility and
intellectually impressionable mind.
But then, that does not mean one must succumb to anything and
everything.
It is also a phase of
which can enable one to blossom into balanced maturity and matured balance
along with sense of personal responsibility enabling to blossom into a
responsible personality.
“Trying times are not the
times to stop trying" - Ray Owen.
Even after that, if people choose to curtail their radar of
communication, connectivity, interactions etc and confine to the cocoon of
their confirmation bias emanating from the indoctrination that is nurtured
mostly very scrupulously by religion, politics and other institutions with
vested interest and those who are unwilling to even acknowledge other options,
ideas and ideology, then, they deserve to get interred in their identity.
"The real voyage of
discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes"-Marcel Proust.
Such luddites will be the biggest stumbling blocks to progress,
peace and unity.
As it is with individuals, more or less, it is so with nations,
all of which are globally emerging into the last year of teen in this century
this year being 2019.
So, let us all as individuals and nations encourage various
ideas and ideologies and enable a conducive atmosphere of global maturity which
acknowledges the differences but avoids divisions and use every possible energy
and resource to create synergy.
If we observe without any bias we would realize the factors that
predominantly influence our interactions and reactions are not intrinsically
vital to life.
Life basically is a biochemical mechanism with energy, all of
which are gifts or part of the nature of our planet common to all species.
Probably we as Homo sapiens have additional combo of advanced
states of conscious awareness and advanced means of communication compared to
other species which have enhanced our species.
In addition, all our scientific and technological advancements
have rendered our life more comfortable and also enabled us to enhance our
abilities further.
In addition commerce and trade have enabled us to benefit as a
species beyond geographical constraints.
However, ironically we take for granted nature and scientific
advancement but we weave all our psychological, emotional, intellectual
requirements around factors not intrinsic to life like politics, religion,
regionalism etc.
Is it not obvious that human beings can live anywhere where
nature is conducive for life and can also live without any religious or
political affinity?
Let me make it clear that I am not in any way either denouncing
or ignoring their ( religion, politics etc.) importance and immense
contributions in multiple ways to improve living and they have sharpened our
sensitivities to find multitude of options to cohabit and cooperate for
betterment of life as cohesive groups but they have also used up too much of
valuable time, energy and human lives and caused enough damage disproportionate
to their intrinsic value and have caused more divisions among our species.
So, let us consciously observe the differences and avoid the
divisions and focus on factors intrinsic to our life now and for posterity
beyond and besides all sorts of ideologies be they political or religious or
cultural or any of those multitude of 'isms' and 'ologies' that obsessively
occupy our mind space.
This cannot happen overnight but must be consciously cultivated
as a way of life and scrupulously manifest in every word, thought, action and
interaction.
"Your life will never improve unless you start making daily
improvements" - Lewis Howes.
Life is neither a pause button nor a pass it on batten.
It is by its very nature and the word indicates is lively and in
motion.
One has to seek and to see the meaning of life from its very
source or center while living and also simultaneously learn to look at and to
lift up the existing meaning of life to subtler realms.
It is something similar to what VIVIAN GORNICK writes, “You have
to learn to write from the very center and to have the courage to look at that
center".
Make your life like what SHEL SILVERSTEIN says, "Make it so
good and so clear that it doesn't need any further explanation."
And feel like what Douglas Adams says, "I may not have gone
where I intended to go, but I think I've ended up where I needed to be".
So, move ahead with a firm hope for change for the better.
"Once we choose hope, everything is
possible"-Christopher Reeve.
"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be
known"— Carl Sagan.
It is obvious fact that in all domains of life many things
emerge as an aspect of evolution without our active participation or plan.
We cannot plan for everything in life nor live to merely to
plan.
At the same time we cannot afford to be passive spectators with
fatalistic attitude that things emerge because they are destined to be so.
We need to also voluntarily, consciously and actively work
towards creating a meaningful life on a daily basis.
The present generation is already realizing the comparative
utility and inutility of most of the factors.
Let us not get over addicted to or affiliated to anything as if
that is going to be something of everlasting importance.
Even if it were really so, none of us so are going to last
forever.
We all must remember that everything and everyone is temporary,
only permanent thing being there will be variations in the duration of
existence and longevity.
There is no single philosophy which can explain or fix all
issues concerning human life and the life of all other species.
Everyone needs his/ her own space and time to spend every day.
Ingratitude and betrayal are not just emotional aberrations or
shot comings but are unique psychological crimes because both the victim and
consciousness of the perpetrator are inflicted.
The one thing that doesn’t abide by majority rule is a person’s
conscience. ~
"Everyone sees what you appear to be, few experience what
you really are." - Niccolo Machiavelli
"One of the greatest diseases is to be nobody to
anybody." - Mother Teresa
There is a peacefulness that comes with discovering your passion
for writing. Even though it may be hard, you know this is what you are meant to
be doing. -Joy
Harper Lee
So, what are certain factors that we must be aware, at least
with regard to what is happening around the world and look at them beyond and
besides the prisms and prisons of main stream media so that we get to know
facts and not mere opinion coated versions of issues and events.
Fortunately, the internet offers a whole lot of such websites
and blogs.
I have selected some 60 of them followed by some 40 plus mix of
positive quotes to counter the excess of negativity that main stream media
peddles every day and thought provoking contents to counter the prosaic
redundant sermons and pontifications and lot of book suggestions.
6. The following site gives insight into
Mass Media’s Manipulations and probable manipulators
A media figure doesn’t have to show up for a business meeting in
an open bathrobe to do harm. He can help frame the coverage of a candidate’s
supposedly disqualifying flaws. He can squelch a writer’s promising work. He
can threaten an underling’s job if she doesn’t stay in line. All these little
moments add up.
Especially in these wild and unpredictable times, it is
important to talk about the concept of fluid intelligence in relation to the
ability to expand our awareness. Fluid intelligence has little to do with IQ or
"book" intelligence. It is rather the ability to step outside of our
beliefs and consider information which does not fit into our previously accepted
view of reality.
Our deepest beliefs and conceptions about life and the world are
to some degree conditioned by our childhood experiences, our education, the
mass media, and various other external influences. An individual's level of
fluid intelligence can be determined based on the degree to which he or she is
able to let go of previously held conceptions on encountering reliable
information or experiences which show these conceptions to be mistaken or
overly simplistic.
In reality, all of us play the victim and all of us play the
creator at various points in our lives. Yet few people realize just how much
choice we have in which role we play at any given time. One person, on losing a
j ob or a special relationship, may feel
as if it is the end of the world and sink into terrible suffering for months,
years, or even a lifetime. Another with the same experience may choose to first
experience the grief, yet t hen accept
the loss and in a relatively short amount of time move on to be a powerful
creative force in their life. In every moment and every circumstance, we can
choose to play an active role in creating our own .
Choosing to Create a Life
Filled With Joy and Meaning
By choosing to see and inspire the creator not only in yourself,
but in all you meet, you can create powerful transformation in your life and
world. If you have spent a lot of time in victim mode, it may not be easy to
make the shift, but it is entirely possible. By exploring your core challenges
and working to transform them, and by consistently choosing to stop the need to
place blame and instead take responsibility for how you interpret your life,
you can make the shift.
None of us is perfect. We all have made and will continue to
make mistakes and bad choices in our lives. When we fail, there is no need to
blame ourselves or anyone else. We can choose to simply accept that we didn't
do what we had intended and then work to understand why, so that we might do
better the next time. Notice when you find yourself blaming yourself or others.
Then stop for a moment. Take a look inside and ask, is it really empowering you
to place blame, even if you believe it is very well deserved? Is this really
how you want to live, or is there something better and more fulfilling? There
will most certainly be times where you slip back into your old victim ways. But
by continually reminding yourself of your intention to be a creator, you can
transform your life
13. WRONG PROJECTIONS
36. Two way impact
37. Objective truth
61. 7 Thought-Provoking
Short Films You Can Watch Now For Free Online – Collective Evolution
62. Books of the Year
2018 | The TLS contributors decide
63. 24 of the best
podcasts for curious minds in 2018 | WIRED UK
64. Libraries
65. An Optimist’s Guide
to Political Correctness | Moot | Thoughts...Provoking Debate
66. Articles | Moot |
Thoughts...Provoking Debate
67. 46 Most
Intellectually Stimulating Sites That Will Spark Your Inner Genius in 10
Minutes a Day
68. The best business
books of 2018 – Business Insider Singapore
69. Words we loved:
Journal staff share their favourite books of 2018 – Edmonton Journal
70. 52 Existential
Questions - Deep, thought-provoking questions.
71. 9 thought-provoking
books that every doctor should read | Medmastery
72. Issues &
Controversies | Infobase
73. Are You A Spiritual
Narcissist? – Collective Evolution
74. great paintings 20+
NEW Illustrations That Highlight The Harsh Realities Of Modern Society –
Collective Evolution
75. Stories
76, 7 Thought-Provoking
Blogs That'll Take Your Thinking To The Next Level
77. 18 Thought-Provoking
Quotes From Convening Leaders 2018 - PCMA.org
78. The 50 Best Tech
Blogs You Should Read in 2018 / Detailed.com
79. 10 Thought-Provoking
Quotes from TEDxDayton 2018
80. Opinion | Small-Town
America Is Dying. How Can We Save It? - The New York Times
81. The Power of
Drama/Movies - KSInfo
82. Great articles
83. 18 Thought-Provoking
Questions that Will Free Your Mind in 2018
84. Most Popular Articles
of 2018 (So Far) - Behavioral Scientist
85. Best non-fiction
books of 2018 - Marginal REVOLUTION
86. Best Books of 2018
87. Lit Hub's Favorite
Books of 2018 | Literary Hub
88. Best of 2018: the
most thought-provoking books the Vox staff read – Vox
89. 50 Mind-Blowing
Things That Have Happened This Year Already
90. Alphabetic list of
theories
91. . Alphabetic list of
theories
92 .Best of 2018 :
Longreads
93.GDP and beyond
94.. Top 101 Economics
& Finance Blogs (2018)
95. Amanda Spielman's
speech at the Association for Science Education Annual Conference 2018 - GOV.UK
96.. Edge.org
97. Psychology Research Paper
Topics: 50+ Great Ideas
98. 100 Notable Books of
2018 - The New York Times
99. Creative Ideas That
Worked in 2018, From The New York Times to Nike | Muse by Clio
100. 509 Informative
Speech Ideas [Updated 2018
101. - We're on a mission to spread important
ideas and change minds
102. 580 Inspirational
Quotes That Will Make 2019 Your Best Year Ever
103. The 8 Best
Motivational Quotes From Commencement Speeches in 2018 | Inc.com