The first basis from which a thing is known - Aristotle (on First Principles)
While researching this topic of First Principles, I was able to make an observation about myself which I would have otherwise not been able to make. That is, I was always conditioned on being taught ‘why’ to think in a certain way, and very rarely taught ‘how’ to think or ‘what’ was the reason to do something. Life was just so instructional that the mind application was not needed in the formative years.
This conditioning is a result of external and internal factors that have influenced…
When I see success, I remind myself that this too shall pass. When I see failure, I remind myself that this too shall pass. - Dan Go
The art of Detachment is probably one of the most misinterpreted concepts out there. A few common threads associated with this misinterpreted idea is that it is considered to be the trait of a complacent person or of one who withdraws from situations that fall outside of their comfort zone. These notions, amongst others, could not be further from the reality of it.
Detachment is a way of life that helps you get…
A lie gets halfway around the world before the truth barely has a chance to get its pants on — Winston Churchill
Everybody lies. Lying as a characteristic is not just limited to humans. In fact, Koko a gorilla, who reached new heights of fame in the ’80s for mastering sign language, once blamed her pet kitten ‘All Ball’ for ripping a sink out of the wall. Poor little All Ball had no idea that the animal that would cuddle her every day was blaming her for breaking a sink because she had been bad that particular day.
Lying is…
When two parties are fighting over something, the third party takes it all - Polish Proverb
The Pacific Island Countries, excluding New Zealand, consisting of 14 small island countries with a cumulative population of only 2.3 million people. Along with their population, when you consider their geographic size and placement, you realise that outside help in the form of aid is crucial to their growth as nations.
According to the World Risk Index of 2019, the Pacific Island countries are the most vulnerable to natural disasters and the effects of climate change. Five of these countries are ranked as in…
It is always our own self that we find at the end of the journey. The sooner we face that self, the better. — Ella Maillart
We spend all the time and effort in the world trying to figure out everything around us but seldom put in half of that effort and time in figuring ourselves out. The lesser time we invest in knowing ourselves, the harder it gets for us to cope with the changing times and its relevance in our lives. Millennials like me fit into this description perfectly.
We compete with everything and everyone around us and…
Despite the panic and paranoia around this sick and highly contagious virus, I believe a decade from now when you look at back at your life and think of this time period, and you will not just remember it for the pandemic, but also for how it transformed you into being a better, stronger and more productive person.
Along with this virus and this time period, take pride in knowing that you too are an outlier in the history books. …
Sara Blakely’s masterclass is nothing short of a colourful journey. From having reinvented and redefined one of the most basic yet crucial aspects of women’s clothing, to dealing with the highs and lows that come in business. She has persevered through it all and come out the other side victorious, successful and happy with her life.
Her progress and ability to remain at the top of her game for over twenty years is what makes her stand out from the crowd. Yet, if you had to point at one particular aspect of what makes her different, that would be her…
If you haven’t heard of Malcolm Gladwell or read anything he has written, I’ll borrow a quote from The News & Observer to help you relate with him, his work and the impact he leaves behind with his writing.
If there’s such a thing as a storytelling gene, Gladwell has some super-evolved DNA mutation. He might be the best storyteller on the planet.
Malcolm Gladwell is the author of five nonfiction books and was recognised by Time Magazine in 2005 as one of the hundred most influential people in the world. …
When you stop expecting people to be perfect, you can like them for who they are — Donald Miller
As people, we are very complicated. As much as we discuss the concepts of rationality and developing an evolved thinking, quite often we do the exact opposite. The funny part is that this notion is even more difficult to accept when someone you know behaves in a manner that you find unexpected or unorthodox.
Take some of the simple examples. You may have come across someone at work who lashed out at you, and you aren’t able to think of what…
The 21st century has been the most dynamic time period for humankind. The introduction of technology had initially made our lives not just easier but also highly efficient. A quote by Sophocles best describes the transition of technology in and around our lives today.
Nothing vast enters the life of mortals without a curse
The unregulated power and unlimited scope of technology have made us realise that while it does make our lives easier, it can and will also replace our utility in the not so distant future. …