- Solve some puzzles and crosswords.
- Try to be ambidextrous. Use your nondominant hand to brush your teeth, comb, handle the mouse. Write with both hands simultaneously. Do the same with the knife and fork.
- Learn new languages
- Learn to enjoy things like paradoxes and optical illusions.
- Make mental maps of your neighborhood, state, country.
- Block one or more senses. Eat with your eyes closed, use earplugs, bathe with eyes closed.
- Develop comparative tasting. Learn how to properly taste wine, chocolate, beer, cheese, etc.
- Develop leadership attributes.
- Find intersections between seemingly unrelated subjects.
- Learn how to use different keyboard layouts.
- Help others.
- Play some musical instrument.
- Find new uses for common objects. How many different uses you can find in a nail? 10? 100?
- Reverse your assumptions.
- Learn techniques of creativity.
- Go beyond the “right” answer.
- Go beyond obvious reality. Ask yourself: What if…?
- Play your favorite videogame
- Become a critical thinker. Learn to realize common lies.
- Learn logic. Solve puzzles logically.
- Familiarize yourself with the scientific method.
- Draw. Make doodles. You don’t have to be an artist.
- Think positive.
- Do some calculus and mathematical operations.
- Read these exercises to keep a young mind and try to retain the essential ideas of the post.
- Sit up straight.
- Listen to music.
- Catch all the ideas. Form a list or database with your favorite ideas.
- Eat at different restaurants.
- Simplify your to-do list.
- Learn to spell long words backwards.
- Change your environment. Rearrange items in your room or office.
- Write! Write stories, poetry, create a blog and write on it.
- Learn sign language.
- Visit museums.
- Study how the brain works.
- Meditate about managing your time.
- Watch movies of different genres.
- Get in touch with nature.
- Relax throughout the day.
- Commit to lifelong learning.
- Travel to other countries. Learn other cultures and different lifestyles.
- Learn Braille.
- Buy a piece of art that you like. Stimulate your senses in a way that makes you think.
- Try different perfumes.
- Keep a glossary of interesting words. Invent your own words.
- Learn metaphors.
- Manage stress.
- Read random things in this blog.
- Deliver more than expected.
Failure Is Not the Opposite of Success: It’s Part of It
What Is Failure, Really?
According to Wikipedia, failure refers to the state or condition of not meeting a desirable or intended objective, and may be viewed as the opposite of success. Therefore, failure is the opposite of success, and that’s why fear of failure can reach really high levels. A process leading to failure or success involves a lot of decision-making.
The fear of failure paralyzes more people than actual failure ever could. Many have brilliant ideas but never act on them, trapped in mental simulations of what could go wrong. The real issue isn’t failure itself: it’s how we perceive it.
Reframing Failure: From Enemy to Teacher
Failure is inevitable if you’re trying anything worthwhile. Every misstep is feedback, not a verdict. Think of it like learning to ride a bike: you don’t quit after the first fall. You adjust, try again, and eventually, you’re riding without thinking.
The key isn’t avoiding failure: it’s developing resilience. When you stop seeing failure as a catastrophe and start viewing it as data, you strip it of its power over you.
Financial Freedom Isn’t About Luck: It’s About Learning
You won’t find financial freedom in a lottery ticket. Real wealth isn’t just money: it’s knowledge, discipline, and the ability to make smart decisions.
- Want financial independence? Learn how money works.
- Want success? Get comfortable with setbacks.
- Want mastery? Embrace the grind.
Every expert was once a beginner who refused to quit.
Read moreMastering Emotional Discipline Through Music: A Practical Guide
Mastering Emotional Discipline Through Music: A Practical Guide
This is an exercise for developing mental discipline, a follow-up to our post about the power of a disciplined mind. Music has a unique ability to evoke emotions, often bypassing our rational mind and speaking directly to our emotional core. This power can be both a gift and a challenge. While music can uplift, inspire, and heal, it can also overwhelm us, pulling us into emotional states we may not consciously choose to inhabit. What if you could harness this power, not by avoiding emotional responses, but by developing the ability to engage with or detach from them at will? This exercise is designed to help you cultivate emotional discipline, using music as a tool to explore and master your inner landscape.
The Exercise: A Step-by-Step Guide
- Choose a Sentimental Piece of Music
Select a song that you know stirs strong emotions within you. It could be a piece tied to a memory, a melody that resonates with your current state of mind, or simply a composition that moves you deeply. The key is to choose something that reliably elicits an emotional response. - First Listen: Surrender Fully
Play the song and allow yourself to fully immerse in the experience. Let the music wash over you, and don’t resist the emotions it evokes. Whether it’s joy, sadness, nostalgia, or longing, surrender to the flow. This step is about acknowledging the power of music to influence your emotional state. - Second Listen: Observe with Detachment
Play the song again, but this time, after a few moments, shift your perspective. Instead of being swept away, observe your emotions as if you were an outsider. Notice how the music manipulates your emotional body—how it rises, falls, and shifts. This step is about developing awareness of the mechanics behind your emotional responses. - Third Listen: Resist Engagement
On the third listen, consciously resist the pull of the music. Refuse to let the emotions take hold. This doesn’t mean suppressing your feelings; rather, it’s about maintaining a sense of control. You’re practicing the ability to disengage, even when the music tries to draw you in. - Fourth Listen: Alternate Between Surrender and Detachment
This time, alternate between surrendering to the music and pulling back. For a few moments, let yourself be fully immersed, then step back and observe. This step is about cultivating choice—recognizing that you have the power to decide how deeply you engage with your emotions. - Expand Your Practice
Once you’ve worked through these steps with one piece of music, repeat the exercise with other sentimental songs. Each piece will evoke different emotions, giving you a broader range of experiences to practice with. Over time, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of how your emotional body responds to external stimuli.
The Power of Disciplined Thinking
In his timeless work The Conquest of Happiness, Bertrand Russell offers profound insights into how we can navigate life’s troubles and cultivate a sense of inner peace. One of his key ideas is that the wise person thinks about their troubles only when there is a purpose in doing so. This simple yet transformative principle has the power to enhance both our happiness and our efficiency. In a world that often feels overwhelming, this advice serves as a guide to living a more intentional and fulfilling life. I especially like this quote:
“The wise man thinks about his troubles only when there is some purpose in doing so; at other times he thinks about other things, or, if it is night, about nothing at all. I do not mean to suggest that at a great crisis, for example, when ruin is imminent, or when a man has reason to suspect that his wife is deceiving him, it is possible, except to a few exceptionally disciplined minds, to shut out the trouble at moments when nothing can be done about it. But it is quite possible to shut out the ordinary troubles of ordinary days, except while they have to be dealt with. It is amazing how much both happiness and efficiency can be increased by the cultivation of an orderly mind, which thinks about a matter adequately at the right time rather than inadequately at all times. When a difficult or worrying decision has to be reached, as soon as all the data are available, give the matter your best thought and make your decision; having made the decision, do not revise it unless some new fact comes to your knowledge. Nothing is so exhausting as indecision, and nothing is so futile.”
At the heart of Russell’s philosophy is the notion that we should not allow our minds to be consumed by worries at all times. Instead, we should reserve our mental energy for moments when we can actually address our problems. Cultivating an orderly mind for happiness and efficiency doesn’t mean ignoring difficulties or pretending they don’t exist. Rather, it means recognizing that dwelling on troubles when no action can be taken is not only unproductive but also detrimental to our well-being. By training ourselves to think about problems only when necessary, we free our minds to focus on the present moment and the things that bring us joy.
Russell acknowledges that there are exceptional circumstances—such as an impending crisis or a deeply personal betrayal—where it is nearly impossible to shut out troubling thoughts. In these moments, only those with extraordinary mental discipline can maintain their composure. However, for the majority of our everyday challenges, we have the capacity to control how much mental space we give them. The key is to develop what Russell calls an orderly mind, one that addresses issues deliberately and at the appropriate time, rather than allowing them to dominate our thoughts incessantly.
An orderly mind is not something we are born with; it is cultivated through practice and self-awareness. One way to develop this quality is by setting aside specific times to address our concerns. For example, if you’re facing a difficult decision, gather all the necessary information, dedicate a focused period to thinking it through, and then make your choice. Once the decision is made, resist the urge to revisit it unless new information arises. This approach not only reduces mental clutter but also prevents the exhaustion that comes from constant indecision.
Hyper-Empathy as a Strength
Previously, I talked about the Hyper-Empathy Syndrome. In short, Hyper-empathy Syndrome is a term used to describe a condition where an individual experiences an unusually intense level of empathy, often to the point where it becomes overwhelming or disruptive to their daily life. People with hyper-empathy are highly attuned to the emotions, pain, and experiences of others, sometimes to the extent that they feel others’ emotions as if they were their own. This heightened sensitivity can lead to emotional exhaustion, difficulty setting boundaries, and challenges in maintaining their own well-being.
If you or someone you know struggles with hyper-empathy, remember that it’s okay to seek help and prioritize your own well-being. Empathy is a gift, but it’s important to care for yourself as much as you care for others.
Key Characteristics of Hyper-Empathy Syndrome
- Intense Emotional Absorption: Individuals with hyper-empathy may deeply internalize the emotions of others, feeling joy, sadness, or pain as if it were their own.
- Difficulty Distinguishing Between Self and Others: They may struggle to separate their own feelings from those of others, leading to emotional confusion or overload.
- Overwhelming Compassion: They often feel compelled to help or fix others’ problems, even at the expense of their own needs.
- Emotional Exhaustion: Constantly absorbing others’ emotions can lead to burnout, anxiety, or depression.
- Boundary Challenges: People with hyper-empathy may find it hard to say no or set limits, as they fear causing distress to others.
Causes of Hyper-Empathy
While the exact causes are not fully understood, hyper-empathy may be linked to:
- Neurological Factors: Some research suggests that hyper-empathy may be related to heightened activity in brain regions associated with emotional processing, such as the mirror neuron system.
- Psychological Factors: Trauma, childhood experiences, or certain personality traits (e.g., high sensitivity) may contribute to the development of hyper-empathy.
- Conditions Like Autism or ADHD: Some individuals with autism (particularly those formerly diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome) or ADHD may experience hyper-empathy as part of their neurodivergence.
Challenges of Hyper-Empathy
- Emotional Overload: Constantly feeling others’ emotions can be draining and overwhelming.
- Neglect of Self-Care: Individuals may prioritize others’ needs over their own, leading to physical and emotional neglect.
- Difficulty in Relationships: Hyper-empathy can create imbalances in relationships, as the individual may struggle to assert their own needs or boundaries.
- Guilt and Anxiety: They may feel guilty for not being able to help everyone or anxious about others’ well-being.
Managing Hyper-Empathy
While hyper-empathy can be challenging, it can also be a gift when managed effectively. Here are some strategies for coping:
- Set Boundaries: Learn to say no and establish limits to protect your emotional energy.
- Practice Self-Care: Prioritize activities that recharge you, such as meditation, exercise, or spending time in nature.
- Develop Emotional Detachment: Practice mindfulness or grounding techniques to help distinguish between your emotions and those of others.
- Seek Support: Talk to a therapist or counselor who can help you navigate your emotions and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
- Channel Empathy Positively: Use your empathy in constructive ways, such as volunteering or advocating for causes you care about, without overextending yourself.
Hyper-Empathy as a Strength
While hyper-empathy can be overwhelming, it also has its positives. Highly empathetic individuals are often compassionate, intuitive, and skilled at understanding others’ perspectives. When balanced with self-care and boundaries, hyper-empathy can be a powerful tool for building meaningful connections and making a positive impact on the world.
Read moreOn Unrealized Dreams
An unrealized dream is a goal, aspiration, or vision that someone has not yet achieved or brought to fruition. It represents something deeply desired—a personal, professional, or creative ambition—that remains incomplete or unfulfilled. Unrealized dreams can range from small, personal goals (like learning a new skill) to grand, life-changing ambitions (like starting a business, writing a book, or making a significant impact on the world).
Key Characteristics of an Unrealized Dream
- Emotional Significance: Unrealized dreams are often tied to strong emotions, such as passion, hope, or longing. They reflect what truly matters to a person.
- Potential for Growth: These dreams often push individuals out of their comfort zones, encouraging personal development and resilience.
- Tension Between Reality and Aspiration: Unrealized dreams highlight the gap between where a person is and where they want to be, creating a sense of motivation or, at times, frustration.
- Timelessness: Some dreams remain unrealized for years or even a lifetime, yet they continue to inspire and drive individuals forward.
Examples of Unrealized Dreams
- A musician who dreams of recording an album but hasn’t yet found the resources or time.
- An entrepreneur who envisions building a successful startup but is still in the planning stages.
- A traveler who longs to visit every continent but has only explored a few so far.
- A writer who has a novel in their mind but hasn’t yet put it to paper.
Why Are Unrealized Dreams Important?
- They Inspire Action: Unrealized dreams motivate people to set goals, take risks, and work toward something meaningful.
- They Reflect Identity: Dreams often reveal a person’s values, passions, and sense of purpose.
- They Encourage Resilience: The pursuit of a dream, even if unrealized, builds character and teaches valuable lessons.
- They Connect Us to Others: Sharing dreams fosters empathy and understanding, as most people have aspirations they haven’t yet achieved.
The Journey Matters
While the term “unrealized dream” might sound negative, it’s important to recognize that the process of pursuing a dream is often as valuable as achieving it. The journey teaches patience, perseverance, and creativity. Even if a dream remains unrealized, the effort put into it can lead to unexpected opportunities, growth, and fulfillment.
Read moreA healthy world
Here I’ll share some practical tips that anyone can adopt to help combat global pollution. These simple yet impactful actions can make a significant difference in our fight against climate change and rising contamination levels. Let’s explore how small changes in our daily lives can contribute to a cleaner, healthier planet!
Climate Change
- Replace conventional and old light bulbs: With this simple task we’re freeing our planet of 68 kilograms of CO2 per year. The option of saving bulbs or bulbs of low flow cares for the environment (and also cares for our pockets).
- Use the car less: I recommend going more for cycling, public transport or walking to help protect the environment (and our health). By not using the car we avoid half kilogram of CO2 per mile of journey. The overuse of the automobile encouraged to make new roads and such decision caused a great impact on the territory and destroyed beautiful landscapes, and in addition to that there is more traffic noise, which causes more stress for those living near such noise.
- Recycle more: By recycling we will save more than one ton of CO2 yearly. But recycling is not the answer, here the question is: how to avoid generating all that waste?, i.e., we should buy only what we really need and keep out of the levels of consumerism. Further, when choosing our goods we should prefer the ones with less packaging and pick reusable bags for our purchases. At the time of purchasing beverages is better to buy glass bottles because they are easier to recycle and they do not use the amounts of fuels as requiered for plastic and paper (besides, production of paper and plastic releases many chemicals into the air, rivers and seas).
- Examine the tires of your car: In this issue we recommend keeping tires inflated to the corresponding pressure since taking into account this recommendation saves fuel combustion in a 3%. Each gallon of gasoline less implies 9 kilograms of CO2 less reaching the atmosphere. And it should be emphasized that it is recommended to use the car only when necessary.
- Use less hot water: To warm the water uses too much energy, especially in the winter time because the environment is colder than normal. The same is recommended to wash clothes using cold water as it would save about 230 kilograms of CO2. It is also important to use water that is needed in such tasks as washing the car, washing dishes etc. And remember not to leave water valves open.
- Avoid using too much packaged products: You can save 545 kilograms of CO2 if you avoid generation of 10% of garbage. This helps to a great extent because if we create a culture to choose products with less packaging producers make products with less packaging and thus avoid much of pollution.
- Set the thermostat on the car properly: to set two degrees higher in winter and lower it 2 in summer, you can save 900 kilograms of CO2 with this simple adjustment in a year. You should not use the heater where it is not necessary because the car engine will make more effort and will burn more fuel.
- Plant a tree: this recommendation is important because every tree in its lifetime absorbs about one ton of carbon dioxide. I recommend watering at night or when the sun is hidden because the tree would absorb more water since it is not evaporated by the sun.
- Turn off electronic devices: Turning off the TV, Bluray, stereo, and computers when not in use can save thousands of kilos of carbon dioxide a year. There is no need to have the TV on when nobody is watching it.
Water
Consume the really needed amount of water. Avoid unnecessary water costs with these tips:
- Do not leave the tap running while you brush your teeth or shave.
- Do not wash the foods with the tap open; use a container. Upon completion, this water can be used for watering plants.
- Do not use any soap under running water.
- Use the washing machine and dishwasher only when they’re fully loaded.
- Do not throw sticks, paper, cigarette butts, sanitary towels, tampons or condoms. Put them in a garbage basket.
- Repair leaks immediately. 10 drops of water per minute represent 2,000 liters of water a year wasted.
- Use native plants that require less care and less water.
- Reuse as much water as you can. Reused water is fine for bathrooms, cleaning floors, or washing the front of your home.
- Do not empty the tank without a real reason to do it .
- Do not throw the oil sinks. They float on water and are very difficult to remove.
- Do not throw any garbage into the sea, rivers or lakes.
- Water gardens and streets with potable water.
- The best time to water is late afternoon as it prevents evaporation.
- Gel, shampoo and detergents are not environmentally friendly. They should be used sparingly and where possible choose organic products.
- Do not forget to plant a tree at least once in your life.
Master your Credit Card
As the year comes to a close, many of us find ourselves reflecting on our financial habits, and for countless individuals, that means looking closely at credit card usage. The holiday season often brings a surge in spending, with festive shopping sprees, travel plans, and last-minute gifts piling up on our statements. With enticing deals and the joy of giving, it’s easy to get carried away. However, as we navigate the list of end-of-year expenses, it’s crucial to understand how our credit card choices can impact our financial health in the new year. In this blog post, we’ll explore some tips to master your credit card, and strategies for making smarter financial decisions moving forward. Credit cards are a good tool, but a lot of people don’t really know how to use their cards. Nevertheless, it’s very important to learn the rules of handling credit cards for success and ease of mind, encouraging sound spending habits for new and experienced credit card users alike. Here are the three basic laws for success with credit cards:
1. Buy only what you really need. It’s a matter of responsibility. Get to know all of the responsibilities in owning and using a credit card, and please make wise decisions about the items you really need to purchase versus the ones you simply wish to have. It’s important to learng to distinguish between Need to purchase and Wish to have. By using your cards responsibly we mean you should learn to recognize which things you need and which things you just want. If you use your credit card to buy things you can’t afford today, chances are that you won’t be able to afford it tomorrow, or next month, and you will quick and steadily get into debt. Then don’t live a borrowed lifestyle, be true to yourself.
Responsible purchases help to keep lower balances, which are easier to manage and pay off than those that are higher. Further, lower balances helps you maintain a good credit score, as a large part of your credit score takes into account the levels of debt you have raised. Ideally you should stay within 30% of your credit limit.
Read moreA Few Thoughts on Procrastination
Procrastination is the act of delaying or postponing tasks, often leading to feelings of guilt and anxiety. It often stems from fear of failure, perfectionism, or a lack of motivation. For instance, a student might delay starting their project because they’re worried it won’t meet their own high standards, which can create a cycle of anxiety and avoidance. This tendency not only affects productivity but can also erode self-esteem and increase stress levels.
To overcome procrastination, one effective strategy is to break tasks into smaller, manageable parts. For example, instead of tackling a whole research paper at once, a student could focus on writing one paragraph or even just conducting some preliminary research. Setting specific, achievable goals can make a daunting task feel less overwhelming. Additionally, using techniques like the Pomodoro Technique—working for 25 minutes followed by a 5-minute break—can help maintain focus and reduce the temptation to procrastinate.
Read more10 easy tips to cope with stress
- Know yourself: Learn to recognize your reactions to stress and think of them as a warning: some stressors are bothering you.
- Research about such stressors: A cornerstone to cope with stress. Take a few minutes to elaborate a list of people, activities, events, things that bring in stress to your life. Specify the more immediate stressors: work, family, money? Is it possible to diminish the effect of the stressors?
- Put things in right context: Maybe you are stressing about relatively small things which will be soon forgotten. No matter your stress, worries, results, your failure or your success, the world will keep going around. Think carefully about your stressors: they might seem catastrophic monsters, but they’re just problems which will be forgotten as time goes by. Therefore, don’t rush through life, learn to take things slow. Enjoy your family, your meals, your nature, your life. What have you done today to reward the great person you are? Read more