Specific vs Unique Knowledge

Listening to a podcast from Naval Ravikant, I am thinking about some of the points mentioned regarding people’s quest to be unique. Uniqueness is lost as soon as two people learn to do the same thing. People should work on developing specific knowledge to become irreplaceable.

Scott Adams recommends people to develop 3 skills (the you are naturally good at) and be in the top 25% percentile in each of them. By doing that you develop a combination which makes you exceptionally valuable.

I highly recommend Naval’s podcast to anyone who is looking for some clarity in understanding basic principles of entrepreneurship, finding mentors, co-founders and believe in long term game.

Cheers!

Be a Kid

As an adult, our mind don’t simply take in the world as it is so much as they make educated guess about it. Relying on the guesses, which are based on past experience, saves the mind time and energy.

For example, instead of trying to figure out what teh fractal pattern of green dots in its visual field might be, it just assumes leaves on the tree from past experiences.

On the other hand, kids’s perception are not mediated by expectations and conventions in the been-there, done-that way, they see world as it is.

Spirituality helps in restoring this childlike immediacy, sense of wonder and experience of unity with nature.

Cheers!!

Virtual Movie Club

With COVID-19 locking us all down in our homes, it is essential to be socially connected. One recommendation that I am implementing after listening to Esther Perel is starting a weekly movie club .

How Does it work?

  1. One person from the group selects a movie for the week (we might start with “The Marriage of Maria Braun”).
  2. Watch the movie at your leisure before the scheduled discussion
  3. Join the discussion, here are few points to get you started:
    • Who loved or hated the movie?
    • Who were your favorite characters?
    • Why was the movie chosen?
  4. Decide on who will choose the next movie.

Tools: Zoom, Skype, Google Duo (up to 8 people), Messenger and some drinks 🙂

Stay Connected!!

Physical Distancing and Social Leaning

With government’s recommendation of Social distancing due to COVID, people are feeling isolated and lonely.

We should really understand the true meaning of the social distancing and not the literal meaning. What governments around the world really should say is “Please maintain Social distancing and work towards Social leaning”.

We should use infinite digital tools available today, to be even more connected virtually with friends and families; as there are no excuses anymore about traffic delays, staying late in office, and simply not having enough time.

Be connected…

Please connect

Cheers!

Enjoyment is a guide to finding the right work for you

Interesting Podcast to listen during this time on handling relationship:

https://tim.blog/2020/04/02/esther-perel-relationships-in-quarantine/

Also, while reading the book “Designing Your Life“, came across this wonderful analogy:

General Dysfunctional Belief: “Work is not supposed to be enjoyable; that’s why they call it work.”

Reframe: “Enjoyment is a guide to finding the right work for you.”

Cheers!

Relationships must be voluntary

Relistening to Terry Crews’s interview with Tim Ferriss, Below are some thoughts I am pondering about:

  • People are not object to be used, People are people to be loved
  • Fear begets Fear, Courage begets Courage
  • Advice for elders talking to younger siblings and new parents for raising child:
    1. Never Shame Them
    2. Love until they cannot stand
  • Everyone can hit with a stick/muscle but it takes courage to give a hug with muscles
  • Every Relationship must be voluntary (This ensures that anyone sticking to it are truly based on love)
  • Living life in a day tight compartment

Cheers!

love!

Isha Upa Yoga Practice:

Keep Calm and Practice Yoga.

1. Yoga for Health: Directional Movements (Arm-4 directions)

i. Sideways (Start with arms in front ->Exhale-outward arm rotation -> Inhale-Inward Arm Rotation (3 cycles)

ii. Front ways (Start with arms in front ->Exhale-outward arm rotation -> Inhale-Inward Arm Rotation (3 cycles)

iii. Up towards Sky (Start with arms in front ->Exhale-outward arm rotation -> Inhale-Inward Arm Rotation (3 cycles)

iv. Down towards Earth (Start with arms in front ->Exhale-outward arm rotation -> Inhale-Inward Arm Rotation (3 cycles)

Video Link:    https://isha.sadhguru.org/yoga/video/yoga-for-health/

2. Yoga for Success: Neck Practices (5 practices)

i. Up-Down: Start with lowered chin touching chest -> Inhale, move head up and back -> Exhale, move head down (3 cycles)

ii. Right-Left Neck Twist Rotation: Start with head straight -> Inhale, move head towards right -> Exhale, bring it back to centre ->Inhale, move head toward left -> Exhale, bring it back to centre (3 cycles)

iii. Right-Left Neck Tilt: Start with head straight -> Exhale, move right ear towards right shoulder -> Inhale, move head to centre ->Exhale, move left ear towards left shoulder -> Inhale, move head to centre (3 cycles)

iv. Circular Rotation (clock and anti clockwise):Start with Chin down touching chest -> Inhale, rotate head towards right shoulder (head goes back) ->Exhale, head comes down  -> Inhale, rotate head towards right shoulder (head goes back) ->Exhale, head comes down  (3 cycles)

v. Forward-Backward Shoulder Rotation: 

i. Forward Rotation: Start with relaxed shoulder -> Inhale, go up -> Exhale, Come Down (3 cycles)

ii. Backward Rotation: Start with relaxed shoulder -> Inhale go up -> Exhale Come Down (3 cycles)

Video Link: https://isha.sadhguru.org/yoga/video/yoga-for-success/

3. Yoga for Wellbeing: Yoga Namaskar (7 Steps)

i. Up-Down, Standing Position (3 steps): Start with namaskar in front of chest -> Inhale, move palms up towards sky -> Exhale with Sound, move palms down behind neck -> Inhale, move palms up towards sky -> Exhale with Sound, bring palms to the front of chest (3 Cycles)

ii. Up-Down, Squatting Position (3 steps): Start with namaskar in front of chest -> Inhale, move palms up towards sky -> Exhale with Sound, move palms down behind neck -> Inhale, move palms up towards sky -> Exhale with Sound, bring palms to the front of chest->Inhale, hand Straight out front ->Exhale with Sound with sound,  hand to the chest

iii. Baalasana (7th step): Bring Knees to ground, lean forward and place head on ground, stretch forward, rest palms on the ground and make a triangle touching thumbs and index fingers (minimum 2 minutes or until breath stabilizes) and then come up and stand in the starting position

Video Link: https://isha.sadhguru.org/yoga/video/yoga-for-wellbeing/

4. Yoga for Peace: Nadi Shuddhi (Breathing Exercise 4 minutes)

i. Sit Cross Legged with spine comfortably erect

ii. Left hand loosely placed on middle of the lap, palm facing upward

iii. Use Thumb and Ring Finger for blocking nostril

iv. Switch after each exhalation

Video Link: https://isha.sadhguru.org/yoga/video/yoga-for-peace/

5. Yoga for Joy: Nadi Shuddhi (Chanting Exercise 4 minutes)

i. Sit in cross legged position, palms resting on thigh facing upward, spine confortably erect

ii. Aa: 7 times

iii. Uu: 7 times

iv. Mm: 7 times

Video Link: https://isha.sadhguru.org/yoga/video/yoga-for-joy/

6. Yoga for Inner Exploration: Shambhavi Mudra (Observe Breathing 3-6 minutes)

i. Sit comfortable in cross legged position, create a yogamudra using your fingers (thumb and index making a circle and other fingers straight, no gap between any finger 

ii. Close eyes and sit with slightly upturn face, natural focus on eyebrows

iii. Observe breath for 3-6 minutes

Video Link: https://isha.sadhguru.org/yoga/video/yoga-inner-exploration/

7. Yoga for Love: Namaskar (3-5 minutes)

i. Create a namaskar position and hold it for 3-5 minutes with full emotional of a loved one

Video Link: https://isha.sadhguru.org/yoga/video/yoga-for-love/

Cheers!

Favorite Podcasts

  • Freakonomics (Interesting way of looking into our world)
  • Tim Ferris Show (Tim Ferriss interviews top class achievers from different domain)
  • How I built this (interview with startup founders)
  • Akimbo (Seth Godin’s weekly podcast)
  • Naval (Short audio interviews of Naval Ravikant)
  • Design Matters (interviews with founders)
  • Revisionist Theory
  • Loose Threads
  • The Knowledge Project

Cheers!

Life Problems

Our problems are not unique. No matter how much a person think of them and their problem being unique, reality is we are not unique and nor our problems. If we read and try to learn from other people’s experiences, we can quickly realize the commonness of the problem and hopefully find a solution approach.

Life problems can essentially be categorized into following:

  • Health
  • Wealth
  • Relationship

It’s critical to have balance among three to have a life full of harmony.

Cheers!