fabiochiu/medium-articles huggingface dataset:
The freedom to make a choice
By: Josh Nuttall
Tags: Decisions, Choice, Freedom

On the 27th of April each year, South Africa celebrates Freedom Day. It commemorates the first democratic election that the country had in 1994, I happened to be 11 months old at the time. Reflecting on this recently my mind was draw to the topic of freedom and how we always have a choice.

Freedom is broadly defined as the power to act, speak, or think as one pleases.

Choice is defined as the act of choosing between two or more possibilities.

So, what does in mean when we say that we “have the freedom to make a choice”? Do we really or are there elements that influence our choice which we may have no control over… To a certain degree we have control of our own freedom, but there are factors that may influence it. However regardless of these factors we always have a choice to make.

Choice is one of the most powerful tools that we have. It allows us to express ourselves and to support what we value.

While we may not always have freedom, we will always have the ability to make a choice.
Who is “The Son of Time”?
Tags: Self Improvement, Mindfulness, Language, Time, Choices

Who is “The Son of Time”?

It is endlessly captivating when words reveal themselves to you in particular, unannounced moments — like a crystal which bedazzles with its sparkle only when seen through a particular angle. The Arabic/Urdu word “Ibn al Waqt” is a poetic phrase. Like a crystal, it seems to have been formed — rather crafted — with care and precision. Common usage of such phrases erodes the finely crafted edges and so their brilliance seems to be diminished with time. But perhaps it is not really diminished; we only need to read them in the right place and at the right time to be illuminated.

Ibn al Waqt has two contrasting meanings. One meaning is that the Ibn al Waqt (The Son of Time) is he who regards the Present as all there is, without a care or thought to the Past or to the Future. In this, he leads himself to recklessness and gives in to his lower self, saying yes to every desire it puts forward — legitimate or otherwise.

He forgets an important distinction, though. It is that out of following two statements, one is true and the other is merely delusion. The truth is that at any moment, only that moment exists. The false statement is that only a given moment exists.

It is an important distinction to consider.

The second meaning of Ibn al Waqt corresponds to that true statement: at any moment, only that moment exists. To expand a little, it is to say that from our perspective, Allah Ta’ala creates the World and everything in it each moment. In this realization we, for an infinitesimally small instant, share divinity — or perhaps taste it — nay, smell it as a fragrance from a flower that is almost not too far. We share divinity in the sense of realizing time as an Eternal Now — as a single point — rather than linearity broken into fragments and held together by the imperceptible glue of “life”.
HOW ARE YOU?
By: Shikha Saboo
Tags: Intentions, Life Lessons, Power, Choices, Life

Let me share something that happened today. I was on my way from home to my weekly meet with my fellow coaches. And as I past the third signal on highway, I saw that there was this guy infront of me on a bike with the side stand not up.

As it was a highway with the moving traffic at a speed of 50-60 kmph, I was wondering how can I let that person know about the side stand. I tried to speed up my vehicle to match humans then tell him but every time there was a vehicle that came in between.

So I tried another way to approach him. I started honking right behind him hoping that he would respond, which he did by speeding up. LOL!

He is just going straight ahead and I am thinking how can I inform that man. And then it happened!

He bumped in a pothole only to come out with the stand kicked up due to the jerk. And this happened right in front of me.

For the first time in my life I was glad that there was a pothole in the road. And I learnt:

Focus changes your experience: I was driving casually just to reach the destination, but with the focus to inform that man, it changed my experience.

Purpose in disguise: I got the purpose of helping him just by informing him. He was finally safe.

Bumps are for your good: Again this is a disguise. I have always seen people rise only after a fall.

Intentions are powerful: Intention is like a dart game. You have a focus and you need intention to aim it.

It will always happen: I wanted to help the man but couldn’t reach but my intention of helping him happened.

So think about what is your focus and intention. Is it positive and powerful or full of negativity and jealousy.

Until tomorrow
A life of ‘fuck yes or no’
By: Ben Campbell
Tags: Decisions, Choices, Mark Manson, Decision Making, Life

Every decision in your life can be boiled down to one of two responses. The answer is either ‘fuck yes’ or ‘no’.

Quite simply, if you are not excitedly jumping out of your skin to go to work tomorrow, finish your master thesis, hang out with your friends or be in a relationship with someone, then you simply shouldn’t do it.

If you have second thoughts about any of the above, the answer should be no.

We are here for such a finite period of time, and then we will cease to exist. This life doesn’t come around twice, and we will never again have the opportunities that we have now.

There is absolutely no excuse for living a life that doesn’t match your dreams, and there is no reason to pursue something, or someone, that doesn’t bring you supreme happiness.

So surround yourself with the ‘fuck yes’ people, jobs and friends. Travel to places you love and spend time in cities that make your eyes grow wide.

Photo of my very own ‘fuck yes’ @evangelistamr while climbing across mountainous Tuscany, Italy.

Words inspired by @markmansonnet
The road not taken
By: Shubham Vaishnav
Tags: Courage, Peer Pressure, Confusion, Purpose, Choices

Often in life, we come across crossroads — situations where we’ve two or more options to choose from. More often than not, we either tend to choose the path which promises us social acceptance, respect and adoration; or the one which is easy to tread. Just as an electric current spontaneously flows through the path of least resistance, our mind, by default, chooses the path offering us some kind of comfort — physically, mentally or socially.

However, the history of mankind teaches us that most of the breakthroughs happened as a result of someone’s decision to traverse a path that was filled with uncertainties and pains. Instances of this phenomena include college dropouts who became extraordinarily successful, socially rejected people who became great activists, revolutionaries who stood against the undeserving rulers and so on. This holds all the more true when we’ve an inner spiritual calling or inclination. Those who want to invest more in spiritual life than what is considered “normal” may be judged by different sections of society with different allegations.

Does this mean we should always make the most irrational and unprecedented choices in life which most people haven’t dared to try? Certainly not! Recklessness may lead to havocs in life. However, simply following the ways of the crowd of society or making the most socially accepted choices won’t lead to any unprecedented achievement either. Balance is the golden word.

How could we summon the courage to follow our inner calling despite the potential dangers and uncertainties? First we need to ascertain what our short term and long term goals are. If these goals are in harmony with the will of God and we invest our trust on His love and protection, then taking this leap of faith becomes much easier.

We can derive immense inspiration by reading or contemplating on the lives of those who’ve taken such decisions and attained perfection. Also, if we associate with those few people who’ve been making such choices and encourage us to do so, we can boost ourselves with a plethora of courage.
Puppeteers
By: Samantha Case
Tags: Deep Thoughts, Inspiration, Life Lessons, Choices, Self-awareness

Imagine you’re on a stage and there’s an audience before you. You feel confused why you’re there. What is the performance? What is your role? As fear begins to rise, someone enters the stage behind you and the audience applauds.

Suddenly, your arms raise without your doing. You look up to realize there are strings attached to your limbs, which are also connected to the hands of the person behind you. You are the puppet, and the other person is the puppeteer.

As you involuntary perform before the audience, you look out to notice that they, too, are attached to strings. Do they realize it? If they do, you wonder, why are they enjoying your subservience, which is also their own?

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez

The puppeteers in our lives may appear within a range of disguises: societal expectations, cultural norms, religious doctrine, or the people whose opinions we’re overly cognizant of. Various puppeteers control different aspects of our lives: our career, the choices we make, the beliefs we hold, and how we behave dependent on others’ opinions.

In many ways, puppetry is damaging to the psyche. Caring what others think to the point that it dictates your actions, for example, is like handing control of your life over to someone or something else.

Many aspects of who we are is dictated to some degree by a puppeteer. In some circumstances it’s nearly unavoidable. We’re social creatures with a natural desire to conform and a strong urge to attach our identities to something easily definable.

The harm doesn’t necessarily come from the puppeteers themselves, but from being unaware that they exist. A puppeteer has the most control when we don’t see that we’re the puppet, like those in the crowd who are oblivious to their own strings. That is when we’re most vulnerable to manipulation.

The first step to taking back control is to recognize where the strings are attached and then to identify the puppeteer they connect to.

Then, it’s crucial you realize that in your hand is a pair of scissors, and at any moment you have the power to choose to cut yourself from any person, institution, or idea that is governing aspects of your life.
The Choice We Make
By: Asif Ali
Tags: Self Development, Life Lessons, Decisions, Choices, Life

Photo by Raphael Schaller

“The whole damn thing is about decisions; little, seemingly insignificant decisions that clear the road for monster truck life-altering ones. You see, every path you take leads to another choice, and some choices can change everything. Every moment of the rest of your life hangs on them.” — The Choice, Nicholas Sparks

The choice we take the very next moment, minute and hour, in one way or another, is going to shape our future and alter everything.

Do you want to continue reading this, do you want to continue doing what you’re doing right now, do you want to Netflix, do you want to sleep, do you want to work — everything that you do, or don’t, next has significance to your future.

Some choices are seemingly insignificant. However, even they lead us to the next set of choices that could possibly be life-altering.

And then, of course, other choices are evidently BIG.

This basic mindset puts great significance to every second of the present and how important they are to our future. What we do, what we don’t — it’s so important to what we will do and where will we be.

So, the next minute, hour and day might look quite innocent and redundant at present. But they are much more crucial. Very crucial to our future.
There’s only one way to know what happens next
By: Prajwal Shukla
Tags: Science, Choices, Life Lessons

Journeying through the cosmos with Neil deGrasse Tyson or through the wormhole with Morgan Freeman we all have at some instance heard of or thought of the phenomenons I’m about to mention. Physics, in its history has had a varying rate of growth and it has left us with quite a few unresolved mysteries of the universe, but the fundamental properties and theories remain intact. Artists, philosophers, preachers, scientists, astronomers and particle physicists have all worked on similar concepts unknowing of the fact that they’ve grasped the mere idea that’s been floating through the heads of mankind for a millennia, just varied perceptions is all it took to understand what they really meant to address. Take Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle for example, it explains how a particle can never be measured in terms of energy and momentum together, but the individual properties can be measured because those properties depend on each other to be measured. Now, if we consider the Schrodinger’s Cat Experiment, it suggests that when a cat is locked up in a box, it is unknown to us whether the cat is alive or dead until the box it opened and hence, the cat is considered both dead and alive at the same instance until proven otherwise. Also, you must have heard in school that light is both a wave and a particle, but when being studied, it can only be either a wave or a particle but not both, and neither of the properties can be measured unless one of them is sabotaged to study the other. In biology, we’ve studied that a virus, when outside the environment of it’s host, is neither living nor dead, ironic to our cat in the box that is both. Modern quantum computers rely on a single character that is being either a 1 or a 0, and it is considered to be both until the computer is asked to present a result. And if you’ve ever even heard of Shakespeare’s work Hamlet you must be familiar with the wildly famous question that has us wondering about life, “to be or not to be, that is the question”. Although really the question remains is what do all these theories and concepts have in common and in the simplest of their form what do they imply? To answer that is to question yourself about the duality of our existence, our dual nature has split everything into pairs to exist in balance, because “to exist is to against”. To understand this idea, let us consider a tree, we only see the leaves, the branches, the stem, the flora and the fruit, and we’ve also learnt that there’s a part we don’t see that play’s an equally important role in the existence of the tree as the leaves, you’d be considered a fool today to think that a tree only has its top half and no roots. Duality allows us to be, it’s the hidden secret of existence. We all have dual nature in us, at every instance in our lives we have a choice, you can choose to be a good person, you can choose to work harder, you can choose to share this blog and you can choose to take a step towards saving the planet. Our social duality has left us with the one question remaining, “to be or to act like it?”
Is Your Failure A Lesson?
By: Jake Rosenberg
Tags: Failure, Personal Development, Success, Lessons Learned, Choices

The truth is, only you can answer that…

If you’ve been reading my daily articles, do you remember what is the difference between a success and a failure?

A failure fails and allows that to knock them down and keep them down.

A success fails and looks at that as a lesson for their next round…

… which brings me into what I’d like to talk about today.

Yesterday, I spoke about not settling for less than your goal, and a member of my WhatsApp group brought up a great point to me.

One of the reasons many people settle for less than their goal is because they have a failure and they give up on achieving the big goal…

… so they either lower their goal expectations, or they altogether quit!

So that brings me back to today's question:

Is your failure a lesson?

Have you answered that yet?

As you recall me saying, only you could answer that.

You can either fail and tell yourself “screw it, I can’t do this”, or you can examine your failure for lessons so that you don’t fail the next time around.

I’d personally recommend the latter.

Examine your failure:

What did work? Why did this work?

What didn’t work? Why didn’t this work?

How can I adjust so that next time I don’t fail?

Then get up and give it another go.

In fact, give it double the effort this time around!

This is what sets successful people apart.

They plan. They execute. They either Win or they go back to step 1.

This is the secret to winning more.

Start winning more and Power On! 🚀
The relativity of weight
By: Kirstin Vanlierde
Tags: Adventure, Fulfillment, Commute, Choices, Life

‘Won’t the commute be too heavy?’ I was asked seven years ago, during the application rounds for a job at the organisation I am currently still working for but will be leaving mid-April. The mentioned commute was about two hours, one way: from a small town with little public transport to the center of Brussels. The offices weren’t located in a spot that was by no means unreachable, but still a twenty-minute walk from the nearest of Brussels three main train stations (or about the same amount of time by train, if you caught your connection and the trains actually ran — always a bit of a bet in Belgium).

Back then, I shook my head firmly — heavy, not at all. I really wanted the job.

It was indeed managable, it turned out, when I started doing it two or three times a week. It was a bit of a hassle, but I was willing to take that in stride. It made for long days, though: I was easily gone from home for twelve full hours. (For those of you who don’t know the Belgian work environment very well: nine-to-five is a standard for a lot of people (in which we work very hard and perform as much work or more than people in countries where work hours are longer but the work rhythm is less efficient or more relaxed), and we try to live close to our jobs.) It was one of the reasons why I worked only 2,5 days out of five.

By the end of the year, when my temporary contract was coming to a close and I’d had my fill of the job it referred to, the commute had indeed begun to weigh. I experienced it like a true weight, and a burden.

But then a job vacancy appeared, for the same organisation, one floor up in the same building. Journalist and editor. That was what I wanted. I had had a tast of it and loved it. It was the kind of work that made me happy. I applied and got the job.

That’s when something strange happened.
Multiple choice questions (MCQs)
By: Muhammad Adnan
Tags: Questions, Choice, Multiple, Mcqs

MCQs

Multiple choice questions (MCQs)

Multiple choice questions (or MCQs), are a type of question, also known as items, that provide a means of assessing learning in an examination or test. Generally, an MCQ consists of a problem, known as a stem, which is then followed by a series of alternative answers. Students generally choose one of these answers in relation to the problem or question posed.

Multiple-choice questions can be delivered in the following ways during the COVID-19 situation as an alternative to a paper-based final examination:

Time-limited, non-invigilated online exam — the task is undertaken online under ‘exam-like’ time constraints (typically 1–3 hours) but is open book, allowing students to refer to any material they can access. DSA can assist with the scheduling of this task. Invigilated online exam — the task is undertaken online under ‘exam-like’ time constraints (typically 1–3 hours) and invigilated remotely. This category should only be pursued if, in consultation with your Head of School, the above two categories are not viable. DSA will assist with the scheduling of this task.

Pros and cons of multiple-choice questions in an examination

Some advantages:

Highly objective and reliable for testing large cohorts.

Can assess student learning across a wide range of discipline knowledge.

Reduces marking time.

Easy to implement as an online test.

A bank of MCQs can be used in numerous ways

Some limitations:

Questions frequently only test lower-order thinking skills; good design is needed.

Feedback to students is not common on these assessments.

Students may acquire false knowledge through lures in the distractors.

Writing good questions (and answers) is difficult and takes time.

Guidelines for constructing multiple-choice questions

Anatomy of MCQ:

Multiple choice question items consist of a stem and alternatives.

The stem comprises of the problem while the list of options with one correct or most appropriate (answer) + the incorrect answer (distractor) are called the alternatives (Steven et al., 1991).

Multiple choice questions (MCQs)

mcqs.MCQ meaning.MCQ questions.pakmcqs

MCQ exam

c MCQ.computer mcqs.ms word mcqs.accounting mcqs.java MCQ.operating system MCQ.economics mcqs.c++ multiple-choice questions

computer graphics MCQ.general knowledge mcqs.pedagogy mcqs.python MCQ.botany mcqs.physics MCQ
They Baffle and Bamboozle with Choices
By: Gail Williamson
Tags: Mindfulness, Life Lessons, Choices, Patience, Life

I remember when it was easier to make a decision. Fewer brands of everything including toothpaste, they basically said that they cleaned your teeth. And they did. There wasn’t a specific one for whiter teeth, sensitive teeth, or shine-up-faster for your date in one week teeth.

Photo by Author

Less of This.

It was a more simple time. Less interruptions to who you are. You did or you didn’t and you didn’t care as much. It was easier to hear the answer. Who am I?

Now, you can spend hours choosing a hair product, a box of cereal, or a brand of coffee.

We are overwhelmed with choices.

Now, you can be a minimalist or fill your walls from floor to ceiling. You can order a print online and hang it up in two days. Do you change your decor with the season, the next holiday or whenever you go by the decor store?

I know many of you came from a family who had the same sofa from when you were born to when you packed a suitcase and left home. Right? Did anyone care?

And for the last year, we have all been held captive within the four walls ‘that we really should paint in the colour of the year’. Yea right, because this is our biggest dilemma? Decision making has become worse.

They want us to choose because they need to sell! (Tweet This) They want to give us a course, send us an email filled with links, offer us something to make our life better. Now sometimes this is good, but often it isn’t. You need to choose.

And they won’t leave you alone. Psychology Today says that we likely make 2000 decisions every hour! No wonder we are baffled and bamboozled.

Most times what they tell us would be wrong. Only you know what you need. (Tweet This)

Photo by Author

More of This.

I aim to tell people to not look for the hack, the fix, the instant cure.

Instead go slow, to get ahead. The chances are you will not strike it rich or be fit or find your life partner on a dating site on your first try. You could be lucky, but you’re not likely to be the exception.

The world is full of people looking to get ‘there’ easily. And it doesn’t work because the finding is in the living.

Because here’s the secret, no one has it all figured out. We are all not complete, we are all searching.

So I say, be patient, keep trying, make some mistakes, learn from them, look for the people you can trust. (Tweet This)

And then be still, listen, give it room to happen. Choose to find yourself instead of things.

Stay well, stay kind.
Emma Corrin Wore No Makeup to the Critics’ Choice Awards
By: Todays News World
Tags: Choice, Corrin, Awards

Image Source: Will Waterworth / Courtesy of Schiaparelli

Celebrities joined from all over the world for the 26th Annual Critics Choice Awards, which meant the timezones varied drastically. Calling in virtually all the way from the UK, Emma Corrin looked completely shocked to win for Best Actress in a Drama Series — it seems she had even taken off all of her makeup prior to winning.

Earlier in the evening we saw Corrin dressed in an unforgettable Schiaparelli outfit with smoky eye makeup and pink neutral lipstick on but when she appeared on screen to accept her award, not a trace of product was left on her face. The fresh-faced actress also shed the extra-large dangly earrings she was sporting earlier (but kept on the kickass minidress). The Crown star then explained that it was two in the morning where she was. It was a total power move that has us wondering: what is her skin-care routine?

Image Source: Getty Images for the Critics Choice AssociationImage Source: Getty Images for the Critics Choice AssociationImage Source: Getty Images for the Critics Choice Association



Source link
CHOICES CHOICES CHOICES
Tags: Belgium, Choices

Photo by Oliver Roos Unsplash

Life is a journey in which we make many choices. Which ones will you make?

It is all about Choices.

Choose where you are heading.

Choose what to take.

Choose to open your horizon or not.

Choose tears.

Choose smile.

Choose chat or just choose to think.

Choose path to your personally defined success.

Choose your career. Choose whether it is here or there or both.

Choose your glasses. Choose whether they are half empty or half full.

Choose to make your own path or choose the easy path.

Choose someone to be your world.

Choose someone to bring into the world.

Choose to travel the world.

Choose to change the world.

It is your choice.

We are our choices.

Choices are forks in life. Each one leading to a different outcome. Which path to tread depends completely on the choice you make.

Choosing something is difficult. But choosing to accept what you have chosen, and stand by it, is the most difficult part.

Some situations may not be of your choosing but how you respond to them is your choice.

It is your choice.

Life is full of choices and every choice is an learning opportunity.

Life is a journey in which we make many choices. Which ones will you make?
Peace and Love vs Justice
By: Wayup Jahbless
Tags: Perception, History, Justice, Choices, Peace And Love

The world has a lot of problems, this is verified through turning the pages of history. The journey which transpired in order that the civilization we now know, and many enjoy was and is created by pinching the nerve of justice. Upon examining his-story, starting at the beginning when man was said to have been uncivilized to our current modern (civilization), the common theme which will be realized is the sacrificing of nations of people in order to drive productivity for development of the architectural structure of said civilization, therefore peace and love was and is a useless concept for the architects of modernization.

The ‘uncivilization’ of ‘yester-year’ was said to have been lived and led by nations of people that lived off the land, revered the divine feminine whom birthed humanity and only used what they needed for day to day sustenance. The whole psychological, spirituality and biological state of these uncivilized people where organic based and therefore would never feel the need to grow beyond their current reality in the form of becoming modern. This according to historical references.

After examining the relevant history in the context of modernization’s link to injustice, one must consider his/her current role i.e. Do you consent to the architect’s blueprint and the consequences deriving from same?

This is an especially important question that many would need to ask self and each other, observing reality from a lens of truth. The lens will clearly show the undeniable link to injustice from modernization and a potentially losing battle for peace and justice.

Is there a ray of hope in the form of creating a balance for modernization and peace and justice?

wayup-jahbless
Choices Of Night
By: Richard Palmquist, Dvm Gdvchm Cchvm
Tags: Fear, Life Lessons, Poetry, Love, Choices

In the dark:

They can not see —

The imperfections:

Lit so brightly —

In the light of day…

They know by listening:

By feeling —

In slow & careful touches:

Each one flowing —

From fingers to mind,

Telling stories:

Assembled by emotions:

Those tricky advisors —

Holding facts & fears:

Not always true…

in the darkness:

They can rest & heal;

Dreamers soaring,

Lovers adoring:

Merging into somethings:

Nameless & perfect…

Or they can fear:

Those monsters

. of the blackest fright;

Sins & harms of yesterday,

Regrets:

Stabbing out their sight,

Torturing their peace:

Desperately seeking:

Excuses that permit —

Those actions:

Leaving bruises —

So secret

. in their placement…

What…Fear…wounds:

Making Whole so broken,

Love…can…heal…

Waiting there:

Quiet and eternal,

Knowing that the noise will fall,

As frogs croak,

And crickets sing —

Asking us to breathe:

To walk in thankfulness,

And touch in Grace —

Until we waken:

From the dreamless place,

Where Love can’t go,

And only pain instructs.
Do Less, Do Better
By: Erik The Realtor
Tags: Productivity, Personal Growth, Choices, Time Management, Life

Years ago I found myself handling way too much, and nothing was going right. Rather than slowing down I also found myself speeding up, hurrying to get work done and adding more to my plate. This began to affect all areas of my life, including my family life.

It was time for a change, and what I came up with was a life mantra born out of the popular saying “quality over quantity.” By limiting myself to three key areas I was creating more time for what mattered the most. At this point in my life I had a family, I was a full-time college student and engaged in full-time church ministry. So, by default, if an opportunity came my way that did not fit into one of these categories my response was always “no.”

Saying “no” is really saying “yes” to what you have decided is most important; it is guarding what I hold to be sacred and protects the most important people in my life — my wife and our three sons.

Nowadays my categories have shifted, or have changed all together yet I still hold to my rule of 3. My personal health and my family have enjoyed the fruits of this decision. I know that if I want to do my best, I have to do less.
A Debt Due to the Dead
By: H F Sylaj
Tags: Death, Life Lessons, Self, Choices, Religion

These are just a few examples of modern cultures that take seriously the postmortem wishes of their loved ones (see additional articles below for more examples). For millennia humans have known and honored the fact that we would not be here at all if it was not for the people that came before us. Our families sacrificed and fought to make our existence not only possible, but had the hope it would be better than theirs.

Ever since I saw the movie I mentioned above, I have wondered, how much of a responsibility do we have to those that went before us? How many of our choices and our free will do we need to give up to show our appreciation to previous generations?

There are many areas of modern life that previous generations fought and sacrificed for their dependents to be able to fully live life as they imagined it. But what if we don’t want to live the life they saw for us? How much do we owe our families, our predecessors, the ones who went before us, for the freedoms we now have at their expense?

I am not sure of the answer to that question, though I do know that it should be decided on an individual basis. In my own life I try to honor the sacrifices of my ancestors, but not all of them. Some of them even contradict each other. Converting to Islam I am positive would not make my Christian ancestors happy.

Remaining true to the core of whom we are is important, even if it goes against our deceased family member’s wishes (or the living ones). But there are many small ways to honor those who went before. Finding a place for little traditions to achieve this helps keeps us connected to our foundation and reminds us how much we have been loved.
Our only freedom of choice
By: Zsolt Hermann
Tags: Freedom, Nature, Humanity, Evolution, Choices

Question from the Internet:

“Would you rather have complete freedom in a dangerous world, or very little freedom, in a world that is very safe?”

There is no such thing as complete freedom.

First of all, we — as human beings, a species in nature — exist in a fully integrated, lawful, deterministic natural system, where everything is determined, governed by strict, unforgiving laws of nature. Those laws sustain the balance and homeostasis life and optimal development depends on.

If we do not keep those laws we inevitably run into problems, crisis situations, and sooner or later self-destruct. This is the “recipe” for human history’s recurring vicious cycles so far as we have become increasingly incompatible with those laws, and now we are standing on the threshold before self-destruction.

And personally, we are all blindly governed, driven by an inherently selfish, egoistic, and exploitative nature that forces us to thrive, benefit from ruthless competition, surviving, succeeding at each others’ and nature’s expense.

Our only “free choice” is deciding which control we accept above ourselves? Are we continuing to be driven by our own self-destructive egos, or we accept the control, governance of nature’s system and its laws over us?

With the second choice, we would consciously proactively acquire seamless integration with each other and with nature’s balanced system, attaining a safe, perfectly fulfilled collective human life. We would also reach and fulfill our unique, evolutionary human purpose: becoming nature’s only conscious, insider but independent observers and willing partners.
The Third Road
By: Tony Steven Sheldon
Tags: Politics, Extremism, Decision Making, Poetry, Choices

Photo by Kaique Rocha

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one less travelled by, And that has made all the difference. — Robert Frost

Published in 1916, a poem-so well known that it may have dictated the lives and choices of many young men and women. Filled with passion, as we sometimes are, we come to an intersection and as we stand there in bewilderment of making a choice, we simply think of two. Two choices, a right or wrong, the left or the right, up or down, success or failure and that make the choice naive. As naive as we ourselves our.

Robert Frost may have chosen out of just two roads for the sake of a beautiful prose but we have more choices than him in our life, most of the time.

Some roads diverged in a wood, and I — I took the one that made all the sense.

For roads are not just two, because there is a third one to those too. A third road that goes from the middle. A road that brings balance to things. An intermediate in things.

As the choices of going left or right sway us in every which way, we get confused. In thinking which extreme way is right or wrong, we forget to think that maybe both are wrong or right at the same time. And now only a midway through them, a choice that reflects the qualities of all extremities may be the best way.

Often when society bundles itself in groups based on extreme choices, we divide and fight each other in favour of our own choice. What the groups quickly forget is that the way to the left takes you just to the left and vice versa. Whereas a way through the middle brings you only the best of both worlds.

Intermediacy or averaging down of things is the best thing one can do and one must do. For even Robert Frost knew, that that has made all the difference.
What3things
By: Siddharth Ram
Tags: Favourites, Choices, Pinterest, Design

World is getting more open and connected with social networks, blogging platforms and chat apps.

The world has the power to motivate you and give you answers to what you are looking for .

What3things is an initiative to let people explore favourite three things of people across the globe in different categories like Food, Travel,Music, Art, Sports, Technology, Entertainment and Reading

Your any favourite three collection can inspire someone, somewhere,sometime.

This is a place where you explore interests, ideas, inspiration from people across the globe. This is an amazing way of how a person can inspire someone on the other side of the globe with his choices and interests.

Imagine 100 people sharing there choices and you can access the information at one place with just a search.

Three Songs when you are Sad Three Movies to watch in hindi Three Mistakes of my life Three places to eat in bangalore Three quotes from steve jobs which inspire me Three wallpapers I love the most Three coding languages you should know Three skills I have Three TED Talks you love

When your song playlist helps someone too

Why Just 3 and not more ?

We believe a person can land up to the best of his/her choices and curated information when limited to 3. The content you explore is the final 3 of someone and more useful for you when in need.

The above picture explains the best choices of people and not random suggestions from the internet. It helped them and might help me too just like how a song playlist of mine helped a friend of mine.

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

If you think you have some good collections do comment below with

Title: 3 best quotes (or) 3 experiences in thailand etc etc

Collection

Post your comment. We shall pick it up and start featuring.
Humanities V/S India-
By: Niranjana Nair
Tags: Family, Pressure, Education, Choices, Humanities

Humanities V/S India-

Ways to make your brown parents (and probably any other parent) faint 101-

I’ve a girlfriend/boyfriend. Main karke aaya ahi aaj. (Translation- I did IT today) I’m going clubbing. Can I get a few bucks? My stash just got over. Mom, Dad, I don’t wanna opt for engineering or medicine (“the only two viable career paths”). I am planning on taking up Humanities/Arts stream instead.

*Mother cries.

*Rants regarding the shame I’ll be bringing to the family.

*Father shouts and asks me to go to my room.

Oh boy. I wish I were exaggerating things up a notch.

India globally ranks 1 for harboring a humongous number of STEM graduates.

I’m not a teeny-tiny bit taken aback by this headline from Forbes, for it’s as surprising as-

“Kim Kardashian’s butt ain’t real”

In the eyes of most Indian parents, opting for humanities is equivalent to social suicide.

Speaking of suicide, as every hour passes, a pressurised student ends his/her life. Well, to me, this data has HELP written all over it.

Let’s address the elephant in the room before it has us crushed under its gigantic feet.

The major issue as to why teenagers of my age are unable to opt for Humanities is societal intervention (“..cause what’s there to study if you course doesn’t have Science or Math included”). Don’t get me wrong- I do believe that we, as mere mortals, surrender ourselves to greater force, The Society, to fulfill our basic need of gregariousness. But that doesn’t give a free pass for some random guy living down the block to make life-altering decisions for me.

And, to those who believe that STEM is the only option and can’t help it but look out for my well- being, here’s an anecdote-

When I used to be a pre- pubescent puppy who couldn’t care lesser about having a flat belly, my dad used to bring me luxury chocolates (P.S- he still does). A load of them with varying textures, flavors, density, sweetness, yada- yada. TBH, I never liked the caramel/nougat ones. They seemed all sticky and sweet. I had a thing for praline. My friend, on the other hand, was quite the opposite. So, how did we cope up with this disaster? I ate the ones I liked and kept mum about her choices. She was sensible enough to return the favor. Wait. Did I mention that we were 10, or probably 11 years old.

Now, how about we act like mature adults and let people make choices about their life, their education, irrespective of how we feel about it.

Sounds good?
The Choice to Grow
By: Veda Prajvalan
Tags: Flow State, Growth Mindset, Hafiz, Choices, Acceptance

As a parent, I’ve tried to share the lessons I feel have the most impact for good. At the top of that list is to lean in to change and proactively choose opportunities for growth. By my observation and experience, life will teach what’s needed regardless, and ignoring the lessons only makes them louder and harsher.

One of my favorite poets is Hafiz. He writes beautifully about the relationship to Life and the Divine with such humor. A poem that illustrates this particular lesson is called, A Divine Invitation.

You have been invited to meet The Friend.

No one can resist a Divine Invitation.

That narrows down all our choices to just two: We can come to God dressed for dancing, or

Be carried on a stretcher to God’s Ward.

After several visits to the figurative “ward”, I now show up ready to dance. :) Resistance is futile and going with the flow is so much easier, more peaceful and a lot more fun.

Whenever my child recognizes an area needing improvement, I ask if it’s better to resist or ignore it, put it off and learn the hard way, or embrace it proactively and make small changes and adjustments and thereby experience more fluidity and control. It can be hard sometimes in the moment to take the high road or the long view and challenge ourselves, but the payoffs are great. And sooner or later, those lessons will need to be addressed. Embracing the choice to grow and dancing through life with a light touch is so much more pleasurable than holding on, fighting or blocking, which in the end is only a futile delay tactic.
imposter
By: Ryan Crossfield
Tags: Imposter, Imposter Syndrome, Choice, Action, Change

Most of us have a tendency to feel out of place when we try to prove ourselves or our ideas in a new territory. It’s common to think we’re an imposter because, as good intentioned as our efforts might be, we are unsure of the outcomes we are trying to create. We think, who are we to speak up with a new idea, to step outside the status quo, or to lead with revolutionary action?

We say we want to get rid of this feeling, but the thing is, you don’t want to. Feeling like an imposter is just a symptom of being on the verge of creating a better outcome by leading into new territory. It is important that in those moments, we show up and decide to lead. We’ll never be sure of the outcome because it hasn’t happened yet, but it is that intention, effort, and willingness to step into the unknown that has a tendency to change the world. Take these feelings as a good thing, it means we’re leaning into the work.

Improving upon the norm never happened without someone feeling out of place. So, embrace the feeling to create the change you want to see.
Don’t Take a Ride in a Bucket
By: Mike Vardy
Tags: Life Lessons, Choices, Time, Prioritization, Decision Making

Photo by Samur Isma on Unsplash

During a pivotal scene in the 1985 film The Goonies, Andi had a chance to leave The Goonies behind in the catacombs to join Troy Perkins (her arrogant boyfriend) back up top on the surface. Troy sends down a bucket after Andi asks him to (with Troy hoping it will end with certain, er, perks), but Mikey offers up a rousing speech with the hopes of changing her mind — and the minds of anyone else who’d be willing to go back up top and leave their adventure down below behind.

“Their time, up there. Down here, it’s our time. It’s our time down here. That’s all over the second we ride up Troy’s bucket.”

We need to hold onto our time as much as we can, especially in times of uncertainty. Once we take a ride in Troy’s bucket, we give that up.

Pursue what matters to you, undaunted. Power through what gets in your way, unfazed. Your path is your path. No one else’s. That means the only type of bucket that should matter to you is the bucket list you’ve made for yourself.

Remember, it’s your time down here. Make it count.
To find something that I love doing: its practice makes me a happier person, more connected to…
By: Jas Rel
Tags: Confusion, Clarity, Friends, Self Analysis, Choices

To find something that I love doing: its practice makes me a happier person, more connected to myself.

Why does it hurt? Am I not [strong] enough? I do not feel loved by my mother, she is jealous of my dreams.

What can I do without making mother jealous, without making dad worried and disappointed, without making sister envious and small?

I do not want to be above others, I want to live freely, I want to be my best self… I feel often that no one matches my energy. Maybe I was born too lucky in life… I had it be taken from me. Do I brag too much? Am I too loud? In part yes, though it is due to my insecurities…

I am trying to be softer, with others. to attract less attention, yet people around me hurt me, they hurt me with their words like swords.

I wish I found a friend, a real friend, we would always reunite.

Why talking to my family makes me feel so down. I do not feel their support in me doing what I would like to do, and I do not find the energy to do all they want me to do.

What I found was saving me though were people; him, wanting to work together, enjoy ourselves in work. He would tell me to enjoy my work. He would tell me that I can find a way to express myself. I can find my own way. Why did I like him so much? And did we part because I am inconsistent and all that I liked about him and what he taught me was actually just another of my endless wishes?; or perhaps it is because he did not accept me as a friend, I could not be his friend because of his own personal beliefs/barriers. And together with my immaturity… We were so close and so far, we cared for each other, and we used each other.

Talking to him just felt like home.

I should do little, more regularly. It is painful for me to do that as of now. Because I do not believe in myself? Because I do not know what I love? — and within the practice? Because it is partially what I learnt from him, who eventually left me/we left eachother, and it is still healing. …

What if I regret leaving my current situation? I have not made friends, tutorials are split between love and pain; I never go out, I feel like work is the only thing I should do and should not have a life, yet, I feel like it is unjust to work like that. And then, my health. I have lost so much health.

The energy I get from the sun, and from my freedom, could that be higher than finishing this masters? Could if be worth losing so much that I have worked on? Could I not consider where I have come so far

I cannot believe mother… She makes it hard for me to love her. Did she try to frame me unnecessarily quickly into ‘problematic studies’. I feel like I cannot talk to her anymore, I cannot trust her anymore. I used to trust her blindly. It hurts.

I have worked so hard, yet, I realize I cannot make my family happy by doing what they think is right. I have to do what I think will make me happy. ( I wish we were closer…)
Small, Medium or Large
By: Gerrio S. Rahming
Tags: Belief, Choices, Decisions, Focus

What is happiness, without sadness? What is joy without pain? What would success be without failure? See, it's not up to us what we experience or choose to go through, only how we deal with those experiences and how we react to them. Without one, the other wouldn't be… you have to experience the lows to know how hard and prestigious it is to experience the highs, and to give you a chance to know which of the two you want to prevent yourself from feeling. Your devotion, your faith, your belief, and your sacrifice are all seeds being planted in the ground. They are healthy and lucrative investments you have the choice of making. You can decide whether you want to get something great and valuable out of all this time spent or whether you're going to go through it this and have nothing to show for it in the end. Of course, there will be doubt, confusion, pain, and disbelief. That's why being strong and faithful is a CHOICE. What's mandatory isn't what you choose, but that you choose. because there is no such thing as staying in the same place, there's only moving forward or backward.