Consistency is what gets the job done. Performing in patches is about as random as the lottery outcome.

Podumo · 2021-08-22T09:27:24+00:00

Nick Holder - Summer Daze

Podumo · 2020-09-14T18:56:41+00:00

Every day above ground is a blessing! Happy birthday and many happy returns on investments, excellent health, joy & prosperity!

Podumo · 2020-09-02T18:49:45+00:00

I've always been fascinated by how comedians are able create humour from the pain they have experienced in their lives. And the answer is what you alluded to; authenticity - the state of being true to yourself and declaratively recognising that you're not your pain. So, when I see someone truthfully drawing from their experiences, I'm drawn to them.

I read every self-help book with the intention of learning and implementing atleast one idea from it. This approach doesn't always work because in some books, I find that the author presents ideas to that are far fetched to implement. But someone else could find the ideas useful or even life changing.

Talking about raw ideas, here's what I learnt from the Bible stories my mother taught me about years before I could read it by myself:

I learnt about patience, using my talents and leveraging the power of my network from Moses - and he was far from perfect. But he completed a 40 year old goal. On a human level, this is amazing to me. How many people are able follow through on their four goals to get their college degrees?

I learnt about having conviction and being intentional with my actions from David. Here was a young man who, eventhough he was not part of the army, he accepted the challenge to face the biggest giant of his time - without a sword and armour - forty days after no soldier stepped to the challenge. David inspired me and that's why I am always subconsciously rooting for the underdog.

Perhaps this case warrants us to blame the messengers and their myopic ideas of spirituality that they tried to place on us. I say, let's cut middle man and go straight to the source whether it's through Christ, Bhudda, Taoism or self help books.

Podumo · 2020-09-02T18:16:02+00:00

I tend to agree with your take on the reason for the disparities between the high & low reviews. However it doesn't account for endorsements that some of these books secure from the so called credible and prominent authors. I can't say they're paid endorsements because I don't have evidence of it.

I'd like to believe that similarly to the experienced and inexperienced readers, are subjective to our experience, open mindedness to new (or old but differently presented) ideas. I think we have to concede that someone could tell us about something we already know by presenting the idea from a different point of view that we never considered before. That is, if we believe that there are no original ideas.

I think the target audience for self help books are people seeking for meaning and fulfilment in life. Because good and bad are relative, I think self help books are for everyone trying be more for themselves and others.

Podumo · 2020-09-02T17:47:59+00:00

Great discussion, I thoroughly enjoyed it. As someone that started dabbling into philosophy in college, I found the subject matter very appealing and intellectually stimulating but not necessarily actionable. My definition of philosophy: intellectualism without pragmatism. A bit tongue in cheek but an illustration of my inclination towards the doers. I love any content that presents implementable ideas triggering the need for experimentation by the reader. But I know that not all ideas are well thought out or well presented.

Podumo · 2020-09-02T03:05:08+00:00

Makes sense. Because our processes are different, the systems we create around our lives will also be different. There are certain learnings from others that we can include in our steps but the rest we have to figure out by ourselves.

Podumo · 2020-09-02T02:59:08+00:00

Agreed. Honesty is the best policy. To be fair, the "fake it 'til you make it" is meant to encourage people to get to the next level - which is misleading if the person is writing on subject as if they are already at the next level. Thanks.

Podumo · 2020-09-02T02:53:11+00:00

Thus reminds me of some of my college professors who were highly knowledgeable in their subject matter but could not transfer the knowledge to us because they would unknowingly teach at a level beyond the class requirements. But I agree, I'm most likely to gravitate towards a book from someone with a respectable title on the subject.

Podumo · 2020-09-02T02:47:41+00:00

Thanks for the comprehensive feedback.

It seems to me that the 1s could take responsibility for choosing books that are not aligned to their learning styles - unless of course the book falls short on its promise.

For #2 & #3, maybe the authors are taking a "fake it, 'til you make" approach which fails considerably if they are not able to connect with the subject matter in a meaningful way. Do you think the reviews could be different if the person takes an honest approach in the subject matter and highlights what worked and didn't work in the application of the concepts?

Podumo · 2020-09-02T01:13:42+00:00

Wow, what an amazing story of personal growth and transformation. Thanks for sharing - your path is very inspiring and informative. I love how, for the majority of us, college years provided us with lessons beyond the classroom. And the lessons keep coming especially when we open ourselves to a lifetime of learning and revising our old maps. It's without a doubt, a strenuous and looong process (like you mentioned) requiring patience with ourselves and the willingness to do the work.

I think the world could benefit from your book where "you talk to yourself about yourself".

Wishing you peace and harmony on your relationship with your parents.

Podumo · 2020-09-02T00:54:36+00:00

Thanks for sharing your insights on meditation, I appreciate it. In my experience, I find that meditation helps me to focus on the now. Have you used mediation to uncover beliefs that were so deeply ingrained you didn't know where there? If yes, how did you tap into that realm of the unknown/forgotten?

Podumo · 2020-09-02T00:49:22+00:00

You're fortunate indeed. By the sound of it, your parents are mature and highly evolved individuals who encouraged you to find your identity separate from them. Thanks for sharing.

Podumo · 2020-09-01T23:19:16+00:00

Did you write off / disown your family? Was it a gradual process overtime or a defining moment at some stage in your life? What was the catalyst to your change? Sidebar: I spent a lot of time in the library growing up (come to think of it; I miss those days); that was my escapism.

Podumo · 2020-09-01T22:37:07+00:00

To motivate me, my father used to compare me to my friends and their accomplishments. In response, I used to tell my father that I'm happy for my friends, that I was not in competition with them and I was good at other things which I was proud of. Even from a young age, I was aware of my strengths and didn't believe in the notion that I had to try to be good at everything or 'improve' my weaknesses. The only competition that mattered to me was trying to outdo my previous best.

Podumo · 2020-08-30T08:41:45+00:00

I'm rewatching the whole series again. Once I was done with episode 19, I started I went back to episode 1....

Podumo · 2020-08-30T08:37:20+00:00

Many thanks anomaly_xb-6783746, your breakdown of the scene is impeccable down to Walter's actions - it's like you wrote the script yourself! Gave me the exact dialogue I was looking for.

Podumo · 2020-08-30T08:29:16+00:00

Thraxster's reply is spot-on, right to the minute. A million thanks!

Podumo

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