My Blog

Hate -- Why & What We Can Do About It

4/14/2021

Hate. Hate is a strong word. A powerful word.

Yet we use it often.

"I hate this". "I hate that".

Yet do we really understand the implications of what we are saying? Do we really hate, or do we strongly dislike?

When the word "hate" is thrown around in reference to people -- THIS is one of the most troubling situations that can occur.

When we hate a person we express an intensely strong ill will, which can lead to violence.

But why do we hate?

Hate often stems from fear.

And we fear what we don't know.

So therefore education is key. Candid conversations with the "enemy" will teach us much. And we may find that we like them. Perhaps we'll even find that we love them.

What are your thoughts? Please share them!

Want Happiness & Pleasure?

4/7/2021

Then stop looking for it.

'Wait, what?' 'Are you serious Rob?'

The Paradox of Hedonism states that the more we pursue pleasure in our lives, for our own benefit, the more we inadvertently push it away. However, when we pursue other goals, we can achieve pleasure and happiness, albeit in a more indirect way.

I have found this to be true in my life. And not only in terms of seeking pleasure. I have found that when I try too hard to search for ANYTHING, it eludes me. And it is when I kick back and stop trying so hard that the REAL magic starts happening.

When we try too hard to do something, it oftentimes doesn't work out. Perhaps because we are trying to force something. Perhaps because we're not being authentic. Perhaps because our neediness is evident and repels. Perhaps because we are violating natural laws/principles.

What are your thoughts on this? Have you had any similar experiences? I'd love to know -- please share them below!

What is Culture Anyway?

4/1/2021

What is culture?

There are many types of culture -- national culture, corporate culture, etc. For the purposes of this post, I'll focus on national culture.

We can define culture as shared behavior with a common language that ties a group of people together, allowing them to communicate in order to get their needs (and desires) met.

When we grow up, we learn about one culture. "Our" culture. We are indoctrinated into it without our consent. It's all we know. Unless and until we make the decision to experience other cultures firsthand. And that is something I strongly recommend doing.

It wasn't until I lived in another country that I realized I had grown up naively thinking that the way things operate in the US is the same way things operate everywhere around the world. NOT. THE. CASE.

There isn't just ONE way of doing things. There are MANY. But we learn ONE. And it is up to us to choose if we will learn MANY.

Have you had an experience abroad where you gained a new perspective? Drop a comment and let me know -- I'd love to hear about it!

Taking A Pause

3/24/2021

Sometimes life gets stressful. We can feel overwhelmed. Overworked. And everything begins to bother us.

That's when we know it's time to take a pause.

Time to take a breather from our everyday work. Time to take some time for ourselves. Time to think introspectively about our situation. What is stressing us out and why. And how we can improve the situation.

For some this means a day off from work. For others, an immersion into nature. For others, a meditation retreat. And for some people, something entirely different.

Do something that you enjoy. Do something that relaxes you. Take some time away from what is consuming you. This has worked for me and I hope it can work for you too!

Leaving Your Comfort Zone

3/17/2021

Why should we step outside of our comfort zone?

Because just outside of it is where we experience EXTRAORDINARY GROWTH.

When we challenge ourselves, we advance in new and exciting ways. We can achieve more than we imagined possible. And we can use emotions such as fear and anxiety to PROPEL US FORWARD rather than allowing them to hold us back.

Was there a time when you stepped out of your comfort zone -- where were you and what was the result?

The Impact of the First Phrase Learned in a New Language

3/10/2021

The first phrase we learn in a language is usually memorable, and can have a potent and lasting impact on us -- it can arouse great interest, causing us to desire to learn more of the language.

Oftentimes people learn inappropriate or slang words first. One of the things that intrigued me most about Japanese was that this was NOT the case in my situation.

The first phrase I learned in Japanese (aside from words such as "hi", "bye", "thank you", etc.) was "taisho umakattayo" -- "master, how delicious!" This intrigued me, and I knew I wanted to learn more.

What was the first phrase that you learned in another language?

Degrees of Expression in Languages

3/3/2021

Many languages include words that allow the speaker or writer to communicate varying degrees of something. Let's look at this through the context of expressing feelings.

In English, our appreciation for someone can be expressed with words such as "like" and "love". Other modifying words such as "really" can be included to add emphasis.

In Spanish, when we communicate our feelings to someone, we can use a variety of words. Here are a few, along with their literal English translations, though the literal English translations don't always accurately represent the Spanish speaker's intended meaning:

"Gustar" -- to like
"Querer" -- to want
"Adorar" -- to adore
"Amar" -- to love

What are your thoughts on this topic?

Taking Bold Action

2/24/2021

If we want to achieve great things in life, we need to be bold. We need to take bold action. We need to make an impact. A LASTING and MEMORABLE impact.

It's a powerful way of elevating oneself to new heights. Of standing out amongst the crowd.

But taking bold action isn't easy. It requires confidence. It requires overcoming fear. Pushing worries aside. And doing what you know is right.

Many think bold thoughts. Few act on them. Be one of the few. ACT ON THEM.

Translating Across Languages

2/17/2021

Languages often contain certain words or phrases with meanings that are not easily translatable.

When we translate from one language to another, we run the risk of losing the exact meaning in the original language. And oftentimes we do. Perhaps not completely, but the meaning in its purest form may be lost if there is no equivalent in the target language.

A good example of this is the word "saudades" in Portuguese. This word, if we translate it directly into English would be "missingness". But the word "missingness" does not exist in the English language.

This is why learning other languages is so important. By doing so, we can understand messages in their purest forms. Without the need for translation. And without the risk of misunderstanding.

Generosity vs. Selfishness

2/10/2021

It is important to be generous. I didn't always used to be this way. As a matter of fact, I used to be quite the opposite.

But over time, I began to find more value in focusing on giving rather than just on receiving. And when we give we tend to receive. In dividends.

I'm not saying that we should never be selfish. As human beings, we have desires and dreams, and we should pursue them. But we should also give to others.

We should look to strike the balance between giving to others and giving to ourselves. With, in my opinion, the scale tipping toward helping others. This doesn't come naturally to everyone. However it is something I believe is worth aspiring to.