Learning is a natural phenomenon that comes out of needs, interests, and desires. Forceful learning without any needs and desires doesn't last long.

WHY LEARNING FAILS

The concept of discipline that we all grew up in doesn't allow students to learn at their natural best. We, the educators, think of their natural abilities, not as a sign of their multiple intelligence, but as a hindrance to our task of completing the syllabus.

INDISCIPLINE LEADS TO LEARNING

Learning fails when studying starts. We teach; students learn; parents motivate their kids for only one visible goal: To perform better in the exam. Even I have come across teachers and parents who say, "Just two more years after 10th and life will be easier." We encourage them to study for the exam, and not to learn for life.

LEARNING FOR TEMPORARY GAINS FAILS

Teachers, under the burden of completing the syllabus, correcting the assignments, and appeasing parents, tend to teach for getting better grades than learning.

UNREALISTIC TASKS FOR TEACHERS

The examination emphasizes 'how much students know' rather than 'how students know'. Students, teachers, and parents know the solution to 'how much students know'. Very few are guided to 'how to know'.

EXAM CENTRED LEARNING FAILS

When the entire process of learning circles around the examination, the real purpose of learning fades."The real purpose of learning is not only knowledge but wisdom."When we realize the answer to 'why most students are eagerly waiting for sports and art period, half of the problems will be solved.

LEARNING TO LOVE TO LEARN

When there is nothing interesting, nothing desirable, then learning fails. 

Some days back, I overheard one of the seniors saying, "Learning is so easy. It is all about consuming the data inside textbooks.

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

parenting

Parenting

strategy

Strategy

education

Learning & Education

problemsolving

Problem Solving

It frees you to pursue your own interests, both personal and professional. To that end, it’ll boost your productivity, improve your relationships, and fill you with a sense of confident calm that may seem alien to you at this moment.

Saying no to people is one of the most important skills you can

Being assertive means having the self-confidence to express your needs and wants, and pursue your own ends, even in the face of opposition. It involves telling people where you stand on a given topic and leaving no room for confusion. Assertiveness is declaring your point of view and not feeling as if you need others’ approval or validation. It is a learned trait.

Psychology of Assertiveness

We want others to be drawn to us, to trust us, and to feel better for having spent time with us. It's unsurprising that we often say yes when we know we should say no. It's an instinctive response borne of our longing for other people's approval. But it's important to recognize this yearning for validation as a trigger for our tendency to say yes. When we're aware of our motivations, we can review them and take steps to realign our decisions with our values.

We want others to like us

Emotional bullying occurs when one person makes another feel afraid, angry, or self-conscious for the purpose of achieving his or her ends. This is accomplished through a variety of means, including the following: yelling, swearing, making threats, lobbing insults, humiliation, making accusations. Take the high road. Because you're aware that the abuser is knowingly being manipulative, you'll be less compelled by his or her tactics. You won't feel shamed, fearful, guilty, or embarrassed. Instead, you'll recognize the bully's shouting and swearing as indications of his or her personality flaws.

We succumb to emotional bullying

Burdened with a low self-image, we mistakenly believe our time is worth less than others' time. We wrongly assume our goals and interests are inferior to other people's goals and interests. We perceive our value to the world as somehow less than the value offered by those around us.

Disappointment springs from unmet expectations. When you acknowledge this fact, you'll find it easier to let go of your fear of disappointing people when you say no to them. You'll come to appreciate that their disappointment is neither your fault nor responsibility. This perspective will give you the courage to stop accommodating every request and invitation that comes your way.

You're not responsible for causing others disappointment

The more you do it, the more you'll come to realize that your time, commitments, and aspirations are just as important as those of the requestor.

Saying no can actually improve your sense of self-worth.

The word "no" carries an air of final-ity. Many people are ill-prepared to hear it, and lack the ability to accept it with poise and understanding.

Replace “no” with another word

If we avoid taking ownership of our decisions to decline requests, we never feel truly empowered with a sense of personal agency. Every time we say "I can't," we train our minds to avoid taking responsibility. Over time, this gives us the false sense that we're not in control.

Take ownership of your decision

They have higher expectations of you than your coworkers, friends, and neighbors. They expect you to drop what you're doing to help them. The solution is to set new expectations. You must establish boundaries that are respected by your relatives. Create rules regarding what you're willing to help with and what you're not willing to help with.

Saying no to extended family can be uncomfortable

Stop Being A People Pleaser! Learn How To Set Boundaries And Say NO - Without Feeling Guilty! Are you fed up with people taking advantage of you? Are you tired of coworkers, friends, and family members demanding your time and expecting you to give it to them?If so, THE ART OF SAYING NO is for you.Imagine being able to turn down requests and decline invitations with confidence and poise. Imagine saying no to people asking you for favors, and inspiring their respect in the process. DOWNLOAD The Art Of Saying NO: How To Stand Your Ground, Reclaim Your Time And Energy, And Refuse To Be Taken For Granted (Without Feeling Guilty!) Amazon bestselling author, Damon Zahariades, provides a step-by-step, strategic guide for setting boundaries and developing the assertiveness you need to maintain them. You'll learn how to say no in every situation, at home and in the workplace, according to your convictions. And best of all, you'll discover how to get your friends, family members, bosses, coworkers, and neighbors to respect your boundaries and recognize your personal authority.In THE ART OF SAYING NO, you'll discover: my personal struggle with being a people pleaser (and how I overcame the habit!) the top 11 reasons we tend to say yes when we know we should say no 10 simple strategies for turning people down with finesse why saying no to people doesn't make you a bad person (the opposite is true!) the best way to develop the habit of setting personal and professional boundaries how to know whether you're a people pleaser (and how to gauge the severity of the problem) PLUS, BONUS MATERIAL: dedicated sections on saying no to your spouse, kids, friends, neighbors, coworkers, clients, bosses, and even strangers!If you're sick and tired of being taken for granted, grab your copy of THE ART OF SAYING NO today! Start taking control of your life by learning how to say that simple, beautiful word: "No."Scroll to the top of the page and click the "BUY NOW" button!

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

mentalhealth

Mental Health

books

Books

Stop Being A People Pleaser! Learn How To Set Boundaries And Say NO - Without Feeling Guilty! Are you fed up with people taking advantage of you? Are you tired of coworkers, friends, and family members demanding your time and expecting you to give it to them?If so, THE ART OF SAYING NO is for you.Imagine being able to turn down requests and decline invitations with confidence and poise. Imagine saying no to people asking you for favors, and inspiring their respect in the process. DOWNLOAD The Art Of Saying NO: How To Stand Your Ground, Reclaim Your Time And Energy, And Refuse To Be Taken For Granted (Without Feeling Guilty!) Amazon bestselling author, Damon Zahariades, provides a step-by-step, strategic guide for setting boundaries and developing the assertiveness you need to maintain them. You'll learn how to say no in every situation, at home and in the workplace, according to your convictions. And best of all, you'll discover how to get your friends, family members, bosses, coworkers, and neighbors to respect your boundaries and recognize your personal authority.In THE ART OF SAYING NO, you'll discover: <ul> <li>my personal struggle with being a people pleaser (and how I overcame the habit!)</li> <li>the top 11 reasons we tend to say yes when we know we should say no</li> <li>10 simple strategies for turning people down with finesse</li> <li>why saying no to people doesn't make you a bad person (the opposite is true!)</li> <li>the best way to develop the habit of setting personal and professional boundaries</li> <li>how to know whether you're a people pleaser (and how to gauge the severity of the problem)</li> </ul> PLUS, BONUS MATERIAL: dedicated sections on saying no to your spouse, kids, friends, neighbors, coworkers, clients, bosses, and even strangers!If you're sick and tired of being taken for granted, grab your copy of THE ART OF SAYING NO today! Start taking control of your life by learning how to say that simple, beautiful word: "No."Scroll to the top of the page and click the "BUY NOW" button!

Productivity expert Damon Zahariades is owner of ArtOfProductivity.com, a site devoted to showing you how to hack your day to get more things done. He wasn't always productive. Damon spent many years in Corporate America, dragging himself to ridiculous meetings and enduring the impromptu "drive-by" visits of his coworkers, before striking out on his own. Today, he owns his own content marketing agency and creates action guides that show others how to boost their productivity.

Damon Zahariades

The Art of Saying No

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/3514273-10-minute-toughness">10-Minute Toughness </a>is a hands-on guide to becoming the best version of yourself and achieving success through consistent good practices such as eating right, forming meaningful relationships, committing to your goals publicly, visualizing your achievements, and many others.

10-Minute Toughness - Book Summary 

"Mental toughness is the ability to focus on and execute solutions, especially in the face of adversity."-Jason Selk

Author Quote

Mental toughness and self-confidence are two essential traits of successful people. For example, in sports, confidence plays a major role. It is said to be the most influential aspect in controlling performance. In other words, thinking highly of yourself and believing that you can do something increases your chances of succeeding.

Book Overview 

However, the path to mental toughness and a winning mentality can be challenging. To think that you can achieve everything you want, you must <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/mind-gym-summary/">train your mind, body, and spirit accordingly </a>. You have to show yourself that you are capable of setting and following goals and plans. And even more than that, you have to go through each day with a focused mentality. That way, you can overcome any obstacles that may keep you from achieving your goals.

To do so, you must have a clear vision first, and target your efforts. Moreover, you non have to stop caring about what those around you say, and trust yourself more. Although it may sound simple, these aspects stand in the way of the majority of us. These impede us from becoming our best selves. Fortunately, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/3514273-10-minute-toughness">10-Minute Toughness </a>by <a href="https://enhancedperformanceinc.com/">Jason Selk </a>steps in to help everyone struggling in the process to find their way.

<ol><li>Your image of yourself is a self-constructed concept that you can change anytime. </li><li>Set goals out of passion and love, so that you enjoy their accomplishment. </li><li>To become successful, you must work constantly towards achieving your goals, and nor rely on occasional motivation. </li> </ol>

Top 3 Book Lessons 

Everybody views themselves in a certain way. Some people seem to have it all figured out, that’s why they feel confident and unshakeable. Others don’t think highly of themselves, and unfortunately, that shows as well. However, that can change at any time. The <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/boys-sex-summary/">impression we have on ourselves </a>is a construct of our own mind. And so we can always access it and change it for the better.

Lesson 1: Build a powerful image of yourself to improve

Of course, it’s not as easy as it sounds. To do so, you must first act and think like the person you want to be. To have your brain think that you are the confident and reliable person you wish to become, you need to set goals and objectives that you ought to follow every day. In other words, you need to work towards becoming that person.

You can’t underperform or even <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/the-passion-paradox-summary/">outperform your self-image </a>, especially in the long run. If you believe that you’re not capable of doing a certain thing, chances are you won’t succeed at doing it. Doesn’t matter if you try to trick your mind into thinking the opposite. As such, only by picking up good practices and acting right until you form the right habits, can you truly tap into the winning mentality.

Everybody has a dream, or at least something that they love doing more than anything else. Some people are lucky enough to call their passion a job, but what happens to the rest of us? The majority of the world works for financial security, and not out of love for their occupation. As such, when the rewards come, they don’t feel accomplished nor successful.

Lesson 2: Set goals effectively by following your passion

To step out of this undesirable approach to life, you must first learn how <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/the-4-disciplines-of-execution-summary/">to set goals effectively </a>. To start with, think about your passion and what you love doing most. All your endeavors should revolve around that particular thing that sparks motivation and fires up your soul, so that when you achieve it, you become fulfilled and reach the ultimate level of happiness.

If you follow money or social status, but that’s not what you truly desire in your heart, achieving these will leave you unfulfilled and miserable. As such, once you set a goal that speaks to your identity, you have to commit to it 100%. It won’t be fun, nor easy, and you’ll have to give up a lot of your free time to commit to your goals. However, once achieved, you’ll feel fulfilled and at peace with yourself.

Have you ever caught yourself in a particular moment having an unusual desire to just fix everything in your life, follow your ambitions and take charge of everything at once? Those sudden bursts of motivation can definitely fuel your ambitions, but they won’t take you too far in the long run.

Lesson 3: Success is a result of gradual improvement, not sudden motivation

Relying on motivation alone to get things done won’t do much, as those sudden moments of stimulus don’t happen too often. Instead, progressive efforts and gradual improvement will help you <a href="https://fourminutebooks.com/think-small-summary/">achieve your goals </a>. To reach a state where the right practices, such as eating right, training everyday, or reading a certain amount of pages become a habit and a ritual incorporated in your routine is tough work.

However, only by doing these things automatically you’ll truly tap into a focused mindset and target your efforts in the most efficient way. Although difficult at first, you ought to take each day as it is and do your best, stick to your short-term objectives to meet your end goals, and you’ll find yourself doing all the right things without thinking in just a few months.

If you’ve ever found yourself feeling unproductive, lacking determination, or simply wanting to take charge of your life and reach your goals, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/3514273-10-minute-toughness">10-Minute Toughness </a>is the book for you. Reading it will reveal the most effective ways of setting goals and sticking to them to achieve the ultimate level of fulfillment. If you’re looking to become the best version of yourself, give this book a read.

The 10-Minute Toughness - Book Review

If you’ve ever found yourself feeling unproductive, lacking determination, or simply wanting to take charge of your life and reach your goals, 10-Minute Toughness is the book for you. Reading it will reveal the most effective ways of setting goals and sticking to them to achieve the ultimate level of fulfillment. If you’re looking to become the best version of yourself, give this book a read.

Who would I recommend the 10-Minute Toughness to?

10-Minute Toughness is a hands-on guide to becoming the best version of yourself and achieving success through consistent good practices.

productivity

Productivity

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

habits

Habits

10-Minute Toughness Summary

“Just be yourself.” What a frustrating piece of advice, right? Actually… what if I told you it is <a href="https://giovannispezia.com/why-you-cant-be-happy/">the secret to living a happy, fulfilling, and overall better life</a>?

Introduction

<ul><li>You can’t be anybody else other than yourself.</li><li>People will always have something to say about you, no matter what.</li><li>By being yourself among others, you start to attract people who are similar to you.</li></ul>

Why You Should Be Yourself

Most people don’t even know how to be themselves, the problem here is that you haven’t been yourself for years.You have been this fake version of yourself, buying into all these limitations, not achieving what you truly are capable of, and you’ve been there for so long that you confused it with authenticity.

The Problem With Being Yourself

<ol><li>Find what matters to you. Take time to <a href="https://giovannispezia.com/why-doing-nothing-is-good-for-you/">reflect on what matters to you</a> and how you want to live your life.</li><li>Embrace your strengths and imperfections. Take the time to get to know yourself and recognize your strengths and weaknesses. Be bold and embrace both, as they make you unique and special.</li></ol>

Identify Your Values

<ul><li>It’s essential to make decisions that reflect your values and not be afraid to speak your truth.</li><li>Don’t be afraid to say no when it’s right for you. By being honest, you’re showing that you are true to yourself and that you won’t be swayed by external pressures.</li></ul>

Practice Authenticity

<ul><li>Understand why you should be yourself</li><li>Don’t fall into the problem with this advice</li><li>Identify your values</li><li>Practice authenticity</li></ul>

Wrap Up

If you're interested in the topics of personal development, mindset, and both physical and mental well-being, consider checking out my content at:<ul><li><a href="https://giovannispezia.com">GiovanniSpezia.com</a></li><li><a href="https://twitter.com/GiovaSpezia">Twitter</a></li><li><a href="https://www.pinterest.it/Giovanni_Spezia/">Pinterest</a></li></ul>Thank you all for the support! 🫶

Liked These Ideas? Consider Checking Out My Blog

“Just be yourself.” What a frustrating piece of advice, right? Actually… what if I told you it is the secret to living a happy, fulfilling, and overall better life?

“Just be yourself.” What a frustrating piece of advice, right? What if I told you it is the secret to living a happy, fulfilling life?

philosophy

Philosophy

communication

Communication

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

How to Be Yourself and Live a Life of Authenticity - Giovanni Spezia

Whatever it is you are pursuing, whatever it is you are seeking, whatever it is you are creating, be careful not to quit too soon. As my friend Pastor Rob Bell warns: “Don’t rush through the experiences and circumstances that have the most capacity to transform you.”

Life is a labyrinth where an end could be a beginning or there could be multiple paths to reach a particular point. The universe has hidden deep jewels within us and the hunt that we must embark on to uncover those hidden jewels is called creative living. The result of that hunt is what is called ‘Big Magic’

'Big Magic'

<ol><li>Courage</li><li>Enchantment</li><li>Permission</li><li>Persistence</li><li>Trust.</li></ol>

Elements of Creativity 

Fear is boring in the sense that it manifests in the same way every day. There is no variety to it. It never changes or isn’t able to spark any interest or delight. Once we understand the true nature of fear we don’t need to be afraid anymore. We must cultivate the courage to embark on creative journey by making space for fear. Courage is not fearlessness i.e the absence of fear but rather living alongside fear by making space for it to exist but never let it take the driving seat.

Courage.

As per Gilbert, the universe is inhabited not just by humans ,animals but also ideas. These ideas are conscious and have a will be manifested by collaborating with a human. These ideas come in the form of an inspiration and if they are not tapped into they fade away and look for another human for manifestation.

How Ideas Work?

<ul><li>You don’t need anyone’s permission to live creatively. Why do you seek permission? You are entitled to live a life the way you want. You have the right to assert yourself just because you are born and alive.</li><li>The creative endeavour should not be to help others but to help one’s own self. It’s also okay to not have any motive whatsoever.</li><li>The paradox of creativity is that we need to make art as the most important thing that we do but at the same time it shouldn’t matter to us way too much. Make space in your life for this paradox to happily exist.</li></ul>

Permission

<ul><li>There is no age limit when you can make a start at something. As long as you stick around the different phases (frustration and disappointment) of the creative process you are fine. You are learning.</li><li>There is never going to be enough time and resources to make art possible but one needs to take that time out and work on their creative pursuits.</li><li>Fall in love with your creativity and you will find/make time for it.</li><li>Make your self look presentable to attract and invite creativity.</li><li>Perfection is the enemy of the good. Don’t hold yourself back because one is not perfect. Embrace imperfections.</li></ul>

Persistence.

<ul><li>We are co-creators of life and we collaborate with mother nature to create life through reciprocation of its services</li><li>Gilbert argues that you need to trust love over suffering to be artistic.</li><li>When you not feeling inspired or passionate about creativity then being curious is the antidote. Find clues to whatever interests you and creativity will find you eventually</li><li>Ego demands rewards and satisfaction which is always elusive and there is no ending to it while soul desires ‘wonder’ and when we take refuge in the soul our ego remains silent or under control.</li><li>Don’t dwell on disappointments.</li></ul>

Trust.

Gives me an insight into the creative process and what it takes to make art 🎨

The instant #1 NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller "A must read for anyone hoping to live a creative life... I dare you not to be inspired to be brave, to be free, and to be curious.” —PopSugar From the worldwide bestselling author of Eat Pray Love and City of Girls: the path to the vibrant, fulfilling life you’ve dreamed of. Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work, embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.

creativity

Creativity

artsandculture

Society, Arts & Culture

The instant #1 NEW YORK TIMES Bestseller "A must read for anyone hoping to live a creative life... I dare you not to be inspired to be brave, to be free, and to be curious.” —PopSugar From the worldwide bestselling author of Eat Pray Love and City of Girls: the path to the vibrant, fulfilling life you’ve dreamed of.   Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work,  embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.

Elizabeth Gilbert is an accomplished writer whose work has resonated with readers around the world. Elizabeth Gilbert has published several books that explore a range of topics, from fiction to nonfiction, and has received critical acclaim for the ability to weave compelling narratives. Elizabeth Gilbert's writing style is known for its depth and authenticity, and has earned quite a loyal following of readers.

Elizabeth Gilbert

Big Magic

“Here the ways of men divide. If you wish to strive for peace of soul and happiness, then believe; if you wish to be a disciple of truth, then search.” ~<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wakitime09-20&keywords=Nietzsche&index=aps&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=xm2&linkId=39e61491bbfc532e8dcc0bb8d63120cc">Nietzsche </a>

To a certain extent, we are always deceived. For we are only human, all too human. But to the extent that we can become aware of deception—both self-deception and the deception of others—being undeceived means being ahead of the curve of the human condition.

First, it means embracing deception as an integral part of life. Then it means being strategically circumspect while creating your own meaning. It means taking everything that you’ve learned into consideration with humility and a good sense of humor. It means becoming so healthy that your very existence is a catalyst for healthy change. It means connecting courage to curiosity. It means taking a leap of courage. It means putting things into proper perspective by using health as a benchmark.

It is, paraphrasing <a href="https://www.wakingtimes.com/bruce-lees-private-letters-explain-really-meant-like-water/">Bruce Lee </a>, “absorbing what is useful, discarding what is not, and adding what is uniquely your own.” Let’s break it down…

“If everyone is thinking alike, then no one is thinking.” ~<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/074325807X/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wakitime09-20&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=074325807X&linkId=b41a3a37e1afa96c0efc2f500e5609d2">Benjamin Franklin </a> What is useful? Well, if your goal is not only basic survival but also progressive evolution, then what is useful is what is healthy. Contrastingly, what is not useful is what is unhealthy.

Absorb what is useful:

So, how do you figure out what is healthy or not? Through logic, reason, and critical thinking. You cannot wish something into being healthy. You cannot simply believe something is healthy and, by your strong faith alone, expect it to be valid. You can only reason through if something is healthy or not. Once you have reasoned a thing to be healthy, you free yourself to absorb what is useful.

Absorbing what is useful is absorbing what is healthy. The path is then clear to question with a good conscience. You become undeceived. In a state of undeception, you are free to wield the question mark sword, the Sword of Truth, and to use it in a way that distinguishes what’s healthy from what’s not. What is healthy is absorbed as something useful for progressive evolution. What is unhealthy can then be discarded as something useless, so as to avoid an unhealthy society.

“A fool thinks himself wise, a wise man knows himself to be a fool.” ~<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wakitime09-20&keywords=William%20Shakespeare&index=aps&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=xm2&linkId=26cbe500ba6a34a1f703948012da08f7">William Shakespeare </a> Discarding what is not useful (what is unhealthy) requires self-discipline. It requires vigilance. Most people don’t even know that they don’t know the difference between healthy and unhealthy. Especially people who have grown up, culturally conditioned and indoctrinated, in a profoundly sick society.

Discard what is not useful:

How do you know if you were born into a profoundly sick society? 1.) Any society that pollutes the air it needs to breathe is a profoundly sick society. 2.) Any society that pollutes the water it needs to drink is a profoundly sick society.

3.) Any society that pollutes the food it needs to eat is a profoundly sick society. 4.) Any society that pollutes the minds it needs to evolve with is a profoundly sick society.

You must have the self-discipline to daily question what is healthy and what is not. For health is not a matter of opinion. Health is a benchmark. Without this benchmark, you cannot discern what is useful from what is not useful.

As such, belief and certainty are the greatest obstacles blocking us from being able to discard what is not useful. This is especially dangerous when those beliefs and certainties are derived from the cultural conditioning of a profoundly sick society. Hence the importance of vigilance and strategic prudence.

In order to remain undeceived, we must remain circumspect. The Sword of Truth must be unleashed daily so that it may cut through the red tape of wishful thinking, irrational beliefs, and whimsical certitude. It is only when our naïve beliefs have been shattered upon the hard concrete of reality that we are free to distinguish between what is healthy and what is not. As we begin to piece things together, we become undeceived. We are liberated to absorb what is useful and discard what is not.

“Small minds discuss people. Average minds discuss events. Great minds discuss ideas.” ~<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=as_li_qf_sp_sr_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=wakitime09-20&keywords=Henry%20Thomas%20Buckle&index=aps&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=xm2&linkId=beaf00caa84487504931248b07abe628">Henry Thomas Buckle </a> Once you have successfully threshed the chaff (unhealthy/useless) from the grain (healthy/useful), you are free to unleash your creativity. From swords to plowshares, your Sword of Truth becomes a Pen of Truth. With it, you are free to create high art; art that shatters molds, stretches comfort zones, and initiates wake up calls. You become free to prove why the pen will always be mightier than the sword.

Add what is uniquely your own:

Here, still, we must remain vigilant. For even art can become dogmatic. In order not to be deceived, we must always be in a state of questioning what we think we know and weighing it against the nonnegotiable scales of healthy/unhealthy. Should our art become dogmatic, we would be wise to absorb what is useful from it and discard what is not. This way we will always be openminded and openhearted enough to add what is uniquely our own.

Outdated truth must die so that it doesn’t taint the updated truth of the times. God must die so that God can be reborn. Creativity thrives off the ashes of old art. Evolution progresses or stagnates in proportion to how creative we can be after having absorbed what is useful (healthy) and discarding what is not (unhealthy).

The art of being undeceived is more like the juggler’s art than the interrogator’s. It should be flexible and adaptable to meet results which are sudden and unexpected. The undeceived understand that the self is masks all the way down perceiving delusions all the way up, and they have the acumen and the wherewithal to juggle both masks and delusions into a state of high humor and even higher art.

Gary ‘Z’ McGee - To a certain extent, we are always deceived. For we are only human, all too human.

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

mindfulness

Mindfulness

The Art of the Undeceived

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33630505-the-plant-paradox">The Plant Paradox </a>helps you make better food decisions and eat healthier by arguing that some plant foods that we think are healthy can actually be harming us and making it harder to lose weight.

The Plant Paradox - Book Summary 

"Quite simply, plants don't want to be eaten - and who can blame them? Like any living thing, their instinct is to propagate the next generation of their species."-Stecen R. Gundry

Author Quote 

Health foods and <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/the-bulletproof-diet-summary/">diets </a>are more popular than ever. You’ve probably heard the buzz around so-called superfoods like Kale, blueberries, or acai. And you are probably pretty aware that certain foods, like things deep-fried or full of added sugar, should be avoided. So avoiding the bad and eating plenty of fruits, veggies, and whole grains is the key to health, why are rates of obesity and inflammation-related diseases higher than ever?

Look no further than <a href="https://gundrymd.com/gundry-md/">Dr. Steven R. Gundry </a>‘s book, <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33630505-the-plant-paradox">The Plant Paradox: The Hidden Dangers in “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain </a>. He’s a former professor of cardiothoracic surgery and the director of the Center for Restorative Medicine in California. In his book, he alerts us to the dangers of certain plant foods you have probably deemed healthy.

He lays out which plant foods we should be avoiding, according to his research. He advises what to eat instead to have more energy, help your digestion, reduce inflammation, and maintain optimal weight. <a href="https://gundrymd.com/gundry-md/">Gundry </a>explains how the nutritional value of our fruits and <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/animal-vegetable-miracle-summary/">vegetables </a>have changed, and what our ancestor’s diets can teach us about what we should consume. I’ll be honest, some of it seems a bit controversial, but I suggest keeping an open mind and you will definitely learn something.

<ol><li>Plants defend themselves with proteins that confuse the human mind and may cause weight gain. </li><li>Whole-grain foods contain a protein known as lectin that can make your body attack itself. </li><li>Start the Plant Paradox Program by cutting out the bad, doing a three-day cleanse, and taking supplements and you will start feeling better.  </li> </ol>

Top 3 Lessons From The Voo

We all know that animals evolve to avoid predators. Think of a Monarch caterpillar, poisonous to birds, or a cuttlefish that can change color to avoid being seen. But did you know that <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/the-hidden-life-of-trees-summary/">plants </a>also have found ways to protect themselves? One secret weapon that a plant has to defend itself is in the form of the protein lectin.

Lesson 1:  Plants might make you experience mental cloudiness and weight gain because of the proteins they use to defend themselves.

Lectin exists in the seeds, leaves, grains, and skins of most <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/the-botany-of-desire-summary/">plants </a>. When an animal consumes lectin, the protein binds to sugar molecules in the animal’s brain and nerves, causing them to not function properly.  The result is brain fog, which causes trouble focusing and memory difficulty. The sole purpose of lectin is to teach animals that they shouldn’t eat these plants in the future.

The bad news for humans is that it also causes brain fog and weight issues. One particularly bad culprit is the lectin found in wheat. It causes sugar to enter our fat <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/the-immortal-life-of-henrietta-lacks-summary/">cells </a>, where it is converted to fat and makes us gain weight. For our ancestors, having a “wheat belly” was an effective way to survive long winters. This made it a valuable part of their diet. For us, the side effects aren’t so welcome.

The side effects of wheat lectin don’t end at weight gain. But first, we need to understand a little about the way digestion works. Your gastrointestinal tract contains trillions of microbes that help you convert food to energy. Without these precious gut bacteria, you would starve to <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/a-beginners-guide-to-the-end-summary/">death </a>. So your body makes sure to keep them in the intestines. If they are somehow able to escape, your body will see them as a foreign invader and essentially begin attacking itself.

Lesson 2:  Your body can attack itself when you consume whole-grain foods because of the protein lectin.

So where do lectins come in? Lectins increase the permeability of the intestinal tract and allow valuable microbes to spill out . The reason we have this risk today is that <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/grain-brain-summary/">whole grain </a>has become so popular as a health food. For centuries societies removed the bran, or the part containing the lectin. But now that whole grain is touted as much more healthy, people are consuming more lectin as a result. This increases the risk of developing autoimmune disorders such as diabetes and Crohn’s disease.

Like many diets, the author’s Plant Paradox Program tells you what foods you should cut out of your diet. He believes what you don’t eat is more important than what you do eat because eating the wrong things will lead to a harmful reaction in your body.  The author advises avoiding all legumes, which consist of lentils, peas, and all types of beans. These contain the highest lectin count. Also drop potatoes, cucumbers, tomatoes, and any fruit not in season. And obviously nothing containing wheat flour. A full list can be found online.

Lesson 3: Avoiding certain foods, doing three-day cleanse, and taking supplements will get you on the right track to full health.

<a href="https://gundrymd.com/gundry-md/">Gundry </a>also says that just like a farmer prepares the soil for planting, you should prepare your <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/the-4-hour-body-summary/">body </a>for the diet. You can do this by doing a three-day cleanse where you will remove anything with even traces of lectin in it. This will enable your gut to start healing itself.

A report examining the nutrient value of fruits and vegetables since 1940 showed a steady decline in vitamins and minerals. One explanation could be that we are using stronger fertilizers and pesticides. Luckily, nowadays we can supplement to get the vitamins our body desperately needs. The author advises taking vitamin B12 and vitamin D especially as they are so important. This way we can fill in the gaps where our diet can’t.

I’ve been wondering when a book would have me going “what the heck did I just read?!” and this book is it. I don’t know if I believe anything in <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33630505-the-plant-paradox">The Plant Paradox </a>! There might be something to the idea that plants defend themselves against predators like us. But why we should discourage things that are known to help with heart disease and cancer such as whole grains, legumes, and some vegetables?! I would definitely do my own research after reading this one.

The Plant Paradox - Book Review

The 52-year-old <a href="http://fourminutebooks.com/deep-nutrition-summary/">nutrition </a>professor who wants a different perspective on plants, the 34-year-old that is curious about leaky gut because they think they might have it, and anyone who wants to try a semi-crazy diet plan to see if it might work.

Who would I recommend The Plant Paradox to?

The Plant Paradox Summary will help you improve your diet and health by learning about plant foods that sound healthy but can actully harm you.

food

Food

health

Health

exerciseandfitness

Exercise & Fitness

The Plant Paradox Summary

“A wise man can learn more from his enemies than a fool from his friends.”

“Life is not the amount of breaths you take. It’s the moments that take your breath away.”

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”

“Do, or do not. There is no “try”.”

“Every man dies, but not every man really lives.”

We put together some of our favourite lines from films to help you stay positive no matter what challenges you might be facing.

Inspirational Movie Quotes

Find  Self Improvement Tips - Curated from popular Books like Atomic Habits, 48 Rules of Power, Deep Work, Rich Dad Poor Dad and way more!

WHY LEARNING FAILS

The Art of Saying No

10-Minute Toughness Summary

How to Be Yourself and Live a Life of Authenticity - Giovanni Spezia

Big Magic

The Art of the Undeceived

The Plant Paradox Summary

Inspirational Movie Quotes

Meditations Summary

The Philosophy Of Perception

It's time to
Read like a Pro.

WHY LEARNING FAILS

The Art of Saying No

10-Minute Toughness Summary

How to Be Yourself and Live a Life of Authenticity - Giovanni Spezia

Big Magic

The Art of the Undeceived

The Plant Paradox Summary

Inspirational Movie Quotes

Meditations Summary

The Philosophy Of Perception

It's time to Read like a Pro.

It's time to
Read like a Pro.