Did you know that blockchain and Bitcoin aren’t the same thing? If you’ve been using the terms interchangeably, you’re not alone; plenty of people do the same thing, probably because blockchain and Bitcoin are so closely related. In super-simple terms, a blockchain is a computer file for storing data. Or, to put it in more technical jargon, it’s an open, distributed ledger (database), which means the data contained within the blockchain is distributed (duplicated) across many computers and is therefore decentralised.

Bitcoin And The Blockchain Technology

Unlike in a traditional, centralised database – where records are processed by one central administrator (say, a company or government) – the entire blockchain is transparent and data is verified by user consensus. Yet, despite this transparency, blockchains are incredibly secure. That’s because there’s no one central point of attack for hackers to target.

There Is No Central Control

Blockchain is the technology that underpins Bitcoin and it was developed specifically for Bitcoin. So, Bitcoin was the first example of blockchain in action and without blockchain, there would be no Bitcoin. That’s why the two names are so often used interchangeably. Bitcoin is a decentralised digital currency, or peer-to-peer electronic payment system, where users can anonymously transfer bitcoins without the interference of a third-party authority (like a bank or government).

Decentralised. Distributed. This sounds a bit like Bitcoin

Because blockchain and Bitcoin are so inextricably linked, it took people a long time to realise that blockchain actually has much wider applications beyond cryptocurrency networks. In fact, blockchain’s potential is so great that many people believe the technology will revolutionise the way we do business, just like the internet did before it.

Looking at The Wider Applications of Blockchain

Thanks to Bitcoin, we already know that blockchain is great for facilitating digital transactions, but it can also be used for formalising digital relationships through smart contracts. With a smart contract, automated payments can be released once the contract terms have been fulfilled, which promises to save time and help to reduce discrepancies or solve disputes.

What Blockchain Can Do: Execute Smart Contracts

Blockchain is the ideal solution for maintaining a long-term, secure and transparent record of assets (land rights would be a good example) that all parties can access securely.Blockchain allows users to trace the records of ownership for goods all the way back to the source, auditing the supply chain in the process.

What Blockchain Can Do: Maintain a Shared, Transparent System of Record

Nationwide insurance company is planning to use blockchain to provide proof-of-insurance information. The tool would help police officers, insurers and customers verify insurance coverage instantly, which should help to speed up the claims process.

What Blockchain Can Do: Providing Proof of Insurance

<ul><li>Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, while blockchain is a distributed database.</li><li>Bitcoin is powered by blockchain technology, but blockchain has found many uses beyond Bitcoin.</li><li>Bitcoin promotes anonymity, while blockchain is about transparency. To be applied in certain sectors (particularly banking), blockchain has to meet strict Know Your Customer rules.</li><li>Bitcoin transfers currency between users, while blockchain can be used to transfer all sorts of things, including information or property ownership rights.</li></ul>

So What We Learned Today Is This

crypto

Cryptocurrency

What is the Difference Between Blockchain And Bitcoin?

The race to the metaverse is on, featuring runners and riders including tech giants like Meta, Microsoft, and Epic, to blockchain old-schoolers like Decentraland and Somnium Space. The only problem is that it looks suspiciously like a repeat of the "format wars" we've seen play out time and time again

The New Format Wars

<ul><li>Mark Zuckerberg's vision of a centralized Facebook-style social metaverse has been dubbed "dystopian" by one of the firm's earliest supporters.</li><li>Microsoft, on the other hand, appears to have a zig-zag approach to realizing its metaverse ambitions.</li><li>The potential of Web3 as the digital infrastructure of the future cannot be overlooked.</li></ul>

Centralized Facebook Style Social Metaverse Is Doomed to Fail

The only way to think of the ideal metaverse is through the building blocks laid by decentralized autonomous organizations, or <a href="https://venturebeat.com/2022/01/27/moving-forward-in-the-metaverse-are-daos-the-future-of-the-web/">DAOs</a>. The world is only just waking up to the transformative power of DAOs, which have made headlines for attempts to <a href="https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/11/what-is-a-dao-cryptocurrency-group/">buy a copy of the US Constitution</a>, <a href="https://decrypt.co/92332/assange-dao-raised-more-ethereum-constitutiondao">crowdfund legal fees for Julian Assange</a>, and lower the barriers to entry for <a href="https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2022/02/15/2385570/0/en/Real-Estate-DAO-indaod-io-Enters-the-100-Billion-Vacation-Rental-Market.html">real estate investing</a>. In the decentralized finance movement, DAOs are now the norm rather than the exception, and now that they’re beginning to penetrate the mainstream.

Decentralized Autonomous Organizations

The network effects of such a model would be unparalleled because the incentives are aligned.Users will want their friends and family to join so they can also participate in the rewards and make the network a better place to hang out.Thanks to the underlying blockchain infrastructure, people own the assets and benefits they accrue on any given platform.

Network Effects Of Decentralization

In the Web2 model, we don't own anything so we end up tied into platforms and services simply so we can benefit from the work we've put into them over the years.Closing a social media account means losing followers, closing a streaming service means losing playlists and access to streaming material, closing an online marketplace listing wipes out an online directory.

The Problem With Centralized Internet Services

<ul><li>Big tech has a choice: embrace the open, decentralized nature of the future in the metaverse or continue operating closed ecosystems that are only designed to extract value at the expense of their most valuable assets.</li><li>Web3 empowers people to own their data, their follower counts, their customers, all the value they accrue online and take it with them, the "Web 2.0" business model is no longer attractive or sustainable.</li></ul>

The Bottom Line: Embrace The Open

The ideal metaverse should break barriers and transform the big tech business model. Embrace an open, decentralized model for the metaverse.

technologyandthefuture

Technology & The Future

Why the future of the metaverse can only be decentralized

Relationships are built, they’re not discovered.

The hard work of love isn’t just finding someone, there’s making it work, keeping the love alive, and navigating the ups and downs of a relationship.It’s okay if you go on a first date and don’t feel the “spark” or instant chemistry. Oftentimes it takes time to develop that chemistry.Create a rule of thumb that you always go on a second date unless something really dramatic and bad happens on the first date

Dating Is Not A Game

Way too often people are rejecting partners that could be potentially great matches long term because they didn’t feel this instant spark.

<ul><li>Emotional stability: someone who doesn’t overreact in tough situations</li><li>Loyalty: someone who has existing long term friendships.</li><li>Growth mindset: someone who believes they can grow their skills through effort.</li><li>Ability to make hard decisions together: you want a teammate with who you can trust and work well.</li></ul>

Traits To Look For In A Partner

It’s easier to meet people now than ever before, however, dating is harder now than ever because:<ul><li>People expect to get all of their needs met from one person today instead of several people like friends, family, etc.</li><li>People have high expectations of what relationships should feel like (due to comparing relationships from social media)</li><li>People suffer from the paradox of choice.</li><li>More options make us feel depressed, makes it hard for us to choose, and in some ways leads to decision paralysis.</li><li>People have fewer relationship role models (many parents are divorced).</li></ul>

Modern Dating Is Challenging

The Happily Ever After fallacy is the false idea that finding someone is the hard part of finding loveThe hard work of love isn’t just finding someone, there’s making it work, keeping the love alive, understanding different relationship phases, and navigating the ups and downsFinding somebody is challenging, but that’s not where the hard work ends.

The Happily Ever After Fallacy

<ol><li>The Romanticizer has unrealistic expectations of relationships. They want the soul mate, the happily ever after, the whole fairy tale.</li><li>The Maximizer has unrealistic expectations of their partner. They love to explore their options and want to feel absolutely confident they’re making the right decision.</li><li>The Hesitator has unrealistic expectations of themselves. They feel like they’re not ready to date.</li></ol>

Dating Blind Spots

Attachment theory is one of the most rigorously researched elements of relationship science. It is based on how kids related to their primary caregiver. There are 3 main types of attachment:Anxiously attached: These people have a fear of their partner abandoning them and constantly want to be in touch with them.Avoidant attached: These people have a fear that they will be smothered by the relationship and constantly pull back from intimacy.Securely attached: These people are comfortable with intimacy but also comfortable with their independence.

The Attachment Theory

Securely attached people are about 50% of the population but because they’re good at relationships, they tend to be taken and are good at making relationships workTry to date someone who is securely attached or work on becoming more secure yourself

The Securely Attached

Instead of focusing on instant chemistry with your date, focus on the slow burn. The slow burn is the person who gets better over time and would make a great long-term partner.

Dating Isn't Instant Coffee

1) The spark is either there or it isn’tTruth: the spark can grow over time, it takes time for people to grow on someone2) The spark is always a good thingTruth: sometimes there’s a spark just because the person is charismatic or hot  3) The spark means the relationship is going to workoutTruth: the spark doesn’t guarantee a great long-term connection

Spark Or No Spark

<ul><li>Looks and money don’t matter in a long term partner as much as we think they do because we adapt to our circumstances over time</li><li>You don’t necessarily need someone with the same personality as you. You want someone whose personality complements yours.</li><li>You don’t necessarily need someone with the same hobbies as you. As long as you each have space to pursue your hobbies, you can make it work.</li></ul>

Stuff That Is Useless In Long Term Partners

<ul><li>Stop treating dates like job interviews, get out of work mode and focus on connecting with the person instead.</li><li>Instead of trying to be interesting, aim to be interested.</li><li>Be a good listener, ask follow up questions, and really get to know the person you’re on a date with</li></ul>People disproportionately remember things on how they end so try to end the date on a high note such as giving them a meaningful compliment or sharing a dessert at the end of dinner.

Make Dating Fun

<ul><li>Aim to find someone great, put in the effort, and create the relationship you want </li><li>A huge percentage of the success in a relationship is the effort you put into making it work</li></ul>Have hard conversations to make sure both of you are heading in the same direction before getting married:<ul><li>Where will you live?</li><li>Do you want kids?</li><li>How will you manage your money?</li></ul>

Tips For Long Term Relationship Success

Our mindset matters! The ability to shift your mindset from soul mate to work-it-out beliefs could mean the difference between finding a life partner or not.People with a work-it-out mindset know that relationships take effort and that building a successful relationship is a process.Our belief in fate and fairy tales—caused in part by Disney movies, rom-coms, and social media—creates unrealistic expectations for finding and sustaining relationships. Remember, no one is perfect, including you. Even Prince Charming has morning breath.

Disney Gave Wrong Expectations

Perfection is a lie. Everyone else is imperfect, too—even the person you’ll eventually end up with.By waiting to date, Hesitaters miss out on a chance to develop their dating skills and figure out what type of person they want to be with.Here’s how you can learn to overcome your hesitation:<ul><li>Set deadlines for yourself.</li><li>Do prep work for your new dating life.</li><li>Tell others about your plan.</li><li>Commit to your new identity as a “dater.”</li><li>Start with small goals.</li><li>Be compassionate with yourself.</li><li>Don't talk about your Ex.</li></ul>

Perfection Is A Lie: Don't Wait

Breakups wreak havoc on your physical and emotional health. However, what you feel during a breakup is only temporary.Journaling helps. Write about the positive aspects of the breakup, and the negative aspects of the relationship, to help yourself move forward.You can regain your sense of identity, which is often disrupted by a breakup, by participating in “rediscover yourself” activities—things that you enjoyed doing previously but gave up during your relationship.You can grow from the experience by focusing on what you learned and what you’ll do differently in the future.

Handling Breakups

Why Dating Is Harder Now Than Ever Before. But there’s hope. Using insights from behavioural science, we can take control of our love lives.

A “must-read” (The Washington Post) funny and practical guide to help you find, build, and keep the relationship of your dreams. Have you ever looked around and wondered, “Why has everyone found love except me?” You’re not the only one. Great relationships don’t just appear in our lives—they’re the culmination of a series of decisions, including whom to date, how to end it with the wrong person, and when to commit to the right one. But our brains often get in the way. We make poor decisions, which thwart us on our quest to find lasting love. Drawing from years of research, behavioral scientist turned dating coach Logan Ury reveals the hidden forces that cause those mistakes. But awareness on its own doesn’t lead to results. You have to actually change your behavior. Ury shows you how. This “simple-to-use guide” (Lori Gottlieb, New York Times bestselling author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone) focuses on a different decision in each chapter, incorporating insights from behavioral science, original research, and real-life stories. You’ll learn: -What’s holding you back in dating (and how to break the pattern) -What really matters in a long-term partner (and what really doesn’t) -How to overcome the perils of online dating (and make the apps work for you) -How to meet more people in real life (while doing activities you love) -How to make dates fun again (so they stop feeling like job interviews) -Why “the spark” is a myth (but you’ll find love anyway) This “data-driven” (Time), step-by-step guide to relationships, complete with hands-on exercises, is designed to transform your life. How to Not Die Alone will help you find, build, and keep the relationship of your dreams.

communication

Communication

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

books

Books

How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love

Shifting to a new country comes with a laundry list of challenges, like mastering cultural quirks, finding a decent place to live and of course, making new friends.
It is often our work life that dictates our social life (same story in most metropolitan cities across the world), but one has to venture out and try new things to develop a network of friends apart from our colleagues.

Making Friends In A New Country

<ul>
<li>Being Persistent: Try to join the local gym or yoga class, any morning or evening routine that regularly makes you be with the same people(apart from the office). The key to developing new friendships is to stay regular and persistent in the places you shop, exercise or eat. As more and more people get to see you often, you will start to get invitations for gatherings where you may make friends.</li>
<li>Social Networking: A fast-paced life makes it hard to even meet up with friends we have known for years, and many find it easier to use online dating apps like Meetup for going out and trying to have some fun with new people.</li>
<li>Breaking Barriers: Having a common language helps in breaking down the barriers to friendship. Being part of the same cultural or religious group helps to bring people together. However, one must ensure to follow the four basic rules: Accept the other, respect the differences, get into a constant learning mode, and meet new people often.</li>
</ul>

If the goal is to make new friends, being needy does not help. It is better to stay independent, fearless and confident, a quality that attracts other people naturally.One has to move away from family, comforts and dive into a life of adventure, where uncertainty and the occasional loneliness have to be fought with.

Making Friends In A New Country: Fearless And Independent

For expats working on assignments in new countries, building a social circle can be the toughest challenge of all. Readers share their tips for meeting new people in strange places.

travel

Travel

How do you make friends in a new country?

<ol>
<li>Vulnerable - they have low self-esteem and crave affirmation</li>
<li>Grandiose - they have a genuinely overinflated sense of self</li>
</ol>
A study done by New York University researchers suggests that those who fall under the grandiose type of narcissism are not narcissists at all because their behavior resembles psychopathy and those who fall under the vulnerable type are not true narcissists because they do not seek power or dominance.

Two Types of Narcissists

Seeking positive reinforcement is never a bad thing because we all do something to make ourselves better but when self-enhancement becomes the predominant goal in nearly all circumstances and how they resort to seeking it out may become precarious and inappropriate.

When Self-Enhancement Becomes Narcissism

The vicious cycle of narcissism or as Pascall Wallisch likes to call maladaptive cascade has three phases:
<ul>
<li>A vulnerable narcissist fears that they're not perceived in a certain way;</li>
<li>They self-aggrandize to alleviate that fear; then</li>
<li>Others are put off by their behavior thus putting the narcissist back to square one -- which makes this all a vicious and repetitive cycle.</li>
</ul>
Many narcissists don't actually realize that they are the problem because they are resistant to change.

Maladaptive Cascade

Narcissists are people who behave in ways that many belief is driven by self-love but it isn't. Most of their behaviors are actually driven by self-hatred. 
They are crippled by insecurity and shame. Their life is an attempt to regulate their image and this can manifest in behaviors like flaunting on social media, taking credit for other people's work, or even by usurping attention over brunch at the expense of someone else.

Narcissists and Their Behavior

Much of narcissists' behavior comes from deep-seated insecurities and with that thought in mind, we can show compassion towards them instead of getting into a competition with them.
For narcissists to change they must be motivated to change for themselves.

Dealing With Narcissists

People who chronically brag and boast are grating – and, at times, repellent. But a surprising truth about narcissists might help us feel unexpected compassion for them.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

Why some narcissists actually hate themselves

A 2008 study that surveyed 5,000 flyers found that one in every 50 people said they met the love of their life on a flight.
<ul>
<li>This expectation is regularly reinforced by movies and television, where an in-flight experience changes the character's life.</li>
<li>Another is the rise of transformative travel. Vacation is sold as a form of therapy. When planning for a vacation, the anticipation of travelling is especially thrilling for singles to imagine that they may find romance along the way.</li>
</ul>

The idea that travel is a catalyst for romance

The plane crush can serve a function - it can make flying less miserable. It can help you cope with probably the worst part of travelling.
Even the plane's design can lend itself to flirtatious imaginings. The small seats and little leg room can be oddly romantic. Researchers found that when people are in anxiety-inducing situations, they may misattribute the feeling of nerves for attraction. It makes it then not unusual to believe you could meet someone you like on a plane.

A catalyst for romance

Why do cramped seats, gross food, and no personal space make us think of … romance?

The persistent myth of finding love on a plane

<ul>
<li>Know that you have a right to personal boundaries.</li>
<li>Recognize that other people's needs and feelings are not more important than your own.</li>
<li>Learn to say no.</li>
<li>Identify the actions and behaviors that you find unacceptable.</li>
<li>Trust and believe in yourself.</li>
</ul>

Learning to set healthy personal boundaries

Learning to set healthy personal boundaries is necessary for maintaining a positive self-concept, or self-image. It is our way of communicating to others that we have self-respect, self-worth, and will not allow others to define us. Personal boundaries are the physical, emotional and mental limits we establish to protect ourselves from being manipulated, used, or violated by others.

mentalhealth

Mental Health

Healthy Personal Boundaries & How to Establish Them

If our friendships are going to last a long time, we will have to accept that change will happen, and it won't always be comfortable.
If a friendship is feeling weird, use the concept called the "friendship triangle." The triangle base is positivity, and the two sides are consistency and vulnerability. Look at your friendship through this triangle to see what's off-balance.

Friendships change

Look at your friendships through the lens of TME -Time, Money, and Energy.
These are your most valuable resources. Consider how you're spending your TME and who you're giving it to. If you feel drained of these resources, you may have to change the relationship.

Figure out what you value

If you want a long-lasting friendship, you should not be afraid to ask for what you need.
If you can get in the habit of saying what you need, you can avoid resentment later on.

Don't be afraid to ask for things

You will go through a lot of different versions of yourself. It can mean that a friend is only there for a certain chapter, and that's OK.
When a friendship ends, it's good to be intentional. State that you want to end the friendship and talk about what that means in practical terms.

Be intentional about your breakups

Friendships inevitably shift over time  —  and during COVID-19, you might be facing more changes than usual. But those shifts in relationships aren't necessarily a bad thing. Life Kit consulted the experts about how to take a hard look at friendships — and how to break up with a pal, if that's the best route to take. This episode originally ran on August 21, 2019.  

Friendships Change. Here's How To Deal 

Having a weak circle of friends carries the same risk as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
Researchers suggest that core factors for a happy life include:
<ul>
<li>number of friends</li>
<li>closeness of friends</li>
<li>closeness of family</li>
<li>relationships with neighbors and co-workers</li>
</ul>

The importance of friends

You have probably met a large number of friends through just a handful of people. Those are your superconnectors. Rekindle those friendships and ask them if there is anyone you should meet.

Reconnect with old friends

Don’t be interesting. Be interested.
<ul>
<li>Listen to people and ask them to tell you more. </li>
<li>When they mention something you have in common, point it out.</li>
<li>Be enthusiastic and encouraging.</li>
</ul>

Connecting to people

Go past discussing only the weather. Allow yourself to be vulnerable to help lay the ground for a closer personal connection.

Be Vulnerable

Make the time to spend time with your friends so that they will know that you value them.Research suggests to check in with your friends at least every two weeks.

Don’t Be A Stranger

Denmark has the happiest people in the world. One reason is that 92% of them belong to some kind of social group, ranging from sports to cultural interests. Starting a group is the easiest way to manage 5 friendships with 20 % of the effort. Ideas could include a weekly lunch, a monthly sewing circle or a movie night.

Start A Social Group

Before we commence with the festivities, I wanted to thank everyone for helping my first book become a Wall Street Journal bestseller. To check it out, click here. *** When you were a kid it was a lot easier. In college you almost had to be trying not to make friends.

health

Health

This Is How To Make Friends As An Adult: 5 Secrets Backed By Research - Barking Up The Wrong Tree

Mourning the loss of a loved one isn't efficient or logical. It is different for each person. Grief can feel better and worse as time goes by. 
We can not relegate all our heaviest grieving to specific days of the year. We will be reminded of details about the person at odd times.

Time is irrelevant to grief

Time heals physical wounds, but not mental or emotional wounds. Time reminds us of the past.
If you're still sad, that's because it's still real. They are still real. Time can change you, but it can't change them.

The adage "time heals all wounds"

You may be tempted to tell the grieving to "move on." 
But we do not move on from the dead people we love or the difficult situations we've lived through. We move forward, but we carry it all with us. Some of it gets easier, and some of it not. We are shaped by the people we love, and we are shaped by their loss.

What is the Difference Between Blockchain And Bitcoin?

Why the future of the metaverse can only be decentralized

How to Not Die Alone: The Surprising Science That Will Help You Find Love

How do you make friends in a new country?

Why some narcissists actually hate themselves

Rafael N.