Subscribe to the Blog

  Zhuangzi Was Right All Along Inspired by: Zhuangzi Was Right All Along The Trap of Usefulness Our society proclaims: If it is not useful, it is a waste of time. If it doesn't make money, it is not worth doing. If it doesn't lead somewhere, it should not be started. Slowly, without noticing, we begin to measure everything in this way. What is the point? What is the return? What do I get out of this? Something strange is happening. We have never been more efficient—and we have never felt more empty. People don't daydream anymore. They waste their time on social media with their smartphones to distract themselves—instead of using the saved time for pleasure. They optimize, they don't explore. They calculate, and then they waste their time on their smartphones. Hobbies Become Side Hustles Even hobbies are no longer free. They are turned into "side hustles." Even rest feels guilty if it is not productive. And so people procrastinate because they don't have en...

  Clove water, made by steeping whole or ground cloves in hot water and then straining them, offers several potential health benefits. These benefits are primarily due to a compound called eugenol, which is the main active ingredient in cloves. Here’s a breakdown of the key benefits, along with important safety considerations. Potential Health Benefits 1. Rich in Antioxidants Cloves are packed with antioxidants, including eugenol. These compounds help fight oxidative stress caused by free radicals, which can damage your cells and contribute to chronic diseases like heart disease and certain cancers. 2. May Aid Digestion Clove water is a traditional remedy for various digestive issues. Reduces Gas and Bloating: It can help stimulate the production of digestive enzymes, which may reduce gas, bloating, and indigestion. Soothes Nausea: Sipping on clove water may help alleviate feelings of nausea. 3. Oral Health Support Thanks to its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, clove...

  As one goes through life, one learns that if you don't paddle your own canoe, you don't move. If you obey all the rules you miss all the fun. If you need a helping hand, you can find one at the end of your arm. Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get - only with what you are expecting to give - which is everything. If you always do what interests you, at least one person is pleased. You are the only person you can actually change. It's not what you start in life, it's what you finish. Loved people are loving people. You can’t change the music of your soul. Never complain. Never explain. If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married. Life can be wildly tragic at times, and I've had my share. But whatever happens to you, you have to keep a slightly comic attitude. In the final analysis, you have got not to forget to laugh. Life is hard. After all, it kills you. I never lose sight of the fact tha...

  Stop developing skills until you identify your natural talent. Everybody has a God-given gift or talent. Often, it is hard to see your own talents because they feel completely normal to you. You notice the effort others put in, but you don't notice your own. As the saying goes: I can make you look, but I can’t make you see. Other people are often the ones who discover your talents for you. Seeing is a choice. A Story About Barbra Streisand Barbra Streisand originally wanted to become an actor. But when her boyfriend heard her singing, he was shocked—he had never heard such a beautiful voice before. He told her, "You have to become a singer." Would you agree? Talent vs. Skill If you invest 10,000 hours in your talent, your talent will manifest. But first, you need to discover it—and then work hard to develop it. Without deliberate practice and excellence, no talent is truly accessible. Talent is domain-dependent. A domain is an area of control, knowledge, interest, or ac...

  I recently listened to a polished speech from the new Pope. And I asked myself: Is he really connected – to his heart, to God – when he speaks? Honestly? I don't think so. So I can't believe what he says. The Problem with Polished Words There's an old sales saying: "Emotions sell, and data tells." When you sing, speak, or sell – you want to make an impact. And if your words come from real emotion, you connect with people. But a polished speech? Nobody is interested – not even God. C.S. Lewis on Prayer After the Pope's speech, I was drawn to a video by C.S. Lewis – "How to Talk to God the Right Way." His message cut through: God is not impressed by polished speeches or prayers. He rather ignores them. If you pray out of need, or let your words flow from humility – God hears you. But polished words? They are born from arrogance or pride. Both the Bible and the Quran warn: "God does not like the proud." "Pride comes before the fall....

  The Problem: We Suppress, Not Feel We are programmed to make feelings go away instead of feeling them. We look for distraction—easy to find today—and suppress our emotions. We think our emotions are our enemy. We like to be together with happy people, with no drama. And so we consume a lot of drugs, or we become addicted to social media and our mobile phones. Look at today's health reports: 60% of children are chronically ill. 10% are autistic. Suicide rates are at an all-time high. Depression has never been at such a high level. Wars are raging like crazy. The suicide rate of U.S. Army servicemen is five times higher than the death rate on the battlefield. Isn't this evidence enough to question a society that supports the suppression of emotions? How Does It Start? We send our five-year-old child to kindergarten. It comes back depressed. We politely ask what happened, and then we say: "Don't see it that way. Don't be emotionally affected. Don't go into your ...