My newsletter subscribers were the first to know about this. Then why not share it with everyone else? Have you ever heard of the social psychology principle of reciprocity? Influence author Robert Cialdini popularised the rule in his book Influence, which states that people give back what they receive. That kind of situation has happened to us all. That annoying co-worker you feel obligated to invite because he/she also invited you is because he/she also invited you. And you feel obligated to reciprocate, don’t you? Marketers frequently employ the strategy of reciprocity. When you give with the expectation of receiving something in return, you are living the Golden Rule. Altruism, on the other hand, is a unique quality. As a result, this is a form of selfless giving. There is no expectation of compensation. There’s also what most thought leaders call “reciprocal altruism,” which comes from evolutionary biology. It’s referred

Everyone in modern society is taught that we should all aim higher than we are. This is evident in a wide variety of contexts, including films, books, articles, and even the way people converse privately. It’s common to hear people say, “I want to get better at.” or “I want to be more successful.” We’re always looking forward to a time when we’ll have more of what we’re pursuing in our lives. Love, respect, and more money. In advertisements, you’ll also notice a desire for more. McDonald’s “You deserve more” marketing campaign from a few years back is a great example of this. Apparently, Micky D thinks we all deserve “more savoury, sweeter” for breakfast. Companies and advertising agencies, however, are not to blame. Everything we ask for, they deliver. Many of us truly believe that our desire for more is the source of our happiness. The more effort we

Fear is the most common obstacle that most people face. When it comes to most people, the fear of failure is a major motivator. What are your options if you don’t do well in school? What happens if your company fails? You might not be a professional athlete, but what then? What if you failed miserably at dating? If I had to, I could go on for a few more hours like that. However, have you ever given it much thought? My intention is to express myself in a practical manner. What are the repercussions of failure? Here are three possible outcomes, and your job is to pick the best one. 1. All life on Earth will come to an end. “OMG! Here we are at the end of my time on Earth.” No, it’s not just teenagers who say that. Many adults have said that to me. In fact,

I’ve found that the more options I have in my life, the more content I am with myself. In order to perform at my best, I need to have a wide range of career options. Having a wider range of options for how to spend my time frees me from the need to rely on others and activities. Simply put, I’m content if I have the freedom to decide how I spend my time at any given moment. No matter what I do, it won’t make a difference. The most important thing is that I have the option of doing something else. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned about happiness in the modern era is the importance of this concept. Gordon Livingston, a well-known psychiatrist, wrote Too Young, Too Late Smart, which I recently read. In that book, he explained why it’s so crucial to have a variety

This is an exciting time to be a human being. Many previously unimaginable possibilities have been opened up by technological advancements in the last few years. We all crave new ideas, new ways of doing things, and new ways of improving ourselves. The world’s most valuable resources are ideas, creativity, and knowledge. Every day, there are new apps and services to try out. And so far, it appears that each one has been a success. How difficult is it to come up with a new app? I frequently hear people ask this question.” Think big and come up with a great idea. “It continues: “You contract with a freelance developer.” Let go of it. It’s time to put it up for sale. Then, SPLAT. Enjoy a day at the shore. “But let’s face it, success isn’t easy to come by. Many believe that if they can just come up with

I used to believe that intelligent people were quick-witted. He didn’t give me a moment to ponder. “He’s a quick thinker. ” “Wow, he’s really bright.” It was something I tried for a long time. “QUICK, QUICK, QUICK!” was my mantra whenever I encountered a problem, discussion, or someone asked me a question. To be expected, my initial responses sucked. “Slow thinker” Derek Sivers, one of my favourite thinkers, claims: “Most people think your first reaction is the most honest, but I don’t agree. Most of the time, your first impression is incorrect. “Either you came up with the answer long ago and have been using it instead of thinking, or it has brought back memories of an event that happened a long time ago.” It takes time to think things through. I was always impulsive whenever I gave a quick response. Derek Sivers had to train himself not to

What do you do when you missed your habits for a day? If you’re like most of us, you probably get disappointed with yourself. We realise how important habits are, and we try hard to stick to them. And there’s a vast body of research that shows how beneficial habits can be. This only adds to the pressure to not screw up for a day. But here’s one thing you hardly hear: If you take your habits to an extreme, it backfires on you. Here’s what I’m talking about. Have you ever said things like this to yourself? “Oh no! I forgot to meditate yesterday! I’m losing my mind!” I know I’m travelling but I NEED to eat healthily every day! I’m already gaining weight. I didn’t work out today. There goes my good health. Stop being so dramatic! It’s not the end of the world if you don’t stick

Isn’t it wonderful to be alive? Despite this, it’s also difficult to grasp the complexities of life. Parents and teachers are fond of reminding their children of the fun they had as children. That’s the case for the vast majority of us. Looking back, it’s amazing how simple our lives were. When you’re a kid, all you do is play with your toys, go to school, hang out with your friends, and participate in various sports activities. However, as you get older, life becomes more and more complicated. You must first decide whether or not to attend college. The next step is to decide on your career path. You must find work. You begin to think about settling in. You’re provided with a vehicle. To buy a house, you take out a mortgage. Bills must be paid. It’s possible you owe money. Dogs are an option. How about tying the

Everything we do is approached in a “realistic” manner: “It’s impossible.” “What? How about constructing a plane? In my opinion, you’re a lunatic. “You’re doomed to fail.” Everyone fails, and you are no exception. “You have 1,000 songs in your pocket?” Yes, you’re right. “A 300-mile-range electric car? That’s incredible.” What comes next? “Is this some kind of time machine?” I exclaimed. The question is, ‘You want to be an artist, right?’” Get a job” is safer. “What’s the point of going around the world? “When everyone around you is telling you that you’re wrong, what will you do? Delusion. At the very least, some of it. Everything that is out of the ordinary is craziness. According to what others say, at least. Those who want to avoid a mundane existence must be both stubborn and foolish. Because it’s perfectly acceptable to lead a routine existence. That doesn’t require any

We’re all guilty of making up lame reasons to avoid doing things we don’t feel like doing. “Honey, I’m too tired,” is a common expression. “I have an appointment with the doctor.” “I’m going to a spinning class. “You’re not in the mood, you’re perfectly healthy, and by “spinning class,” you mean watching an episode of House of Cards. Those are all excuses. Nothing to worry about. There are some good excuses out there, but we also make some bad ones. We say things like, “I’d like to start a business, but I don’t have $100,000 to do so.”I’ve been putting off doing things I wanted to do for a long time because I’ve always found some lame reason not to. It’s true that I was apprehensive. Consequently, you never begin. Then again, it’s a simple means of deceiving yourself into thinking you’re not the problem. We will do anything