Video Gaming, is it Safe for Children?

Did you know that in October 1958, Physicist William Higinbotham created what some would argue to be the first video game? It was a very elementary game of tennis, very much like the remarkable 1970s video game known as Pong, and it was quite popular for its time.

In this week's podcast episode, we discussed the risks associated with children playing games that are so sophisticated in every aspect of their design.

My guest Trevor Alexander as a dad and podcaster himself, understand the efficacy of videos from a personal level, however, there is also a dark element, and there is where parents need to be alert to what the child is engaged in.

The encouragement for parents, is to interact with their children while gaming, thus, the parent can evaluate whether it is a healthy video interaction.

   Video gaming is a digital playground, so when we put it in those terms, parents would not allow their children to play with just anyone if they were at an actual playground.

There must be guidelines in place, and parental controls to be able to navigate through the gaming world to keep your children safe.

Before acquiring a game, look for rating and determine whether the game is developmental of which there are plenty of educational games to improve learning skills.

Playing video games are tantamount to riding your bike, climbing the backyard tree, playing ball and an assortment of childhood activities. It is an addition to how children entertain themselves, however, like everything else, they need supervision.

If your recreational room only contain electronics, what do you suppose the child will do for fun?

What is suggested is to include other fun things to do such as, puzzles, books, board games, kid magazines, toys, and other non-screen devices.

Additionally, you may get an argument but keep iPads or TV out of their bedroom. Especially, keep electronic devices (off) while they are studying or doing their homework. Screen time should be viewed as a privilege, and never as a right or an entitlement.

But at what point do you let your child play without supervision?

Much like in the actual playground, it is unrealistic to be there 24/7 to supervise what they are doing and with whom.

So, what is the answer?

At a certain point, (trust) has been cultivated, in other words, children are growing up, and hopefully you have instilled in them the dangers of participating in the gaming environment.

It can be illustrated this way. If you were to hold a spring in a closed fist, and if you open your hand too fast, the spring will spring out of control. So, you open your hand slowly commensurate to the child’s disposition, and only parents can determine the developmental growth of their children.

It is not an easy job in the world of parenthood, however, allow me to leave you with this final thought. I will say that 90% of the battle is hinged on your example of how you view any activity you participate in. Children are not by any means dense; they are always observing you as a parent.

Seller Mistakes

Have you ever met anyone that enjoys making mistakes? Of course not! However, we do learn from making the wrong decision at times, and even if we fail to decide, that can end up being a mistake.

So, what is the answer?

Acquisition of knowledge is where the answer lies. And even then, you must question the knowledge by looking up stream, as to where the knowledge is coming from.

My guest on the show this week was a perfect example of credible information. I looked at his background of twenty-years of working in the real estate industry, thus, it gave him the credentials of the knowledge that was compiled in a book entitled "Seller Mistakes, What You Were Never Told About Selling Your Home,

and Why it Should Matter to You."

I will have to admit, he is not your typical Real Estate Broker, in that, he spoke about issues in the industry that most will not admit.

His book references many sources that come straight from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) which was founded in 1908 with currently over 1.4 million members. He indicated that NAR is a huge lobbyist in the country nest to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and NAR is not out for the best interest of the public, but only for those that support the organization by their annual dues.

   As an example, we discussed the (dual agency) arrangement the realtors love because they can potentially earn twice as much in their commission. So, what is wrong with that?

Let me put it this way, would an attorney represent both husband and wife when getting a divorce? Hardly, this would be unethical let alone illegal. However, the National Association of Realtors allow for a realtor to represent both buyer and seller which amounts to a (conflict of interest). You can well imagine what kind of shenanigans may and can occur while negotiating the sell or the purchase of your home. Especially, when you consider that there are unscrupulous individuals which is par for the course in the world, we live in.

   Am I bashing this organization? Not at all, this organization will implement whatever they want to do, but this is strictly for you to make an informed decision.

This was just one topic we discussed in this week's episode. And to mention a few more.

We talked about whether a (For Sale) sign on your front lawn is effective or not. This too I agreed with him, in that, many times this invites burglary and strangers prowling your property without an invitation. How about (Open House?) It is sufficed for me to say "make sure your medicine cabinet is secured or locked somehow.

  If you have any questions whatsoever in selling your home, without obligation, you can reach out to Michael Bell where you will find his link in the show notes. Or drop me a note with your question and I will respond with an answer.

Side Hustle

Side Hustle

Do you like to tinker in the garage, basement or whatever you call your man cave? In this week's episode we discussed side hustles that may provide you an additional revenue for more purchasing power or even more importantly, pay down debt.

Did you know that some of the most well-known businesses today had their inception in the garage? Here they are, Apple, it is one of the most well-known brands in the world which originated in a small garage in Cupertino, California. not to mention Hewlett-Packard, Amazon, Google, and the Walt Disney Corporation to name a few.

We talked about having passion, purpose and along with core values if we are to expect sustainability in whatever we decide to do as a side hustle. Of course, we are not saying that your idea will be as huge as these corporations, but if we are going to augment our income considering economic conditions, it will help to meet family obligations.

My guest is a well-seasoned motivational speaker that takes him to schools, colleges and other venues that demands his presence. He also is the hosts of a popular syndicated podcast show, the Zack Ballenger podcast show.

We talked about how psychology plays a tremendous part in moving forward with an idea of implementing a side hustle.

Zack published a book entitled "Do not be a Zombie" of which I asked him what it meant.

He proceeded to tell me that he grew up in an exceedingly small town, and sometimes we limit our thinking to the size of such experience. Or we are just going through the motions of everyday life without exploring outside our comfort zone, therefore, we are living much like a Zombie, not realizing our full potential.

I absolutely agreed with him on that point, not limiting our ability, much like a goldfish will only grow to the size of the fishbowl.

Should you inform your employer about your side hustle if you have an 8-to-5 job?

The answer to the question is it (depends.) It depends if there is going to be a conflict of competition with your regular employment and your side hustle, or if you are in a salary arrangement, which means they own your time.

 You will find that there is no problem with your employer, so long as your performance on your regular job does not diminish.

My guest mentioned an organization called SCORE.ORG that will help you get your idea off the ground, and I am here to tell you that it is a great organization of which I have utilized in years past. These are retired individuals interested in giving back to the community and it is a wide spectrum of professionals waiting to assist. you as mentors

As a word of advisement, if you are looking for sustainability in a side hustle, explore the industries of Energy, Health care and Food. Not sure about you, I have not been able to break the habit of any of these three necessities in life, I wish you well!

Secret Room

Do you remember when we were kids? Many of us had a special secret place to play, such as a club house made from cardboard, tree house, or just a hole in the ground.

There was a sense of mystery and excitement about knowing something that others did not know.

That same mystery and excitement carries over even when we are adults, obviously by this week's episode.

My guest builds creative hidden and secret passages all over the world, from a small compartment in your home to thousands of square feet underground. How cool is that?

It was interesting of some of the requests he has had over the years, I mean, we are talking about Indiana Jones kind of requests, such as booby traps and machine guns emerging from under the floor. Fortunately, he told me that he has declined these types of requests. Sorry, but I cannot stop wondering if this is so or not, otherwise, the secret becomes known, and it becomes a revelation. Must be my uncomplimentary nature of cynicism.

The main motivation, however, in creating a hidden place, he was telling me, is to keep important documents and valuables safe, where no one can abscond away with these items.

In the many years I have been involved in the real estate industry, there was one occasion the home contained a secret compartment, and this was only revealed after we consummated the transaction. Incidentally, if you want to sell your home quickly, you might consider building a hidden compartment and advertise that your home contains a secret room, you will be astonished the flurry of activity you will receive.

I know of one incident where a buyer had buyer’s remorse of purchasing an old Victorian home. He was standing in the back yard looking up at the home, feeling discouraged when he noticed there was a small window between two bedrooms. What is that for? He asked himself.

He went up to investigate and there was no entry to this room, it had been plastered over. Therefore, he broke into it and found expensive minks and other valuable items. Could you have a secret room in your home and not know it?

Forgive me, but we all have secret rooms, if not, figuratively. What do I mean by that?

Psychologists will tell us that we have three personalities. The first, the personality we present to the public, secondly, the personality that is less guarded in relation to family, and third, the secret room of our heart that we do not reveal to anyone.

It is the secret heart of the person where the value you possess is stored, imagine how it can be effective. Do not keep it to yourself, build on it, do not keep it a secret, imagine the possibilities how this will enable you to help others.

Music is Universal

Much like laughter is universal, music has been culturally, and socially accepted in all civilizations throughout human history.

From simply clapping hands to create rhythm to the most priceless instrument, the Stradivarius, we all enjoy music.

There is a variety of genres of such as classical, blues, jazz or country, there is music for everyone.

This week we featured the legendary Merle Haggard as growing up in the throes of the great depression and his eventual style of music that no doubt gave him reflection and solace in life.

  Research has proven that enjoying music can mitigate the feelings of anxiety, hypertension, and pain as well as ameliorate sleep disorders, mood swings, mental acuity, our ability to remember and ruminate. I will even say that there is a certain element of spirituality connected to music.

How many of us when we go for a jog, work out in the gym take advantage of music for motivation? Or on the other side of the spectrum, we listen to music that tends to commiserate with how we feel in the moment. Music can elate or deflate! Music tends to spur you on because of the dopamine the brain secretes. In fact, it is euphoric!

It is no wonder I found myself playing my favorite instrument while we were sequestered during the pandemic to placate my nervous system, it was therapeutic.

It was interesting to know that Merle grew up without a father leaving the responsibility completely on his mother, and was it enough?

  Merle later wrote and sung "Mama Tried," Does that give you an idea?

 We discussed his growing up in Kern County of which many of us may be able to relate with his troubled and high-spirited personality that may remind us of ourselves.

Merle grew up in a boxcar that his father bought for $500 in the mid-1930s with payments of $10 per month, truly a story of                 rags to riches.

 But what do we learn from Merle's life?

The human spirit is alive and well in every one of us whether we are aware of it or not. And music can be a catalyst to bringing the spirit of creativity and innovation to the forefront, it can be a cathartic experience like it was for Haggard.

However, you may say I am not musically inclined. That may be true, but we are all Uniquely gifted in one way or another and we just ripen at different periods of time in life. Is not life itself a gift all on to itself?

Some of excel in art in many ways, poetry, or music, however, whatever your gift, if it is coupled with the quality of compassion and love for others, it is of the utmost fulfilling feeling you can have in life.

Amazing Universe

The naked human eye on average can only see approximately 5000 stars. However, the earth gets in the way, therefore, the number is further reduced to 2500, and the conditions would have to be exactly right.

In our little corner where you and I stand, the universe known as the Milky Way there exists about 400 billion stars and the vastness is awe-inspiring.

On this week’s episode an astrophysicist, a research scientist at UCLA expanded on the fact that by using mathematical tools our universe had a beginning or if you will, a Genesis.

I asked him, how old is the universe?

He proceeded to tell me that it is about fourteen billion years. And what was so fascinating to me, he said that no matter how far you look out by means of a telescope into the expanse, it stills measures fourteen billion years of existence. This unequivocally, suggests the universe had a beginning or and inception.

 What caused it? I asked, the so-called the Big Bang?

 Of course, you will not find that phrase anywhere in scripture, but the phrase does imply a tremendous burst of energy, especially, since he indicated that the universe is continuing to expand of which you would expect from an explosion. And the astrophysicist also indicated it came from outside our universe, which corresponds with scripture showing that our physical heavens cannot contain God. 1 Kings 8:27.

To put it in layman terms, as an illustration, I liken our universe as an aquarium in which we all live and making it possible for us to be observed from above, all four sides and from underneath the aquarium, an entirely different environment compared to the realm of where God resides.

In creation, there were boundaries put in place for us to live and thrive. The spoke of there being natural laws in our universe, such as gravity and dark matter, yes, a cosmic cement to ensure that everything functions with congruence and harmony. Is that not what you would expect to find in a well-regulated aquarium?

He also spoke of our planet we call earth. Scientific research corresponds with how the book of Genesis describes the earth being enveloped by gases and devoid of life to begin with. However, this changed quickly to be able to support life. The five indisputable basic components to support life are: Oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and carbon he said, which are found in every living organism on this earth.

As many of us know, about 70% of our earth is cover by water which is a combination of oxygen and hydrogen. These two-element when they stand alone, they are simply colorless and odorless gases that are essential to life, however, when there is an interaction you get life sustaining water, how amazing is that!?

 He also pointed out, that in all creation including the universe you find structure and order which is integrated with mathematics, suggesting that there is an intelligent design behind everything, Otherwise, nothing could be measure with certainty. Think for a moment, everything we do is predicated on mathematics. The page number of the book you may be reading, the measurements of your favorite recipes and so on.

The conclusion? There are reasons to believe in the book of Genesis!

The Human Bone

Have you ever noticed that the stalks of celery closely resemble the human bones? This is what we discussed this week, osteoporosis in connection with the human skeletal makeup. Celery is among many other foods that we ingest from nature that benefits our health and well-being.

From my personal perspective, I can only extrapolate that there is a providential message that is being given that reflects the concern for the human family.

 However, there is much more than a superficial appearance of the commonality of celery and the human bone. The constitution of celery is comprised of 23% sodium (salt) which is the 6th most common element on earth, and it is not coincidental that our skeleton also contains the same percentage of sodium.

 It is indisputable that celery is particularly advantageous for bone health. Additionally, the elevated element of calcium, the 5th most pervasive element found on earth, and the of element of manganese of which is found in combination with iron. There is no doubt, these minerals contribute to increasing bone density and bone solidification for stronger, healthier bones, thus, preventing Osteoporosis.

I would encourage you to do your homework regarding incorporating delicious rich calcium recipes including protein in your diet.

 Can exercise mitigate bone loss?

It appears to me that children naturally are doing it correctly. When you see them on the playground, jumping, skipping, and doing everything that comes natural to them, the result is bone building. No wonder! They do not stay small for too long.

  But what can we do as adults?

When we stand on our two feet, gravity is applying the weight equal to our body, so then, how much more weight bearing bone stress do we need to encourage bone density? The research scientist that I had on my show says 4.2 times more, which is tantamount to jumping off a two-foot stool.

What comes to mind that comes close, is tennis, jumping jacks and anything else that you can implement daily that is like the aforementioned.

I have known individuals that take exercise very seriously, such as swimming for two miles daily, Unfortunately, this does nothing for bone building because there is no weight stress whatsoever. Are you getting the point? A sedentary way of life is just as deleterious to bone strength.

 Is there a gender predisposition to osteoporosis?

The research unequivocally indicates that women have the propensity of the disorder, especially, during post menopause.

Is there an ethnicity propensity?

Again, the research affirms that Asian women are more prone to the disorder because of their diminutive or small skeletal bone structure.

I have known where an individual would clamber out of bed and land on the floor incorrectly and fracture a bone. This can be avoided altogether if we are conscious and initiative-taking in maintaining bone strength. The human skeleton is what gives us shape and form, therefore, do what you can to strengthen what keeps you together. And if you have a bone to pick with me regarding this post, please keep it to yourself. LOL!

Courage Part Two

We all have a comfort zone, and once we stray from it, everything inside starts to scream at us. I can only define it as fear! Have you been there? This is where the quality of courage is imperative to move forward instead of remaining in the middle of the road of comfort, therefore, we want to stretch the envelope of comfort.

Apprehension is helpful in cases where we have full command and can take steps to minimize the risk of our disaster scenario coming true. For example, if we are still standing in the middle of that busy road I mentioned above, fear is a good indicator to start moving. Equally, if we are facing an upcoming public speaking gig, our fear might indicate that we need a little more practice. (“7 Effective Ways to Boost Your Courage - Lifehack”)

In fact, in many situations, however, fear can be more pernicious than a good growing experience. If we react to every scary-inducing circumstance like we are in a precarious sense of mortal danger, we are going to end up missing valuable opportunities to live fully and enjoy growth and new experiences. A helpful, courage-boosting question to ask yourself when deciding how to respond to a situation is: “Am I avoiding pain, or seeking growth?”

Courage Part One

Did you know that the root meaning for the word courage is “heart?" It makes sense that this would be the case since we are driven by the motivation of what is in our heart. Of course, this is not the literal heart, but it has to do with our figurative heart that involves our inner world of contemplation and feeling in connection with our core values.

Some would define this emotion as someone that is fearless, however, I would argue the premise, for the word courage, there is an implication of fear, otherwise, it would nullify the need to be courageous.

 In this post I would like to discuss moral courage which carries the virtue of doing what is right based on core values and accepted norms. Especially, when Moral courage is necessary to give attention to ethical issues and taking a stance when it is not popular or easy.

It is often the case, that courage is related to someone in the battlefield, in which case it is true. However, Moral courage is more profound emotionally, involves your heart at a deeper level, it is a commitment to be tenacious upon one’s honorable, or noble beliefs, despite probable consequences it might create.

As we observe the entire societal landscape, The lack of moral courage is obviously fractured and provides evidence that this virtuous quality needs to be developed. My contention is that we can only benefit if we make a conscious effort to cultivate this characteristic or respectable quality in our personal and professional lives.

Moral courage can only be cultivated and solidified by constantly putting it into practice.

So, the question is, how do we learn and quantify this desired moral attribute?

Fortunately, we were all given this universal gift innately. For example, when you observe children on a playground, moral courage is manifested in many ways, such as when a youngster crowds in, there is always another youngster that will protest to unethical behavior. It is a matter of building quality by roe models, such as parents or mentors and from a spiritual standpoint, yes, the Golden Rule.

I would venture to say that most of us have not entered a burning building which is called physical courage. Think of it, our moral courage is put to the test daily. Showing integrity at the risk of disapproval, the loss of wages and the loss of employment. It does take visceral fortitude to admit to a mistake and being responsible for making tough decisions. Doing all this while you see others getting away with unethical behavior and benefiting from the lack of moral courage.

In fact, many of us that strive to do the best we can regarding being fair morally, sometimes there is retribution, denunciation, all to our detriment and we hardly expect a metal or any kind of recognition. Yet this kind of courage is the hallmark of true character that family and friends can be proud of, not to mention the trust we gain with our business associates.

 Since moral courage is a virtuous quality, we will explore how we can personally promote this attribute on our next post.

Your Wonderful Brain

Whoever said you must go to college to use more of your brain? You will see immediate improvement in your positive outlook, your sure footedness, in your self-respect, in your family life and professional life’s. You will be astonished at how much more life has to offer when you take possession of your conscious mind!

You can begin by:

• Build an extensive lexicon:

You do this by Developing a reading habit. Vocabulary building is easiest when you find words in the setting or circumstance.

• Learn visualization:

This involves imagining your goals in your mind as clearly as possible. Your Mind’s Eye is Like a Muscle, it needs exercised and refinement, to put it simply, if you can perceive it, you can achieve it.

Your Associates

I once had a dog that would respond to my commands promptly. Every time he would hear his name, his ears would perk up and ready to respond. However, he started to hang out with a nearby dog that was not as trained. What was the consequence? My dog started to manifest unacceptable behavior, so much so, I had to restrict him from keeping company with this other dog. What is my point? There is an incontrovertible fact that we are influenced by the good or bad, regardless, of whether we are human or otherwise, by those we associate.

It is a sociological fact that our behavior changes enormously if we are with others rather than by ourselves, it will be either for the better or the worse. So, what kind of an individual do we prefer to latch onto?

Surround yourself with individuals you admire for accomplishing the goals for which you are striving.

Someone that is going to teach you a new skill, a new insight, a new strategy, or something to inspire you.

Note what the one who mentored Tony Robbins had to say regarding our associates,

“You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” By Jim Rohn Author and Entrepreneur

Are You an Introvert?

Is it not the following true? Cats are self-reliant, secret nocturne creatures that enjoy a peaceful environment and social isolation. The behavior of a cat cannot be changed no more than you can alter the nature of someone that is an introvert, who has its place in society.

Some will argue that introversion is a negative personality trait, however, this is a misconception.

Introversion is often confused with being demure shy, or dysfunctional, but the reality is that an introvert prefers small groups and can be quite charming at these occasions.

How do you define a small group? As many that can sit at a dining table, thus, they are able to interact by sharing their ideas, feelings, and concerns.

Without introverts, we would not have Sir Isaac Newton who developed the theory of gravity, Albert Einstein credited for the theory of relativity, and many more of this caliber. An introvert had the ability to explore the inner world of thought and feeling and can think freely as it were.

They have the propensity of being creative in business, art, music, and philosophy which means the love of wisdom. If you consider yourself an introvert, count yourself fortunate.

Art of Listening

Those that know me well, will tell you I tend to be facetious at times, for example, when asked "Hello, how are you?" I will at times reply, "terrible," just to see whether they are listening, and sometime their answer is "that's good.”

Given all the listening that we do, you would think we would be good at it! In fact, most of us are not, and research suggests that we only remember between 25 percent and 50 percent of what we hear, as described by Edgar Dale's Cone of Experience.

Effective communication skills require an elevated level of self-awareness. Understanding your own personal style of communicating will go a long way toward helping you to create good and lasting impressions with others.

The way to improve your listening skills is to practice "active listening." This is where you make a conscious effort to hear not only the words that another person is saying but, more importantly, the complete message being communicated.

You cannot allow yourself to become distracted by whatever else may be going on around you, or by forming counter arguments while the other person is still speaking. Nor can you allow yourself to get bored and lose focus on what the other person is saying.

If you are finding it particularly difficult to concentrate on what someone is saying, try repeating their words mentally as they say them. This will reinforce their message and help you to stay focused.

To improve your listening skills, be personable, make sure to let the person know that they have your full attention by having good eye contact and nodding when appropriate. Make it obvious they are not speaking to the proverbial wall.

Boredom

Ever wondered why some start a project and never finish? And why do they allow themselves to be easily distracted?

Often, it is because we are disinterested, find it boring and banal, our heart is just not in the task at hand.

What can help?

taking ownership of your task, giving it your delicate touch, will go a long way in eliminating boredom, thus, the task will be completed. Otherwise, without a sense of personal possession there is no connection, no importance, and no fulfilment of which it can be exceedingly draining.

Therefore, tap into your childhood self to stimulate your imagination to find inspiration to incorporate your talent in whatever you do in life. According to the dictionary, a talent is a natural endowment of a person. It is an ability or natural capacity that we have, which may range from our creativity to our athletic abilities. We all have them, however, some of us do not know it.

Develop Curiosity

To improve your role as a parent, investor or as an all-around individual, the application of curiosity will do that for you.

Do your research, ask questions, consult those that are successful in goals for which you are striving.

You may be on the right track, but are you moving forward? It was Mark Twain who stated, "Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there."

Be curious about the wonderment of everything, enrich your life.

Note what an eminent cosmologist stated,

“Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious.” —Stephen Hawking

Do You Collaborate?

A man and his wife were driving down a country road, and they come upon a two-horse drawn wagon. The husband says, "look! a team of horses pulling a wagon" upon which his wife replied, "yes, but if you notice there is only one tongue between them."

For there to be good teamwork whether in business or within the family, we cannot afford just one tongue to be doing all the talking in the decision-making process.

We all have different strengths and experiences that can be tapped into; therefore, we must learn to collaborate with one another.

What is a good practice to begin to collaborate?

There is the expression "we have to be on the same page," but I would take it a little further, I would emphasize that we must be on the same paragraph, and the same sentence as well.

 This suggests that we need quality interaction to Build "trust" and promote open "communication" with one another to be able to accomplish our mutual goal, share the leadership and strive to be harmonious in becoming the perfect team.

The one who develop the assembly line of collaboration stated,

"If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself." – Henry Ford

Do You Like Chocolate?

The benefit of chocolate is incontrovertible, note the following study in how it can improve your nervous system, especially, when meeting challenges.

It increases both serotonins, a neurotransmitter that promotes calm, and also phenylethylamine, which promotes stimulation. White chocolate does both even more intensely.

It triggers a release of dopamine, which will elevate your heart rate and significantly increase motivation.

It also results in a mild antidepressant effect, literally because your brain responds to the stimulants by promoting blissful emotions. By Healthy Foods

Forming a Habit is Mathematical

You may not recall but your first math problem in school was 1+1=2. This is your introduction to the Fibonacci Sequence, a 13th-century Italian mathematician, Leonardo Fibonacci

He noticed that many plants grow in spiral formations. To illustrate, the pineapple, may have 8 loops of scales going around one way and 5 or 13 going in the opposite direction. Additionally, seeds in a sunflower, you may observe 55 and 89 coiling over each loop, you may even find spirals on broccoli. There is an obvious chronological sequence or Fibonacci sequence That is found throughout nature, even in the human body. It works like this, one body, 1+1=2 arms, 1+2=3 knuckles on each finger, 2+3= 5 fingers and then after that, the ratios become more intricate. There is harmonious balance in all creation, there is order and symmetry, this is what defines physical beauty in a person and also in nature. And the ratios are even observed in human behavior as well, and yes, 21 days to form a habit.

the math is progressive, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, and of course 21 and so forth. It's clearly seen in the billions of investors that trade the markets. Look for the lowest point and the highest point in the price action, you will see 21 days respectively. If it exceeds 21 days, it is because the psychological rewiring of investors was strong enough to remain bullish or go higher, and if not, the price will fall from the peak or go bearish.

Therefore, to form a good habit, the first day will be difficult, day 2 less difficult, day 3 less than the previous 2 days, day 5 you are feeling better about it, 8 and 13 your neurological rewiring is getting stronger, and if you exceed the 21st day it has become entrenched. The next sequence is 34 days, at this point, your good habit becomes a lifestyle. And the converse is also true, you can break a good habit in the same amount of time.   

Handling Criticism

Each and every one of us carry a hammer of which can be used to build up or if you use the opposite of the hammer, you can tear down by means of criticism. I have to admit, I am no longer a young man anymore, however, I can say with empirical experience that most use the positive side of the hammer. It is used to build business reciprocity, in family relations and building “true” friendships. this is the human experience that is nailed down by the quality of altruism.

So, the question, how do you handle someone that tends to see everyone through the prism of criticism?

The key to dealing with overly critical people is first of all, to understand that we are the sum total of every moment of our experiences. most experts agree that the ages of 2-6 individual personality have been firmly established. Unfortunately, some have grown up in a home environment of constant criticism, by parents or others. The end result, this negative trait is projected during their life that validates their own insecurities and reaffirms the negative perception they have of themselves. They are threatened by the success of others, they lack confidence, and tend to compensate by counterattacking. Can they change? Absolutely! Their first step is “awareness.”  

In the meantime, we would never want to retaliate when criticized, but instead, we want to be patient, understanding, commiserate, show empathy and compassion for such individuals.

How Do You Measure Success

“Would you prefer to be wealthy at a job that makes you miserable, or have a job that you love that only provides ordinary income? A rhetorical question like this is powerful, we are obliged to look at ourselves intrinsically or internally regarding our state of contentment, it compels us to examine our lives, but also forces us to measure or quantify our priorities.

The human tendency is to compare ourselves with others to determine our success, however, my thoughts on this juxtaposition or contrast is grossly misguided. Many spend a lifetime catching up with the proverbial "Jones" as it were, meaning overly concern with status at all costs, even at the expense of family, friends and even our personal health.

We must ask ourselves, "what makes me happy, what is it that I love?"

Since happiness and love derives from our nervous system, this should tell us unequivocally that our emotional health should be our “goal” and success should be the "byproduct."

Of course, I am not minimizing any one’s efforts to support their self and family, in fact, to acquire wealth, in of itself is not wrong. All I am saying is that we need to reevaluate our motivation, otherwise, being driven by extrinsic or external things to measure our success such as the success of others, fulfillment will not be realized. Furthermore, if we do not take care of our emotional health, how are we going to be able to serve those we care for?

The statement by this one man who put his emotional well-being at the basis of happiness and success the “byproduct,” had this to say, 

"What makes me happy is when I see the people, I've touched are happy. That makes me tremendously happy and emotional." Michał Sołowow, the wealthiest person in Poland