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Bushido in Modern World

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Honne and Tatemae

    Imagine if we are in a meet or reunion with a friend from secondary higher school that we haven't seen in a long time. Someone who you never liked and then they point out to meet and catch up. What do you do?   If you are automatically saying "yes" without hesitation in these situations, congratulations, you are already familiar with the Japanese concepts of Honne  (本音)  and Tatemae  (建前) .  You may not realise it.   Honne and Tatemae are Japanese names for two very important concepts. Everyone shall have a nice balance of Honne and Tatemae in their lives. Honne refers to what we really think in our hearts. On the other hand, Tatemae means our behavior in public that follows the standards that are socially accepted.   The reason why there are Honne and Tatemae is Japanese don't really like to have clashes with others. They don't want to show their rudeness, so they prefer to give formal responses, or to react with formal behavior, rather ...

Stay Optimistic

  Everyone has faced challenges now and again in the future. However, it is our reaction to determine how quickly we can overcome that challenge. Also, it is harder when people around us constantly talk about negative things that can lead to pessimism.   There are typically two types of minds people have towards challenges, pessimistic or optimistic. Everyone may have a natural tendency to have one view or the other. But in this article, optimism is what we need to face the challenges with a smile.   Being optimistic means that we possess an overall positive outlook on the world. Trusting that good things will happen and that people's desires will be fulfilled. Optimistic people have better job security and are more likely to succeed in their careers.    They can turn disappointments or sadness into motivation, which can lead to increased productivity and accomplishments. If we always see the brighter side of things, we may experience more positive events in our...

About Telekinesis

    Have you ever dreamed to able moving objects around with your mind, like in a film? The power of telekinesis has captured the imagination of scientists, psychics, and fiction writers for centuries unproven by science.   So what is the definition of telekinesis? Telekinesis or psychokinesis refers to the alleged ability to move objects with the power of the mind or willpower, without physical interaction.   Telekinesis is from the Greek words, tele means "distant" and kinesis means "movement". If we combine together, it refers to the apparent ability to move physical objects using only the mind and without any physical interaction.   The idea of telekinesis has been in the imagination of fiction writers for ages, allowing the characters to demonstrate telekinetic abilities to move objects, restrain opponents, and levitate for dramatic effect.   However, many have claimed to have telekinetic abilities and believe that telekinesis is possible, but no one h...

Midlife Crisis

    There is a term that can make people's spines shiver down, midlife crisis. It is very common among middle-aged people about midlife crisis. In its simplest terms, a midlife crisis can be said to happen between the ages of 40-60 years old. This crisis can affect self-concept and self-confidence, leading to changes in moods, behaviors, emotions, and relationships as people cope with the transition to midlife. Some people also see a shift or increase in responsibilities as they reach middle age. They might begin taking care of an aging parent or accept their children becoming more independent. However, there are several main signs of a midlife crisis.  The first sign is nostalgia . Despite focusing on the positives of the present, we begin to idealise our past lifestyle. Maybe we were amazed at how athletic we used to be or how expansive our social circle was when we were young.   The second one is changes in ambition . We might suddenly feel motivated to make chang...

Quarter Life Crisis

    When we reach at age 20s or 30s, we always feel something off, feel unsatisfied in life, and feel stuck and unsure. When we have a job to do, stress and depression are our best friends. That drives us to ask ourselves "What am I doing with my life?" or "What's the point of everything?" Congratulations, you are not alone.   That is a normal thing to feel, is what we call a quarter-life crisis. The typical person who struggles with a quarter-life crisis is highly driven and smart. However, transition times can lead to a prolonged state of unseen, resulting in uncertainty, emotional pain, and questioning.    It's common for young adults to experience a quarter-life crisis. Similar to the midlife crisis we see in middle-aged people down the line, young adults are quarter-life crisis. Although the midlife crisis is more recognised, it's not more common. After all, a midlife is more widely accepted, while a quarter-life crisis is often belittled.    Our ...

The 5 Love Languages

    Have you ever known what is type of your love language? Did you feel wonderful when your couple gave you a present? Or spending time to have lovely conversations together? The truth is that falling in love is often fun and easy, but building and maintaining relationships involves challenge and effort. Understanding love languages can improve relationships by aiding in communication and overall satisfaction.    The idea of love languages is by Gary Chapman, Ph.D., in his bestselling book The 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts in 1992. The book outlines the five ways we express and receive love, and it is thought to be the key to healthy, happy relationships. Gary Chapman gave the ideas for expressing them to the partner, here are the five languages according to Gary Chapman.   The first one is Words of affirmation. People with words of affirmation as a love language value verbal acknowledgments of affection, including frequent "I love you's," com...

About Phubbing

    In the Digital Era, smartphones have become the number one priority in society. When it comes to our smartphones, nothing else in our lives gets as much attention. A single notification can branch to half days only checking the status or short videos on social media. If we lose it, the stress starts to build up rapidly. Getting by without a smartphone really is not possible anymore, and from that other areas of our lives are bound to be affected.   Phubbing describes the act of "phone-snubbing". It is a term that most people might not be familiar with, but the action is certainly one we all recognise. If we are going outside let's say, how often have we been physically in the presence of someone, but they're emotionally "not there" because they are absorbed in their smartphone? Quite a lot, isn't it?   Smartphones and text messaging help partners display love and affection to each other when they are physically apart. However, what happens when smart...

Left and Right Brain

    Our brain is a highly complex organ, also one vital and important organ in our body. Essentially it's not just in thinking but it plays in all body functions. Our brain contains about 100 billion neurons and 100 trillion connections. It is the commander of our body like think, feel, and do. Moreover, have you ever heard people say that they are more of a right-brain and left-brain thinker?   The phrase left and right brain refers to anatomical halves or hemispheres of our brain. From books to internet articles (especially this one), you have probably heard this phrase. The left hemisphere generally focuses more on speech and language, while the right hemisphere manages creativity and spatial relation. Let's take deeper into left brain and right brain.   According to the left-brain, right-brain dominance theory, the right side of the brain is the best at expressive and creative tasks. There are several abilities popularly associated with the right side of the brai...

Occam's Razor Law

    Have you heard about Occam's razor law also spelled Ockham's razor law before? Well if you haven't is a problem-solving principle that serves as a useful mental model. Occam's razor law is also known as the "law of parsimony". Occam's razor is credited to William of Ockham, a Franciscan theologian, and philosopher who lived during the late 13th to mid-14th century friar, philosopher, and theologian.     In simpler language, Occam's razor states that the simplest explanation is preferable to one that is more complex. Simple theories are easier to verify. Simple solutions are easier to execute. We should avoid looking for excessively complex solutions to a problem, and focus on what works given the circumstances. Occam's razor can be used in a wide range of situations, as a means of making rapid decisions and establishing truths without empirical evidence.   The principle can be applied in many fields of science and logic. If two computer program...

Living a Simple Life

    In the modern era, living a simple life is quite tricky. We are constantly being attacked by ads, big sales, and messages telling us we need the latest gadget or must-have items. It must be difficult to resist these temptations when it feels like everyone around us is living a more glamorous life than we are.   Ok, let's take a look at what people often think of when they hear this phrase. Minimalism means having fewer things and only what is needed. Old-fashioned living means rejecting modernity and living like it's the past. Self-sufficiency means creating everything we need and buying as little as possible. All of those are close, but none of them are quite right. The opposite of simple is not modern, expensive, or dependent.   Living a simple life looks a little different for everyone, but at its core, simple living is all about focusing on the things that truly matter. For many of us, those include our family and our friends. By living a simple life, we can ...

Insomnia

    Insomnia is not a strange word. Everyone knows insomnia and some of them are experienced, even diagnose it. Keep in mind is a sleep disorder characterised by difficulty with falling asleep, staying asleep, and both. Experts estimate that between 1 in 10 and 1 in 3, people suffer from some degree of insomnia. Quite interesting, isn't it?   There are two types of insomnia, acute insomnia , and chronic insomnia . Acute insomnia describes sleep difficulties that last for a few days or weeks, but not longer than three months. Short-term insomnia can often be traced to an external cause or life stressors like the death of a loved one, divorce, or a major illness. On the other hand, chronic insomnia is when a person experience sleeping difficulties and related daytime symptoms, like sleepiness. It is estimated that about 10% to 15% of people have chronic insomnia.   There are several causes of chronic insomnia. The first one is the common one, stress . Concerns about wo...