Blog Feed

Left or Right? Up or Down?

Posted on by Maame

Out of all the complexities that human beings face, I am most intrigued by the manner in which we make decisions as human beings. And so, just as I do when I am intrigued by some phenomena or ideology, I dig into the internet. (I know what you’re thinking. Don’t worry. I used safe, secure and regularly updated websites which are affiliated to professional and governmental organisations)

The first point that I came across listed emotion as a factor that influences or is involved in decision -making. Prior to researching, I had already concluded that emotion played a role. I think it’s very obvious.

When most people are angry, they act—That’s a decision.

When most people are happy, they act—That’s another decision.

When most people are scared, they act—That’s also a decision.

Other seemingly obvious factors include feelings, instincts, beliefs and experiences. (Scheve)

The most surprising fact that I came across was the fact that “We aren’t even aware of our own process” (Our own process here refers to decision making)

By looking at brain activity while making a decision, researchers could predict what choice people would make 7-10 seconds before they themselves were even aware of having made a decision. This means that even when people think they are making a conscious, logical, decision, chances are that they aren’t aware that they’ve already made a decision and that it was unconscious. 

(Weinschenk)

The psychology behind the process of decision-making is too broad to cover in one article. I hope you’ve learnt a thing or two about the daily process that we unconsciously undergo which ultimately directs the course of our lives.

I’ll be back with more.

(I know I have been away for a while but school has been busy. I’ll do my best to be consistent though)

-Maame xoxo

Works Cited

Scheve, Tom. “How Do We Make Decisions?” HowStuffWorks, 23 Aug. 2010, science.howstuffworks.com/life/inside-the-mind/human-brain/make-decisions.htm. Accessed 6 Aug. 2020.

Weinschenk, Susan. “How People Make Decisions — Smashing Magazine.” Smashing Magazine, 2019, http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2019/02/human-decision-making/. Accessed 6 Aug. 2020.

‌

Could perfectionism be the death of you?

Posted on by Maame
This screenshot was taken on the 6th of August, 2020

I have never really thought much about perfectionism. I know that it’s a driving force behind quite a number of successful people in life but I have never really looked at the deeply disturbing side of it : “driving some people off the cliff.”

So, it is ubiquitously known that the mind is one of the most complex parts of the human being. Thoughts, personality, feelings, beliefs and behavior are all shaped by our invisible and incomprehensible minds. I believe that if a person’s idea of perfectionism is not constricted to a safe space (a space in which you can push yourself to reasonable and safe limits), one can easily fall into pits of despair as a result of failing to meet deadlines or accomplish certain goals with 100% success or precision.

Through research and general observation of people, I have come to the solid conclusion that perfectionism, if not confined to certain defined barriers, can destroy a person mentally, physically and emotionally.

Allow me to elaborate.

I had a friend who never left anything to chance. I mean ANYTHING. If she made a mistake while writing, she would tear out the whole page and start afresh. If she colored outside of the line by just a tenth of a millimetre, she would concede defeat and start again all the while frustrated and annoyed. Perfectionists, like my friend, will always go at it again and again, trial after trial, until they attain the “gold standard”.

Now someone might say, “Well, there’s nothing wrong with that. Aiming for quality work is not a bad thing at all.” Yes. That is true except for the fact that perfectionists, in my opinion, do not give themselves space to breathe or make mistakes and in being relentless and putting in all their effort into making or doing something perfectly, they end up wasting a lot of time and energy (especially mental energy).

Some people leave themselves no room for mistakes or mediocrity. Everything has to be “just perfect!”. As soon as things start to go off the rails, they trigger a domino effect which begins with beating themselves up mentally which then takes a toll on their emotional well-being and then compromises their physical health in the long run (most likely due to chronic stress)

That’s it for today. I’ll be back with more!

A disclaimer: This post was written based on my thoughts, experiences and conversations that I have had with people.

This post is subject to change in the future and if you have any other thoughts on this, feel free to comment.

Have a lovely day!

-Maame xoxo

08/08/20

Liebster Award

Posted on by Maame

Hey Everyone!

I have been nominated by @herninjarella (https://justthoughtdotcom.wordpress.com/) for the Liebster award and I am so grateful! She is a “word bender” who writes amazing articles. She started WordPress roughly a month ago and is already a pro.

Rules:

1. Thank the Blogger who nominated you and provide a link to their blog
2. Answer the 11 questions given to you.
3. Nominate 11 other Bloggers.
4. Ask your nominees 11 questions.
5. Notify your nominees once you have uploaded your post.

  1. When and why did you start blogging? I began blogging a year ago but I didn’t intensify my efforts until June this year.
  2. Whom do you like the most in this world? Frankly speaking, I cannot choose one person.
  3. How do you motivate yourself during tough times? I pray and then I eat because food always makes me feel better.
  4. What is your favourite colour? Blue
  5. What is your first ambition? To go to heaven.
  6. Name any three friends in your life? I honestly cannot choose.
  7. What is your hobby? I love reading novels, articles and anything interesting; I love to watch Ted-Ed videos and I love researching as well.
  8. Which is your favorite quote? “Someone will always be prettier. Someone will always be smarter. Someone will always be younger. But they will never be you.” –Kanye West.
  9. Describe you in a word. Considerate.
  10. Which is your favourite movie? Like Stars on Earth.

My nominees;

You can all answer the same questions!

Have an amazing day!

-Maameeee 28/07/20

7 thoughts from me to you!

Posted on by Maame

I think about a LOT OF THINGS. In fact, thinking is an everyday indulgence of mine. I think about what the future will look like; not only for myself, but for family and the world around me. I think about food as well just because, … food is good:).

I tend to have fleeting thoughts quite often. I ask myself questions that I already know the answers to and sometimes, I ask myself questions which I know can never be answered. Not in this time. Not ever. So, here are seven fleeting thoughts from me, to you!

If a meteorite with the potential to end all life forms or cause immense damage to our planet was to hurtle towards the earth, what would people really do? Would they do things they have always wanted to do but never really bothered to pursue? Get euthanized? Pray like never before? Go underground in bunkers made of titanium? A selective few shipped to Mars?

Has anyone ever read a book which left them in awe for days on end? Absolute awe? Because, that’s how I felt when I read “The Boy in The Striped Pyjamas”, “Purple Hibiscus”, “Angels and Demons”, and many other spellbinding books. Sometimes, I have to go back and read those books again and again because I absolutely loved, loved, loved them!

Have you ever wondered where birds go when it rains (I’m talking about torrential rain)? I mean, the first answer I can think of to address this question is that they seek shelter under hollow logs and sheds but can all the free-roaming birds in this world find shelter?

Whenever you try to remember something (a thought, an experience, a moment), do you envision your mind as a compartmentalized room with shelves holding boxes containing your thoughts and memories?

So, if poison expires, does it become ineffective or it becomes deadlier than it was?

What would happen if someone were to loose their helmet in space? That is going to instantly kill the person. Or….? I think that is one fear that I have whenever I think of astronauts in space. I really hope that never happens because it would be one of the most horrific deaths ever.

Where did all of the sand in the Sahara and other deserts come from? Was it there from the genesis of the Earth’s creation (or formation)? Is the original dirt or soil that covered that area of land still there? Where did it come from?

Well, I hope that you found this blog post to be amusing and intriguing. I’ll be back with more!

By: Maameee

11/07/20

Idiosyncrasies

Posted on by Maame

“I tend to crack my knuckles when speaking to people I have just met.”

“She has a funny way of smacking her lips together when she is livid.”

“I used to smell library books as soon as I opened them.”

Have you ever wondered if there is a name for that peculiarity or mannerism about someone or yourself? Well, if the answer is “yes”, then its called an idiosyncrasy!

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, an idiosyncrasy is “a peculiarity of constitution or temperament : an individualizing characteristic or quality”.

Idiosyncrasies are a tiny fraction of the huge slice of pie called life that make us unique and we should embrace them. No one is “normal” or “regular” in the eyes of “society” and I think that no one should strive to be normal or regular in life.

I am not a Kanye West fan but he has a quote which flitters into my mind every now and then. He said, “Someone will always be prettier. Someone will always be smarter. Someone will always be younger. But they will never be you.” It just makes you come to the realization that you are really, truly, undeniably unique in every single way. The world does not need uniformity, especially with character and personality with regard to its inhabitants. What the world needs and has thrived on for years is the individualizing quality of the human beings that inhabit it.

So, if you have that little peculiarity that makes people see you as eccentric or weird or unusual, remember that your idiosyncrasies make you you and the world is in need of that burst of flavor that you have.

By: Maameee