Solving a problem

When you want to completely solve a problem, not a mathematical sum, but a real world problem, it is not enough to be just an engineer or an artist, an educator, a politician or a businessman!

When you are trying to completely solve a problem, you morph from one role to another.

But even that is not enough. Because that's just you taking up different roles.

When you completely solve a problem, you would understand that you need the support of hundreds or thousands of others who play various roles. Educators, artists, businessmen, engineers and scientists and politicians.

Politics by Scoundrels

If you don't enter politics, scoundrels will fill that void.

I need perspective

See, the problem is I want to give everything I have or do everything I can for others without expecting anything back from them. I try and work hard to understand what their priorities are and change my life and goals accordingly.

When it comes to my family members, I cannot garner enough time for them. I do not try to understand their priorities. When they try to tell me their priorities, I even get irritated! But, I expect the world from them! I expect them to understand me, support me and be with me no matter what!!

See, that's the problem! I don't know how to think about this. I have to develop a perspective. Perspective is a valuable thing age can provide you. And, the new year on my calendar reminds me that I am getting old.

Increasingly environment conscious. #AbuDhabi is #recycling it's waste clothes

via Facebook https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10152353133126681&set=a.10150171620696681.291572.570371680&type=1

Themelis

I don't want to attach any out of space, foreign help! Neither do I want to take any credit for any of my deeds. There can be a thousand and one reasons or there doesn't have to be a reason for everything that's around or everything I did!

I'm very glad that I came across and got associated with someone driven by passion, so early in my life! I can hear someone saying "it was just the right time, before you began your professional life"

Not just moments and feelings,
sometimes, humans happen too,
and they can happen to be the best things around.

I sometimes think,
He doesn't have to do it.
He could have settled down
in a leisurely town,
and go to sea every clear dawn.

He could spend his entire time
with his children and lovely wife.

And every dime
on his grandchild's life

But, He works,
He fights,
He initiates,
He propagates, and
He inspires,
Souls like myself.
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Finally published this post, which was a draft since Dec, 2010!

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General question: Are you called "lucky" even when you get something which your friends or peers or anyone else can get?

Fear is a privilege

Fear is a privilege. It means you have something.

Malnourished kids in Cambodia hunt for Tarantulas for a meal. It is one of the few sources of protein they can find there. When asked if they were aware of how dangerous Tarantulas are, they said, yes, it's very painful if you get stung by them, and it has no cure.

When asked if they were not scared of them. They said that only the rich are scared of them, the poor are not.

More about eating Tarantulas and insects (60 minutes) - http://youtu.be/Acxbx-DUkL4

Defining Happiness

In the Nicomachean Ethics, Aristotle wrote, “the happy man lives well and does well; for we have practically defined happiness as a sort of good life and good action.”  Happiness is not, he argued, equivalent to wealth, honor, or pleasure. ~ Carol V. Hamilton

Question: Do you think happiness is a) the end of all means or b) the end of all other ends?

Post

Aristotle defined a happy man, but left the definition of happiness unclear. This post is an ongoing effort to define happiness. If you can help with your comments and suggestions, we can get there quicker.

I hit a wall thinking what makes a human live well and do well. I imagined a human and tried answering what makes him/her do and live well. After a few minutes, I thought I should read more to be able to define happiness based on its contributing elements. I then stopped thinking about an imaginary human being and started thinking what would make me happy, and suddenly the wall vanished!

I would stay happy on the long run if everything in my life went according to my plans. I have desires, the achievement of which and may be in some cases, the pursuit of which will keep me happy. For example, I'll do well as long as I am able to create a positive impact in other people's lives, which will enable them to achieve their goals.

It goes without saying that I'll not be happy when I'm unable to reach my goals or when I work towards my plans, but they fail.

Therefore, in trying to define happiness, we can certainly say that happiness is the emotional state when we are able to achieve our goals or thinking that we are on our way to achieving our goals. There goals could be personal, familial or societal.

... in the 1690 essay Concerning Human Understanding. There, in a long and thorny passage, Locke wrote:

The necessity of pursuing happiness is the foundation of liberty. Therefore the highest perfection of intellectual nature lies in a careful and constant pursuit of TRUE and SOLID happiness... ~ Carol V. Hamilton (emphasis mine)

What is true and solid happiness might be based on the types of our goals, the effort we put into them, and what we consciously or unconsciously lost in their pursuit.

When defining happiness, it helps to define what it is not. We can take Aristotle's help here.
Happiness is NOT
- Wealth/property
- Honor
- Pleasure
- a combination of just these 3
- suggestions?

Happiness is NOT POSSIBLE WHEN you are
- in danger
- under stress
- suggestions?

Here, I have to mention that on the 21st of June, during a lengthy discussion on "what's the most important thing in life?', within two iterations, three of us friends arrived at the conclusion that the answer is happiness. The three of us - because of the kind of people we are - showed a specific bias towards not falling into the "rut of life", but knowing where our lives are going at all times and actively making changes to MAXIMIZE happiness.

If we can extrapolate this to human development/well-being/welfare (I don't know the difference), people should be able to actively make changes to their lives to do what they WANT(?) to, or end up doing things which make them happy.

It is very likely that I'll explore the following next
- Happiness is the end of all means/ends
- Human development vs. human well being vs. pursuit of happiness
- Why do people opt happiness over other emotions like sorrow or surprise?

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This is an ongoing exploration. Help with your thoughts, links, anger and opinions. Be generous :)

I am an environmental consultant trying to understand decision making. Exploring why one should or should not do anything, and extending it to leaders who decide for others.