ECONOMICS 101

Even after all this time

The sun never says to the earth,

"You owe me."

Look what happens

with a love like that,

It lights the Whole Sky.

-Hafiz

This poem is in the book "Sacred Economics" that I started reading today.

 

The author has a different perspective on economics, that's why I chose this book to read.

I am also reading "Brave New World", a dystopian fiction work. I love this genre. Another genre I'm going to get into soon is detective/noir fiction. 

So I've been reading some fiction. And I noticed it slows my reading levels down to massive levels but also raised my vocabulary and with this an increase in inner confidence and an improvement in facial and social cues reading skills (because now I can name a whole lot more of facial expressions and emotions, etc). 

But I still need do something about it. I need to read more. And faster. There are many subjects that catch my attention, but that until now (the past year) I never really had the resources/will to read about them.

Books on self development are boring now. There's nothing new to learn. They all look the same to me. Today I started reading one but soon quit because there was nothing new to it I haven't read yet in other books. 

. 

Anyway, this semester I'm taking this class, "Development Economics". Just because I want to have classes on that campus, because I'm interested in economics and want to learn more about it and just because. And I also had another economics class last semester.

Well the thing is, I already had a keen interest for economics and I am fascinated how the world works "economically" and now, because knowing I things work makes me feel good, I decided to read a book about it (if you don't count the three "freakonomics" that is). 

Economics is cool because it makes me feel more in control. In control of what I don't know for sure, but it somehow gives me that feeling. 

I guess both me and economics make up a good marriage. And business. And intercultural communication.

My reading concentration is getting better, I feel like my content retention is somehow getting better, or I just feel that (probably thanks to my better concentration) my comprehension is getting better too. Another thing I feel is that I think this concentration improvement (also from riding bicycle and the "tunnel view") is now presenting itself not just in reading but in other things as well.

Skills Enhanced Abroad

Identify Skills Acquired / Enhanced While Abroad, such as:


"Enhanced cultural awareness and sensitivity to customs and cultural differences * Foreign language proficiency * Adaptability * Ability to identify and achieve goals * General improvement in communication skills * Increased confidence, initiative and independence * Greater flexibility and sense of humor * Awareness of global, economic and political issues and realities * Ability to maintain an open mind and be tolerant of others * Clarification of goals and improved self-awareness * General travel skills * Resource management * Organization * Problem solving and crisis management * Patience * Listening and observation * Specific professional skills and/or knowledge base * Greater cultural understanding and sensitivity * Ability to work in cross-cultural teams and function in ambiguous environments."

http://www.bw.edu/academics/study-abroad/reentry/career/resume/

2 cents on creativity

Just something I've been noticing lately.

Eminem + reading (self development) = high motivation levels and highly creative/inspired state of mind

Reading + morning walk + daft punk = highly creative/inspired state of mind

Going to continue to realize my inner workings from now on. The possibilities are endless. 

Not doing this for any goal attainment but just for the joy and inspiration I feel. For how spontaneous I become and how everything suddenly seems easy. And things that used to scary, don't scare me anymore.

I also realized that up until now I used to excessively over-think.  Lately I've been trying to just stop thinking about things to do, but rather think only about the things I read. As for the real world, I just kind of let it happen. Somehow the world just flows betters when you don't think about it.

One's brain is god. 

Fall is here!

"Good news everyone!" (I hope someone gets the reference)

My beloved Fall morning walks are back! During Summer is already really hot in the morning so my walks are very unpleasant, but now it's really nice again!

A thing I have been noticing lately is that self development books (still reading "Awaken the giant within"...) now all seem equal to me. I still learn a lot don't get me wrong, but many of the "new discoveries" are things that I have already reached conclusions about already by myself. So I wither need to find new kinds of books or other kinds of activities to get my creative and ambitious blood flow running. 

burn burn burn

I've been meaning to read Jack Kerouac's "On the road" for some time, but this passage, in another book that I am now reading (Little Brother) made me change my mind into doing it sooner. The way W1nst0n (the main character of the book I'm reading) depicts Kerouac's work is so very well done that, well, I'm convinced.

The two young lovers discussing the book and the circunstances surrounding them was one of the good moments of this piece called "Little Brother".

I need people like those. With a burning desire for something. These are the people that make the world function. That are able to change the world.

Self Awareness (english and portuguese)

Just a comparison.

The kid knows.

And the original

Regardless of the situation, you're gonna be alright.

My thoughts on the Runner's High

Immediately after I wrote the post before this one I went for my usual session. And after 3/4 minutes of cycling I was feeling high. Don't get me wrong, I don't know what feeling high actually means, I only know this feeling, and it feels "high".

It happened after my muscles reached like their limit, and after the explosion after that. Like your muscles reach the tipping point right? Like their maximum performance. But when you go beyond that and explode. Kind of like. You feel these cool vibes throughout your body. And when you just pass by random people those vibes get stronger and you feel even "higher".

What I felt was something I feel rather often (while listening to music for instance) like, I feel invincible, I get this sort of tunnel vision, my eyes get big and shiny (kind of like watery?), or at least I feel them that way. My creativity explodes, everything seems easy and attainable, and I suddenly get these urges for adventure, like going to those epic places (like in the pictures below). I get this out of nowhere motivation, strength, creativity, I become a really big dreamer. All of this in a matter of seconds.

I don't even know where these places are, I just picked them randomly from the internet.

High Life

Hello leaders!

So this morning I was reading an article about running and it refers at some time the "runner's high". I had heard this term before and, to be sure and more certain, looked it up again. It led me to "peak experience" and the famous "flow". You see, name it to tame it. I often have the "peak experience", mostly through music, but also when I'm enthusiastic about some hobbies (reading books and adding new words for example).

So I decided I consciously want to feel these more often! I often exercise so I will study the runner's high phenomena (I know I have felt it many times before) and just try to learn as much as possible so that I can have/feel it more often and more intensely.

This will be also awesome to try and implement when I get to a management position at some company.

Just trying to live the best and most fulfilling life I can. Classes are about to start so I'll have a "study" goal too.

In the meanwhile, I created a blog on "cyberpunk", check it out. It's "cyberpunk", but I will every now and then post non-cyberpunk media/whatever reviews and opinions.
http://cyberpunkcahoots.wordpress.com/

Never take anything for granted

On the pre-apocalypse and the current more and more stabilized situation.