Week 5

References

RSA Animate: The Divided Brain

This animated lecture is incredibly insightful. There was so many interesting areas that were briefly discussed such as both animals and humans using narrow focus (left hemisphere) versus broad awareness and connections (right hemisphere). The one thing that has stuck with me after absorbing this intense ten minutes of information/facts, is the topic of living in a world that is paradoxical. The fact that we live in a world striving for happiness, which leads to resentment and unhappiness. We pursue freedom but live in a world which is monitored by CCTV cameras, a network of small complicated rules. We want more information but we don’t know how to use it. This is hypocrisy at its finest. Overall, we have evolved as humans to overindulge. We are spoiled, we can go anywhere, do anything, be anything and anyone we choose. Yet we feel overwhelmed by the choice and this holds us back. I know how I feel when I go to a supermarket and there are 100 brands of the same product staring at me, overwhelmed and just trying to pick the easiest/quickest option. Maybe this is what is happening in our daily lives; do we watch TV, go on the internet, play a game etc.? We are overwhelmed with choice which is counterproductive to our wellbeing. Ironic.

Thinking too much versus thinking too little… The fact that everyone has their own individual thoughts and opinions. I love the idea that everybody lives in their own little bubble. Actions, words, and body language are all signals that would lead someone to be thinking highly of you, or very little of you.

Think about people of importance, the way they carry themselves. More importantly, people who think they’re important have an aura that is more persuasive as opposed to someone who thinks very little of themselves. Does this ultimately boil down to confidence of the self? I guess you could argue someone who is a worrier lacks self-confidence, and someone who doesn’t worry is confident. This article suggests that to be successful you have to be confident. Do you? Or do you have to be smart? Interestingly, famous people such as Albert Einstein, Dr. Seuss, JK Rowling were/are introverted but smart, and very successful.