Death is a strange thing. People live their whole lives as if it does not exist, and yet it's often one of the great motivations for living. Some of us, in time, become so conscious of it that we live harder, more obstinately, with more fury. Others become so preoccupied with it that they go into the waiting room long before it has announced its arrival. We fear it, yet most of us fear more than anything that it may take someone other than ourselves. For the greatest fear of death is always that it will pass us by. And leave us there

We always think there's enough time to do things with other people. Time to say things to them. And then something happens and then we stand there holding on to words like 'if'.

You only need one ray of light to chase all the shadows away,

All roads lead to something you were predestined to do.

It is difficult to admit that one is wrong. Particularly when one has been wrong for a very long time.

BUT SHE WAS COLOR. ALL THE COLOR HE HAD.

Read the New York Times bestseller that has taken the world by storm In this "charming debut" (People) from one of Sweden's most successful authors, a grumpy yet loveable man finds his solitary world turned on its head when a boisterous young family moves in next door. Meet Ove. He's a curmudgeon--the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. People call him "the bitter neighbor from hell." But must Ove be bitter just because he doesn't walk around with a smile plastered to his face all the time? Behind the cranky exterior there is a story and a sadness. So when one November morning a chatty young couple with two chatty young daughters move in next door and accidentally flatten Ove's mailbox, it is the lead-in to a comical and heartwarming tale of unkempt cats, unexpected friendship, and the ancient art of backing up a U-Haul. All of which will change one cranky old man and a local residents' association to their very foundations. A feel-good story in the spirit of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry and Major Pettigrew's Last Stand, Fredrik Backman's novel about the angry old man next door is a thoughtful exploration of the profound impact one life has on countless others. "If there was an award for 'Most Charming Book of the Year, ' this first novel by a Swedish blogger-turned-overnight-sensation would win hands down" (Booklist, starred review).

philosophy

Philosophy

mindfulness

Mindfulness

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

books

Books

Fredrik Backman is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of A Man Called Ove (soon to be a major motion picture starring Tom Hanks), My Grandmother Asked Me to Tell You She’s Sorry, Britt-Marie Was Here, Beartown, Us Against You, as well as two novellas, And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer and The Deal of a Lifetime. Things My Son Needs to Know About the World, his first work of non-fiction, will be released in the US in May 2019. His books are published in more than forty countries. He lives in Stockholm, Sweden, with his wife and two children. Connect with him on Twitter @BackmanLand or on Instagram @backmansk.

Fredrik Backman

A Man Called Ove

Do these Six things to make 2024 the best year of your life :) 👇

Six things you can do to make 2024 the best year!

Set clear goals for the year, Personal or Professional but have a roadmap of what you want to achieve this year.

Plan your goals clearly

Focus on Mental Health, seek help if you need it, meditate, have a walk every morning in nature to relax, and Set Boundaries.

Mental Health Matters

Be curious and Learn from anyone you can, read a new book, learn a new skill or try a new hobby. Expanding knowledge and trying new things is interesting and rewarding.

Expand Your Knowledge 

Stay connected with your loved ones, make an effort to reach your family, and friends and plan regular calls or hangouts to stay close.

Connect with your loved ones

Get involved in the community, Whether it's by volunteering or by participating in contests. Making a positive impact in your community will give you a sense of fulfilment.

Involve in the community

Practice Gratitude, take time in a day to reflect on things you are grateful for. This will help you focus on your positive side rather than the negative side.

Gratitude 

If you love the above ideas, make sure you follow me :)I post once or twice a week.Have an amazing week :)

End note 

These ideas helped me this whole year , so it might help you too :)

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

exerciseandfitness

Exercise & Fitness

mentalhealth

Mental Health

6 Things You Can Do to Make 2024 the Best Year!

A study from Aalto University in Finland explored 27 different types of love and how they manifest in the body:
<ul>
<li>558 Finnish speakers answered questions about how they felt and how frequently they experienced these 27 types of love in their bodies.</li>
<li>The study highlights the diversity and complexity of love, showing that even within this one emotion, we experience variations in location, intensity, and controllability. It also acknowledges the inherent difficulty of defining and categorizing love due to its subjective nature. Ultimately, the research challenges a rigid view of love.</li>
</ul>

Mapping love across the body

Researchers identified 27 types of love, encompassing feelings for humans (romantic, parent-child, etc.), non-human beings (animals, nature), and abstract concepts (wisdom, country). Their approach draws on the "prototype theory of love," which suggests certain types are closer to the core concept of love (e.g., romantic love).

Researchers identified 27 types of love

Their aim wasn't to create a definitive list of all possible loves, but to investigate several key questions:<ol><li>Location: Where in the body are different types of love felt?</li><li>Nature: How does each type relate to emotional valence, physical/mental experience, and controllability</li><li>Similarity: How closely related are different types of love in terms of bodily and mental experiences?</li></ol>

All love types were felt in the head, though intensity varied. Stronger affections like true love and passionate love activated the chest more, while weaker ones like love of wisdom were mainly head-centered.

Location

Interpersonal love types were stronger than those for non-human beings or ideas. Within categories, true love, passionate love, love for life, and love for nature were strongest, while love for strangers and practical love were weakest. Interestingly, love for life and nature ranked as high as family/friend love and higher than self-love.

Self-love was the most controllable but least frequently experienced. In terms of "touch," self-love was stronger than love for life and nature, possibly hinting at its social nature.

Touch and Control

A strong correlation emerged between bodily and mental salience and valence - the more prominent a love in the body, the stronger it is felt in the mind and the more pleasurable it is. This link between body and mind suggests that love isn't just something in your head – it's a whole-body experience, and the stronger it feels physically, the deeper and more joyful it feels emotionally.

Mind-Body Link

This research challenges the focus on romantic/parental love in psychology and neuroscience, contributing to a broader understanding of love's diverse landscape. Rinne hopes this encourages both theoretical development and public discussions about love in all its forms.

A research group at Aalto University conducted a study to explore how different types of love are experienced in various parts of the body.

Understand yourself and those around you.

psychology

Psychology

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

education

Learning & Education

scienceandnature

Science & Nature

Mapping love: How 27 different types of love manifest in the body

"Our hands embraced, a final dance of fate, In whispered tones, my words took flight.
We were stars that collided, destined to die, Yet in that beautiful crash, scars etched on high."

writing

Reading & Writing

Love's Final Dance

It is the most asked question during festival season...but very few ones know what to choose. These 6 tips will help you choose the perfect gift for your closed ones or even someone you don't know (if you participate in secret santa or any type of anonymous gifting).Note: These tips are inclusive in nature....so do feel free to share those I missed, in the comments.

How To Select The Perfect Gift For Anyone

<ol><li>Know the person's hobbies, talents, interests, etc.</li><li>Choose something that the person says they'll buy, but never do.</li><li>Give it a personal touch to make it memorable & special.</li></ol>

The Tips

<ol><li>Don't focus on the size or price, but the feelings they carry, unless necessary. </li><li>Improve observation skills to identify the best choice.</li><li>Don't hesitate to take help of the internet.</li><li>Gift wholeheartedly ,even if you hate the person. </li></ol> Afterall, "Hating is easy, but loving is tough."

The Pro Tips

corporateculture

Corporate Culture

strategy

Strategy

creativity

Creativity

Are you often in the middle of heated arguments or conflicts? While it's normal to disagree, reflect if you are constantly causing drama. 
Is it your actions or reactions that escalate situations? 
<ul>
<li>Don't blame yourself, but understand how this affects those around you. </li>
<li>Constant conflict can be exhausting and stressful for others. </li>
<li>Learn to express your opinions and emotions in a healthier, more constructive manner.</li>
</ul>

1. You're often the center of drama

Do you ever feel left out and wonder why people aren't reaching out to you? It's a tough realization, but let's take a moment to reflect on our own behaviors. Ask yourself:
<ol>
<li>Am I being too negative?</li>
<li>Am I dominating conversations?</li>
<li>Am I being overly critical or dismissive of others?</li>
</ol>
It's important to understand how our actions can affect others and potentially push them away. This self-reflection helped build healthier relationships without changing who I am. Let's all make an effort to improve how we interact with others.

2. People seem to avoid you

Empathy is the ability to understand and share others' feelings, crucial for successful relationships. Individuals with high levels of empathy have better social interactions and lower risk of rejection.
Struggling to see things from others' perspective or respond to their emotions? This may indicate a challenging personality with a lack of empathy. Such interactions can be emotionally draining for others.
Developing empathy isn’t about being overly emotional or losing your individuality. It’s about fostering understanding and connection with others.

3. You struggle with empathy

Are Your Jokes Doing More Harm Than Good?
Using humor is a fun way to connect with people, but it's important not to hurt others with your jokes.
Do people seem to avoid you when you make fun of them or criticize them? Do you find people not laughing along, or even seemingly hurt by your comments? That might mean your sense of humor is actually harmful and pushing people away.
<ul>
<li>Jokes should bring joy and laughter, not hurt or make others feel inferior.</li>
<li>Avoid making sarcastic, cynical, or mean humor that puts others down.</li>
</ul>

4. Your humour is often at others'expense

Life is full of challenges, but it's important to take responsibility for your actions and reactions, rather than blaming others. This allows for personal growth and healthier relationships.
Signs of playing the victim include:
<ul>
<li>Blaming others and feeling like the world is against you.</li>
<li>Avoiding taking responsibility for your actions.</li>
<li>Shifting blame onto others.</li>
</ul>
Remember, while we can't control everything, we can control our response. Instead of blaming others, focus on how you can grow and take control of your actions. Avoid playing the victim and work towards building healthier relationships.

5. You often play the victim

Criticism, when delivered constructively, can be a powerful tool for personal growth and improvement.
<ul>
<li>Being sensitive to criticism creates problems in relationships and growth opportunities. Embrace feedback to become the best version of yourself.</li>
<li>Criticism is a way to improve ourselves, not about being perfect.</li>
<li>Receiving feedback with grace and gratitude leads to personal growth.</li>
</ul>
However, if it makes you defensive or angry, it could be a sign of a difficult personality.

6. You have difficulty accepting criticism

Active listening is important in maintaining healthy relationships as it involves understanding the message and emotions behind someone's words. Here are some tips on how to improve your listening skills to enhance your relationships:
<ul>
<li>Pay attention and don't interrupt others when they are speaking</li>
<li>Show genuine interest in what others have to say and engage fully during conversations</li>
<li>Avoid constantly waiting for your turn to speak</li>
<li>Remember that it's about respect and understanding</li>
</ul>
By being an active listener, you can make conversations more enjoyable for others and make them feel heard and valued.

7. You struggle with listening

We all have bad days and it’s normal to get frustrated or disappointed. But constantly complaining, criticizing or focusing on the negative can be a sign of a difficult personality.
Being negative can be draining for those around you, making interactions feel heavy and leaving others stressed. It’s important to express your feelings, but try to focus on the positive, even during tough times. It can make a big difference in how others perceive you.

8. You're Frequently Negative

Change is a part of life. It's how we grow, learn, and evolve. 
If you're someone who resists change, always insisting on your own ways or refusing to adapt to new situations, it can be a sign of a difficult personality. People who are resistant to change can be challenging to be around. They often create unnecessary hurdles, making others feel uncomfortable with their rigidity, and causing tension in relationships. Embracing change isn't about losing your identity or conforming mindlessly; it's about staying open-minded, flexible, and willing to evolve.

9. You're Resistant To Change

Self-reflection and self-awareness are powerful tools in personal growth and the journey towards becoming the best version of ourselves.
Each one of us is unique, with different strengths, weaknesses, and personality traits. In this diversity lies the beauty of human interactions. However, if our traits are causing distress to ourselves and others around us, it’s important to take a step back and reflect.
Having a difficult personality doesn’t mean you’re flawed or bad. It simply means there are areas within yourself that might benefit from attention and growth.

Self-reflection and Self-Awareness

Change is possible. Growth is possible. And it all starts with acknowledging and understanding your own behaviors and how they affect others.
As Carl Jung, the Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, once said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate.”
So, take a moment to reflect on these signs. If any of them resonate with you, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, see it as an opportunity for growth and self-improvement.
Life is a constant journey of learning, growing, and evolving. And that journey starts with you.

Remember

habits

Habits

9 Signs You Have a Difficult Personality That Some People Find Exhausting

𝐈𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧'𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐰𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐢𝐭, 𝐰𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞.

𝐀𝐦𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰...

communication

Communication

leadershipandmanagement

Leadership & Management

Inevitability of Want: The Unattainable Desires We Can't Have

When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace.

Once you are in a relationship you think it's going to last forever. But in reality, it only lasts as long as you're working for it. If one person stops working, it falls apart.

You don't have to cheat to lose someone. You can lose someone from lack of communication, attention and respect. It's always what you do, sometimes it's what you didn't do.

Be the Love you never received.

Just because things could have been different doesn't mean they would have been better.

The worst part is when you thought you moved on and then that one thing brings all those memories back.

I wonder if we ever think of each other at the same time...

All language is but a poor translation

history

History

Love - A Collection of Heartfelt Quotes

Shaping ourself interms of mental stability, resilience and self reflection depends purely on our principles, ethics, values and weakness. The strengths of us mostly help us to have a strong empathy. Therefore we need to shape ourself. Just like the image depicts on how a pot or vase is made as per requirement, we need to have certain requirements and fulfill them in our life.

Shaping Ourself

Cut your fallen values or ethics or weakness (leaves) and grow(bonsai tree) as needed to shape yourself beautiful as a tree and pure as oxygen.

We need to reform ourselves as per our life growth to be in better form for our future. We can do this by finding any behaviour we reflect on others which made us feel low or lost self respect. That's the notification ring to take it into notice and change accordingly. This habit can enhance our confidence with better reflection on self and others which can contribute to our memorable finite life.

Bonsai Tree Theory

Just a Moment to Remember Ourselves

Siddhartha is a novel by Hermann Hesse, first published in 1922. The book tells the story of a young man named Siddhartha who embarks on a spiritual journey to find enlightenment. Set in ancient India, the novel explores themes of self-discovery, love, and the search for meaning in life.

Introduction

Self-discovery is an essential part of finding happiness and fulfillment in life: Understanding who we are, what we want, and what makes us happy is crucial to living a fulfilling life. Self-discovery involves exploring our values, beliefs, strengths, weaknesses, and passions, and learning to accept and love ourselves for who we are.

Self-discovery 

"Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom."

Every experience, whether positive or negative, can teach us valuable lessons about ourselves and the world around us: Life is full of ups and downs, and every experience we have can teach us something valuable. Even difficult or painful experiences can help us grow and learn more about ourselves, our values, and our priorities.

Experience 

" Experience is the child of thought, and thought is the child of action."

Love can be a powerful force for personal growth and transformation: Love has the power to transform us in many ways. Whether it's romantic love, friendship, or self-love, it can inspire us to become better versions of ourselves. Love can help us overcome our fears, heal our wounds, and connect with others in meaningful ways.

Love

"Close your eyes, fall in love, stay there.”

Attachment to material possessions, status, or relationships can lead to suffering and dissatisfaction: While it's natural to desire certain things in life, becoming too attached to them can lead to suffering and dissatisfaction. When we rely on external factors to define our worth or happiness, we give away our power and become vulnerable to disappointment. By letting go of attachment and focusing on what truly matters, such as our relationships, personal growth, and contribution to the world, we can find greater fulfillment and contentment.

Attachments 

"Attachment is the source of all suffering.”

Finding balance in life is essential for living a fulfilling and meaningful existence: Life is a balancing act, and finding the right balance between work, play, rest, and relationships is essential for living a fulfilling life. When we neglect one area of our lives, we can become stressed, burnt out, or unfulfilled. By prioritizing self-care, setting healthy boundaries, and making time for the things that matter most to us, we can create a more balanced and meaningful existence.

Balance In Life

"Balance, peace, and joy are the fruit of a successful life. It starts with recognizing your talents and finding ways to serve others by using them."

Taking the time to read and learn from the experiences of others can truly be a game-changer in your own journey of self-discovery. So why not pick up a book today and see what wisdom awaits you within its pages?

The Path to a Fulfilling Life: 5 Essential Lessons from Siddhartha 

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