MAGENTA, A FLASHY COLOR

The printer's color display was flashing "order color magenta." Almost instantly, I was reminded of one of the fiercest battles in history, the bloody battle of Magenta in Northern Italy between a combined Franco-Sardinia army and an Austrian army in 1859, and gave its name to the beautiful red-purple dye and color synthesized by French chemists shortly after the battle--magenta, the color of blood.

I was also reminded of the excellent climbing varieties of philodendrons in my garden, especially the philodendron maxicanum. The leaves are magenta to maroon on the underside of the blades.

Not a fav color, but Magenta will always be an extra spectral color.

SONG OF THE OLD MAN

Although the song "Auld Lang Syne" is usually attributed to Robert Burns, it was known at least century before he published it in 1796. One of his letters says, "It is the old song of the olden times, which has never been in print. I took it down from an old man's singing."

A BLIND SPOT?

How can we influence attitudes? How can we improve people's perception of one another? How can we help modify behavior toward actions and values that are more just and humane? Can social structures be changed for the better?

The tendency to categorize people, places, or things on the basis of generalized attitudes is one reason we are all prejudiced against something. Some of us are against certain foods we have never tasted, countries we have never visited, people we have never met, or political systems that we have only heard about.


Prejudice, an attitude with a blind spot? Psychologists say, that prejudice is an attitude that is unsupported by reasonable evidence, that persists over time, and is based on an emotional feeling about the person or group being judged. It usually implies that the other person or group is some way inferior to your own group.

Prejudice gives root to discrimination. The unfortunate consequences affect most of us--those discriminated against, those who discriminate, and those who stand by, silently, and let discrimination continue.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - PREJUDICE

"When dealing with people,
remember you are not dealing with
creatures of logic, but with creatures of emotion,
creatures bristling with prejudice,
and motivated by pride
and vanity."

Dale Carnegie

APPRECIATION

In the workplace, appreciating employee contribution will encourage a positive mindset and increase the feel good factor. Appreciation motivates employees to work harder and produce better work. Praise impacts an increase in productivity and helps acquire better quality and quantity of work output. When a person does a job well, praise him immediately. Never delay in praising.

In family setting, always devote more time with your dear ones who keep meaning to appreciate the efforts you exert to give them a genuine feeling of importance, tremendous love, support and care.

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

Self efficacy is the belief in one’s capabilities to organize and execute the sources of action required to manage prospective situations. If efficacy beliefs always reflected only what people can do routinely they would rarely fall but they would not set aspirations beyond their immediate reach nor mount the extra effort needed to surpass their ordinary performances. People who regard themselves as highly efficacious act, think, and feel differently from those who perceive themselves as inefficacious. They produce their own future, rather than simply foretell it.

Ref: Social Foundations of Thought and Action

MAKING BAD DECISION

A bad decision can often prove costly. It can affect our career, image and work relations. Change in perspective is required to overcome this obstacle. Remember that we will never learn if we do not make an attempt. We cannot prevent the situation for a long time and some day we have to face the situation. So let us do it now. Decision is a choice; it’s either you make it right, or resent the outcome. All of us are making decisions everyday. Even young children are no exceptions.

VANITY IN DAILY LIFE

It is vanity to strive too intently for perishable riches and to fix your homes on them. It is vanity also to be over-eager for honors, or to consider yourself better than the others. It is vanity to follow blindly the desires of the flesh and to want things which will bring penalty later on.

It is vanity to wish for a long life while caring little about living a good life. It is vanity to give your entire attention to the present life without thinking of the life which will come later. It is vanity to love only what is speedily passing away, instead of fixing your heart on heaven–the home of endless joy.

HEARING GOD'S VOICE

Hearing God’s voice is something we all long for, but did you know that it is not hard to do? God wants us to hear His voice! He does not speak to us through a quiver in our liver or through vibes or mediums. Hearing the voice of God is as natural as hearing your best friend talk to you. What is more, we can hear Him everyday and not just on special occasions or by chanting special incantations. He speaks to us in the natural moments of life.

Do you want to hear God’s voice? Then, you must be ready to listen.

PERSUASION

The art of positive persuasion involves people, excellent communication and presentation skills. Good persuaders coax people to their way of thinking without thrusting their ideas on them. They can sway decisions in meetings, negotiations, or presentations.

Persuasion is all about convincing people to support your ideas. Therefore, the persuader should focus on creating a connection between himself and the audience. Respecting the opinions and judgment of others is necessary because only then will they be open to listen to your suggestions.

PATIENCE AND HUMILITY

Patience will help us keep calm in times of troubles and difficulties. It will help us think more clearly. As a result, we shall find it easier to turn to God when we need Him. Humility will help us admit our weakness and nothingness. It will make us less irritable and resentful of our distasteful experiences. These two virtues will help us have peace in the middle of our troubles. With a definite plan in mind, we can proceed against our faults and conquer our temptations.

THE GIFT OF INNER PEACE

Regardless of feelings, moods, prejudices, or preferences, strive to maintain a right intention at all times. As soon as your natural desires contradict God’s will, check them as you would check any other foolish intention.

Do not let life’s daily events disturb nor affect you too much. Seek to know His will and to accept it in all things. With this pure intention, you will have a deep interior peace. This is God’s gift to those who let Him govern their lives.

Our intentions tend to become dim as we proceed through our daily occupations. Gradually we are influenced more by pleasure or self-satisfaction. Therefore, let us renew our pure intentions at different times during the day.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - IGNORANCE

"Ignorance is the necessary
condition of life itself.
If we knew everything we could
not endure existence
for a single hour."


Anatole France

WHAT INFLUENCE CREATIVITY

Many psychologists believe that a truly creative person does not wait to be told or rewarded. They start the creative act himself or herself. They said, that this inner, self-determined creativity is spontaneous. The act of creation is its own reward.

There are many important factors in the development of creativity. The freedom to think, to explore, to experiment, to develop one's own approach to problems are likely to result in a creative and meaningful solutions. Motivation is another important factor in creativity. To be creative, we need incentive, or reason to create. Under certain conditions, positive reinforcement brings out certain creative abilities in people.

Situational factor is thought to be important in developing creativity, too.

ENERGY CONSERVATION

Unless everybody makes an effort to conserve energy, time may come when energy supplies may not be enough to meet our demands.

Conservation does not mean non-use. It simply means wise and efficient use of energy. A large amount of heat is used when fuel is produced and used. This heat could be put to use in industries. Waste heat can also be minimized by improved industrial process and engine designs.

A large amount of energy is used in transportation. Car pooling practices, recreational driving, use of public transport, such as buses, light railway transit, and better vehicle design could substantially reduce energy consumption. Energy conservation requires the combined efforts of industries and government agencies and individuals.

As end-users, what do we do to help conserve energy?