Personal musings

Loss aversion is a principle from prospect theory (developed by Kahneman and Tversky), which shows: The psychological pain of losing something is about twice as powerful as the pleasure of gaining the same thing. Losing $100 feels worse than the joy of gaining $100 . This skews decisions — people avoid risk even when it could lead to a better outcome. Loss aversion : Losses loom larger (not just larger, twice as larger) than equivalent gains. This explains behaviors like rejecting fair bets or holding on to losing stocks too long. Ppl are more sensitive to loss than gains. We tend to make decisions based on loss aversion instead of seeing that can we gain out of the decision. We tend to act more based on loss aversion, than on potential gains. This skews decisions — people avoid risk even when it could lead to a better outcome. 🧠 Why It Happens (Psychology Behind It) Evolutionary roots : In ancestral environments, losses (e.g. injury, food scarcity) could be fatal...

Short version: 1. Solve a Problem Identify Pain Points : Find daily frustrations that need solutions Improve Existing Solutions : Make products better/faster/cheaper 2. Leverage Your Skills & Experience Monetize Hobbies : Turn passions into businesses Utilize Professional Skills : Offer expertise as services Tap "Zone of Genius" : Focus on what you excel at and enjoy 3. Identify Market Gaps Target Niche Markets : Serve specific underserved segments Analyze Competitors : Find what they're missing Listen to Feedback : Note common complaints 4. Track Trends & Make Predictions Stay Informed : Follow emerging trends Anticipate Future Needs : Capitalize on upcoming shifts Find "Blue Ocean" Opportunities : Create new market spaces 5. Creative Thinking Techniques Classic Brainstorming : Generate many ideas without judgment Mind Mapping : Visually organize thoughts SCAMPER : Substitute, Combine, Adapt, Modify, Put to other use, Eliminate, Revers...

Mental/Things to keep in mind: Use Time blocking and break tasks into actionable smaller parts  - To avoid making it feel like a big obstacle and make it more achievable mentally. This helps in initiating action.  Opposite Action (Selectively)   - If your inertia tells you to stay still, experiment with doing the opposite in a small way (e.g., stand up and stretch, walk around the room). Less than 2 hours screentime  – Don’t ask why, just do it. You know it will help you. If people asl why you're here, just say that you promised yourself less screentime, hence, finding things to do. Start small  – Just start for 5 minutes. Do Pomodoro if 5 mins seems gimmicky to you. How to start small? The 5 second rule. Count 5-4-3-2-1, and just start without letting negative emotions, self doubt etc. kick in. You'll start trusting your intuitions more. Only alternate allowed is to sit idle, in boredom, without stimulation -  If you are distracting yourself from work, pro...

TLDR of actionable points -   1) Even if you don't feel like it, try connecting with people based on shared interest. Might give you a spark of 'internal motivation' and trigger that sense of urgency. For eg, you know that you might want to work on spreading/bringing joy in the life of people. You are not motivated to act on it currently. Meeting/speaking to someone of shared interest has the potential of sparking something which might make you act on your value.  2) It seems finding a way to stimulate your intrinsic motivation could work. Also, motivation is linked to being able to being able to see progress and receive feedback. Hence, try to find ways to define/see progress and feedback loops. 1. Passive Escapism: What It Is and How to Avoid It Passive escapism refers to activities you engage in to mentally "check out" or avoid dealing with reality, your thoughts, or your feelings, without requiring much active participation, effort, or skill from your end. The...

Personal Guide to Mastering Skills (and Why It Works) Hey there, future you! When you're working on picking up a new skill, especially something physical, remember these core ideas. They explain why the struggle is real sometimes, and why sticking with it is so powerful. Think about skills like navigating the world, sometimes with GPS, sometimes without. Some skills are like shooting an arrow or throwing a quick punch ( Open Loop ). You plan the shot, let it go, and once it's off, there's not much you can do to change its path. The movement is super fast, decided beforehand, and you rely on your initial plan being good. Kicking a football often has this element – you decide the power and direction, and then you just execute. Other skills are more like driving a car or balancing on a wobbly surface ( Closed Loop ). Here, you're constantly getting feedback as you're doing it . Your eyes see where you're going, your body feels the balance shifting, and you m...

Definition: When you have an instinct to act on a goal, you must physically move within 5 seconds or your brain will kill the idea. How it works: Count backward: “5-4-3-2-1” and then take action immediately . This interrupts your default thought patterns (hesitation, fear, overthinking) and pushes you to act. 2. The Power of Activation Energy Taking action requires activation energy — a mental push to start something. The 5 Second Rule helps you push through inertia before doubt creeps in. 3. Hesitation Triggers Fear Hesitation is a tiny delay, but it can trigger your brain’s fear response. The rule helps you interrupt that delay before fear and excuses take over. 4. You Are Always One Decision Away from a Different Life Small decisions, made consistently, shape your identity and future. The 5 Second Rule helps you make better decisions in the moment. 5. Confidence Is a Skill Built Through Action Confidence isn’t something you’re born with — it’s built through acts of courage. Usi...

12 May 2025, 10:46 AM 1) Typically, I find myself writing when my mood is low, so it's a welcome change to be documenting my thoughts today while feeling positive. I observe that a good frame of mind naturally shifts my focus towards opportunities, growth potential, and unexplored areas, contrasting sharply with thoughts about the purposelessness that can surface during low moods. 2)      Regarding purposelessness, I'm happy to have recently finished Viktor Frankl's "Man's Search for Meaning." It stands out as one of the most impactful books I've read, fundamentally emphasizing the necessity of finding meaning even amidst life's greatest hardships. Frankl suggests meaning isn't something life owes us, but rather our responsibility towards life. Instead of feeling entitled and asking what life offers, we should ask what we intend to 'give' to our lives – what we want our existence to be about . This resonates with Irvin Yalom's concept ...