Posts

Compliments

From Ali Abdaal's weekly newsletter : Starting my Fitness Journey . Book Summary of Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg . Compliments are life-alienating. In nonviolent communication, compliments are life-alienating because they are a type of judgement . When someone calls you brilliant or talented, they're making a judgement about who you are as a person. Instead, we can express appreciation authentically by telling them how they've specifically improved our lives . This requires three pieces of information. 1. What the person did. 2. What needs their actions fulfilled. 3. What positive emotions that fulfillment created. Imagine you've attended a lecture and want to compliment the speaker afterwards.  Instead of saying, "you're so brilliant!", recognize a specific action, the need that action met, and the positive emotions you feel as a result: "when you talk about ways to resolve a conflict, I felt hopeful because your words showed m...

How would you live your life?

It's been some time since I got excited about something.  I applied for a job to work with someone I really admire. This is the way I'd like to live my life. Daring to go after the job I want. To ask for what I want. Doing things that gets me excited.  Life is made up of so few moments. So little years. If you wait until you're ready or you wait a moment. Suddenly, you realise you've missed out on so many opportunities.  Do you live your life questioning your choices? What if you took a gamble and chased your dreams? What is the worst that could happen? No. What is the best that could happen? What if you tried and failed? There's another door to open, for sure. At least you gave it your best shot.  That's how I live my life. To give it my best shot every time.  How about you? Love,  Brienne, 5 April, 10.14 p.m 

No one is going to be there for you

No one is going to push you to write everyday, to take steps towards your dreams.  No one, except you. What would you like to achieve in 5 years time? Can we push to achieve it in a year?  How can we maximise the time we have? How can we achieve more with what we have? What is our unfair advantage?  What can you gift yourself right now to achieve more tomorrow? The gift of discipline. Of sleeping early and getting up early at the same time everyday. Of writing and publishing every single day. Of improving yourself, making progress. Reading, every single day. The start of the month is a good time to start over. Set new habits. Make new goals.  Go get it, rockstar! Love, Brienne, 1 April 2022, 9.54 p.m.

Need help with having zero expectations

Expect and you'll get disappointed.  With people, relationships and things.  I expected something to go a certain way today and it didn't. I got angry. The other person was not aware of my expectations. He got upset.  As irrational animals, we think people think the same way we do.  I prioritised reading articles he sent over checking social media. He likes reading these articles over downtime.  I created an invisible rule that shared articles should be read first. He didn't know the rule. Of course he 'broke' it.  Why do we cause such misery to ourselves?  How do we not expect?  Please share your tips with me. Love, Brienne, 31 March 2022, 10.08 p.m.

What's stopping you?

Read somewhere about longhand writing having numerous benefits. I shall try it out and see for myself This is my first post writing longhand. --- A feeling. Today, an ex-student who walked past me exclaimed " Cher , I pass my Maths!"  I proudly replied "Keep up the good work!" I did a little dance inside. Happy he remembers I taught him last year. Proud of his never-die attitude. Do I want to let go of this 'life'? This part of me. The identity of a Math Teacher. Does this identity ever leave me? Are butterflies still the caterpillar that they were? It's scary thinking about it.  No.  It's exciting.  I'm excited to continue pursuing my dreams. I am no longer growing here.  My wings are slowly taking form.  Do caterpillars know they will have a new life?  Do they know that the days spent munching on leaves, crawling on many feet will one day be over? Is their transformation painful? Are they afraid of becoming something bigger than themselves?  ...

TikTok for Children

Why ban children when you can allow them on your platform and limit what they search? Because despite the ban, children are gonna find ways to go on TikTok again. Why not allow them on, and let them view only certain contents, discreetly. I think that'll be cool. Almost all kids possess a smart phone. And almost all of them are on TikTok. Let them view educational content. Let them learn one of the ways they know how.  Lots of love, Brienne, 29 March 2022, 8.50 p.m.

Looking for writing assistants?

Already have all your ideas in drafts? Need someone to sieve out the best ideas for you? Or someone to articulate your thoughts or give you a fresh perspective? Look no further! Drop me an email and I'll assist you for free! Limited time only! Love, Brienne, 28 March 2022, 8.37 p.m.