There's no use pretending to be something you're not—unless you honestly and truly want to become that person who you are pretending to be. I'm in full support of "faking it till you make it," as you are "faking" for the sake of yourself (to give yourself more confidence in a situation where you may be lacking in confidence). In that case, pretending is actually a manifestation of positive thinking.
On the other hand, being pretentious is a different matter. In this case, you are pretending to be a different person for the sake of others. Instead of channeling your insecurity into happy thoughts and actions, you block the possibility of genuinely making yourself feel more secure and confident by pretending to be (your perception of) some other "perfect" person. The grass is always greener on the other side. Trying to manipulate how others see you will only make you look desperate and uncool, two things which most people do not wish to be.
In short, playing pretend can work both ways. Only you can judge for yourself which will make you happiest.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
3 Adjectives
There are no 3 adjectives that describe a person completely and fully. When asked to pick 3 and only 3 to encapsulate your entire being, the answer given is always in the here and now - what seems most applicable and appropriate at this very moment in your life.
Knowing that the top 3 adjectives for me can and will change as time passes, what strikes me as most relevant now are:
honest. resilient. impulsive.
It will be an interesting self-discovery to see where the trajectory of my 3 adjectives goes at different stages of life. i.e. I remember when I first moved to LA, they were: happy, energetic, and impulsive. These adjectives still describe me well, but over a year later, what's now at the forefront is a different set of 3.
It's always been my belief that to strive to know oneself more deeply is essential to making oneself happier in the long-run. And this 3-adj. assessment is a good litmus indicator of self-discovery and in the journey toward self-improvement.
Knowing that the top 3 adjectives for me can and will change as time passes, what strikes me as most relevant now are:
honest. resilient. impulsive.
It will be an interesting self-discovery to see where the trajectory of my 3 adjectives goes at different stages of life. i.e. I remember when I first moved to LA, they were: happy, energetic, and impulsive. These adjectives still describe me well, but over a year later, what's now at the forefront is a different set of 3.
It's always been my belief that to strive to know oneself more deeply is essential to making oneself happier in the long-run. And this 3-adj. assessment is a good litmus indicator of self-discovery and in the journey toward self-improvement.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
The Gold Standard
[In response to a WSJ article by Michael S. Derby: http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2010/09/15/greenspan-fiscal-stimulus-worked-far-less-than-expected/]
Greenspan states that the current fiscal stimulus efforts by the US government haven't worked because we are still on the gold standard, and that "you’d be far better off to allow the normal market forces to operate." But is it really as simple as that? If the gold standard's entire premise is based on an agreement by participating countries, where the long-run price of gold is determined by the market (and not by governments and central banks), then what happens to the effectiveness of one country's economic policy (i.e. the United States') if other countries are no longer truly following the standard (i.e. the EU's use of the euro)?
Economies on the gold standard seem less resilient to offsetting real or monetary shocks, an observation generally supported by what occurred during the Great Depression. It also puts the burden on countries with "weaker currencies" to ultimately force higher unemployment. To a large degree, such confounding factors cloud Greenspan's rationale here. Perhaps this is why policymakers are struggling with bringing us out of the current recession.
Greenspan states that the current fiscal stimulus efforts by the US government haven't worked because we are still on the gold standard, and that "you’d be far better off to allow the normal market forces to operate." But is it really as simple as that? If the gold standard's entire premise is based on an agreement by participating countries, where the long-run price of gold is determined by the market (and not by governments and central banks), then what happens to the effectiveness of one country's economic policy (i.e. the United States') if other countries are no longer truly following the standard (i.e. the EU's use of the euro)?
Economies on the gold standard seem less resilient to offsetting real or monetary shocks, an observation generally supported by what occurred during the Great Depression. It also puts the burden on countries with "weaker currencies" to ultimately force higher unemployment. To a large degree, such confounding factors cloud Greenspan's rationale here. Perhaps this is why policymakers are struggling with bringing us out of the current recession.
Friday, August 20, 2010
On Adulthood
when you boil it down, there really is no formula to reaching adulthood. for some, we are thrown into the midst of it by our circumstances. for others, we simply wake up one day and realize that we are no longer able to (allow ourselves to) get away with the same shit that we used to be able blame on adolescent immaturity.
our culture even sends mixed messages—we're told to 'grow up,' all the while being encouraged to remain a 'kid at heart.' throughout our childhoods, we're told that being an adult is no fun, that it's full of responsibility, and that after your 20's, every five years pass like five days. besides, how do we know when we've finally 'grown up'? perhaps that's just a riddle with no clear-cut solution. (it may not even be possible to be fully 'grown up' all the time, nor would that be seen as desirable.)
indeed, we are in disagreement (and act in indecisive accordance) with regards to the classification of 'adult.' for some, it seems odd that 18-year-olds wielding machine guns in the military are not allowed to drink. consider then the unemployed 25-year-old who lives at home and off his parents' money. should he be allowed to hit the bars and get plastered on a consistent basis? imagine another case in which a 28-year-old college dropout 'works' at his dad's company, lives in a condo his parents don't currently use, and expenses everything to his trust fund. by many standards, he is fully considered an adult, but has he reached adulthood? it all depends on whom you are speaking about and to whom you are speaking.
for now, I associate emerging adulthood with independence—the ability to be self-reliant in thought, finances, and actions. and I equate adulthood with maturity—the acknowledgement that things can't (and shouldn't) always be 'me-me-me' combined with the wisdom to wholeheartedly accept happiness and the pursuit of happiness. to realize that we are still somewhat immature, I think, is a step toward 'growing up.' self-discovery is lifelong—not just limited to something we do in our 20's. some parents don't consider their kids to be adults or 'fully grown' until they get married and start their own families. if their kids are ok with that classification, then what's the problem? what if part of adulthood consisted of living at home (as is customary in other cultures—e.g. Italy, India)? wouldn't that just engender a greater appreciation of family and family values in our society?
as with anything, the more we think and learn, the more we think that we need to keep learning. we in the US have the luxury of experiencing 'emerging adulthood,' and it's precisely due to this luxury that such a distinction even exists. but while all this must be interpreted through a uniquely American lens in the context of our current times, I can't help but think that, at the core, aren't we all still made of the same stuff?
our culture even sends mixed messages—we're told to 'grow up,' all the while being encouraged to remain a 'kid at heart.' throughout our childhoods, we're told that being an adult is no fun, that it's full of responsibility, and that after your 20's, every five years pass like five days. besides, how do we know when we've finally 'grown up'? perhaps that's just a riddle with no clear-cut solution. (it may not even be possible to be fully 'grown up' all the time, nor would that be seen as desirable.)
indeed, we are in disagreement (and act in indecisive accordance) with regards to the classification of 'adult.' for some, it seems odd that 18-year-olds wielding machine guns in the military are not allowed to drink. consider then the unemployed 25-year-old who lives at home and off his parents' money. should he be allowed to hit the bars and get plastered on a consistent basis? imagine another case in which a 28-year-old college dropout 'works' at his dad's company, lives in a condo his parents don't currently use, and expenses everything to his trust fund. by many standards, he is fully considered an adult, but has he reached adulthood? it all depends on whom you are speaking about and to whom you are speaking.
for now, I associate emerging adulthood with independence—the ability to be self-reliant in thought, finances, and actions. and I equate adulthood with maturity—the acknowledgement that things can't (and shouldn't) always be 'me-me-me' combined with the wisdom to wholeheartedly accept happiness and the pursuit of happiness. to realize that we are still somewhat immature, I think, is a step toward 'growing up.' self-discovery is lifelong—not just limited to something we do in our 20's. some parents don't consider their kids to be adults or 'fully grown' until they get married and start their own families. if their kids are ok with that classification, then what's the problem? what if part of adulthood consisted of living at home (as is customary in other cultures—e.g. Italy, India)? wouldn't that just engender a greater appreciation of family and family values in our society?
as with anything, the more we think and learn, the more we think that we need to keep learning. we in the US have the luxury of experiencing 'emerging adulthood,' and it's precisely due to this luxury that such a distinction even exists. but while all this must be interpreted through a uniquely American lens in the context of our current times, I can't help but think that, at the core, aren't we all still made of the same stuff?
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Mother Night, by Kurt Vonnegut
In Kurt Vonnegut's Mother Night, Jones' meeting with his "blue fairy Godmother" was akin to Alice's meeting with the waist-coated white rabbit—both dragged into a supposed Wonderland that greatly affected their lives. In many ways, this was how I felt when I had turned the first few pages of the book. To say that I've comprehended all his intentions upon my first reading would be a serious misstatement. Rather, I enjoy pondering his ideas. Like a deep, rich stew—the longer it cooks in your brain, the more the flavors meld and intertwine into a distinct, delectable aroma.
If I had to characterize my first encounter with Vonnegut's writing, I would say that I feel as though one of my baby teeth just came out—one I didn't even know had not yet matured. Growing up, you lose your baby teeth gradually, to be replaced by permanent ("adult") teeth. Each permanent tooth is a different philosophy and/or experience in our lives that have come to affect the way we think and are. Just as we initially believe in the tooth fairy—the innocence of being a child, we eventually grow into our more practical and mature selves—in some ways, the loss of that innocence. Some may call it becoming jaded, but I prefer to refer to them as growing pains. Some wisdom teeth can be left in, some must be taken out to keep us healthy. On the road of life, we may gather different wisdom—some good, some not so good (in hindsight). Hopefully we don't lose our permanent teeth once we've grown into them, but if we do, they are likely the result of a jarring incident or old age. Constant brushing, flossing, and trips to the dentist are required to maintain the health, feeling, and appearance of our teeth—just as we need to constantly probe, reflect upon, and maintain our own selves.
Rating: 5/5
If I had to characterize my first encounter with Vonnegut's writing, I would say that I feel as though one of my baby teeth just came out—one I didn't even know had not yet matured. Growing up, you lose your baby teeth gradually, to be replaced by permanent ("adult") teeth. Each permanent tooth is a different philosophy and/or experience in our lives that have come to affect the way we think and are. Just as we initially believe in the tooth fairy—the innocence of being a child, we eventually grow into our more practical and mature selves—in some ways, the loss of that innocence. Some may call it becoming jaded, but I prefer to refer to them as growing pains. Some wisdom teeth can be left in, some must be taken out to keep us healthy. On the road of life, we may gather different wisdom—some good, some not so good (in hindsight). Hopefully we don't lose our permanent teeth once we've grown into them, but if we do, they are likely the result of a jarring incident or old age. Constant brushing, flossing, and trips to the dentist are required to maintain the health, feeling, and appearance of our teeth—just as we need to constantly probe, reflect upon, and maintain our own selves.
Rating: 5/5
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
One And
Two men find themselves trapped in a wood
One was lost, the other stood
Twig snaps left, one turns around
The other has grown accustomed to that sound
The wind blows hard, but only one moves
The other seems only to be waiting for news
The wood is clammy, lonely, and harsh
For one, is torture, the other, a marsh
Thousands of acres of land and space
Have been uniquely interpreted, this place
One can think of it as a zero-sum game
Of one versus all, where nothing enthralls
One has yet to meet the other one
Who's a fan of win-win and makes light of the fun
These two men are both trapped in the wood
One is still lost, the other understood
One was lost, the other stood
Twig snaps left, one turns around
The other has grown accustomed to that sound
The wind blows hard, but only one moves
The other seems only to be waiting for news
The wood is clammy, lonely, and harsh
For one, is torture, the other, a marsh
Thousands of acres of land and space
Have been uniquely interpreted, this place
One can think of it as a zero-sum game
Of one versus all, where nothing enthralls
One has yet to meet the other one
Who's a fan of win-win and makes light of the fun
These two men are both trapped in the wood
One is still lost, the other understood
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