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Sep 27, 2014

Anger Detection


Anger is created inside me.
It is not created outside and poured in to me, it is with in me.

When someone says nasty things about me, do something irritating, I understand it is an event happening outside. People do/say good things as well as bad things to me.
So this event is not my anger.

Anger is created by fermenting those actions and words in my mind.
The longer the fermentation, the juicier it gets.
During the period of anger, I think I am creating solutions. Actually I am taking steps for revenge.

I'm not immune to anger, every day I get angry.
When I get angry, I have a tracking system to alarm me. That tracking system is my heart beat, the intensity of breathing, the speed of my thoughts raging in my mind etc.
I become aware of it. I train my mind to spot these changes. The more I train, the earlier I can detect and ring the alarm.

I would read a dhamma book , take few deep breaths, listen to some amazing music or take courage to create a blog post like this :)

I'm not immune to anger, but I'm trained to detect it early.

" Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned "
~ Buddha

Sep 25, 2014

Week 2 of Coursera.


I completed week 1 of Coursera course -'social entrepreneurship'.
I completed reading course material, yet missed the deadline for the assignment 1.

The reason for missing assignment deadline was I 'ASSUMED' that I needed  to cover all video lectures before attempting the assignment. Turns out it's not the case.
Also I have spent far too many minutes trying to re-watch the videos for better understanding.
Turned out to be a waste of time too.

Good thing was that I have allocated time for 6 weeks (4 hours a week) in advance, so I can pick up from where I left in the first week.

Come second week, I know the mistake I made. So what did I do?

I started second week by visiting the Assignment 2 first. That was the first thing I did.
So all that reading of the week boils down to this assignment.
The moment I saw the assignment my mind was sharpened to accumulate knowledge for the assignment. Then reading became fun.
Because I knew I wasted too much time re-watching videos, I started making mind maps. Plus I got to know that lecture narrations could be downloaded as text files. I saved good hour or so from this.

The assignment asked me to apply a particular tool. So I followed the lecture on that tool and did the assignment. I have 2 more videos to watch, but that can be taken later leisurely, now that I have completed the week's assignment.

After all, there is so much wisdom in this statement..

"Begin with the end in mind"
~ Sun Tzu

Sep 23, 2014

Will 'android one' disrupt budget smartphone market?


"It will", according to this post on 'Tech in Asia'.
It's interesting that India is the first country to get 'Android One', with Indonesia and Philippines up next.

In paper it looks so promising. Let's see how things roll, because in bottom and middle of the pyramid markets, there's always a fresh challenge.

The effort is intense from telcos and OEM's, as well as many players in the system, because if anyone cracks the code, the market is in hundreds of millions, actually billions.

What happens here is, these communities will bypass PC to smart phone.
It's an amazing time for the bottom of the pyramid communities.


Sep 20, 2014

I deleted my Instagram


There were few Instagram notifications in my inbox. Notifications are clutter in email, so much distraction.
I unsubscribed those email notifications, and then realized I don't use Instagram.

My mind started a battle.
" Do I really want this ?." No.
" Is there a chance I would need it later in my life?." Tricky.

I took the plunge, decided to delete the profile.
If I need one later, I will create a new one.

When I went on to delete, it was not easy to find the way to do it. Social media sites makes extra effort to make it really hard to unplug.
Had to google it. Here's how if you need it.

Done.

Sep 19, 2014

How "Songs of Innocence" helped me to be mindful



Thanks to more than $100 million paid by Apple Inc, I am listening to new U2 album "Songs of Innocence" for free.

Not everyone around the world (I am just one of 500 million + iTunes users) liked Apple's idea of pushing U2 album in to one's device with out permission. Fair enough. If you want to delete it, here's how.
I did not mind. A free album is like a free lunch, there's always a catch.

Anyway the point I'm making here is , or rather a question to you,

" When was the last time you listened to a full album of an artist, from song 1 to the last - uninterrupted, with no shuffling?"

There was a time in my life, ( around 20-24 years old) I would listen to a full album with no interruption. I would take the CD/cassette booklet (yes, cassette was the bomb those days), read all information about artists and immerse in their lyrics. It was a getaway, a secret passage to artists' mind, a way to blend with the artist in their voyage.

There was a time in my life, I would listen to a song, focusing only on one instrument. One time I would focus on violin, and then piano. All the voices, other sounds would fade away like mist. All I could hear was that single instrument playing.

All that nostalgia was bulldozed by internet and mp3. I can download songs I like, anywhere, anytime.
No albums, but one mp3 at a time, going in to multiple playlists.
Now I have playlists according to time of the day and the mood. Many do.
I shuffle the playlists. So after a Ghazal I would listen to 'Guns n Roses', then 'Victor Ratnayake'.
Mind craves for constant feeding of change of notes and excitement.

All that changed in few days when I started listening to this U2 album. It is a perfect album for me, like a hybrid of Roxette and Rolling Stones. It is lyrically mesmerizing. For 10 days I have listened the album over 12 times, nothing but this album. Also started reading lyrics from the CD booklet.

It got me questioning what's the purpose of abundance when I can't enjoy a note, a single note of an instrument.

Would you try your best artist, and one of their album, uninterrupted, with no shuffling ?


Sep 14, 2014

Why I need a habit to do a Coursera course?


Like I said, good intentions do not matter , if I do not commit, make a habit, and follow up weekly.

In July 2014, I had a good intention to do an online courses in Coursera.

After following 2 weeks, I gave up end of August.
I could not attend the course because time needed was not scheduled in my life.
Worst scenario was, since I did not give up early, that feeling of "non achievement" carried in my emotions for a long time. Nothing depresses a mind, than an inner commitment not met.

This week I am committing to a course - " Social Entrepreneurship "

Though my Coursera dashboard showed 2 courses, I understood there's no enough space for 2 courses to go parallel. Hence I un-enrolled from the second ('Age of Sustainable Development').

It will be a herculean effort to nurture inner discipline for 6 weeks.

I checked how much time needed for each week. Need roughly 3 hours per week.
Since I have committed time, made a habit, and giving up some habits I have, I am sure I can make progress.

Let's see how it goes.

And oh, Coursera is amazing. Big Fan.

Sep 8, 2014

Why I can't change.


Why I can't change, though I have good intentions is simply because I don't let that 'change' have the space it need.

This space between what I am now, and where I want to be is a 'Habit'.

I really thought having good intentions, planning and taking action quickly, makes the change.

It serves as start, but change does not sustain if I do not create a habit.

Creating habit requires time.
I think I have that time, actually I don't.

Then I need to free up a time from my routine.
Free some time from an existing habit - a not so good habit (It will be better if it is a bad habit)

New habit in, bad habit out.

Gradually I am getting there. It's hard. I keep on trying. I'm making a habit.
Habit of blogging in, habit of reading too much blogs out.




Sep 6, 2014

What's the most important asset?


I have come to a point in my life in which I question "what's most important now?"
I ask this question at end of each day.

Strange enough, out of all attractions in life my answer is "time".
You can really appreciate a person by checking what value he/she gives to time (their own and others')

I have come to a point (probably I am getting old !) that time spent with 100% attention to one person/one thing at a time is a luxury, a priceless asset.

We live in a world of constant distraction. It is hard to be your self. There are so many hats to wear.

We boast about been busy. We critique people who are slow. We delight in things that are faster.

This life pace is not sustainable. I have lost attention to detail.

I created few habits to get out of this treadmill. I will try to explain them in coming posts.

Time is what we want most, but what we use worst. 
~William Penn

Sep 3, 2014

New beginning (I missed blogging)


This post comes after 6 months !
You might have already seen some changes.
  • www.isura.biz domain is no more.
  • I have changed URL of this blog to www.iysura.blogspot.com.
  • Changed the layout using an age old blogger template. Old may be, I liked it for the simple clean lay out. I was in a writer's block for 6 months, and de-cluttering this space finally made me realize simplicity helps writing. I am happy with the new simple outlook.
  • I've also changed the blog title to "Experiments with my life". ( My five year blogging journey has started with the title "Happiness Blogs")
This space will be more personal, experimental and reflective.
Almost like a journal. I like you to engage. 
Let me know your thoughts. 
(I installed Disqus, it's so easy to comment now)

Feb 11, 2014

Social enterprise ripples in Sri Lanka



Last evening we had a great session on social enterprise in Sri Lanka.
British council did a wonderful job convening it. 

It was a dream to have this kind of conversations in Sri Lanka. 
Back in 2006, when I started the journey, I never thought this much progress was possible.

War ended, internet penetrated thick and fast, and it seems all the stars are aligning fast.

Good to see this. More on the conversations will follow as separates blogs later.

I for one, is inspired and energized. 

Feb 10, 2014

Start with you.



It's always a pleasure see Loku Sir (Dr.Ariyaratne) speak.
He spoke today to Sarvodaya leaders at all levels.

He said, "problems start inside you. Answers are also with in you."

Do not look for faults in others. It's just a waste of your time and energy.
Start from the smallest step. Let the compassionate thoughts lead you.

It takes lot of first steps to realize the beauty of it. But there's always a first step.


Feb 9, 2014

Mel




Following @MelGuna was how I knew her. I interacted with her few times on twitter.
I did not meet her, I did not even know her face.

That paint bass came to rob her phone. She happened to be in between bass and phone.

She's gone now.
Gone like the wind.

I tried to swallow this hollow piece of tragedy for a week.
I don't know her, she lived closer to my office, she's one like us, living in Colombo.

Like everything else, we keep on moving. Life is too busy to pause, to contemplate.

Next time you see a thief or get hit by a car, might be a good idea to leave them alone.
Think of it as compassion to your own self, by letting go.



Feb 8, 2014

Is Cricket loosing it ?



At age 15, I used to wait in-front of TV impatiently for the commentators to come out to the pitch and give their analysis of the pitch for the match. A test match. A bloody 5 day test match, which I would watch ball-by-ball.

Insane right?

I saw a tweet today that ICC has shaken their powers for the money or something like that - and I don't feel a thing. I don't care.

Well, lot of people care. Lot of people love IPL. I'm not. Who cares ?
People loved Kerry Packer. People hated him.

People love excitement. There are many alternatives to keep you distracted.






A little dining experiment.



Can you? 

Can you step in to a restaurant, and dine, with out taking a look at your phone? 

Can you step in to a restaurant, and dine, with out phone by your side ? 



Jan 31, 2014

Wave




'Wave' is an amazing memoir novel.
It's the real life story of a tsunami survivor, who lost all she loved.
Mother, father, husband and 2 sons.

Read it to feel the gift of life.
I was struck by Sonali's detailing of the event. I can't imagine the grief she went through.

The decision she took to share about the agony, is a brave one. It takes lot of guts.
The book helped me to feel life in a sensible manner.

The book lets you question your life, in every page.
What more can a writer achieve ?


Jan 29, 2014

The book I gave up.



I planned for a book.
I started it. Wrote 3 chapters, yet could not get on with it.
I showed it to few friends, got advise on writing books, but it did not pick up from my end.

I wanted to write a book because I liked writing.
Was fascinated by the book for some time. Fascination was not enough.

I thought hard.

Would this be something people like?
Don't worry about people, just write what you love.

That tussle in my mind, disturbed the joy of putting up a simple blog post. Blog posts dried up.
Writers block.

I will write more frequently on this blog. 3 posts a week.
But not the book. For now.




Jan 28, 2014

Self Driving Car



I always had doubts about self driving cars. Also we don't have an answer to traffic we create.

Major issue about self driving cars is, safety. I watched Sebastian Thrun, the man behind Google self driving car, speaks about his vision.

A fascinating 3 minute video : Click here.

Jan 25, 2014

Advise on careers can be lethal



I overheard a person on phone.
" No, don't let him take IT courses. Look at me, IT did not take me anywhere. As I told you get him to do banking, at least he can get a low interest loan " 

Can you see the lethal dose ? 

Anybody seeking advise on careers, need to talk to 5 people. Actively.
By active means, You ask questions that clear your doubts. It's your future and it should be in your hands. 

Talk to people who have done well after you have understood your passion.
Yes, Passion matters.
Passion is the difference between a job and a career.


Jan 24, 2014

"I'm going to Mars"




"100,000 people have signed up to live in Mars, knowing they will not return to planet earth.
Only few will get the chance for first flight". This little amazing news popped in a dinner conversation.

SpaceX is not science fiction. It's actually happening. Elon Musk is a visionary in every sense.

The signed up people will get supplies in Mars from Earth once every 4 years. (Not verified)
They surely have tons of money to sign up. I wonder, why rich people want to do this?

I guess these people want to leave a legacy - "we were the first, we dared to be different."
So they decided to vanish in to thin air (or rather space).

Hierarchy of human needs is so elusive. Self actualization is a tricky place to be.

Jan 22, 2014

Relaxation can happen at tension.


Long tension story short:  I was 15 minutes late today to leave home, and met with an unprecedented traffic. My wife got late for school and me for office. My first meeting was delayed 30 minutes.
Not nice, when it was the first thing in the morning.
The image of my wife been late (a not happy face) lingered on until I reached office.
At office, I had to plan for the meeting and I am already 30 minutes late !

A traffic - a simple block at the beginning of the day made such an impact, and it was manifesting in me.

Instead of the routine, I took a different open approach for the meeting. Rather than peeping in to the relevant docs and notes, I made it clear upfront, that I need to discuss things in detail, step by step. I started asking specific relevant questions. Not rushed, but focused. It took 45 minutes, and it was a success.

Then I switched on Self Control on web for 3 hours, slowly engaging in work, with out giving in to the rush.

"  Tension is who you think you should be. 
Relaxation is who you are  " 
~Chinese proverb

Jan 21, 2014

what would I lose?


When we get to some point of achievement in life, (or sometimes at a failure) we value ourselves by asking the question " what would I lose? "
Most often people stuff many things in their back pack. 'Back pack' here is the metaphor for the burden of life. Too many things in your back pack weighs you down from doing things that matter. It gets too heavy, by the day.

A good question to ask, time to time, is, " What should I put in my back pack"

Talking about back pack, 'Up in the Air' is a very good movie to watch.


Jan 12, 2014

Self Control on Web.



When I am in-front of laptop, creating a document, I wish I had the resolute to switch off social media.
I had the wish, but not the resolute.
So in to 20 minutes of work, I would go to internet for some 'search' and end up in twitter and facebook or some blog(s). It would take 15 minutes to understand I am trespassing.
Then another 10 minutes (minimum) to re-focus on what I was doing.

Now I know I have a problem (Most of the time I ignored), and I have found a cure.

  • Enter 'Self Control', a free and open software for mac users to black list web sites. Once I black list a website and set up a timer, I wont be able to access those sites, even if I restart the computer or delete the application. It's a pretty neat app. (Download here)

  • There are alternatives for other platforms. For Windows, one notable app I found is K9. (download here). There are many other options.

  • Recommended by Thameera:  RescueTime -  Works on all platforms, tells you how much time you spend on each website.