Movie: Limitless

Recently I have watched a movie called Limitless. As it title recommends, it tells us what will happen if we could unlock all of the access to all parts in our brain, basically to achieve our fullest potential. If your hidden potential is a very smart person, with that drug you will be smart.

However, it seems to tell us that only drug used is able to unlock all paths in our brain. Well it seems to be only the way to do it as we will never access to 50% of our brains despite we maintain a superb healthy lifestyle that no one on earth could ever do that (simply because no one can tolerate with such a diet or sometimes people have no choice but to force them to work in order to make a living).

In that movie, a street wanderer could transform to a brilliant broker (which generated a profit of 2 million USD from 12,000 USD in 10 days) then to a senator through the drug used. As you might have expected, great power comes with great consequences. When the drug is not consumed in a timely manner, the user will suffocate to death. The movie ended with the actor found ways to duplicate the drug for his own use.

Personally, I do not like the way it ended. What is the moral of the story? To encourage people to consume the drug and find ways to duplicate it? It would have been better if the actor finds ways to cure his addiction and yet lived. If so, it also would have been a little more interesting.

I would love to unlock the paths in order to have the access to every single unit in my brain too. Through this movie, I thought I could learn some tips to do that. Just rather disappointed, a little.

Awareness on Food Consumption

This comes into my mind when I was taking a “to go” dinner at a hawker stall today.

How do you choose what you want to consume for lunch/dinner?

Do you choose to consume the diet which you feel you lacked of? Or do you choose it based on your mood of the day?

In the first question, it basically means that when you have some meat today, you might want to get some vegetables tomorrow. I think if you exercise this regularly, you will be mentally strong as you would think that you have a well balanced diet everyday.

Personally, I choose based on my mood which is the latter option. I think this is not a good habit because our body often needs various nutrients from different foods. My case is more serious especially when I am a person who loves to consume food with little choices (basically, I consume the same small cycle of food everyday).

This is what I have for lunch everyday before I go to work: Pan Mee, Wan Tan Mee or Chee Cheong Fun (and fruits at work) for the past few months! This is what I have for dinner: Mixed Rice and Chicken Rice (rarely).

Even though I made sure my food contains vegetables, fruits, meat and toufu, but I doubt it is sufficient for a balanced diet. For instance I might have a great vitamin C from fruits, but I am certain that I am lack of some other nutrient that is not in my daily consumption. Perhaps occasionally I need some herbal soup or probably some multi-vitamins pills.

I write this for the purpose of self-awareness. And I hope it would bring you some self-conscious about your choice of food too. Eating chicken rice for 2 meals a day and 7 days a week does not ensure you have a healthy diet; in fact it is the exact opposite!

New Year Resolution 2012

It is time to set some good resolutions for the year 2012. This year is the only year where I seriously think and set the targets for the year as in the past was all mainly focused on education. This year onwards, other than my professional paper CFA, all of my resolutions will focus on self development.

First, career is prioritized. I don’t have to elaborate much on this as I have been an annoying brat talking it in almost all of my previous posts.

Second, I will work out every week to ensure a healthy lifestyle. Ideally, I hope to work out once every weekend, and once every weekday. But it is hard as I am working the night shift. I could work out in the morning but the sun is too bright for me to do so. Working out under the sun contradicts with my next resolution. As for now, I really enjoy hiking. I will set a hiking trip either weekly or biweekly. In order to achieve this, I need to gather a few hiking peeps or it will be hard to do it alone.

Third, learn to take care of a good, fair and healthy skin. After all it will boost self-esteem and give better first impression to new people that I am going to meet. Plus, I want to look good to my future wife too. I believe looking good and knowing how to take care of myself will add a bonus to our relationship. You think it sounds ridiculous? Tell me if you like your spouse face full of pimples and acnes ;)

Fourth, in conjunction with the second point, I will eat lesser meat and more vegetables. I have been doing this for awhile but I am writing to enforce it. Same goes for soft drinks. There are TONS of different soft drinks available for free in my office but after 5 months working here I have taken less than 5 can of cokes. =) It is a good start.

Fifth and I believe this is one of the hardest one. I want to remain life as a single for this year, at least. Please note that remaining single does not mean that I can’t fall in love with someone. Remaining single has been really challenging for me knowing that I seldom stay on single for the past 10 years. It would worth a challenge then. Reason for remaining single is because I want to have the freest time for myself. Unless I have met the right one which compliments each other in terms of productivity and happiness, else it will just be a waste of time everyone’s time. At the age of 24, no more puppy love for me. So this year is the year for me to survey around and perform environmental scanning.

Lastly, I want to focus of my time to build quality time with existing friends than focus my time to expand the quantity of friends. I used to think that expanding the quantity of friends is important especially when it will benefit your business network. However, now I believe the quality of time with existing friends are equally important too. Without them I will be in deep depression. Expanding my network will happen naturally as my life goes on but the quality of time will not expand itself without me putting effort into it. 

Reconciliation of Information

I truly believe that one’s dispute and misunderstanding are caused by lack of reconciliation of information. Don’t you think so? Perhaps the word dispute may be too strong to be used in this example. Perhaps heated discussion is more suitable to be used.

This piece of information is often not reconciled. Maybe because some people just don’t care, or some even just not aware of the dispute and therefore need not seek the trouble to reconcile it. In some events, some people just don’t know the approach to reconcile it and I am the one I was talking about in the latter case.

I often feel very irritated because of the inability to perform the reconciliation properly. When I do it, very often the person whom I think we have dispute in does not respond well in the sense that some think I am thinking too much, while the others give me a feeling that “You are not that important to me so I don’t care much about it”.

Let’s take an example, one of best friends Shin Yee which recently I had dispute with. Before I start, don’t get me wrong that I am biased that she is the person who caused the dispute. I have invited her to my father’s company annual dinner and house warming. She said she might not be able to make it because she might be having her company annual dinner around the same time. So its fine that she is not going to attend. But as the date approaches, her company annual dinner moved to a day before my house party. So I take it as she might attend. On that night itself, she did not tell me if she is attending, so I texted her to see if she is coming. She said not attending without telling me any reason. I don’t mind if she actually tells me she had no mood to attend or just simply don’t feel like attending. I felt extremely agitated at that moment as I think that she as my best friend should at least tell me why not attending, regardless if it is a minute before the event or after. So I texted her again and simple ask why. Just a “why”, no elaboration. She did not respond in a given time limit set by myself. So I texted her again to express my dissatisfaction on her. She replied that she was not available at the time she received my text and therefore not replying. Therefore, a dispute just happened. Reconciliation of information has not been performed. After that we figured a way to avoid that in a peaceful manner.

In another example which the situation is harder to explain the nature of it: me and my brother. Our relationship has always been so so. I would never get what he is thinking at every moment. Therefore, I don’t know what I should do in order to please him. I want to improve our relationship so badly that I often try to find ways to understand human behavior, until I got to learn about Myers Briggs personality framework from a friend. And believe me it did help me to understand my brother a lot. According to MB, I often feel confused about my brother’s action and also I feel that there is like a wall that separates us subconsciously. I feel it totally. He is the thinker type while I am the feeler type. Many things he said will hurt me indirectly because I care too much about the fact that he is my brother. I still need to understand more about the framework in order to improve our relationship; right now at least I grasp the problem between us. The approach to reconcile the information (him and his thinking) has to be unique for this case.

Let’s take the instance to the other side. I have a friend who enjoys constantly bullying me mentally; whether it is when I see him or especially on face book. Initially I enjoy his company as a friend, but this annoyance been drag too far which exceeds the limit of my patience. There are so many things that he has done to me, but none were good. Well, to protect myself from him I take him as immature and/or jealous of me. And that surprisingly solve the problem knowing that our common friends are on my side. Seriously, you wont like the way he treats you of you are the victim.  

Quarter Life Crisis

Does it sound familiar to you guys? Perhaps it relates to the term Midlife crisis? It is actually very similar to midlife crisis, it just occurs at a different age. The term quarter life crisis (QLC) does not mean that it has to occur on the 25 years old and above. It is actually defined as insecurities, disappointments, loneliness and depression that hit twenty and thirty somethings shortly after they enter into the real world (quoted at http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/may/05/quarterlife-crisis-young-insecure-depressed).

I think I am actually experiencing QLC now. To further explained, I feel very disappointed at my job and lonely at the same time. I am not sure if I am doing what I want to achieve in life. I first joined this company because it is a multinational company and I can deal a wide range of securities products (equities, bonds, options, futures and you name it) but I don’t get to participate in the decision making process in which why the security is bought. My job is just to execute the transaction properly so that all interests/dividends/exchange rates and so on are in line and causes minimal NAV daily variance changes on the fund which I calculate.

Of course I have the option to leave, but there are several concerns. First being the two months of termination notice. When I start applying for another job now, I believe it is hard for employers to accept my two months termination period from current company. If there is a desired position available right now, and if the manager desperately needs someone to fill in the position, I won’t be qualified for it.

Another reason is that I am not sure if I should wait until I get job confirmation from my current company (which is the end of January) before pursuing other companies. This is my first job ever and they serve as a great reference for my next job. Also getting the confirmation improves my credibility. With that I can actually tell the recruiting manager that I am already capable of working in the field which I have little interests in and therefore more capable on the desired field (which is the position that I am going to apply for). Recruiting managers will also favor me better than any other fresh candidates as I apply for that job is not for the sake of just getting a steady paid job but to work in a field in which I am passionate.

It then posts another question as to whether should I work in current company for at least one year before leaving to get the necessary experience and hop into the my desired field as an experience hire? For your information, my current job background is investment field and my desired field is also in the investment field; being a financial analyst instead of a fund accountant. So I will be entitled to demand for a higher wage and get it as an experienced staff instead of a fresh graduate. But then, will my competency be challenged because my experience may not necessary be related to the job that I am going to apply?

Next, let’s say if I resign right now, would I be able to get my desired job out there? FYI, I am willing to compromise wage for knowledge to a certain extent. I am going to regret much if I going to stuck in a job that provides lesser knowledge than my current job. This fear just could not get out of me.

All of these are my concerns. In fact I had been thinking a lot lately but I am not able to conclude it. Some other minor things which make me feel attached to current company is the high wage and great working environment (great and awesome colleagues, free drinks (soft drinks, coffee, milo etc), a boss which appreciates my work and listen to my demand/concerns, ABSOLUTELY NO TRAFFIC JAM as I am working on a shift and it is really close to my house). I tried to seek answers by asking one of my human resource friend but apparently she is busy and yet to reply my message.  I believe she will be the key for this issue.

So I have justified all of my current concerns about my job. It is consistent with the phases of QLC stated in the link above. Phase 1: feeling locked in to a job/relationship, or both. “You can leave but you feel you can’t” is totally true. I don’t believe my qualification can’t get a job out there right now. I got my current job because of reasons mentioned above and also they are the first to offer me a job. But I just feel that I can’t get the right job out there.

I really hope to hop to Phase 2: “Phase 2 is typified by a growing sense that change is possible. “This mental and physical separation from previous commitments leads to all sorts of emotional upheavals. It allows exploration of new possibilities with a closer link to interests, preferences and sense of self.”

Phase 3 is the period of rebuilding a new life while phase 4 is cementing of fresh commitments that reflect the young person’s new interests, aspirations and values.

Yet, only going to Phase 1 you will be able to reach the second phase. Phase 1 is always the most challenging one.

5 Love Languages

What are your love languages? I believe each person has at least one love language with their partner in the sense that they feel love when their partners perform certain things/actions. Below are the 5 love languages I found on www.5lovelanguages.com.

·         Words of Affirmation

Actions don’t always speak louder than words. If this is your love language, unsolicited compliments mean the world to you. Hearing the words, “I love you,” are important—hearing the reasons behind that love sends your spirits skyward. Insults can leave you shattered and are not easily forgotten.

·         Quality Time

In the vernacular of Quality Time, nothing says, “I love you,” like full, undivided attention. Being there for this type of person is critical, but really being there—with the TV off, fork and knife down, and all chores and tasks on standby—makes your significant other feel truly special and loved. Distractions, postponed dates, or the failure to listen can be especially hurtful.

·         Receiving Gifts

Don’t mistake this love language for materialism; the receiver of gifts thrives on the love, thoughtfulness, and effort behind the gift. If you speak this language, the perfect gift or gesture shows that you are known, you are cared for, and you are prized above whatever was sacrificed to bring the gift to you. A missed birthday, anniversary, or a hasty, thoughtless gift would be disastrous—so would the absence of everyday gestures.

·         Acts of Service

Can vacuuming the floors really be an expression of love? Absolutely! Anything you do to ease the burden of responsibilities weighing on an “Acts of Service” person will speak volumes. The words he or she most want to hear: “Let me do that for you.” Laziness, broken commitments, and making more work for them tell speakers of this language their feelings don’t matter.

·         Physical Touch

This language isn’t all about the bedroom. A person whose primary language is Physical Touch is, not surprisingly, very touchy. Hugs, pats on the back, holding hands, and thoughtful touches on the arm, shoulder, or face—they can all be ways to show excitement, concern, care, and love. Physical presence and accessibility are crucial, while neglect or abuse can be unforgivable and destructive.

After giving it much thought, my primary love language is actually through physical touch. As the description stated, it is not all about bedroom, in fact mine is not too! I love it when my girl comes and hold my hand or hug me, especially in the crowd. It makes me feel like the man/king; it really feels like owning the girl.

If I were to rank them base on my preference, it will be as follows: Physical touch, quality time, act of service, words of affirmation and receiving gifts.

I do treasure quality time. Probably I need a balance between time with my girl and my personal time. But more on quality time with the chosen one.

A little bit of act of service will do as it makes her a fine wife. Imagine in the future when you wake up early in the morning to get ready for work and the breakfast is all set on the table. Of course I don’t expect much from this.

Words of affirmation is not what I really keen to. I believe action speaks louder than words.

I have not much of an expectation on receiving gifts as being one of my love languages as I am so used to not receiving anything from my parents since I was little.  I would appreciate when I received a gift, but not as a love language. Normally I will already get what I really wanted in terms of physical items, and I seldom delay my purchase as long as I do not touch on my savings. The funny thing is that I will feel bad receiving a gift from my girl when I know she is financially not stable. I would prefer her to use that amount (regardless it’s small or large) on herself UNLESS she is financially stable.