Category: Other (Mixed Bag)

Me and my ramblings – an inward journey (7D food exploration)

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What is a person who is not a cook by choice doing in a food workshop? Well, learning to like the 7-dimensional experience associated with food, that’s what!

What enticed me to the workshop possibility was the wonderful collage of videos and associated big ideas that came my way as this year’s life class possibility. I filled it up just because it was something different. Something that seemed hands-on. And the workshop has not disappointed. If anything it has helped me learn a lot about myself as a person.

Here are four things I have understood about myself through the 6 days journey:
1. I have a cooking preference – being an introvert by nature, I like my kitchen space to myself. I don’t like people hovering and I am a stickler for authenticity in names (“Dhosa” vs “Thosai” #IYKYK)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/BfiVwZuXsSu9bTfa9

2. I need to learn to let go of my perceptions – when I sat down to relish the Onam Sadya meal myself I was surprised at how authentic it tasted despite being cooked by people who knew little to nothing about the dish. I learnt that letting people enjoy a challenge is not bad after all! I assumed that people with varied backgrounds will find it difficult to learn how to cook a typical dish – but the Onam Sadhi dismantled that perception, and how!
https://photos.app.goo.gl/nZYVksDbRumjfMb6A

3. It is not bad to watch a youtube video and learn how to cook a dish – when I did that with the momo-making exercise, I was pleasantly surprised that I could do something that I had been making fun of for so long. I now watch these Instagram reels on making food (watch, not make, so don’t consider yourself invited!)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XkeStGu6ipqckxSPA

4. In giving we receive – the visit to Dome Pizzeria was one of the most beautiful learning experiences about being a kind/non-judgemental teacher (Thanks, Shrey). It also underscored for me the assumption that children who are ‘underprivileged’ need us to ‘help’ them. What we did there was not charity. It was something we did to make ourselves feel good (compounded by the fact that the Pizza and Iced-tea we served them is not the kind they enjoy).
https://photos.app.goo.gl/81rfzGYVrbu1eHbF8

Thankful for the experience! But if at the end of it, you ask me ‘why the name 7D?’ I’ll say, just because Shahnaz is extremely creative!

Art and Skills – Reflection

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I enjoyed the first and second day of art and skills class. I learned canvas painting along with making connection with our own emotions. I was able to create my own composition after listening to the interesting story/facts about ‘Phad painting of Rajasthan. I hope to complete my pending paintings and able to showcase on the last day of this class.

I am looking forward for the up coming classes where I will learn more and enhance my art skill.

 

Book Club 2022-23

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Atomic Habits by James Clear

Tiny changes, remarkable results….

That’s the realization that sunk in when I read the book.

Habits shape our identity – this is not a new learning. We have been told this since ages. But this book brought in a lot of takeaways. We always say that habits die hard. But James Clear in this book shares lot of strategies which can be easily implemented in order to inculcate good habits and break the bad ones. The 2 minute rule to stop procrastinating really stuck with me. It says that Habits are the entry point and not the end point. It’s like an entry ramp to a long highway. In order to begin a good habit ensure that the first 2 minutes are easy and once we have standardized these initial 2 minutes, rest will be taken care of.

The book also throws light on how being in motion is different from action, even though at first instance it seems the same. Being in motion involves mere planning, but action involves practice. Repetition is the key to the beginning of any new habit.

Another point worth noting is that focus on the current trajectory rather than current result. 1% improvement daily would compound to 37 times improvement over a year.

The 4 laws of behavior change seemed so relatable. These are simple set of rules to build good habits. They are: 1. Make it obvious 2. Make it attractive 3. Make it easy 4. Make it satisfying.

 

 

“Atomic Habits”book by James Clear

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Habit is a routine that we follow diligently. Habits could be bad or good depending on your will. Habits can be changed, transformed, and extended.

In the book ” Atomic Habit” by James Clear”.
There are four simple steps to forming a new habit or breaking an old one.
1
Make it obvious
—-The routine which you want to follow should be clear to you and it could be divided into 4 segments, Cue— Craving —- response — reward.
—Once the habit becomes automatic then you do have not to pay attention. A habit scoreboard is a good practice to become more aware of your behavior so that you can track your progress.
—- Pointing and calling out helps out to raise your awareness from a nonconscious habit to a conscious habit.
—- Time and Location are the two most important cues.
—– Motivate yourself and the environment plays a crucial role in forming new habits.
—- Make the cues of good habits obvious in the environment.
—- If possible make the entire context become the cue.
—-People with high self control tend to spend less time in tempting situations. It is easier to avoid temptations than resist it.
—- Self-control is a short-term strategy, not for the long term.
2.
Make it Attractive
The most attractive opportunity is, the more likely to become habit-forming.
—- Temptation bundling is one way to make your habits more attractive. The strategy is to pair an action you want to do with an action you need to do.
—– The role of Family and friends is too important.
—- The culture we live in determines the behavior which is attractive to us.
—-  We tend to adopt habits that get appreciated by our group or culture because we want to fit in that group.
— we tend to imitate the habits of our close friends and relatives or powerful people with status and prestige.
—– Join a culture or group of people with your desired behavior.
——- If a behavior gets approval, respect, or praise we find it attractive.
Make bad habits unattractive
—– Every behavior has an underlying motive. Your habits are modern-day solutions to ancient desires.
—- Highlights the benefits of avoiding a bad habit to making it unattractive.
—- Habits are attractive when we associate them with positive feelings. Create a motivational ritual by doing something you enjoy.
3.
Make it easy 
—- Practice your new habit and make it simple. 
——Focus on action not being in motion.
—— make automatic through repetition, the number of time matters more than the amount of time.
—- Human behavior is to put the least effort.
—- Create an environment where doing the right thing is as easy as possible.
—-Reduce the friction associated with good behavior.
—– Increase the friction associated with bad behavior
——Set your environment to make future actions easier.
—– The 2-minute rule says that do for a limited time.
—— using technology to automate habits.
4
Make it satisfying 
—- Satisfaction leads to repeated behavior.
—– Immediate rewards are preferred instead of future rewards.
—– success or progress motivates u to repeat the habit.
—– immediately punished and rewarded behavior can affect repetitive habits.
—— Habit tracking is good to see the progress.
—– Never miss twice. Try to keep on track as early as possible.
—— Less likely habit would not be repeated it is painful.
——- Habit contract can be used to add a special cost to any promise.
These are the points on which I focus and get a new habit formed.
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