Month: July 2025

7 Habits and love

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Over the two day session on the 7 Habits, Aman sir and Arshi ma’am guided us through a deep and meaningful discussion on what it means to live a balanced and purposeful life. We explored powerful concepts like identifying the one thing holding us back from achieving a perfect life, understanding the difference between primary and secondary greatness, shifting our paradigms, using proactive language, and focusing on our Circle of Influence instead of our Circle of Concern. The session was interactive, meaningful and at the same time fun also. we talked about our personal incidents, our personal stories and learned from each other. We opened as a group and made a good repo with one another.

Art class by Chaahat

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Finding Joy in the Art Room: A Creative Journey

As an educator, I always look forward to moments when I get to be a learner myself. Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in an art class that truly sparked my curiosity and creativity. The session was centred around three fascinating forms of expression—nature art, embroidery, and texture art—each offering a unique way to connect with the world around us.

The journey began with nature art, where we explored the beauty of natural materials like leaves, twigs, flowers, and stones. It was a refreshing reminder of how art can be created outside traditional tools and mediums, simply by observing and appreciating nature’s own designs. I found it calming and inspiring to arrange natural elements into patterns and compositions, celebrating the Earth’s textures and colours.

Next, we dabbled in embroidery, a craft that taught me patience and attention to detail. Using needle and thread to create patterns on fabric felt meditative and deeply satisfying.

Our exploration ended with texture art, which invited us to experiment with various materials to create tactile, layered artwork. I am truly looking forward to more such sessions where I can continue to explore, create, and learn. Opportunities like these not only nurture our own growth as educators but also inspire us to bring more creativity and joy into our learning environments.

Exploring Art- Chaahat D

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Attending the Life Class: Discovering Art was a truly enriching experience. I explored various creative techniques including stitching, tote bag painting, and texture art. Each activity allowed me to express myself in new and exciting ways. Painting on a tote bag was especially enjoyable—turning something functional into a unique piece of art. Stitching helped me focus and appreciate the beauty in detail, while texture art opened up a whole new dimension of creativity. The class was not only relaxing but also inspiring, helping me reconnect with my artistic side. I look forward to more such creative opportunities. Chaahat made sure we all could explore our creative side.

Life Class Reflections (ETA): Unlocking the Power of Critical Thinking

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This week’s Life Class turned out to be a thought-provoking journey into the heart of something we often take for granted—our own thinking.

The theme was “Critical Thinking”, a skill that may sound academic but plays a vital role in how we understand the world, make decisions, and shape our beliefs. Through a mix of theory, real-life examples, engaging conversations, and a powerful film, we explored what it truly means to think critically in today’s information-saturated world.

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What is Critical Thinking?

At its core, critical thinking is the ability to think clearly and rationally, understanding the logical connection between ideas. It’s about asking questions, challenging assumptions, and not accepting information at face value.

We began by exploring a simple yet powerful definition:

> “Critical thinking is the art of analyzing and evaluating thinking with a view to improving it.”

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Fear, Opinions, Beliefs & Facts

To truly understand critical thinking, we dove into some interconnected concepts:

Fear: We discussed how fear can often cloud judgment and prevent us from asking the right questions. Sometimes, the fear of being wrong or challenging authority silences our inner skeptic.

Opinions vs. Beliefs vs. Facts: A central part of the discussion revolved around distinguishing these three. We reflected on how opinions are personal views, beliefs are often long-held and emotionally rooted, and facts are objective truths. Understanding the difference helps us navigate debates and disagreements with more clarity and respect.

Gullibility vs. Skepticism: Where do we draw the line between being open-minded and being easily misled? We examined the importance of healthy skepticism—not to dismiss everything, but to question and verify. A well-exercised mind doesn’t jump to conclusions, nor does it blindly accept every claim.

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Sharing and Perspectives:

The most enriching part of the session was hearing thoughts and reflections from different people. Real-life examples brought depth to the theory—how we form beliefs based on upbringing, how media influences opinions, or how peer pressure sometimes overrides logic.

These conversations reminded us that critical thinking is not just an intellectual exercise—it’s deeply personal and often emotional

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The Truman Show:

To bring the concept alive, we watched “The Truman Show”—a film that couldn’t be more relevant to the topic. Truman lives in a constructed reality, unaware that his world is scripted. As he starts questioning everything around him, he embarks on a journey toward truth.

The film sparked powerful reflections:

1) How much of our reality is shaped by others?

2) What role does questioning play in our freedom?

3) Are we living authentically—or just accepting the version of life handed to us?

Truman’s courage to challenge his reality served as a metaphor for our own lives. It asked us: what are we not questioning enough?

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Key Takeaways:

1. Critical thinking is not about always being right—it’s about being willing to examine, question, and grow.

2. We need to recognize the influence of fear, emotion, and external narratives on our thinking.

3. Facts, opinions, and beliefs are not interchangeable—and confusing them can lead to poor decisions.

4. Being skeptical is healthy; being gullible is not.

5. Sometimes, truth demands discomfort but it also leads to growth and freedom.

Critical Thinking ETA -2025-26

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Over two days, I explored the fundamentals of critical thinking and how it shapes our understanding of the world. We learned about the brain’s two thinking systems: System 1 (fast, emotional, automatic) and System 2 (slow, logical, deliberate). This helped me understand why I sometimes react impulsively and other times think things through. Recognizing this internal balance taught me when to pause and engage my reasoning instead of relying on instinct.

Another key takeaway was distinguishing between beliefs, opinions, and facts. Beliefs are deeply held but not always evidence-based, opinions are personal and open to debate, and facts are objective and verifiable. This simple framework helped me view information—whether from news, social media, or conversations—with more clarity. Critical thinking, I realized, isn’t just for academics—it’s a vital everyday skill for making better decisions and seeing the world more clearly.

Tru(e)man or Not? Escaping the Show of Shoulds

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Today marked Day 2 of our Critical Thinking class – Day 1 for me, technically, since I missed yesterday’s session. We began with a much-needed recap and explored foundational concepts like opinion, belief, attitude, and their subtle yet significant differences. Two powerful words emerged: skepticism and gullibility. Little did I know, these weren’t just vocabulary words – they were lenses I’d need for what came next.

We watched The Truman Show.

I had seen this movie years ago, but watching it again now – with the weight of lived experience – felt like I was watching an entirely different film. Or perhaps, for the first time, I was watching myself.

Truman’s world is controlled – constructed meticulously to keep him safe, compliant, and content. As I observed his arc, I couldn’t help but reflect on my own internal “producers”: beliefs and fears that script how I behave in areas like religion, relationships, and career. How many decisions have I made because of comfort, or worse, control disguised as comfort?

But amidst all the artificiality in Truman’s world, love cut through like a glitch in the matrix. That one sincere connection – free of the show’s control – planted the first seed of doubt in him. Isn’t that how it works for us too? One real connection, one truthful moment, and the whole illusion starts to crack.

The ending stayed with me long after the screen went black. As Truman walks off the set, reclaiming his autonomy, the two security guards casually ask, “What else is on?”
That line hit hard.

How often do we live in fear of being judged, controlled, or watched? But people only stay tuned in if we keep broadcasting. When we stop performing, they stop watching. And maybe – just maybe – that’s not a bad thing.

Today’s class didn’t just teach me terms. It asked me to question the set I might be unknowingly living on. And I’m now more curious than ever about the sessions ahead.

The real question is:
Am I the star of my life, or just another actor in someone else’s script?

Another blog re:life classes CT-ETA

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This year it’s in July, Life classes, there it is, a moment to reflect, a moment to pause and think, thinking about how to think. So is that metacognition? Maybe.

We started these sessions by understanding system 1 and system 2 (our subconscious and conscious minds). We then had diverse opinions on various claims which were mind opening, thought provoking and really unintuitive.But I guess that is what critical thinking is about, hopefully as time passes this process also might be done by my system 1.

While using my system 2 to the words for the blog I can understand what cognitive load is.We also learnt about various biases and how they affect our rationality.

Then a movie was shown in which we could connect it with a few parallels from our own world on what limits us to explore more, what is true, what are inherited beliefs and how outside influences control our lives.

All in all I enjoyed it and am excited for day 3.

Critical thinking- Theta

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We began with the idea of a latticework of mental models, learning how using tools from different subjects helps us make better decisions.Then we discussed the two types of thinking:Fast and automatic (System 1)Slow and logical (System 2)We understood why it’s important to slow down and think clearly, especially when the situation needs deep thought.We also talked about cognitive load (how too much info tires our brain) and cognitive misers (how we avoid effort by choosing shortcuts).Examples like why Mark Zuckerberg wears the same clothes daily helped connect ideas to real life.We ended with a discussion on biases—both positive and negative—and how they affect the way we see and judge things.A fun part was linking these ideas to The Truman Show movie. It made us ask: Are we really thinking for ourselves, or just following what’s around us?In the end, we all agreed:Critical thinking is not just a skill. It’s a habit. A tool to live better, wiser, and freer.
We also focused on different types of biases — like how we sometimes make unfair judgments or favor certain views without reason. We ended with a powerful reflection on the movie The Truman Show. It showed how media, society, and comfort zones can control our choices — and how important it is to think critically and break free from illusions, just like Truman did.

Reflecting on Critical Thinking: Lessons from Life, Brain Science, and “The Truman Show”

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These two-day life class dedicated to the art—and challenge—of critical thinking. In this immersive experience, I explored how our minds work, how beliefs and facts get tangled, and how media and our environment subtly shape our reality. Here’s what I learned, and why it matters.
Unpacking Critical Thinking
At the heart of our sessions was the concept that critical thinking isn’t just a school skill—it’s essential for navigating the world. We started with the two systems of brain function:
• System 1: Fast, instinctual, and emotional thinking.
• System 2: Slow, deliberate, and logical thinking.
Understanding this helped me grasp why I sometimes respond to situations impulsively, while other times I analyze before acting. It’s a constant tug-of-war between intuition and reasoning.
Belief, Opinion, or Fact: Untangling the Web
One illuminating activity involved examining different statements and learning how to distinguish between beliefs (deep-seated convictions), opinions (personal judgments), and facts (statements verifiable with evidence).
• Beliefs often shape how we see the world, but may not be supported by facts.
• Opinions are expressions of personal feelings or thoughts, open to debate.
• Facts can be checked and proven true or false.
This clarity empowered me to better assess what I hear in daily life—on social media, in the news, or from friends.

Critical Thinking Through Film: “The Truman Show”
On the second day, our class watched “The Truman Show,” a film where the main character, Truman, lives his entire life on a scripted TV set, oblivious to the artificiality of his world. Through group discussion, we analyzed how Truman’s reality was shaped by the things around him: his fears, the comfort of routine, and powerful conditioning by authority figures.
This sparked a larger conversation: Are we too living in invisible bubbles shaped by similar forces? It was unsettling but eye-opening. I realized that our fears can keep us from asking hard questions, while comfort zones can stop us from challenging the status quo. Social conditioning, much like in the movie, is everywhere—the rules we inherit, the biases we adopt, the media we consume.
Connecting to Everyday Life
The biggest takeaway: Critical thinking is about questioning the reality presented to us. Whether it’s a belief I hold, an opinion I hear, or a “fact” from the internet, it’s important to ask:
• Is this really true?
• What evidence supports this?
• Who benefits if I believe this?
• Am I acting out of fear or for my own comfort?
Final Thoughts
This class not only made me more aware of these mental traps, but also gave me practical tools for living more thoughtfully. Like Truman, maybe we all need to look for the exit door—and be brave enough to step through it.