Jumpstart Your Dream Life

Why Uncertainty is Killing Your Future

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Do you know what’s worse than knowing something bad will happen?

Not knowing whether something bad will happen. The state of being stuck in limbo, uncertain about an outcome, is the worst state to be in. We would rather know with absolute certainty that something bad will happen than maybe have it happen.

In 2016, researchers performed a study on the stress levels of participants about to receive a painful electric shock. In situations where subjects had a 50 percent chance of receiving a shock, they experienced much higher stress than subjects who had a 0 or 100 percent chance of shock. That means participants who knew they would definitely get a shock felt calmer than participants who only had a 50 percent chance of shock.

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What to Do When Every Day Feels the Same (Especially During a Pandemic)

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Do you ever feel like you’re living your own version of Groundhog Day?

You’re repeating the same day over and over again. Nothing is unexpected, nothing can be changed. You wake up, do the same thing, go to bed, repeat.

Any sense of spontaneity you might have experienced before has been sucked out, leaving only muted shades of black, white, and grey. You look ahead, and everything looks the same. You look back, and it’s all a blur.

It’s a common feeling during normal times. You’ve been doing the same thing for awhile. Maybe you’re working in a job, running a project, and going through your routine.

You’ve lost motivation, you’re just not that excited anymore, and things are getting stale. It’s normal, no matter what you do.

But during a pandemic? Multiply that feeling by a hundred.

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8 Reasons to Keep Moving Forward When You Feel Self-Doubt

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Do you ever have one of those down days where you’ve fallen and can’t get up?

You’ve spent all your energy and have none left. You’ve exhausted every avenue you had. You’ve run into obstacles that you can’t climb over.

If this sounds familiar, no wonder you feel uncertain about things.

You’ve put in all the effort, only to yield little results. You started at the same time as everyone else, only for others to leapfrog over you. You realize that your time is limited, and yet you’ve squandered it away.

No wonder you feel doubtful about yourself.

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5 Shows You Should Watch This Holiday Season on Amazon Prime

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As the weather drops and most of us are curled up indoors, one of our favorite pastimes is watching TV.

According to a 2020 study in the UK, people watch 22.5 hours of TV per week on average. During the holiday season, that number jumps up to 25.75 hours of watching TV. Picture that: we spend three and a half more hours per week glued in front of the television during the holidays than any other time.

It shouldn’t be surprising that people watch more TV during the holidays. The weather isn’t as conducive to outdoor activities, we have more spare time, and shows get released around this time of year.

Sure, a good book can be entertaining, educational, and overall better for you. But TV shows are easy to consume, dynamic, and can even be a group activity. No wonder we love sitting on the couch and flipping on the remote.

There’s a lot to be said about a good show. A show can be thought-provoking, inspiring, or uplifting. It can change the way you think and maybe even the way you approach everyday life.

Amazon Prime has been releasing a number of interesting shows, some of which are exclusive to the subscription. If you don’t have it, you can watch using their 30-day free trial.

Here are 5 shows on Amazon Prime to watch this season:

1. Small Axe

Set between the 1960s to 1980s, Small Axe is an anthology series by Steve McQueen that tells the stories of people in London’s West Indian community who rally against a system designed against them. As the proverb goes: “If you are the big tree, we are the small axe.”

Based on historical events, the individuals go through pain and hardship to fight against discrimination and racism. At the same time, the show portrays the liveliness of their community through family gatherings, people cooking meals, and friends laughing over drinks. The meeting of all these elements, big and small, combine to create a powerful force.

2. Antarctica: A Year on Ice

This visually stunning documentary on the bottom of the world talks about its landscape and the people who live there. The beautiful cinematography and time lapses during the day and night show how a place filled mostly with ice and snow can go through so many shifts.

Beyond the scenery are the people, many of whom aren’t scientists, that spend extended periods of time in this cold climate. Interviews provide a close-up look at their day-to-day lives, including the type of work they do, their joys, and their struggles. This documentary helps you appreciate how Antarctica has remained largely the same since over a century ago, making it a place unlike any other.

3. The Expanse

Far off in the future, humans have colonized the solar system. Mars has become an independent power of its own. The two superpowers, Earth and Mars, are engaged in a cold war as they compete for precious resources. Thus begins the premise for the multi-season show The Expanse.

This show is rich in its storytelling, from its individual characters to human dynamics and conflict. There’s also an incredible amount of world-building, shown by the challenges and intricacies of living in outer space. This show is great for anyone to watch, sci-fi fan or not.

4. Happy People: A Year in the Taiga

This documentary follows a group of people who live in the Siberian Taiga. It shows life in the Taiga from spring to winter, demonstrating what everyday life is like and the work that needs to be done in each season. Life in the Taiga follows a steady rhythm, where there is a time and place for each type of work and celebration.

Life may seem harsh for these people, who rely on the land and usage of basic tools to trap and hunt. But there’s also a sense of freedom in being self-reliant. Are they truly “happy people”? You watch and decide.

5. The Pack

If you’re looking for a fun, adventurous show that involves dogs and their owners, this one’s for you. Twelve teams compete in a series of challenges across the world to get to the finish line, where $750,000 is at stake. The show focuses on the bond between dogs and people, and how both are willing to go above and beyond for the other.

Each episode takes place in a different city, where all the action is set amidst beautiful urban and nature backdrops. The tail wags, smiling faces, and people working with their dogs make this a feel-good show. The Pack is a breath of fresh air that’s exciting and invigorating, especially in a time when many of us are at home and facing personal challenges.

What’s On Your List?

These shows are notable for the feelings they provoke, each in their own way. But they’re only a few of the interesting shows that are original and exclusive to Amazon Prime.

Hopefully, you’ll watch something this season that makes you reflect, respond, and even see the future in a brighter way. Because in the end, that’s why we watch television: to incite a change within us, no matter how big or small.

What’s on your watch list these days?

Should You Suffer Now to Enjoy Life Later?

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We’re stuck in an age-old dichotomy.

Work hard now, reap the rewards later. Enjoy life now, suffer the consequences later. We’re told you can’t have both, especially not at the same time.

When you’re stuck doing something that makes you unhappy, the feeling worsens when you look around and notice other people enjoying themselves. To console yourself, you tell yourself that same line.

You’re suffering now so that you can have a better future down the road. Meanwhile, others who aren’t suffering are going to have to pay the price later. It all evens out in the end.

The question is: Does it?

Why is suffering seen as a prized state of being? Is there something to be gained from pain?

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8 Reasons Why Smart, Hardworking People Don’t Reach Their Full Potential

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What does it mean to reach your potential?

We all have different definitions. For some, reaching their potential involves getting recognition for their work. For others, it means creating a balanced life where both work and personal life are equally satisfying.

And then there are others who wish to create something so great, so useful, that it gets used widely. They feel satisfied knowing they’re making the world a better place.

The equation seems simple. Work smart, work hard, and you’ll get what you want. When we see someone fall short of expectations, we assume they either didn’t try hard enough or made poor decisions.

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Adversity Reveals Your True Character

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There is a well-known fable from Aesop concerning an ant and a grasshopper. You may have heard of it:

One fine summer day, a grasshopper was hopping about, happily chirping along without a care in the world. An ant passed by, bearing a large ear of corn to its nest.

As the grasshopper continued singing and dancing, it watched the ant scurry back and forth, carrying large burdens on its back. The grasshopper couldn’t understand why the ant would toil on such a beautiful day.

The grasshopper teasingly asked the ant, “Why not come and sing with me, instead of working so hard?”

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Sylvester Stallone On Fighting for What You Want

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It was the early 70s, and things were looking bad for Sylvester Stallone.

Stallone was broke, out of work, and struggling. To make ends meet, he stole his wife’s jewelry and sold it. He soon found himself sleeping at the bus terminal in New York City for three weeks.

The worst was yet to happen.

Stallone realized he didn’t have enough money to feed his dog. Out of desperation, he took his beloved dog to the local liquor store and sold it to a stranger for 25 dollars. He walked away, crying.

How did things get so low?

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If You’re Not Successful By a Certain Age, Does That Mean You’ll Never Be Successful?

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Do humans have a sell-by date? Is there an age at we should give up?

At a certain point, we begin to shed expectations. We receive a few harsh life lessons, see our peers settling in, and receive critical feedback from friends and family. After feeling the squeeze of everyday pressures, we wonder if it’s time to start being realistic.

No more fun and games. No more daydreaming. We need to accept things as they are, like it or not.

If you’re thinking this way, there is an incredible essay that Oscar-winning director Ang Lee wrote in 2006 on his “never-ending dream”. Here is a translation of that essay:

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A Beginning is a Chance to Start Fresh

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I love beginnings.

Beginnings of what, you wonder? Of anything, really. The first day of school. The first day of a holiday. The first time trying something new.

When you first start out, there are all these different stimuli that hit you right away. You look around in wonder, soaking in everything. It’s as if the sun is just rising.

When you begin, all the doors are open. Infinite possibilities lie ahead. Your future is a blank slate, yet to be written.

Nervousness mixes in with excitement. You feel unfamiliarity, uncertainty, maybe even fear. These emotions combine to create a rush, a thrill from being someplace new.

We usually assume that experts are superior to novices, since they know better. And that’s usually true. But in some unexpected ways, a beginner can have hidden advantages over an expert.

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