Category: General
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Experiencing prospect theory in real world
Prospect theory teaches us an interesting quirk about how our minds work. It says, we tend to feel the pain of losses more intensely than we feel the joy of gains. I first learnt about it in the book “Thinking Fast and Slow” by Daniel Kahneman and ever since I read about it, I have…
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How cooking is similar to writing code
Lately, I have been learning how to cook. While I am at it, I realize how very similar it is to my experience of writing code. The feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction I get when a snippet of code finally runs without errors is remarkably similar to the feeling of seeing a dish come together…
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From Landscape to Portrait: My shift from from Wide to Tall Photos
Back in 2007, when I got my first phone (Motorola L6i), I was a firm believer in one thing: photos should be taken in landscape mode. I just couldn’t stand photos taken in portrait orientation. How could anyone appreciate the beautiful sunset or a mountain range in a vertical or square photo? It always had…
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Celebrating Kojagiri Pournima
Kojagiri Pournima, also known as Sharad Pournima is a Hindu festival celebrated on the full moon night of Ashvin month (Sep-Oct). This festival is celebrated primarily to signify two things; Goddess Lakshmi Worship It is believed that Goddess Lakshmi descends to earth on this night and gives her blessings to those who stay awake and…
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Where do Indians invest?
It’s 2024 and with all the buzz around stock markets since 2020, Indians are still investing in their old favorites assets – real estate and gold. And you guessed it right, the third favorite asset of Indians is the one and only, the beloved, the indestructible, the grandpa-approved bank fixed deposit! Top Assets Asset Class…
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Detaching from the end goal and enjoying the process
Lately, I have been reading the Bhagavad Gita, and one of the most profound verses I came across is this (chapter 2 verse 47): कर्मण्येवाधिकारस्ते मा फलेषु कदाचन।मा कर्मफलहेतुर्भूर्मा ते सङ्गोऽस्त्वकर्मणि॥ What it means; You have the right to work but never to it’s fruits,Don’t let the fruits of work be your motive, nor let…
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Types of diversification in investing
Diversification is a fundamental risk management strategy in investing. It helps to minimize risk and optimize returns by spreading investments across various categories. Here’s a concise breakdown of the key types of diversification: 1. Sectors and Industries Investors can diversify their portfolio by investing in stock across various sectors like technology, finance, energy, consumer durables,…
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Stock market is a game of regret management
If there’s one thing that the stock market guarantees – it’s regret. Whether you’re rolling in profits or drowning in losses, you just cannot escape the feeling of regret. It’s like trying to avoid drama when watching reality TV shows – it’s impossible. If you want to survive in the stock market in a sustainable…
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Knowledge v/s Wisdom
I’ve always been fascinated by the idea of learning about new topics. The act of gaining knowledge brings me a deep sense of fulfilment, and it’s something I genuinely enjoy. As part of this process, I’ve developed a near-compulsive habit of taking notes on everything I learn. It not only serves as a future reference,…
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Navigating the 30s and realigning my goals
I am 32.5 years old as I write this and while I think of my 30s ahead, it hits me that I have already lived through 25% of this decade. The COVID pandemic seems to have fast-forwarded a couple of years from my perspective. It feels like I was just getting ready to step into…
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Guide: How to force logout all users from WordPress
If you’re a WordPress administrator and encounter a situation where you want to forcefully logout all users at once without having to ask them to do it manually, here’s how to do it. 4. Now replace the code block in wp-config.php file with the new one generated in step 3 and save the file. That’s…
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The biggest influences of my life: my father and my wife
As I look back on the journey of my life, I can’t help but reflect on the profound impact two pivotal figures have had on me: my father and my wife. Their influences have shaped my worldview, belief systems and values through distinct phases of my life. As I introspect these phases now, I gain…
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Remembering the 9/11 attacks after 23 years
It’s the 11th of September today and it marks the 23rd anniversary of the devastating attacks on the Twin Towers in New York City. It’s a moment that now feels so distant yet so vivid in my memories. It’s hard to believe that nearly a quarter-century has passed since that fateful day. In 2001, when…
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How is the US president elected? A 5 step process
Yesterday, I watched the 2024 US presidential debate live on TV. It was a dramatic face-off between Republican candidate Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. It was a 2 hour show and both candidates were asked to present their point of views and opinions on various important subjects like state of economy, inflation, abortion…
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Embracing the cognitive dissonance in your mind
I know the title might seem a bit intense, so let me put it in simpler terms. Cognitive dissonance is nothing but the exact feeling you experience when you are torn between what you know you should do and what you actually end up doing. Let me give you a few examples to illustrate this:…
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Negativity comes naturally, being positive requires effort
Let’s do a simple thought experiment. Imagine looking at a bowl full of chocolates. The sight alone is enough to make your mouth water. You can almost taste its sweetness and creamy texture as it melts on your tongue. It’s tempting, isn’t it? The thought of eating it makes you happy. Now, picture a small…
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Learning to swim – a long cherished dream
At 32, I am finally learning how to swim. While it might seem like I am a bit late to the game, but it’s something that I have always wanted to learn. As the saying goes – better late than never. What makes this experience even more special is that my wife has been my…
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Writing makes you think deeper
When I sit down to write, I often find myself lost in the vast universe of my thoughts. It’s kind of a cognitive exercise – one that gives me mental clarity. Writing helps me to think deeper about something that I really care about and that gives me a better understanding of myself. Writing forces…
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Do what makes you happy without worrying about its purpose
When I was young, I often wondered what is the purpose of making my bed every morning when I knew it’s going to be messed up again at night. It felt like a pointless ritual with no reason or purpose, yet my parents insisted on doing it. The exact same thought crossed my mind when…
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Trading Psychology: Trying to control your emotions is a futile exercise
Fear and greed are the core emotions that drive the stock market. These emotions are hardwired into our brains and it’s impossible to control them. Over more than a decade of my trading experience, I have always tried to control my emotions while trading. I always believed that the key to successful trading is the…