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Sympatheia is defined as the largely interconnectedness between many things. It's an idea that all things are mutually woven together and therefore have an affinity for each other.

Marcus Aurelius talks about this in Meditations. He says that everything in the universe in interconnected and are interdependent. The result of one happenings will affect the another and vice versa.

He writes, "What’s bad for the hive is bad for the bee". What is bad for the world is bad for us and what is bad for us is bad for the world.

It's too easy to forget this yet it is very important to remember because it's worth remembering it.

"What stands in the way becomes the way" is a quote from ancient Greek philosophies which also means obstacles is the way.

Everybody wants more results, more success, and greater outcomes. But most people focus only on the output while ignoring the role of inputs, constraints, and variables. In reality, limitations are not always obstacles. Sometimes they force efficiency, creativity, and execution.

In engineering and business, systems are often judged by how much performance they can produce with limited resources, power, time, cost, or complexity. A well-designed system does not depend on ideal conditions. It performs effectively within constraints. Companies that survive long term are usually those that allocate resources efficiently rather than endlessly expanding them.

Doing more with less also changes mindset. Instead of waiting for the perfect tools, timing, or circumstances, we begin executing with what is already available. Constraints reduce excuses and force prioritization.

Many breakthroughs happen not because resources were unlimited, but because limitation forced people to think more clearly, simplify the process, and focus only on what truly matters.

Efficiency is often born from constraint rather than abundance.

Yes, everybody wants to have a time for entertainment and refreshment.

We all can’t focus on same thing everyday and night. We need a time to escape from the humdrum.

And we desperately need it…

Some of us need music, some need games, work-outs, marathon races, travel, chats or short naps.

Whatever the escapism is, it is necessary to perform our work on high level.

Everybody has the escapism and it’s okay to have on, but true purpose should not be forgotten.

"The secret of all victories lies in organizing the non-obvious."

Marcus Aurelius

Paul Tudor Jones, American billionaire hedge fund manager, the founder of Hedge fund, Tudor Investment Corporation, is known for building his fortune by making smart decisions.

In the year 1987, when the US market went down by 22% in a single day ( Largest single day crash in American History), he made  a return of 60% that month and 200% return that year. This legendary investor has an extraordinary resume with 28 consecutive wins ( 28 years without the losses).

His trading strategies is based on technical analysis, with a lot of emphasis on momentum indicators. Some of his investment advice are listed below:

1. Defense is  ten times more important that offense.
2. Risk control should be number one important focus.
3. Diversify, defend and stay in the game.
4. Always be with whatever the predominant trend is. ( 200-day Moving average strategy).
5. Five-to-One risk/reward strategy. Risk $1 to make $5.

This lessons from modern day Robin Hood is worth applying in portfolio.

"You must wait until the evening to enjoy the splendor of the day."

Sophocles

Founder and chief executive of The Vanguard Group, Jack Bogle, is considered as one of the greatest American investors. The ideal investment vehicle for Bogle was a low-cost index fund held over a period of a lifetime with dividends reinvested and purchased with dollar cost averaging.

The investing lessons from this great investor are highlighted below:

1. Pay attention to where your asset are invested.
2. Choose your asset allocation in accordance with your risk tolerance and your objectives.
3. Diversify (through low cost index funds)
4. Don't trade, don't do any thing; just stand there.
5. Avoid the distraction: Wallstreet news, New York times,....

'Wuwei", the term defined by Daoism, is the art of doing nothing. It is referred as inaction or non-action or an effortless action.

It sounds paradoxical until it's clear.

This means going with the flow or with the nature or with the Dao (the way). It is just like flowing like a water with no intention at all. Don't get this wrong, it does not mean doing nothing, it means following the Dao or the way.

In "Tao Te Ching" a Chinese classic text traditionally credited to the 6th-century BC sage Laozi, it is written:

When nothing is done, nothing is left undone

Wuwei is the Daoist way to achieve the Dao, yet the meaning of Dao can't be expressed in words or atleast if tried, it will lose its essence.

Individual’s spatial experiences are shaped by their culture, whether it be consciously or subconsciously. The idea that we all are joining colleges and universities to get education, good grades, with the goal of getting a job so that we can make our life better is a kind of culture we have been following for years. This is actually a global culture, and we, human beings, have been the greatest followers.

We have been so trained/brainwashed with it that we can’t even ignore it and become a rebel.

The idea of getting good grades to get a 9 to 5 job, or the idea of goal setting, or even the idea of capitalism is nothing more than the culture or beliefs we, humans, have been following. Though we may not realize it, it has been dictating us for years, and we all are the greatest example of it.

That does not mean culture is false or useless. I believe that the idea of believing in this culture, traditions, or beliefs is not because it is objectively true, but because believing in it enables us to cooperate effectively and forge a better society.

So the real task is not to reject culture blindly, but to become aware of its influence. Once we see how deeply it shapes us, we can begin to ask better questions. Which beliefs are truly ours? Which values have we examined? And which parts of the script are worth keeping, revising, or leaving behind? That awareness is the beginning of freedom.

Ray Dalio in his book “Principles- life and work” said that pain is a signal that you need to find a solution so that you can progress. Reflecting well while you are in pain gives us the most important lessons needed for your growth and progress.

Carl Jung once said,”Man need difficulties. They are necessary for health.” These difficulties generates pain which when reflected generates progress.

When you are not in pain, you won’t push your limit. No pushing your limit means not maximizing your potential. Not maximizing your potential means no progress. The most important thing here is the reflection, which is the lessons and the strength learned and gained during the pain.

So pain + reflection is always a progress

It's always good to start something new. There has been couple of things going in my head currently which I need to work on.

And I will have to make these things straight...

This is a promise to myself.