Have been watching way too many Korean Variety Shows

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so this new genre is quite the change I need! Watch if you are free! Highly recommended! :)
Changing Education Paradigms

The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us


The Secret Powers of Time by Philip Zimbardo

Language as a Window into Human Nature (Recommended by my Prof!)

The tyranny of thanks by Mark Vernon
Excerpt:

Recall the last time a child – perhaps your niece or nephew, your son or daughter – said thank you to you. How delighted were you by their gratitude? How warm was the glow inside? And now think again.

What kind of pressure was on that child to be grateful at your largesse? Would they have received a metaphorical clip around the ear had they remained silent, or worse harrumphed?

Saying thanks is a deeply ambivalent task. Fay Weldon recognised as much when she noted: ‘My children are ungrateful: they don’t care. That is my great reward. They are free.’

But the compulsion to say thank you is increasing, thanks in part to self-help (and note the barb in that use of ‘thanks’). They’re called gratitude diaries. The idea is that you make a note of things that happened today for which you can be grateful. It might be help at the checkout, or a tasty sandwich at lunch. The advice is to recall them later and watch how the habit makes you more appreciative of things, and increases you happiness.

But I’m suspicious of this tyranny of thanks. For one thing, the advice is infantalizing: it’s the self-help equivalent of the parent who chastises: ‘Johnny, what do you say?’, ‘Jemma, what’s the magic word?’

For another, it might also nurture a habit of lying. The problem is that thanks cannot be reverse-engineered. True gratitude springs from within, it is not forced from without. To habitually offer thanks is as false as the call-centre operator’s, ‘Hello, how is your day?’ It’s a form of manipulation, turned in on yourself.

Your lack of gratitude might, in fact, be telling you something very important. It may express a restlessness with your life. It may capture the truth that the daily grind is grinding you down, not lifting you up. You may well do better to attend to that, rather than papering over the cracks with faux-cheerful appreciation. Keeping a gratitude diary may not lead to your happiness, but to the burial of your discontent.

So don’t say thanks unless you feel it. Instead, be true to yourself, listen to yourself. You may well discover something significant – something with more of a chance of making life better than the cheesy, uneasy word of thanks.:

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 this indifference in me is killing me from within.

What does it take to be a Champion?

From IntenseMuscle.com:

The 12 Traits of Champions:

(1) Champions are positive thinkers; they believe in themselves (and most importantly, God)

Undoubtedly the most important quality that all champions share is an unwavering belief that they will succeed. Champions always look for the good in every situation. No matter what obstacles they encounter, they always continue to think positive. Without confidence, faith in your abilities, and positive mental attitude, you've defeated yourself before you ever step onstage.

(2) Champions visualize their successes.

Champions understand the importance of positive mental imagery or visualization. Champion bodybuilders visualize exactly how they want their bodies to look, they see themselves standing onstage accepting the first place trophy, and they mentally rehearse every workout in vivid detail. They do this over and over in their minds hundreds or even thousands of times before it becomes physical reality.

(3) Champions surround themselves with positive people and avoid negative influences.

Champions keep themselves in a "positive shell" and do not associate with negative people, places, or things. Arnold Schwarzenegger put it this way: "I have nothing to do with negative relationships. I stay away from negative influences. I have no time for negative thinkers and pessimists. Such people will suck you dry until you have become as pessimistic as they are. Then you'll have not just one but two losers."

(4) Champions are goal setters.

Champions realize that if they don't know where they're going, that is exactly where they'll end up; nowhere! Champions consistently set long and short-term goals. From day to day workout goals to long term career objectives, champions have written out specific, measurable goals with a deadline.

(5) Champions have a burning desire to succeed.

Champions not only have goals, but they ardently desire them. Robert Collier, summed up the idea of desire beautifully in his 1926 self-help classic Secret of the Ages." He said, "Very few people know how to desire with sufficient intensity. They do not know what it is to feel and manifest that intense, eager, longing, craving, insistent, demanding, ravenous desire which is akin to the persistent, insistent, ardent, overwhelming desire of the drowning man for a breath of air, or a desert-lost man for a drink of water, or the famished man for bread and meat." Champions have burning desire. They want it and they want it badly.

(6) Champions are disciplined and consistent.

Champions live and breathe the bodybuilding lifestyle all year round. They are committed and disciplined in training and dietary practices. They know that there is no off-season and success does not come overnight. Champions never miss a scheduled workout and never miss a meal. Champion bodybuilders are probably the most dedicated athletes in any sport.

(7) Champions are persistent

Champions never, ever quit. Thomas Edison was the epitome of persistence: He conducted 10,000 experiments before finally finding a filament that would burn in the electric light bulb. Champions know that if they persist long enough, eventually they must succeed.

(8) Champions learn from their failures

Champions don't view losses as failures, they see them as learning experiences. When asked how it felt to fail 10,000 times, Thomas Edison replied, " I didn't fail, I learned 9,999 ways that wouldn't work." Champions know that they haven't failed until they quit; but once they quit, then they have failed. A champion finds a lesson in every apparent loss and finds ways to grow from it.

(9) Champions have incredible powers of focus and concentration

Champions set goals and then maintain a laser-like focus on them. They have the ability to always keep the long term objective in their sights while focusing 100% on what they are doing at the moment. If you watch a champion train you will notice that they are completely oblivious to their surroundings. 100% of their focus and concentration is on what they are doing. They almost appear to have slipped into a hypnosis-like trance. This peak physiological and psychological state has often been referred to as being in "the zone" or being in "flow." Champions can access this state instantly at will. When it comes time to train they turn everything else off and zero in on what they are doing.

(10) Champions have a deep love and boundless enthusiasm for the sport.

To a loser, training and dieting is work and drudgery. To a champion, training and dieting are a love, a joy, and a passion. Champions are enthusiastic about what they do; they can't wait to train each day. Motivational speaker Tom Hopkins once said, "Work is anything you're doing when you'd rather be doing something else." Champions are doing what they love, so to them it's not work at all, it's fun!

(11) Champions strive for constant and never ending improvement

Champions are never satisfied with the status quo; they never rest on their laurels. Champions aim for small improvements every day in every way. Champions are open-minded and are always looking for a better way to do things. Although champions are always striving for more, they also realize that success is a journey, so they enjoy each moment and savor every step along the way.

(12) Champions are hard workers; they are willing to go the extra mile

Positive thinking, goal setting, visualization, desire, persistence, and enthusiasm are vital, but without action and hard work, these traits are all worthless. Edison said, "Success is 98% perspiration and 2% inspiration." Champions are hard workers. Champions take consistent action and they are willing to do the things that the losers are not. Champions make themselves go to the gym when they don't feel like going. Champions stay on the bike another 15 minutes, even when they are exhausted. Champions do 5 extra reps after the losers have stopped. Champions are steadfast with their diets when the failures break down and cheat. Champions have the willingness to train through the pain barrier while the failures quit when it starts to hurt.

In short, champions go the extra mile.

From now on, I want to live a life of a champion.

Hello lj

I had 3 examinable modules this semester (AY10/11), starting off with my MA2311 (Techniques in Advanced Calculus), SN1101E (South Asia- People, Culture, Development) and finishing off on the 1 Dec with EL2202 (Sound System of English). Honestly, based on my own human efforts, I think I SEVERLY underperformed during the examinations for all of the above modules. Sometimes, I wondered if it was because I have not studied hard enough or put in enough effort, but I clearly remember going into the examination hall with a clear conscience that I have thoroughly revised my work. However, I believe that it is better like this (feeling severly inadequate and useless based on my own effort) because then, God's glory can be manifested even more greatly.

God always exceeds in His provisions for me.

Personally, I felt that having only 3 examinable modules was not such a good thing after all. Because of the extra time that I assumed I had, I took the liberty of enjoying myself over the weekend break and taking my own sweet time in getting down to revise my work. I hated how I was so relaxed when the rest are busy and losing their sleep over their revision. But eventually, I figured it was good to just rest in God's presence and He will meet all of my needs according to His riches in glory. :)

I think I have matured (I really hope I did) during this period. Instead of feeling bitter and regretful after each paper, I told myself that what really matters is not what I put on paper, or how I performed for that examination, but whether I have really gained or learnt anything from taking the modules.

I told myself it's a pity that I couldn't 'give' the module/lecturers/tutors as much as I have taken from it. For example, while studying for my SN1101E, I explored beyond the readings to get to know more in-depth the histories and situations in Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan and India. The module allowed me to see things in a wider perspective and now I have so much more interest and insights into the different religions (especially Hinduism) and political situations in South Asia. While in the past, such issues used to bother me or leave me indifferent, after taking the module, I realized that not every country should be judged with the same measurements and I must be careful in coming to conclusions about certain issues based on my own Asian/Christian ideals. However much I have learnt from this module, I regret not being able to show it to the lecturers in my answer script because I totally screwed it up.

I'm really thankful for my two non-examinable modules this semester too: EL3204 Discourse Structure and EL3208 Bilingualism. Both modules totally confirmed the reason why majoring in English is totally a correct choice for me. I relish all the times I could apply whatever I learnt from my English courses to my daily life and how I am now even more eager to learn about the English language from all the different aspects: psychologically, morphologically, phonologically, syntactically etc. Just thinking about it makes me excited for next sem!

I really love learning but I really detest taking examinations and the waiting and cramming part of it. It destroys and compromises my joy in learning and I really hope I won't be doing this to my future students ): A necessary evil? Sigh, I don't wish for grades and rankings to destroy all the happiness I got from learning and finally understanding the subject.

Anyway, I don't even know whether I am looking forward to the holidays because in fact, I don't think I have much time for myself: given the fact that half of my holiday time will be spent on camps/mission trip and the other half would be on IHG/IVP trainings and church dance preparations.

May God multiply my time (managing my time well) :D

I just realized that I could get a hangover from just SMELLING alcohol -.-

Anyway I woke up this morning feeling dazed, nursing a recurring headache since last night and feeling absolutely lethargic. I thought to myself: this must be a bad day.

It's amazing how God can turn your bad days into great days. How He can use your weaknesses to reveal His Glory and Strength :D

During our soccer match against the West Australian team this evening, I had a bad tackle and I felt my ankle gave way, it felt very loose and kinda hurt when I was down on the ground, so I was really scared. But my regenerative cells that God has blessed me with helped me to recover and now I feel perfectly fine :D

I received my Annotated Bibliography (EL3208) back and by God's grace, I obtained full credit for the 15% that it contributes to my final grade. Praise the Lord! :)

Just now I had Handball recre, and at 940pm I was prompted to get back to hall to do my EL3204 group project because consultation was tomorrow and I had to get it done by tonight. So as I was bathing, the weather changed drastically and it poured! I thank God that I didn't get caught in the rain :)

I can't wait to get this

Grape Sorbet ICF Signature Dance Pants

WHEEE I already placed an order through Simyee and I can't wait for them to arrive! WHEEEE!

(Edit under the cut: My EL3208 groupmates)
I just woke up from a dream that I never want to wake up from. Have you had such a dream before?
It was pure happiness. HAHAH. Or rather, I think this dream is a scary reflection of the extent of my Soshi addiction -.- It spells and warns me of how deep I've gone and signals for deliverance from it.

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Anyway, on a heavier note, I had this strange impulse to stop staying (either next sem or next year) in hall already. It's not that I just experienced anything bad or what, it's just that it suddenly dawned upon me that maybe I should spend more time with my family, get my discipline back in terms of academic studies...

I really hope to make the right and wise choice, but I know that it's going to be hard.

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Something that started my morning: really cool and great vocals. :D

SNSD's HOOT! YAYYYYYY!

Wow it's been long. I guess I always have this inertia: when I start something, I usually take very long to stop. And when I stop doing something, it's very hard for me to it up again.

I'm blogging again since whtchugodothat4 asked me to save this rotting lj.

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Hyoyeon's dancing is the best. :D
Okay time to get down to work. Project deadlines are up and coming T.T

Shall update about my past few months soon.