Nuggets For the Curious Child in You !
Cognitive Biases
#1 Dunning Kruger Effect
Less competent people have a tendency to believe that they know more than they actually do. Well-informed people usually have low confidence in their own views, because they know enough to realise how complicated the world is.
#2 Availability Cascade
Confusing the frequency of event with how
many times people have talked about it. Example: When Covid outbreak was declared, doctors were more likely to think about Covid first when patients present similar symptoms, while they could only have the flu.
#3 Satisficing Bias
Selecting the first finding or conclusion that appears “good enough.” Prematurely stopping the search for a cause when a seemingly satisfactory answer is found before sufficient information can be collected and proper analysis can be performed.
#4 Mood-Congruent Memory Bias
Tendency to recall information that fits our current mood or to interpret memories through that lens.
#5 Confirmation Bias
A tendency to find evidence to support what you already believe or to interpret the evidence as supporting what you already believe.
#6 Outcome Bias
Tendency to evaluate a choice on the basis of its outcome rather than on the basis of what information was available at the time.
#7 Attribution Error
Overemphasising on personality-based explanation instead of situational. Example: Thinking that a farmer managed to sell more wheat because he is very hard-working, and not because he had the opportunities, means and support to achieve such results.
#8 Clustering Illusion
Seeing patterns where there are not. The human brain excels at finding patterns and relationships but tends to overgeneralise. We usually confuse correlation for causation. While the two might be correlated, meaning they appear to follow the same path, they do not cause each other.
#9 Impact Bias
Overestimating the importance of an event because of its potential impact. Example: Just because a nuclear war between North Korea and another country might happen one day and lead to terrible human consequences, does not mean that we need to focus all our efforts on preparing for this possibility.
#10 False Consensus
Overestimation of consensus within the group and usually assuming that silence means agreement
#11 Groupthink
Choosing the option that the majority of the group prefers or ignoring conflicts within the group due to a desire for consensus.
#12 Salience or Vividness Bias
Focusing on the most easily recognisable data while ignoring other possibilities or potential alternative hypotheses
#13 Anchoring Bias
Tendency to focus too much on a single piece of information, rather than all available information. Anchoring usually happens on the first piece of information, the most recent information or the most emotional information you received
#14 Halo Effect
Tendency to allow the impression formed from a single trait to positively influence our judgement of other unrelated traits. Example- She looks pretty, so she must be kind
#15 Survivorship Bias
Focusing only on positive examples, causing us to misjudge a situation. Example: We might think that setting up a hygiene awareness project is easy because we have not heard of all those who failed.
#16 Hyperbolic Discounting
Having a stronger preference for more immediate payoffs relative to later payoffs
#17 Information Volume Bias
Seeking more information when it is not necessary. More information does not always mean better decisions.
#18 Pro-innovation Bias
Ignoring the limitations of innovation & overvaluing its usefulness.
#19 Publication Bias
Reporting news when there is none. After spending a considerable amount of time, energy or resources on a topic, it might be difficult to publicly announce that nothing relevant has been found.
#20 Irrational Escalation
Justifying increased time investment based on previous time investment. Making decisions and committing resources does not necessarily guarantee a reward and may produce a loss.
#21 Ostrich Effect
Ignoring dangerous or negative information. Example: Tsunami sirens supposed to warn the population and reach higher grounds are repeatedly ignored to past malfunctions and false alarms.
Philosophical Schools of Thought
#1 Absolutism
Refers to the idea that reality, truth or morality is absolute. They are applicable to everyone everywhere, irrespective of the context. An example of moral absolutism: “No matter what, hanging someone to death is wrong”.
#2 Relativism
Refers to the idea that reality, truth or morality is relative. It depends on many factors like culture, situation, context, and frame of reference. An example of moral absolutism: “Hanging someone to death is justifiable, depends on the crime committed.”
#3 Absurdism
It says the fact that humans are innately driven to look for meaning in an ultimately meaningless universe is absurd (illogical). It is absurd that we constantly make up stories out of our lives to give them meaning.
#4 Constructivism
A belief that concepts, ideas or categories are all human constructs. Line of Thought: Nationality is a human construct. God is human construct.
#5 Realism
Only that can be verified by experiments and exists in the real (observable) world is true. LoT: God doesnt exist because he cant be verified.
#6 Deontology
This strict moral philosophy belives that ethical behaviour means following rules.
#7 Determinism/Fatalism
Excessive belief in fate. It also says that there is no free-will or randomness in this world, and everything is pre- determined
#8 Dualism
A philosophical belief that mind & body are separate – one is material & other is transcendental.
#9 Hedonism / Epicureanism
Pleasure is and should be the only goal of life. For an hedonist, pleasure is reduction in pain or increment in joy.
#10 Empiricism
Knowledge can be acquired only by observations & experiences. Empiricists hold that ideas & knowledge develop in our mind as result of our sensory experiences
#11 Rationalism
Knowledge comes from logic & innate intuition. Rationalists hold that the best way to arrive at a certain knowledge is by using the mind’s rational abilities
#12 Stoicism
It believes that we are not disturbed by events, only how we respond to them. Stoics practice 4 virtues- practical wisdom, self restrain, justice & courage.
12 Ways Your Childhood Trauma Shows Up in Adulthood
#1 Adult who takes care of everyone but themselves:
A child who learned to sacrifice their own needs in order to survive.
#2 Adult who self-isolates when upset, hurt, or overwhelmed:
A child who had to deal with their problems all alone.
#3 Adult who struggles to say "no" and sets weak boundaries:
A child who learned that saying “no” led to rejection or punishment, making it safer to always please others.
#4 Adult who constantly seeks validation from others:
A child who only felt worthy when they met someone else’s expectations or earned approval.
#5 Adult who has difficulty trusting others:
A child who grew up in an environment where trust was consistently broken, making it hard to feel safe relying on anyone.
#6 Adult who feels unworthy of love and affection:
A child who internalized feelings of being “too much” or “not enough” due to caregivers’ emotional unavailability or criticism
#7 Adult who is hyper-independent and avoids asking for help:
A child who had to rely on themselves because support was inconsistent or unavailable.
#8 Adult who feels anxious and overwhelmed in safe situations:
A child who grew up in a chaotic or unpredictable environment, where peace felt temporary or like the calm before the storm.
#9 Adult who overachieves and feels like they're never enough:
A child who believed their value depended on performance, often receiving love and attention only when they excelled.
#10 Adult who fears abandonment and clings to unhealthy relationships:
A child who experienced unstable attachments, where love and connection were given and taken away unpredictably.
#11 Adult who shuts down during conflict or becomes excessively apologetic:
A child who learned that conflict often led to punishment or emotional withdrawal from caregivers, making it feel dangerous.
#12 Adult who is highly reactive and unable to regulate their emotions:
A child who grew up in a chronically unstable, neglectful, and chaotic environment often characterized by aggression.
14 Things Manipulators Often Say
#1 “So you don’t trust me?”
They use guilt to make you question yourself instead of their behavior, turning the focus away from their actions.
#2 “I see you want to start a fight.”
They reframe your valid concerns or boundaries as unnecessary conflict, discouraging you from speaking up.
#3 “Don’t be so dramatic.”
They minimize your emotions to make you feel ashamed for expressing yourself.
#4 “You made me do it.”
They shift blame onto you for their behavior, making you feel responsible for their actions.
#5 “Who do you think you are?”
They question your right to assert yourself, making you doubt your own authority or worth.
#6 “You’re just being too sensitive; it’s not a big deal.”
They dismiss your feelings to invalidate your experiences and make you second-guess your reactions.
#7 “If you really loved me, you’d do this for me.”
They manipulate your emotions, using love or loyalty as leverage to control your actions.
#8 “Everyone else agrees with me; maybe you’re the problem.”
They use imaginary consensus to isolate you and make you feel like the odd one out.
#9 “I guess I can’t do anything right for you.”
They deflect criticism by making themselves the victim, so you feel guilty for holding them accountable.
#10 “Fine, whatever. Do what you want, but don’t come crying to me later.”
They use passive-aggressive threats to make you question your decisions and align with their wishes.
#11 “I was only joking. You can’t even take a joke.”
They use humor as a shield to say hurtful things, invalidating your reaction when you call them out.
#12 “You’re overthinking everything again.”
They dismiss your concerns, making you feel like your intuition or reasoning is flawed.
#13 "I already said I’m sorry; what more do you want from me?"
They act as if one apology erases all hurt, avoiding deeper accountability or meaningful change.
#14 “After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you treat me?”
They play the victim, creating guilt so you feel indebted to them and overlook their behavior.
Paradoxes of Life
#1 The Growth Paradox
Growth takes a much longer time coming than you think and then it happens much faster than you would have ever thought.
Growth happens slowly, but then suddenly.
#2 The Persuasion Paradox
The most persuasive people don’t argue-they observe, listen, and ask questions.
Argue less, persuade more.
#3 Absurdism
You have to put in more effort to make something appear effortless.
Effortless, elegant performances are often the result of a large volume of effortful, gritty practice. Simple is not simple.
#4 The Wisdom Paradox
“The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” – Albert Einstein. The more you learn, the more you are exposed to the immense unknown.
This should be empowering, not frightening.
#5 The Productivity Paradox
Work longer, get less done.
Parkinson’s Law says that work expands to fill the time available for its completion. When you establish fixed hours to your work, you find
unproductive ways to fill. Work like a lion instead-sprint, rest, repeat
#6 The Speed Paradox
You have to slow down to speed up.
Slowing down gives you the time to be deliberate with your actions. You can focus, gather energy, and deploy your resources more efficiently. It allows you to focus on leverage and ROI, not effort.
#7 The News Paradox
The more news you consume, the less well informed you are.
The Nassim Taleb noise bottleneck: More data leads to a higher noise-to-signal ratio, so you end up knowing less about what is actually going on.
#8 The Failure Paradox
You have to fail more to succeed more.
Our greatest moments of growth often stem directly from our greatest failures. Don’t fear failure, just learn to fail smart and fast. Getting punched in the face builds a strong jaw.
#9 The Shrinking Paradox
In order to grow, sometimes you need to shrink.
Shedding deadweight may feel like a step back, but it is a necessity for long-term growth. One step back, two steps forward is a recipe for consistent, long-term success
#10 The Death Paradox
Know your death in order to truly live your life.
Memento Mori is a Stoic reminder of the certainty and inescapability of death. It is not intended to be morbid; rather, to clarify illuminate, and inspire. Death is inevitable. Live while you’re alive.
#11 The Say No Paradox
Take on less, accomplish more.
Success doesn’t come from taking on everything that comes your way. It comes from focus-deep focus on the tasks that really matter. Say yes to what matters, say no to what doesn’t. Protect your time as a gift to be cherished
#12 The Talking Paradox
Talk less to be heard more.
“We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak.” – Epictetus. If you want your words and ideas to be heard, start by talking less and listening more. You’ll find more power in your words.
#13 The Connectedness Paradox
More connectedness, less connected.
We’re constantly connected, bombarded by
notifications and dopamine hits. But while we have more connectedness, we feel less connected. Put down the phone. Look someone in the eye. Have a conversation.
#14 The Taleb Surgeon Paradox
Looking the part is sometimes the worst indicator of competency.
The one who doesn’t look the part has had to
overcome much more to achieve its status than the one from central casting. If forced to choose, choose the one that doesn’t look the part.
#15 The Looking Paradox
You may have to stop looking in order to find what you are looking for.
Have you noticed that when you are looking for something, you rarely find it? Stop looking-what you’re looking for may just find you. Applies to love, business, investing, or life..
45 Emotions You Felt, But Couldn't Explain
#1 Liberosis
The desire to care less about things
#2 Avenoir
The desire that memory could flow backwards.
#3 Anemoia
Nostalgia for a time you’ve never known.
#4 Mal de Coucou
A phenomenon in which you have an active social life but very few close friends
#5 Lachesism
The desire to be struck by disaster — to survive a plane crash, or to lose everything in a fire.
#6 Kairosclerosis
The moment you realize that you’re currently happy—consciously trying to savour the feeling
#7 Jouska
A hypothetical conversation that you compulsively play out in your head – a crisp analysis, a devastating comeback.
#8 Vemödalen
The frustration of photographic something amazing when thousands of identical photos already exist – the same sunset.
#9 Altschmerz
Weariness with the same old issues that you’ve always had — the same boring flaws and anxieties that you’ve been gnawing on for years.
#10 Fata Organa
A flash of real emotion glimpsed in someone sitting across the room, idly locked in the middle of some group conversation, their eyes glinting with vulnerability or quiet anticipation or cosmic boredom
#11 Ambedo
A kind of melancholic trance in which you become completely absorbed in vivid sensory details—raindrops skittering down a window, tall trees leaning in the wind, clouds of cream swirling in your coffee.
#12 Rückkehrunruhe
The feeling of returning home after an immersive trip only to find it fading rapidly from your awareness—to the extent you have to keep reminding yourself that it happened at all, even though it felt so vivid just days ago.
#13 Hanker Sore
Finding a person so attractive it actually kind of pisses you off.
#14 Sonder
The realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own
#15 Onism
The frustration of being stuck in just one body, that inhabits only one place at a time
#16 Opia
The ambiguous intensity of Looking someone in the eye, which can feel simultaneously invasive and vulnerable.
#17 Énouement
The bittersweetness of having arrived in the future, seeing how things turn out, but not being able to tell your past self.
#18 Mauerbauertraurigkeit
The inexplicable urge to push people away, even close friends who you really like.
#19 Exulansis
The tendency to give up trying to talk about an experience because people are unable to relate to it.
#20 Nodus Tollens
The realization that the plot of your life doesn’t make sense to you anymore.
#21 Occhiolism
The awareness of the smallness of your perspective in the grandness of the vast scope of the Universe
#22 Gnossienne
A moment of awareness that someone you’ve known for years still has a private and mysterious inner life.
#23 Catoptric Tristesse
The sadness that you’ll never really know what other people think of you, whether good, bad or if at all.
#24 Mimeomia
The frustration of knowing how easily you fit into a stereotype, even if you never intended to, even if it’s unfair.
#25 Pâro
The feeling that no matter what you do is always somehow wrong.
#26 Anecdoche
A conversation in which everyone is talking, but nobody is listening
#27 Ellipsism
A sadness that you’ll never be able to know how history will turn out.
#28 Semaphorism
A conversational hint that you have something personal to say on the subject but don’t go any further—an emphatic nod.
#29 Nighthawk
A recurring thought that only seems to strike you late at night—an overdue task, a nagging guilt, a looming and shapeless future.
#30 Heartworm
A relationship or friendship that you can’t get out of your head, which you thought had faded long ago but is still somehow alive and unfinished
#31 Monachopsis
The subtle but persistent feeling of being out of place.
#32 Rubatosis
The unsettling awareness of your own heartbeat.
#33 Vellichor
The strange wistfulness (desire) of used bookshops.
#34 Kenopsia
The strange and lonely atmosphere of a place that is usually bustling with people but is now abandoned and quiet- a school hallway in the evening, an unlit office on a weekend
#17 Daguerreologue
An imaginary interview with an old photo of yourself, an enigmatic figure who still lives in the grainy and color-warped house you grew up in.
#36 Ecstatic Shock
The surge of energy upon catching a glance from someone you like—a thrill that starts in your stomach, arcs up through your lungs and flashes into a spontaneous smile
#37 Kuebiko
A state of exhaustion inspired by acts of senseless violence.
#38 Chrysalism
The amniotic calmness of being indoors during a thunderstorm.
#39 Adronitis
Frustration with how long it takes to get to know someone.
#40 Gheegle
The urge to pinch or squeeze something that is unbearably cute.
#41 Basorexia
The overwhelming desire to kiss.
#42 Cafune
Running your fingers through your lover’s hair.
#43 Collywobbles
Feeling butterflies in your stomach.
#44 Sarang
The feeling of wanting to be with someone until death.
#45 Hurkle-Durkle
To lounge in bed long after it’s time to get up.
Urdu Vocab
#1 इत्तिसाल
Contact, Connection
#2 साकित
Silence
#3 कश्मकश
Struggle, Dilemma
#4 ठहराव
Stability
#5 उम्मीद
Hope
#6 मुर्तसिम
One who sketches
#7 मुंसिफ
Judge
#8 आज़ार
Hardships
#9 अश्क
Tears
#10 उफूक
Horizon
#11 तिशनगी
Thirst
#12 रक्स
Dance
#13 सहर
Dawn
#14 कासिद
Messenger
#15 दरीचा
Window
#16 फलक
Sky
#17 पाजेब
Anklet
#18 राहगीर
Traveler
#19 अक्स
Reflection
#20 बर्क
Lightening
#21 गुल
Flower
#22 आतिश
Fire
#23 आबशार
Waterfall
#24 जवाज़
Justification
#25 ताहिर
Pure
#26 बेबाक
Bold, Fearless
#27 पैकान
Tip of an arrow
#28 रफ्ता रफ्ता
Gradually
#29 कुर्बत
Closeness, Intimacy
#30 तहलील
Dissolve
#31 रकम
Money, Amount
#32 खुर्शीद
Sun
#33 जुल्मत
Darkness
#34 इमकान
Possibility, Probability
#35 मसनूई
Artificial
#36 नदामत
Regret
Coffees
#1 Espresso
Coffee Powder + a little Water
#2 Flat White
Espresso + Milk
#3 Macchiato
Espresso + Milk Foam
#4 Americano
Coffee Powder + a lot of Water
#5 Latte
Espresso (25%) + Milk (50%) + Milk Foam (25%)
#6 Cappuccino
Espresso (34%) + Milk (33%) + Milk Foam (33%)
#7 Mocha
Espresso (30%) + Milk (30%) + Milk Foam (30%) + Chocolate Syrup (10%)
#8 Affogato
Espresso + Ice-cream
#9 Irish
Black coffee + Whiskey + Sugar + Whipped Cream
Razors
#1 Feynman Razor
Complexity and jargon are used to mask a lack of deep understanding. If you can’t explain it to a 5-year-old, you don’t really understand it . If someone uses a lot of complexity and jargon to explain something, they probably don’t understand it.
#2 Occam's Razor
When you’re weighing alternative explanations for something, the one with the fewest necessary assumptions should be chosen. Put simply, the simplest explanation is often the best one. Simple Assumptions > Complex Assumptions. Simple is beautiful.
#3 Arena Razor
When faced with two paths, choose the path that puts you in the arena. It’s easy to throw rocks from the sidelines. It’s scary and lonely in the arena—but it’s where growth happens. Once you’re in the arena, never take advice from people on the sidelines.
#4 Optimist Razor
When choosing who to spend time with, prioritize spending more time with optimists. Pessimists see closed doors. Optimists see open doors—and probably kick down the closed doors along the way. Remember: Pessimists sound smart, optimists get rich.
#5 Rooms Razor
If you have a choice between entering two rooms, choose the room where you’re more likely to be the dumbest one in the room. Once you’re in the room, talk less and listen more. Bad for your ego—great for your growth.
#6 Lion Razor
If you have the choice, always choose to sprint and then rest. Most people are not wired to work 9-5—long periods of steady, monotonous work. If your goal is to do inspired, creative work, you have to work like a lion. Sprint when inspired. Rest. Repeat.
#7 Hanlon's Razor
Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. In assessing someone’s actions, we shouldn’t assume negative intent if there’s a viable alternative explanation—different beliefs, lack of intelligence, incompetence, or ignorance.
#8 Gratitude Razor
When in doubt, choose to show MORE gratitude to the people who have mentored or supported you. Say thank you more. Tell someone you appreciate them. Not just on special occasions—every single day. Lean into gratitude daily and your life will improve.
#9 Luck Razor
When choosing between two paths, choose the path that has a larger luck surface area. Your actions put you in a position where luck is more likely to strike. It’s hard to get lucky watching TV at home—it’s easy to get lucky when you’re engaging and learning.