"If you don't control your mind, somenone else will" (John Allston)

 Hi Everyone!

Today I would like to concentrate on psychology. To be precise, I bring up the subject of manipulation and, obviously, brainwashing (also known as mind control). 

 (http://quotesgram.com/quotes-about-brainwashing/)

First of all, do you know what does manipulate mean? According to Cambridge Dictionaries Online, it stands for "control someone or something in a clever way so that they do what you want them to do" (http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english-polish/manipulate?q=manipulation). 
To my mind, this is a sophisticated concept which evokes a lot of negative and unpleasant associations. Manipulators are everywhere these days. There are not only people who  take up a senior positions but also men in the street. And what is really important in this stuff is that they have no scruples: other people have to dance to their tune. Nowadays, there are numerous trainings which allow us to learn how influence other people. In my point of view, it is worth devoting not only time but also effort to our family or leisure activities. 
What about brainwashing? This is a very widespread phenomenon: we have to deal with it in every area of life. What is this for? If we want to influence on someone's views or feelings we use one of brainwashing techniques. There are a large amount of possibilities, for example indignity, isolation or threats. One thing is certain: it is necessary to defend yourself from it. 

Something about soap operas

Hi Everyone!

How are you today? Unfortunately, I caught a cold and I have the snuffles. I should drink a cup of tea with ginger: it always helps get better.

Do you like spend your free time watching soap operas? These days a large number of series, TV shows and soap operas are available to stream. Due to really rapid development of technology you can watch TV on the Internet.

Recently I have read an article published in The Guardian entitled: "Soap operas: has the bubble burst?". According to the author, "Soaps have hardly been popular because they have their finger on the pulse of the nation. In their heyday, they were immersive experiences that took their own sweet time developing stories and characters, and thereby made themselves convincing and seductive to mass audiences" (http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2013/oct/01/soap-operas-has-the-bubble-burst). Do you agree?

(http://comm439fa10.csulb.wikispaces.net/Soap+Operas)

Nowadays, more and more people are watching soap operas habitually. I would like to know what is the trick that makes them so popular?

My friend told me that soap operas help chill out and stop thinking about how to solve some burning issue. I agree with her: watching soap operas, you have an opportunity to fill your mind with simple thoughts. As is known, soap operas are full of love interests and people identify with their favourite characters: quite often viewers dream that one day they would meet somebody like she or he.

In soap operas there are many ups and downs just like in our life. In my point if view, we not only long for some excitement but also desire to be like a film star. First and foremost, it is easier to mind other people's business.

Curiosity killed the cat?

Hi Everyone!

According to Oscar Wilde, “The public have an insatiable curiosity to know everything, except what is worth knowing". Do you agree?

I must admit that our life without curiosity would not be intriguing. It is worth pointing out that I have not noxious nosiness in mind. I know many people who have a lot of free time and, obviously, they are unable to put it to good use. As a result, they are bored to tears and in order to pass the time they like peeking from behind not only the door but also the window.

(http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3smc2o)

Do you know how one may arouse intense interest in something which is unknown? In my point of view, curiosity is, in other words, inquisitiveness and, above all, courage. Haruki Murakami in "The Wind-Up Bird Chronicle", one of my favorite books, writes:

“Curiosity can bring guts out of hiding at times, maybe even get them going. But curiosity usually evaporates. Gust have to go for the long haul. Curiosity's like a fun friend you can't really trust. It turns you on and then it leaves you to make it on your own - with whatever guts you can muster”.

I think that when we lose our natural curiosity for exploring the world and learning we divest ourselves of a crucial element. 

Is Christmas the best time of the year?

Hi Everyone!

How are you today? I must say that recently I have spent a lot of time with my family talking about different stuff and laughing my head off. In my point of view, family bonding time is enormously important for numerous reasons, for instance this is "a great way to model expected behaviors inside the family circle and with others in the community. Modeling expected behaviors is also a great way for the parents in the family to learn how to communicate to each other as well" (http://houston.cbslocal.com/2011/10/26/the-importance-of-family-bonding-time/). I recommend you to glance at this article, it seems to be very enlightening. 

Anyway, I would like to pose a question about disadvantages of Christmas. Do you agree that Christmas is the best time of the year? In my opinion, there are many inconveniences. One of the issues is certainly an abundance of food: we serve a large number of dishes and, what is worse, everything is really rich. Furthermore, Christmas preparations is a very time-consuming process which rests with women. Quite often this is a real grind but they want to cope with expectations. 

 (http://angryjogger.com/i-am-feeling-pretty-hopeless-at-the-minute.html)

I believe that it is worth pointing out that the Poles waste a lof of money buying misguided gifts which are too expensive. Why? We want to please not only our family but also circle of friends. We forget that a small present gives pleasure as well and does not cost too much. 
Anyway, Christmas (generally holidays) is necessary: this is a kind of a binder which unites people.

Is it worth eating chocolate?

Hi Everyone!

How are you today? Christmas is getting closer and closer and we have to run a lot of errands. It can be exhausting but at the end of the day, this is a splendid and enjoyable time for everyone. Do you agree with me? What leads you to Christmas? 

I don't want to write about a Christmas tree, gifts, carols... Everybody talks about this. Today I would like to touch on a slightly different issue, which is chocolate. Are you astonished? 

Do you think that eating chocolate is heathy? According to dailymail.co.uk, "Scientists have revealed that eating chocolate - in reasonable amounts - makes you feel emotionally better and so improves the smooth running of your body's endorphins. It even protects against heart disease" (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3728/Eating-chocolate-good-you.html).

For this reason, if you had a heart attack you should substitute one coffee cup for chocolate.

It is woth pointing out that these reasonable amounts do not convence me: I can not stop myself from eating more and more.

 (https://michigan.spoonuniversity.com/live/chocapocalypse-looming-chocolate-running-low/)

You know well that thanks to not only antioxidants but also other substances, chocolate prevents premature skin aging. That is why chocolate is widely used in the production of toiletiers and cosmetics. Furthermore, according to English specialists, eating chocolate has a beneficial effect on our mood. It also helps relieve stress and burn away tension. What conclusion would we draw from that? We should eat chocolate! :)

Why is fast-food so beloved?

Hi Everyone! 

How are you today? Have you already bought some gifts for your family? I am an enthusiastic advocate of practical Christmas presents. The reason is why I do not like storing unnecessary things. 

Today I would like to touch briefly on very interesting subject. Why is fast-food so beloved? Do you often eat in fast-food restaurants? What are the effects of fast-food on our health?

 (https://onmogul.com/articles/why-fast-food-is-ruining-america)

According to Dictionary.reference.com, we understand fast-food as something "that is prepared in quantity by a standardized method and can be dispensed quickly at inexpensive restaurants for eating there or elsewhere". (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fast-food)

In my point of view, there are several factors which influence on fast-food's popularity. One of the major is, as its name suggests, low preparation time. Thanks to new technology, you can not wait a long time for your meal. But a what price? 

It is worth pointing out that fast-food does not cost an arm and a leg. Nowadays more and more people are saving not only money but also time. Thanks to fast-food restaurant chains they can do it. Unfortunately, they forget about inevitable and disastrous consequences: obesity, heart disease and stroke... Furthermore, many children eat pizza or hamburgers daily. What about their healthy eating habits?

How to overcome laziness?

Hi Everyone!

Yesterday I woke up and what I saw out my window? All houses were plunged into darkness. Unfortunately, I had to wrap up warm and faced problems. In autumn and winter the bad weather discourages people from coming out. In my point of view, particulary in the evening, we perfer to call in on our friends rather than roam around the town. What is more, we need something which can help us to increase our interest and motivation. As for me, the weather makes me feel awfully lazy. Could you advise me on this matter? At first, the definition of laziness:

"It is a state of passivity and of letting things stay as they are". 

(http://www.successconsciousness.com/overcoming-laziness.htm)

(http://www.socialsmiling.com/1740_laziness-is-nothing-more-than-the-habit-of-resting-before-you-get-tired)

My friend (I can always rely on her) told me that I should start by making a list of all of my duties. Ok, if it helps me to achieve my goal I am ready for this. Then, she made me log out of Facebook. Why? According to experts, social networks absorb so much of our time and many people decide to delete their Facebook account. Another thing that distracts us is, obviously, a mobile phone. It is worth switching off our iphones and smartphones. In order to be more active and productive we have to clean our houses: in well-organized surroundings we stop feeling overwhelmed and... overworked :)