QUALITY OF LIFE - How to Enhance Your Quality of Life

From my “Philosophical Approach to Life” Archives - an updated version of some musings I wrote around 18 months ago, in July 2013, once more, for you to ponder on:

HOW TO ENHANCE YOUR QUALITY OF LIFE

Philosophical Ramblings of a Retired Mind

By

VIKRAM KARVE

PLANE OF LIVING versus STANDARD OF LIVING

Dear Reader, tell me, what is your plane of living ?

No - don’t get me wrong.

I am not asking you about your standard of living. 

I know you have a decent standard of living.

I am asking you about your plane of living.

Your “standard of living” depends of various material factors like how much money you earn and wealth you have, where you live, the possessions and comforts you have – your home, your car, the gadgets you possess, the number of servants in your house, the schools your kids go to, your clubs, your lifestyle, your consumption levels.

You know what I am talking about when I say “standard of living”.

However, “standard” of living alone will not guarantee you a good “quality of life”.

There is one more factor involved in determining your “quality of life”.

This factor is called: “plane of living”.

A good “standard of living” will give you physical comfort.

A high “plane of living” will give you intellectual, emotional and mental satisfaction. 

What is the meaning of “QUALITY OF LIFE”

“Quality of Life” comprises two aspects:

1. Standard of Living

2. Plane of Living

In a nutshell:

“quality of life” = “standard of living” + “plane of living”

So remember - increasing your “standard of living” alone will not improve your “quality of life” - you need to enhance your “plane of living” too.

Many people may have the same “standard of living” but only those who live on a “higher plane” truly understand and enjoy the “quality of life” 

I saw this in the Navy.

All officers had the same “standard of living”

But it was only a few who were enjoying a higher “quality of life” because they knew how to enhance their “plane of living”

It was also ironic that some officers who had been promoted to high rank had a lower “plane of living” than some passed-over officers who had mastered the art of living on a higher plane, and therefore these so-called “failures” were enjoying a better quality of life than the so-called “successful” officers.

PLANE OF LIVING

What is “plane of living”?

How do enhance your “plane of living”?

How do you live on a “higher plane”?

Think about it - close your eyes - reflect - figure it out for yourself.

Sure, I will discuss this soon in my blog, but I am sure you have got the drift and will enhance your “plane of living”.

Meanwhile remember the QUALITY OF LIFE formula:

QUALITY OF LIFE = STANDARD OF LIVING + PLANE OF LIVING

Wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

May you enjoy the best Quality of Life and a High Plane of Living in the New Year 2015.

VIKRAM KARVE

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Disclaimer:

All Stories in this Blog are a work of fiction. Events, Places, Settings and Incidents narrated in the stories are a figment of my imagination. The characters do not exist and are purely imaginary. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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First Posted by me Vikram Karve at 7/17/2013 02:57:00 PM at url: http://karvediat.blogspot.in/2013/07/plane-of-living.html

PARENTING - INCULCATING STATUS CONSCIOUS VALUES IN CHILDREN

MODERN PARENTING

INCULCATING STATUS CONSCIOUS VALUES IN CHILDREN

The values indicated by status-insecure parents are such that their children learn to put personal success and the acquisition of power above all else. 

They are taught to judge people for their usefulness rather than their likeableness. 

Their friends, and even future marriage partners, are selected and used in the service of personal advancement; love and affection take second place to knowing the right people. 

They are taught to eschew weakness and passivity, to respect authority, and to despise those who have not made the socio-economic grade. 

Success is equated with social esteem and material advantage, rather than with more spiritual values.

~ Norman F. Dixon

In the context of Modern Parenting, do you agree with Norman Dixon's quote ?

NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY

In his insightful memoirs, War As I Knew It, General George S. Patton, one of history's most charismatic, famous and successful generals, gifted us an priceless gem of his human resource management wisdom: “Never tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and they will surprise you with their ingenuity”.

Ever since I read this illuminating book more than thirty years ago, I have followed this adage with great success in my multifarious avatars as a Human Resource Manager, a Project Manager, a Design Engineer, a Teacher and a Mentor.

A few days ago, a young lady, Prachi A Deshmukh, a fresh engineering graduate, joined our department as a research fellow; and I gave her a book from my bookcase, told her to review it and email me her book review by the end of the day. [As per my style, I just curtly told her what to do, not how to do it].

When I opened my email early next morning, the book review was there, waiting for me, and yes, Prachi Deshmukh had indeed surprised me with her ingenuity. I am truly proud of my young colleague and mentee.

A delight to read, written in a refreshingly youthful vibrant style, breathtaking in its simplicity, I liked the book review so much that I am placing it below as it is, with minimal editing, for you to read. We look forward to your comments and feedback; do tell us if you enjoyed reading the review, and the book.

Name of the book: Nano: The Essentials – Understanding Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
Author: T. Pradeep
Publication: Tata McGraw-Hill, 2008
ISBN-13: 978-0-07-061788-9
ISBN-10: 0-07-061788-0

[Reviewed by Prachi A. Deshmukh]

At the root of every invention, there is a seed of a thought which was unbelievable at that time. Yesterday’s dream is today’s truth; yesterday’s imagination is today’s reality. Let us take an example of ATM. Today we use ATM as if its ‘Any Time Money’ machine; but if we had told about this to somebody in the last century, he might had thought that we have gone mad! The same thing happened in December 1959, when Richard Feynman gave an after dinner speech at the annual meeting of the ‘American Physical Society’. He took the audience in the amazing world of his imagination. He was telling about the future where everything will be so small that there will be machines smaller than the tip of a needle. People were laughing, enjoying his ideas but no one knew the real meaning of his words-“There is plenty of room at the bottom.” Feynman is now credited for his great foresight which made him the first prophet of nanotechnology.

21st century is the era of great revolution in technology. Information Technology, Bio Technology and Nano Technology are some of the great windows which have tremendous capabilities to change the world around us. Especially Nanotechnology is a promising field in the near future which will provide us with many breakthroughs in a wide range of applications. It has been predicted that by the year 2015 the market share of nanotechnology and nanoscience will be worth 350 billion dollars. This calls for new investments in human resource development. These people must have strong foundation to build strong building. For those who are interested in this new technology, the book ‘Nano: The Essentials’ will prove to be a true guide.

The author of this book- Prof. T. Pradeep is with the IIT – Madras [Chennai]. Being a professor, he has structured this book so nicely that the reader gets his concepts clear right from the beginning. Starting from the preface we get more and more interest in this amazing world of nanotechnology and nanoscience.

The content of the book is well organized into five parts. In the first introductory part the author takes us in the world of nanotechnology with its relation with the nature. This part is enriched with the details of the technological inventions of 20th and 21st century.

In second part, we move towards the experimental methods. The author introduces us with the different types of microscopies . The neat diagrams, graphs and pictures in this part make it easier to understand the different experimental methods.

In the third part, we enter into the world of fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, gas phase clusters, nanoshells etc. In this section also, author addresses us with his simple language. There are sufficient diagrams and graphs to understand the concept properly.

In fourth part we become familiar with nanobiology, nanosensors, nanomedicines , nanotribiology and molecular nanomachines.

Whenever some new technology comes into picture it’s the duty of every conscientious technologist to study the societal implications of it. In the fifth part we go through the relationship between nanotechnology and the society.

The most appreciable thing in this book is I think the ‘History of nanoscience and nanotechnology’ which tells us about all the important events in the development of Nanotechnology. Hats off to the author for this effort. The glossary of nanoterms at the end of this book summarizes all the important terms used throughout the book.

The author has given the references and additional related reading books at the end of every chapter for the keen readers to know more about the things.

In simple words, the book ‘Nano: The Essentials’ is really essential for those who are keen to know about nanotechnology and nanoscience . With his simple language the author has maintained the flow throughout the book. There are plenty of diagrams, graphs, tables and pictures which make the study more meaningful. If you are really serious about nanotechnology, then I will insist you to have a copy of this book. It’s easier for understanding if you have enough base of science and technology. I recommend this book to students, engineers, teachers and technologists who are willing to enter in this amazing world of nanotechnology and nanoscience.