Basic 6 facts of Living

1. Money/wealth/possessions is not everything. {Have less and enjoy more} is better than {Have more and enjoy less of it}
2. The only opinion that matters is yours.
3. No one can tell you exactly how to live your life. It is your job.
4. Time is valuable. Life is too short to not believe in yourself.
5. Happiness cannot be bought or earned; it is the state of mind. One can get joy out of other people’s happiness. Giving happiness gets you happiness.
6. Life is complex and incredible. Forget the past, Live in present and do not worry about future.

12 Simple things any one can follow

1. Health is wealth. Drink more water. Eat regularly, and Eat what suits you. Eat what you can digest. Sleep well. Eat well.
2. Stretch regularly. Take a walk and avoid transport for short distances. Take the stairs. Do some physical work. Exercise your eyes.
3. Control your temper. YOU are responsible for your emotions. Lower your stress.
4. Find the right job for YOU (suiting your personality, skills and knowledge). Set achievable yet inspirational goals. Know and keep within your limits. Set measurable milestones. Plan and prioritize. Take action immediately after setting a goal. Make a sincere effort and commitment.
5. One can not succeed in everything. When some report success, we do not know how many times they have failed. Rejection is an illusion. Think of rejections as stepping stones. Failure is failing to act.
6. Begin each day with expectation. Daydream. Have faith in God or Creator or Nature, which will take care of all problems. There is some thing more powerful than us to solve our problems. We just have to do our part or our best, and leave the rest to almighty.
7. Relax and take rest breaks or power naps. Lack of sleep is disastrous to your health. Breathe more deeply. Celebrate more frequently.
8. Make life or every thing simple. Do not clutter with too many things or activities. Quality is more important than quantity.
9. Don't take anything seriously, as everything will change. The nature of the physical universe is change. Nothing remains the same; everything is, transitory. Whether you're celebrating or mourning or something in between, this, too, will pass.
10. Assume people have good intentions and most of the people are good. Avoid neagtive attitude or using negative words. Don't malice or gossip. Try to be fair and do not take sides. Don't try to win every argument. Try to appreciate other views. Develop a scientific temperament, meaning calling a rock a rock.
11. Every one is unique. Don't worry what others think about you. Stop comparing yourself to others. Unfortunately, we are compared and competed constantly. If we stick to same job, we are tagged to be complacent. If we don’t get big opportunities, we are incompetent. Unnecessary rat race. Compete with yourself and be agile, flexible and mobile.
12. Make peace with your past. Monitor your progress. Throw out things that aren't useful or beautiful. Look towards bright future.

Work-Hobbies-Service Balance

Treat hobbies and service as "non-negotiable" appointments. Start with small, manageable activities and build up slowly. Use Small Time Segments if large blocks of time are unavailable. Hobbies and service provide necessary mental breaks that reduce stress levels and improve overall well-being.

Ikigai is the Japanese Secret to a Joyful and Purposeful Life by balancing four pillars: 1 what you love (passion); 2 what you are good at (vocation); 3 what the world needs (mission); and 4 what you can be paid for (profession)

Positive Comparative Superlative

Equanimity in both praise and blame

1. Not being affected by others' positive or negative opinions is achieved by cultivating a strong internal sense of self-worth, setting firm boundaries, and recognizing that opinions are from the speaker's view point which can be biased.
2. Do not take any feed back personally. People often judge based on their own insecurities, jealousy, or limited perspectives. For some, our actions look great and vice versa.
3. Filter Constructive vs. Destructive Criticism and judge/decide yourselves.
4. Just as negativity can make one feel inferior, excessive praise can create a dependency on validation.
5. Receiving praise is an important part of boosting their self esteem, Do not fall for praises, as they are often flattering, manipulative, or fleeting, used to disarm you or gain a hidden advantage.
6. You cannot please everyone or get 100% support from your group. Even great or perfect leaders donot get 100% approval rating.
7. Don't Ask Everyone: Only seek advice from a trusted and small close circle of people.

Hero worship

Appearances can deceive

Song: minor jolly money purse gaali
மைனர் லைஃப் ரொம்ப ஜாலி, மானம் மணிபர்ஸ் ரெண்டும் காலி
ஊரைச் சுத்துவதே ஜோலி எந்நாளுமே
மைனர் லைஃப் ரொம்ப ஜாலி: பொறுப்பின்றிச் சுற்றித் திரியும் வாழ்க்கை மிகவும் மகிழ்ச்சியானது.
A life of irresponsibility is very happy. There is no money in the hand (empty Money purse), no honor. This proverb that mocks the poverty caused by luxurious surroundings, false honor and waste of money

There is an Tamil proverb, with many versions
போன மைனர் மச்சான், வந்தான் திரும்பி கோமணத்தோட.
Went to achieve something, but returned completely destitute or empty-handed. At the end, achieved nothing, but lost everything.

Living beyond means

வரவு செலவுக்கு மேல் இருக்க வேண்டும்.கடன் வாங்கினாலும் பரவாயில்லை
Income should be more than expenses. It doesn't matter if you take a loan, for that.

House is big. But house loan is bigger than the house
This negative equity scenario is a high-risk financial position where one owe more on your home loan than the property's current market value. This means the house acts as a liability rather than an asset, as selling it would result in a loss, leaving you with debt and no ownership.
Wisdom is not getting into this situation

Contentment

East or West, home is best - a proverb meaning that your own home is the most comfortable and cherished place, regardless of where you travel.

"The grass is always greener on the other side" is an idiom meaning people often falsely believe others' lives, jobs, or situations are better than their own. The unknown or distant seems more appealing, even if it’s not true. It stems from the "focusing illusion," where we focus on one appealing aspect of a new situation while ignoring its drawbacks. It signifies a lack of appreciation for what one already has, often causing unnecessary envy and a constant desire for something "better". One should appreciate one's current circumstances rather than constantly looking for something better.

Managing Income with 5-accounts

1. Needs: Basic living (essential, non-negotiable costs).
2. Debts, Credit card, Dues
3. Future: Savings for known future expenses like insurance premiums, medical emergencies, dental etc
4. Luxury (wants): discretionary, non-essential items. Holidays, dining out, entertainment, hobbies
5. Charity, Society/others: Dedicated funds for donations or supporting relatives, needy and others.

Seven money rules for financial security (Jewish-inspired)

1. Live Below Your Means. Wealth is preserved not by how much you earn, but how wisely you spend. Modest living—even when wealthy—is seen as a sign of wisdom and strength.
2. Giving some for charity, society or community.
3. Diversify Your Investments in to property (house/land), in business, in cash and super annuation accounts. This ancient principle of diversification protects you from total loss.
4. Teach Financial Literacy including money management. Passing down financial knowledge to the next generation is seen as more valuable than inheritance alone.
5. Debt is not forbidden, but living on borrowed money recklessly is. The goal is to use debt only when it builds assets, not to fund lifestyle inflation.
6. Invest in Assets, Not Status. Jewish wisdom often warns against chasing prestige or appearances. Focus on building real value — businesses, skills, and income-generating investments.
7. Plan for the Future, Not Just Today. Saving, planning, and protecting wealth is part of honoring past efforts and securing future stability.