How I have grown
now vs a year ago
In what ways are you a different person from a year ago? In what ways are you the same?
But what defines me as a person? I think: my virtues, my beliefs, my personality and lastly, my physical attributes (roughly in that order of significance). So I have tried to include things from all of these aspects.
Different
- I've started taking more responsibilities and actually being more responsible.
- I've started to track different life metrics like focus, energy, sleep and decisions.
- My views on formal education have shifted from a "(in angry tone) Ughh! Why do we have to do it anyway?" to more Stoic “Alright, given the circumstances I live in, maybe this is one of the few choices that I have. Maybe I shouldn't fight it and instead try to factor it into my way of living."
- I've become more introspective. I try to use criticism and social cues as information to understand where my flaws lie and improve.
- I've started to focus on less things at a time. Underworking helps me create better things.
- I've much better systems now: SRS/Anki, habit stacks, learning systems, mental models, etc.
- I've started to balance Theory and Practice as much as I can.
- I'm trying to use rational methods like forecasting, probabilistic (Bayesian) thinking, etc. in daily life.
- I understand my dependency and my relationship with my family a little better. I recognise the shift in the power dynamics as I age with them. I am embracing this shift.
- I have a better understanding of who I am and who I want to be (a scholar, a builder and a person who improves everyday)
- My tech usage habits have changed drastically. I have adopted a digitally minimal (cf. Cal Newport) approach to tech.
Same
- My overall goal remains the same: to help people learn better and make better education systems.
- My favourite subject is still Math. And I still love teaching!
- I am still indecisive at times and often go through analysis paralysis (I am working on this.)
- I am almost at the same level in my guitar proficiency.
- I still love learning new stuff. My aspiration to become a polymath hasn't budged.
- I have almost the same physical stature; though I have improved my endurance and stamina a bit.
- I still believe that autodidactism and unschooling are much better than formal ways of schooling (note: I am not unschooled; bias?).
- I still believe that the Indian political system could use a significant revamp. Its current situation (which includes the government) is sort of Orwellian and quite a facade.