Life Skills blog is 'Celebrating 100th Article':

Today the ‘Life Skills’ blog is celebrating 100^th article of its blog. The Life Skills (LS) blog started in the year 2013 to educate people about life skills and its importance. This blog contains articles on various topics touching upon Life skills. Some articles have snippets (Headlines), which gives you hint about entire article, and then you can decide to read the entire article.

Life skills are a set of human skills acquired via direct experience, (and also through training) that are used to handle problems and questions commonly encountered in daily human life.

When we were in primary school we dealt with numeracy skills (numerals, ratios, formulas), literary skills (Reading, writing, and comprehension). When we went on to our higher classes most of us started memorizing the concepts and then writing back the same in the exams and securing good marks. Paulo Freire referred to this kind of education system as ‘Banking model of education’. The name refers to the metaphor of students as containers into which educators must put knowledge. Freire argued that this model reinforces a lack of critical thinking and knowledge ownership in students, which in turn reinforces oppression in contrast to Freire's understanding of knowledge as the result of a human, creative process.

The Life-skills framed by WHO (World Health Organisation) recommend four topics which revolve around a thinking, analyzing and decision-making practices. And which are qualities needed lifelong, They are,

Critical thinking,

Creative thinking,

Decision making, and

Problem solving

Critical thinking helps us to involve with the topic deeply. And think systematically.

Creative thinking helps us to think unique and also come up with alternative solutions to the problems.

Decision making helps us to evaluate various options and opinions while making a decision.

Problem-solving will help us to adopt a systematic and informed way to solve a problem.

One can get trained on skills, and when a person has to be master of the skills he has to practice it, very practically.

Next, when we move to the personal and interpersonal sphere of life, we need a lot of personality traits and skills to be happy and successful in life. The skills to understand why are we thinking the way we are thinking. What are my thoughts and actions telling about me; How happy people are around because of me; how do I perceive people and so on. To cater to these questions in life, the Life-skills has five segments.

Self-Awareness

Empathy

Interpersonal Relations

Coping with stress

Coping with emotion

Self-Awareness is being aware of who we are. Having a clear perception of your personality, including strengths, weaknesses, thoughts, beliefs, motivation, and emotions.

Empathy is awareness of the feelings and emotions of other people. It is the experience of understanding another person's condition from their perspective. You place yourself in their shoes and feel what they are feeling.

Interpersonal Relations refers to the bond between two or more people. Asking for pardon and Pardoning others before they seek for it, is one of the greatest qualities.

Coping with stress, stress is a many-faceted process that occurs in reaction to events or situations in our environment. Different people have a different reaction to the same event. Coping with stress refers to how people manage the situation to protect themselves from ills of stress.

Coping with emotion, Emotions are generated unconsciously. Usually, they are autonomous bodily responses to certain external or internal events. Coping with emotions means recognizing emotions in ourselves and others and how emotions influence behavior. Being able to respond to emotions appropriately is important because intense emotions (like anger or sorrow) can have negative effects on our health if we do not react appropriately.

The above skills help us to go towards a happy, fulfilling and balanced life. Life Skills help us to function as balanced individuals and to act as effective members of the society.

And lastly, Life skills also discusses the very important component i.e. ‘Communication’ which is helpful for success in both personal lives as well as professional life. Communication discusses critical skills such as, listening, speaking, reading and writing.

This ‘Life Skills’ blog has made an effort to collect research articles, expert talks, university publications and so on from multiple sources and make available on a dedicated blog.

Thank you all who have been reading the articles. We hope to bring even more interesting articles going further.

Thank you.

Maaz Mohammed A.Q

(Learning strategist @ Life Skills Express)

From the Ground Up: Why Teams Drive Success and Leaders Pave the Way:

- In the vibrant and often demanding landscape of the workplace, success isn't a solitary achievement. It's a collective effort, a finely tuned craft where each instrument plays a crucial role. And at the heart of this craft lies a fundamental truth: the team actually does the job. They are the engine room, the innovators, the problem-solvers who operate at the ground level, translating strategies into tangible results. We've all seen it – the late nights spent brainstorming solutions, the collaborative efforts to meet tight deadlines, the sheer ingenuity displayed when faced with unexpected challenges. This is where the real magic happens. Teams, empowered and given the space to operate, bring a unique blend of skills, perspectives, and creativity that is essential for navigating the complexities of the work. They understand the nuances, the local context, and can often devise solutions that a top-down approach might miss entirely. But where does leadership fit into this ...

Improving your perspective-taking skills can help you build stronger relationships:

- Ever notice how sometimes it feels like other people just don't get you? Or maybe you've had that feeling about someone else? A lot of this comes down to something called "perspective-taking"—basically, the ability to see things from someone else's point of view. It's like trying to walk in their shoes for a bit. But it turns out, this isn't always easy, and many of us struggle with it. So, why is it so hard to see things from another person's perspective, and what can we do about it? What is Perspective-taking: Perspective-taking is the ability to understand another person's thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It is an essential skill for building empathy, compassion, and understanding in our relationships. However, many people struggle with perspective-taking. There are several reasons why this might be the case. Why some people lack it: One reason is that people may be too focused on their own thoughts and feelings. When we are constan...

The key to success - Personal life, Professional life, balanced relationships and self-growth:

- Why do you think the 'relationships' are important for growth? Be it a personal life, or professional life. In this article, we are discussing this aspect in three parts. Firstly, the importance of personal life and interdependency: The second part of the discussion is how we can develop our professional life: The Third Part of the discussion is how a team can help each member’s growth: 1. The importance of personal life and interdependency: When we discuss ‘self-growth’, we also include discussions about balanced relationships. Relationship plays an important role in every area of life. At the workplace, we need to have a good bond with our colleagues. And in personal life, we need to have a bond with family members, relatives and friends. Yes, as humans we are always interdependent with each other, in every aspect of life. Thus it is important for us to understand where we stand in terms of this interdependence. Unless we are not related to something or someone, our ach...

Judging Others: (Poem)

- Judging Others: Sadly, we are always critiqued, By the people that we know. By title or occupation, And by the possessions that we show. We judge by skin colour, Or by awards received. By the denomination, And by what we believe. We're judged by what we spend, Or by what we give. We're judged by age and gender, And by where we live. We're judged by our past, And by our education, By the language that we speak, Or by our nation. We evaluate cosmetically. We judge both fat and small. We judge by ones appearance. Fact is, we judge it all! Some judge because they're paid to. Some judge intentionally. Some judge to build self worth, Some judge unwillingly. BEWARE, for there is only One, Who evaluates every stain and smudge. Good luck amateur critics of humans, When you face that Wise & Mighty Judge! Source: received through WhatsApp message

30 simple life skills for 30 days:

*How can I improve myself within a month?* This is a plan for 30 days. You can start practicing it from tomorrow. Follow one life skill per day as per the numbering 1-30 below. So if you follow order without miss, you will be able to do this whole exercise in a month. Many times we want to bring many habitual changes in us, but we fail to do it because of lack of initiative and many more reasons. Let us take this opportunity to imbibe this 30 better life skills in us. For better planning and implementation of this 30 skills. You should plan for the day one day prior. So that you can start your day afresh with a skill. *30 simple tasks for 30 days -:* *Day 1*. Greet people with smile. Life is short. Life is simple. Do not complicate it. Don’t forget to smile.. *Day 2*. 'Greet first'. Make an habit of, you greeting the person before he greets you 'Hi, Good morning'. *Day 3*. Start planning your day. It will take a few minutes but ...

We, the people who were born between 1940-1985 are the blessed ones. Our life is a living proof of simplicity and tranquillity:

- What a beautiful answer! Comparison between two "Generations" ....... Everyone must read 👌👌 A youngster asked his father: "How did you people live before with- No access to technology No aeroplanes No internet No computers No dramas No TVs No air cons No cars No mobile phones?" His Dad replied: "Just like how your generation lives today with - No prayers No compassion No honor No respect No character No shame No modesty No time planning No sports No reading" "We, the people that were born between 1940-1985 are the blessed ones. Our life is a living proof: 👉 While playing and riding bicycles, we never wore helmets. 👉 After school, we played until dusk. We never watched TV. 👉 We played with real friends, not internet friends. 👉 If we ever felt thirsty, we drank tap water not bottled water. 👉 We never got ill although we used to share the same glass of juice with four friends. 👉 We never gained weight although we used to eat a lot of rice ...

The concept of unique adaptability in elephants:

- Baby elephants can walk very shortly after birth. They are typically able to stand within 20 minutes and walk within an hour of being born. This is a survival mechanism, as it allows them to keep up with the herd, which is crucial for finding food and water and staying safe from predators. Here's a more detailed look: Standing: A newborn elephant calf can usually stand on its own within 20 minutes after birth. Walking: Within an hour, the calf will be able to walk, though it may be wobbly at first. Keeping Pace: After just a couple of days, the calf will be strong enough to keep up with the herd as they move and migrate. Survival Advantage: This ability to quickly walk is a crucial adaptation for survival in the wild. Tending to the Calf: The mother and other females in the herd will help the calf stand and nurse, guiding it and providing support until it can walk independently. Source: Gemini AI search

Quotes for life:

Welcome to Life Skills Express. Quotes for life- 1. Kindness is the language which the blind can see and the deaf can hear. - Mark Twain 2. Teaching is like selling goods, if students have not understood, then you have not sold your goods - John Dewey 3. 'Criticism tell me where I should improve, appreciation shuts my door for improvement' - MAQM 4. If you are skilling yourself because someone can employ you, then its slavery. - Gandhiji 5. 'In relationship every time you win an argument, actually you are losing'. - MAMMOTHS 6. In 2005 the VMware company executive's product was rejected by Dell. In 2015 Dell announced the biggest technology acquisition of EMC Company, and VMware was part of EMC. After the deal disclosure the same old executive had this to say; 'If you are an executive at any technology company, I hope the next time a young product manager from a startup comes knocking on your ...

What if we could learn to value the things we have, just as we did in those simpler times:

- The Sweet Taste of Nostalgia: When Ice Cream Was a Yearly Treat Do you remember a time when the simplest of pleasures held extraordinary value? When a single scoop of ice cream was a cherished event, not just a casual indulgence? I do. I remember a time when our small town boasted only one ice cream parlour, a magical place we visited perhaps once or twice a year. Those visits were etched in our memories. The anticipation, the sweet, creamy taste, the shared joy with family and friends – it wasn't just ice cream; it was a celebration. We savored every lick, every melting drop, because we knew it was a rare treat. We valued it because it wasn't readily available. Fast forward to today. Ice cream parlours dot every corner, and frozen treats are accessible at any hour, in any flavour imaginable. The same can be said for countless other things that were once considered special. We live in a world of abundance, where instant gratification is the norm. And yet, something has been ...

Is anybody happier because you passed his way?

- Is anybody happier because you passed his way? Does anyone remember that you spoke to him today? This day is almost over, and its toiling time is through; Is there anyone to utter now a kindly word of you? Did you give a cheerful greeting to the friend who came along? Or a churlish sort of "Howdy" and then vanish in the throng? Were you selfish pure and simple as you rushed along the way, Or is someone mighty grateful for a deed you did today? Can you say tonight, in parting with the day that's slipping fast, That you helped a single brother of the many that you passed? Is a single heart rejoicing over what you did or said; Does a man whose hopes were fading now with courage look ahead? Did you waste the day, or lose it, was it well or sorely spent? Did you leave a trail of kindness or a scar of discontent? Source: taken from Edgar Albert Guest poem. Reflection of above poem: "Is anybody happier because you passed his way?" is a po...

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