GIGO

In the late 1990’s, while conducting training workshops for teams from the IT industry, I learnt a great deal from them about using the computer and the internet. Additionally, I also learnt of the unravelling of their vocabulary of abbreviations. One such term was GIGO - Garbage In, Garbage Out!

The phrase was used to point out that computers mechanically process the most ridiculous of input data (garbage in) and produce nonsensical output (garbage out). The term was most popular in the early days of computing, but applies even more today, when even impressive computers spew out loads of erroneous information in a short time.

GIGO is also used to describe failures in human decision making due to faulty, incomplete, or imprecise data. We involve in a tendency to put excessive trust in information on the internet. If we allow ourselves to blindly accept unsubstantiated information, surely we will spew out similar nonsense. We need to apply our critical thinking at all times to be better at ensuring that we do not suffer the GIGO syndrome... or change the context to Good In, Good Out!

‘Garbage in, Garbage out’ is a regressive inclination...

Let’s BE BETTER at the critically thoughtful actions!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

LET GO!

A wise man shared a funny incident with his audience. Everyone almost split their sides with laughter. Strangely he repeated the joke to the sound of restrained mirth. He kept cracking the same joke again and again till there was no laughter in the crowd. Then, with a smile he queried, ‘when you cannot laugh at the same joke over and over again, why do you keep crying over the same thing again and again?’

The above anecdote came to me through e-mail. Surely, we hold on too much to the negative incidents in our life. Even when the wound has healed, we still carry the pain. Life moves on but often we languish in travails gone by. We keep crying over the same thing again and again.

We need to draw inspiration from little children. They can laugh at the same joke again, yet they forget the unpleasant in a jiffy. But as we grow older we begin to let go of the joys and hold on to the sorrows. The past sadness is allowed to sour up the possibilities in the present and the opportunities in the tomorrows to come.

After all, it is said so well that it is futile to cry over spilt milk. It is best to let go of the past and the moments old. We need to shrug off the grip of discouragement that comes from being burdened by a bad experience. We must be better at celebrating the affirmative and overcoming the negative.

Let go of the sadness of moments old...
BE BETTER at casting a positive mould!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

LET EAT!

‘Do not force feed, let the person freely eat’ - Pedro

In my tribe of trainers, traditional techniques employ the revealing theory which is often followed by justifications to underline the importance and relevance of the revealed information. However it is pertinent to note that most effective method that meshes better with how the brain works and assimilates information, is to introduce information through what is described as the EAT theory.

The acronym EAT refers to the three-stepped formula of Experience, Awareness and Theory. The approach starts with the learner going through an actual experience or sharing learnings from an earlier experience. The second step includes debriefing and discussion to bring about an Awareness of what they experienced. Lastly to tie up loose ends, the trainer confirms the Theory is confirmed in its entirety.

The reverse process singularly focuses only on explaining the theory. Information is passed on but the probability of real transfer of knowledge is at a huge disadvantage. After all, all information that is not understood by the recipient is in vain. On the other hand, experiential learning draws its vision from the maxim that ‘lessons are not meant to be taught… they are meant to be learnt.’

The same principle is applicable to teachers and other educators as well. In fact, it is all about freeing the learners’ mind and helping it embark on a dynamic journey of observation, thinking and interaction. Surely we can be better off at facilitating learning if we allowing learners to EAT with an open mind!

Why force feed and fetter learners’ feet...
BE BETTER at letting them freely EAT!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

FACE IT!

Every time when we look at ourselves in the mirror, what do we see? Surely we see what we choose to be. If we see a glowing or a glum image it just reflects our dominant emotion at that time. It also mirrors possibilities of positive transformations in our thoughts.

Surely what matters is not what we face but how we face it! For instance, a bald person may go beyond acceptance of the situation to a confidence level that transforms it into a style statement. On the other hand, we notice the pathetic distress of those who cannot face a declining hairline.

We need to focus on ‘what is’ rather than ‘what is not’. It is all about facing the outside reality with inner strength. And inner strength comes when we take ownership of our lives, of what we are and of what we have. But first, we must face it by unlearning negative perceptions of what is good and what is bad.

Transformations best happen inside out. Worries and fears disappear when we face any situation with grit. We need to BE BETTER at looking beyond the surface to connect to the beauty of the inner self. It is pertinent to note that when we change our outlook to our own predicament; we see the outer world too, in positive light.

Let go of worrisome fears, just face it...
Let’s BE BETTER at ownership of grit!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

BLACK SPOT

Yesterday, I was in Mumbai to conducting an unlearning workshop titled ‘Hum Tum’. It is a Hindi version of my workshop on relationships – Me & You. Most of the members of the host organisation, Shree Jhab Jain Parishad, came along with their wives. Hence the thrust was on the most intimate of relationships – the one with the spouse.

One of the points that came up for discussion was the general reluctance of voicing appreciation towards spouses. This was in sharp contrast to the practice of sharing criticism. For instance, we make a fuss over food that is saltless or too salty. Yet when faultless, we may not state it to be so.

The founder president, Khimraj Jain shared an anecdote. A husband found a black spot in his cup of kheer. Thinking it to be a dead ant, he scooped it out with a spoon onto another cup. He kept finding more black spots and repeated his activity until the cup was empty. He told his wife that the kheer was full of dead ants. His wife calmly pointed that there was a black spot on his spectacles and none in the kheer!

Appreciation and criticism are eventually in the eyes, ears and minds of the beholder. Surely, all of us need to be better in our consistency and sensitivity in ensuring a sensitive response to every stimulus in a relationship. It is important to respond, but it most important to repond fairly... all the time!

Clean the black spot off your viewing glass
and BE BETTER at responding without fuss!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

FRAGILITY

A disciple once asked his Zen master about why the Japanese made their teacups so delicate that they broke easily. The master replied, ‘the teacups are not too delicate; but you need to be better at handling them. You must adjust yourself to the environment and not vice versa.’

So often, when we are clumsy and end up breaking something, we affix onus on its fragility. But it is pertinent to note that things don’t break due to their fragility alone, rather they break due to our own inability to match up to the delicate realities of the situation. The prime reason is the careless approach that arises out of an insensitive outlook based on a changing perception of the situation.

Consider the example of parents who may show great patience with a toddler, yet they may not display the same endurance with a grown up child. This is due to the perception that the older person has outgrown susceptibility to fragility. Human beings are known to retain their tenderness beyond childhood, right up to old age and surely they merit the same sensitive approach.

Hence, whether it is persons, situations or things, we need to be better in our attitudes and approaches in first recognising the aspects of fragility and then responding with tender and sturdy sensitivity. After all, most things that are delicate cannot be put together if broken. In more ways than one, the future of fragile things, situations and relationships lies only in our hands!

To BE BETTER at handling fragility...
Remember it starts and ends with me!

- Pravin K. Sabnis

BIGOTRY

‘Adgula Madgula’ was the closing film at the Marathi film fest held last weekend in Goa. The title refers to a traditional lullaby and obviously the film is about a baby. The first part shows a quixotic but well knit family awaiting the birth of a baby. The second part shows their stunned reactions when they discover the baby is dark skinned, unlike anyone in their families. They shun the one who they so eagerly awaited!

The story brings to the fore the irony of racism. We Indians, who suffer racist attacks elsewhere, are quite often full of ridiculous bias towards dark skinned people. Bigotry is the bane of humanism and yet it is so prevalent due to the constant social stereotyping of persons based on colour, religion, language and other irrelevant factors.

Abraham Heschel referred to racism as the maximum of hatred for the minimum of reason. We have to examine whether we harbour such irrational instincts of hate. It is not enough to argue that our prejudice does not result in the outright rejection of human beings. Luke warm acceptance is more bewildering, like Martin Luther King said.

The test of our humaneness is the character and the consistency in our response to others. To be better human beings we must unlearn the negative conditioning of chauvinistic bigotry. It is not enough to declare our open mindedness; our every action should move beyond intolerance and accept the true spirit of humanism, without a trace of discrimination.

It is only humanism that will set us free
Let’s BE BETTER at shunning bigotry...

- Pravin K. Sabnis