Lost Moments

 Since it’s invention, photography, like any other form of art, sculpture, even architecture, express, explore and question ideas about relationships to a place or time that has significance to us.

There are many ways of depicting such relationships in a photography- from a single shot that can stand on its own yet suggesting a narrative that extends beyond the frame to a sequence of photographs that suggests a deeper psychological narrative.

Inspired by the topic “Constructing Narratives and Challenging Histories”, I would like to show an example of a narrative that I am working on currently, based on pictures, taken by myself back in 2015.

Having been living abroad for 20 years, I still cope with the feeling of guilt because of leaving my country, the feeling of missing my family and the feeling of detachment from my background and the feeling of lost moments. To overcome these feelings and accept them, I started to photograph all what was around me, when visiting Ukraine.

One of the photographs is a self portrait and suggests my inner state, a feeling, where I am facing the origin of my identity and reflecting upon the importance of the connection to own community and roots.

The second one is a representation of the community, a place and time to which I am seeking to connect. It’s an amusement park, to which I often came with my family. as a kid. That image is a representation of my childhood, my past, yet, it’s a timeless moment, to which we always want to come back.

By putting together these two images, I seek to construct a narrative, through which I explore and come closer to the distant surroundings and distant time, which sometimes, I feel lost for me because I am not there any longer physically.

I have taken the photographs back in 2015, but I back then I didn't have a clear understanding of meaning of these images. Not until I have taken the course in Seeing Through Photographs.

Only after learning how we understand the depth of our lives through the lens of photography, I know, these images are not only about the final pictures. I use the camera to create a connection to a place, which has significance to me.

Happy New Year! Did you miss me?

Hello there! It's been a while since my last post. I have been observed by my job, my hobbies, my family, home. I was doing a lot of photography for the last 2-3 years. And it's interesting that I did not feel the need to write my staff down, as I managed to express myself via photography. But now I got a little bit tired of constantly photographing my life, and, therefore, - here I am :) again, trying to create order of the mess in my head. Because I know for sure that writing as a very efficient way to do so. It not only creates order of my thought, but also helps to let the heavy staff go easy. As soon it's on the paper, i have more free space in my head.

Perfect and Honest?

The artificial cover-ups of our daily life have its own price. The price is authentic honesty. You can hide and yet, embrace your own honesty by any means. In this photo project, I play with the layers of honesty of people close to me, and not so close to me to express that honesty has higher worth than perfection.

The Rationalization of Happiness

“Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”

― Nathaniel Hawthorne

 

The New Path for Ukraine

Today (27.06.2014) Ukraine has signed the Association Agreement and the Final Act with the EU. In his speech before the signature, the President noted: "It is a symbol of fate and unbreakable will. It is a tribute to people who gave their lives and health to make this moment happen. And it is the strongest reminder that today's Europe is and must be about people's determination to live in a better and fairer world".

But my post is not about the Agreement, its economic benefits, neither it’s about the mess caused after Janukovitch ditched the agreement and fled the country. My post is about people and some significant changes in Ukraine, which are worth celebrating. The change, which finally comes from people’s hearts. It’s also about the path, Ukrainians have chosen if they are to unite Ukraine.

By Olena Denysyuk

When I was going to travel to Ukraine last month, my colleague seemed worried and asked me not to demonstrate naked in the streets, and not to shout out – “Putin hands off Ukraine”.  In their eyes they were right, when thinking that it was going to be an extreme vacation, having in mind the recent political and separatist movements in Ukraine.  

On top of that, I missed my flight. Should I have taken this, as a sign from  the top that I was meant to stay home? All worst case scenarios taken into consideration, the worst thing that might happen, could be that the airport was shut down. There were no worries, nor fears and 5 days later than planned I started to make my way to Ukraine, bearing in mind the jungle of news that have been broadcasted directly into my brain during the last couple of months.

I arrived safely, not demonstrating naked or shouting loudly “Putin off Ukraine”. Yet, there are some things to be celebrated, which I am going to write about.

The flight was boring but the landing was soft, after which I had to jump on top of the heads of the passengers to escape the long queue at the passport control, only to get surprised shortly after. Ukraine met us with a completely new airport.  People met us with smiles. There were no long queues, as there used to be. No shouting, nor elbow pushing. There was no bureaucratic inefficiency, as there also used to be. I felt a warm welcoming and optimism from the people, which was very difficult for me not to notice. For the first time, I thought, it was no longer an ex-Soviet country, characterized by disrespect for time, inefficiency and long queues, meaningless declaration fulfilling at arrival. The airport system did change. So do people. And unfortunately the prices too. And the worries got washed away.

My stay in Ukraine was everything but extreme, even when speaking Russian. On the contrary, I noticed a significant change- people had become more caring, compassionate and polite despite the pain they are going through these days.

3 years ago, these features were in deficit. Actually, my first return back home in 2002 was a more extreme vacation for me. Having lived in Denmark, I used to meet strangers on street with smiles; I was acclimated to European tolerance; or simple soft behaviors from people. Yet, back then people in Ukraine appeared more offensive, tougher in their behavior- which was noticeable to me only after having lived in Denmark for some time.  So apparently - with all respect to my nation- a little rude and clumsy way of communicating in Ukraine was part of the culture- shared with Russian. Therefore, people could appear intolerant, offensive, wild and severe for no reason.

My irritation towards this graceless way of communication rolled enormously with each visit. While in Denmark, being a country characterized by less turmoil, people appeared more wealthy, stable and calm and therefore smiling and polite as a consequence. In Ukraine, in turn, having experienced the collapse of communism and the cracks in EVERY slice of society, people get used to instability and chronic uncertainty towards the future. Not to forget to mention that there is corruption on all levels; businesses are short-sighed, and spotting the arbitrage profit is the main goal of existence. Also for many, speculation became the source of their livings and, therefore, people had literally to use theirs elbows to get things done.  The concept of sustainability and patience was meaningless, because it even didn’t exist in Ukraine. Hours and minutes were measured by days and weeks; the word “yes” was replaced by “no”; the negative attitude prevailed the positive.

So, communism collapsed, and the new system was being built. The implication of a liberal market economy was not known to people, or the government. Thus, for example, the process of rebuilding the system was mainly accompanied with privatization- when the collective ownership was transferred into private ownership. And new governmental structures were formed, that took care of different registrations, controls, supervisions and permissions. From that period, the corruption gained in speed and became a part of the restructuring and rebuilding. Corruption had also spread the seeds of inefficiency, long waiting times and self-interest rather than public spiritedness, while navigating through the jungle of bureaucracy. Using your elbows, short-circuiting the system, be first on a line was the only way to get things done.

And the feeling of chronic stress is barely associated with smiles and politeness, isn’t it? Even knowing that, with my every visit, I got angry with people. There were a few times, when I felt the urge to correct, for example, doctors’ behavior and telling that they should not be rude to people, because they are supposed to set the example of graciousness and politeness. How naive I was. Sometimes I managed to trigger some reflection, but other times, I received aggressive remarks in return, pointing to the fact, that they have to be “persuaded” (with money), if you are to be exposed to politeness. So economic prosperity, and politeness go hand-in-hand. The harsher the economic condition- the less polite and smiling strangers you will meet.  

Like in prehistoric times, people (Ukrainians) banded together to fell the forest, till the soil, harvest the crops, and protect the same from invaders and marauders. So should they had been banding together to fight the corruption and instability. Like the collective effort of living and working together as well as helping the weaker was the fundamental driving force for “prosperity” during the communism, so should the same have prevailed later on, even in higher grade after the collapse of the system. Simple courtesy should have been the glue, which banded people in difficult economic times.

So, inefficiency and corruption of the public sector and its long waiting times resulted in frustration and self-interest. From my own subjective point of view, this was the main factors blocking courtesy.

To be honest, all these years I was horrified by this implicit aggressiveness in people.

Yet, this year was different.

As the political tensions worsened and the threat of split in Ukraine became real, people have in return gained common feelings for the nation. The need to solve everyday problems in cramped and uncertain conditions helped people to consolidate their forces with the goal of e.g., fight corruption; help the sick and injured ones; or simply express their meanings and support, like in a truly democratic country. On social media, for example, there were groups created with names, such as “National Debates”, “Student Coordinating Council” ,“Help the Victims of Kiev”, “Help the Victims of Maydan”, “Commission of Inquiry of human rights violations in Ukraine”, giving the opportunity for people to provide legal, finance or material help, as well as for others to get it for free.

I think Ukraine has never seen such a high level of people wanting to contribute to help to solve the political and economic tensions. For example, as of June 23 in the action "Support the Ukrainian army," the accounts of the Ministry of Defense received 133.795 million from businesses and individuals.

Also, to overcome the national pessimism, people also returned to national pride and national colors. For example, the motives from Ukrainian national dresses have gained extremely high popularity in fashion recently.

Ukraine has been in turmoil sinceNovember. But Ukrainians have never been seen so united, as now. And I have never until recently noticed that people did grasp the need to be united in today’s instability. And have never noticed people to be so polite, caring and open as they are now.

So why is national courtesy so important? First of all, I see courtesy like the glue that unites people. Secondly, I see politeness as a fundamental economic and behavioral characteristic, which should give rise to the national competitive forces, because the proper behavior is a source of new opportunities and willingness to cooperate, willingness to spend, improve and create. This is a new path for Ukraine.

And finally, I have one more reason to say, I love my country. I love Ukraine! And this is a wonderful country to visit!

Happiness: The Science behind Your Smile or HOW TO AVOID MAKING YOURSELF MISERABLE

“Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.”

                                                                                                                          ― Nathaniel Hawthorne

By Olena Denysyuk

INTRODUCTION

THE TITLE OF THIS BOOK IS “HAPPINESS: the science beyond your smile”.  IT SHOULD BE “HOW TO AVOID MAKING YOURSELF MISERABLE”. Happiness is a word that sells, but not the real topic of this book. It contents no concrete indication of what to do. Rather, it points where the main obstacles to a satisfactory life are. Actually this book is about what mistakes many people often make without realizing that their behavior will have almost inevitably lead to self-deception, disappointment and chronic frustration. And it shows that there can be many roadblocks on our ways to achieve our aims.

 

For instance:

-          our frame of reference, or how we compare ourselves to others with considerable myopia

-          the endowment effect, or how we come to attach more value than reasonable to our possessions

-          the peak-end effect or how we give preference to short-term intense enjoyment/entertainment over long-term pleasure

-          the exaggeration of the importance of life-events, i.e. the over-estimation of their effects on us personally

-          and, ultimately, the power of many foolish human desires, as it prevents us from enjoying our present possibilities for well-being, as Buddha demonstrated 26 centuries ago.

So, have you ever considered that actually we are not predisposed to be happy because we live on considerable state of uncertainty? For example, the knowledge of our own death, society’s suppression of our drives, or the cruel and illusory psychology of desire and “wrong” preferences, as well as other demands from society to be concerned with our self-presentation, put us in a state of eternal worry. 

Alas, we live in an economic system geared to constantly remaining us of our desires. So here we are leaving the personal sphere to the analysis of HOW our social organization based on market economics is inherently a source of profound frustration and the deep foundation of the lack of meaning in most people lives.

Therefore, we have to work hard to construct our own happiness.

 

Why is it So Difficult to Change a Habit?

Changing a habit is more about habitual behavior that requires a cognitive understanding of your activities. This means clear perception of causes and consequences of your own responses, reflecting on own behavior, and correct interpretation of a situation and a context according to what it means for you and how it fits into your reality. Changing a habit is more about knowing the psychology of habits.  

By Olena Denysyuk

OUR  bodies TENDS TO BE ENERGY-SAVING  and our brains give mostly a priority to what is perceived as usual, Therefore, very often,  we are not totally aware of our actions, as many of them are almost automatic. So, I will describe our CONSCIOUSNESS as “lazy”.

And there is a good reason for it: by performing complex behaviors without any consciousness, we save our brain energy for something more important. That is one of the reasons why our brain likes what is already familiar to us. Then, by knowing the patterns, our brains would know on which inputs to pay attention to and which to ignore. In music, for example, our brains crave familiarity, because familiarity is how we manage to hear without becoming distracted by sounds or noises. In turn, the system of liking makes us wanting it. Therefore, we are coming back again to something familiar to us, instead of wanting/accepting something new. And we come back- and we create habits. Again and again, because behavioral habits prevent us from becoming overwhelmed by the endless decisions we would otherwise have to make each day. That’s the rationale behind our lazy mind.

But at some point, for some individual reason, you might want to change a habit, as the brain’s dependence on automatic routines at some point can be dangerous. However, simply declaring your reasons for changing a habit (I am too fat, I am too lazy, I am too unhealthy, etc.) is not enough a predisposition for any work with a habit. The supremacy of the power of habits is thus in the understanding of the psychology of habits. So if you want to change a habit, you would need to comprehend the conditions (stimuli and clues) that lead you towards your habit. Also, you would need to understand what reward you achieve when executing your habit. Knowing exactly the powers of your habits, the dark as they are, is essential for forming and changing your habit behavior. Also, this way you can come to the source of “good” habits”. And, if you are lucky, you can adjust the dark power of a “bad” habit into something more enjoyable, powerful, and challenging.

The Dreams of Europe. The Dreams of Democracy. The Dreams of Freedom

A successful resolution of a severe political crisis requires immediate response, negotiation and a compromise among the political leaders. Unfortunately, Ukraine doesn’t have it - authoritarianism has taken over. And we are the Ukrainians and cannot keep quite. This letter is a call to Europe for help, because Ukraine is in terror and tragedy. It should no longer be a collective television watching only, as the incidents of the current severe intimidation are repeating the country’s history of terror in the 1930’s.

By Olena Denysyuk and Anastasia Erichsen

Photo by Olga Starostina

You might be asking who is right and who is wrong in the recent Ukrainian protests that turned deadly last week.  On the one side of the “front”, there are angry, desperate people with different social backgrounds and political views from various regions of Ukraine including Kievans, who came out to fight for their basic human rights. On the other side, there are thousands of governmental agents – internal military forces, police officers and the riot police Berkut. Known as the government tool for political repressions, Berkut forces are trained to suppress the uprising and have demonstrated the most brutal behavior such as cruel beatings, torturing, shooting directly at journalists and killing at least two protesters after firing bullets at them. Being paid very well Berkut is there voluntarily, while the internal military troops are there due to their military obligation. Hence, they are obliged to execute orders by law and if they change sides, they will be at risk of being sent to jail turning into objects of political repressions.   

Happy New Year!!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! First of all, thank you all – especially to those nice people, who read my posts and a thank you in advance to those wonderful people, who are going to read them! And a very warm thank you to those, who rewarded me with a compliment, a comment, or constructive criticism, or a simple “like” on Facebook. And thank you to those, who showed support and understanding.

And now, I shall sum up!

One time my husband told me, it's better to be a pathetic blogger, than just be pathetic.

He should be ashamed of calling me a pathetic blogger!

But rather than feeling angry I felt quite honored, as he now calls me a BLOGGER! It’s always a pleasure to get a new stamp on your forehead.

So I kept on being a pathetic blogger for a little longer, rather than to be pathetic :)  (Apparently I am pathetic, if I am not blogging.) 

Big Data Opportunities – Are We There Yet? (Part 2)

Decision making based on the data from the social media can be biased, because the data do not capture what the decision makers need to minimize their own biases. The Big Data is biased and noisy. This is a source of big mistakes, risks and uncertainties.

By Olena Denysyuk

(for part 1, see here)

There is a new and big buzz-word is bubbling in many diversities of blogosphere, academics, forums and journalism, social influencers. The big word is BIG DATA (not just data, but BIG data). And the thinking is that the big data can give us BIG OPPORTUNITIES, and even visions to revolutionize the way we “stare” into the future. To me, there is a slight risk that we are moving towards wishful thinking, once again. Why wishful thinking? Well, the risks and uncertainties around big data are being underestimated, once again. We always had and will have a need in socially- sharing -thinking about something positive:  a belief that there is something that will bring us new opportunities; a new era towards a better future. And now all stare at big data bright future.

I have already mentioned, that the big data makes us even blinder to something potential, different, and not recorded (forecasting and technical uncertainties), so no matter which angle I would like to focus on when writing about big data, something else data had/has/will always have on its challenging side: the uncertainty generated by the human factor and by….big data itself.

But first allow me to mention what are these big opportunities I would like to focus on.

Strategic Improvements

The Uncertainties of Big Data (Part 1)

We might be on the beginning on the big data “epoch”. There are certainly great opportunities not only for business decision makers, but also for those, who like to work with big analytics. But the forecasting uncertainties are NOT eliminated by big data. In fact, the big data makes us even blinder to something potential, different, and not recorded.  This is a source if big boundaries, limits and diminished opportunities.

By Olena Denysyuk

Isn’t fun to be able to predict the future and change the direction of a business? Not the way the clairvoyants do, but like economists/ data analysts do. There are no big differences in these 2 groups, some would say. Maybe, it’s right. Nobody can see the next 10 years.  A 10-year business forecast is a good structuring tool, but as seeing- into-the- future tool, there is not so much value in it. Sadly.

But there should be some underlying reasoning, which these two groups share, since they share the idea of prophecy.

The later one predict the future (form the opinions, make the decisions) basing any judgment on data, technical/statistical/accounting/graphical. The former one predicts the future…well… I guess they have their own access to data they need: social media, Google among others.  No matter what analytics you go after in the realm of predicting the future, data is the central component.

So the word” data” is not new…     

Not only democratic values should be promoted, they should be helped to get implemented!

The successful resolution of the severe political crisis requires simple and clear goals and rules that everyone understands. Unfortunately, Ukraine doesn’t have them - authoritarianism has taken over. And we are the Ukrainians and cannot keep quite. This letter is a call to Europe for help, because Ukraine is in tragedy. It should no longer be a collective television watching only!

By Olena Denysyuk and Anastasia Erichsen

Photo by Olga Starostina

The uprising of Ukrainians during the last three weeks has been a moment of celebration. It’s the celebration of individual rights and democracy, the celebration of hope and values, which Europe stands for. Hundreds of thousands of people have peacefully protested against the remnants of the totalitarian regime of the last century. The people’s dream and hope of being a truly European and democratic country for the upcoming 10th year anniversary of the Orange Revolution was about to become true.

How To Be More Creative?

Creativity is part of our mind, our meaning, and our personal dynamics. Creativity is what we need, if we are to flourish in our well- being, including physical, environmental, mental, emotional, spiritual and social health. It’s a way to find meaning in all what we do, how we live and where we go.         

By Olena Denysyuk

  I think it is a well-known statement that creativity combined with rationalization and reasoning, adds more value to everything. It is a way for a product to stand out in a crowded market. Be it design, a story, a play. Be it something that provokes feelings. Be it something unique and beautiful, but meaningful. And for creativity to give meaning, it should be enhanced by rationalization and reasoning. Does it give meaning? If not- it doesn’t matter- creativity doesn’t always make sense. But actually, how do you find logic in creativity?

For many years I crafted my logical and analytical abilities, the left side of the brain, but not the right one. But actually, as long as I progress these analytical (L-sided abilities), I am becoming better and better in my creative (R-sided) abilities as well. What are the reasons?

Can creativity be synthesized? Or explained logically, and can it be learned at all? Where do creative ideas come from? What I have noticed, is that my good ideas to my creative hobbies (design, photography) come when I am relaxed; when I am very much motivated; when I notice details and its “new connections”; when I push myself into creative thinking; and when I have a dream. But I am sure there is more to the story.

Den unikke Riga

Den unikke Riga

Rigas DNA gemmer en sammensætning af nordiske og russiske gener. Historisk set var Riga altid været under vestlig og russisk indflydelse, hvilket har resulteret i kulturelle sammenstød. Sammenstødet gør Riga til en meget unik en by på verdens plan. Den russiske dominans særligt under Sovjet har nødvendiggjort skabelsen af en særlig hjælpsomhedskultur.  Men i dag er Riga i høj grad under indflydelsen af vesten. Hvordan har det påvirket folkets vilje til at hjælpe hinanden, under de nye muligheder som murens fald har åbnet for?

Af Olena Denysyuk

Kultursammenstød kan føre mange ting af sig. Det kan føre til politiske og samfundsmæssige diskussioner om indvandring, tørklæder og religiøse hensyn. I værste fald kan det ende i krig. I bedste fald kan det skabe berigende oplevelser og åbne anderledes tilgange til livet.

 Mit sidste kultursammenstød var i Riga, sidst i august til et bryllup. Sammenstødet var af den positive slags. Fredeligt. Behageligt. Lykkestimulerende. 

 Et sammenstød mellem det ”fredelige og harmoniske” nordiske og den ”vilde og kaotiske” russiske kultur. Det gav mig følelsen at have et ben i hver banehalvdel.

Historier om de psykologiske mekanismer, der styrer dit arbejdsliv (”Livsfarlig Ledelse” af Christian Ørsted) Del 2

”De historier vi fortæller om vores travle liv er afspejlet i vores virksomhedskultur. Derfor er det vigtigt, at vi hver især, individuelt, i vores teams, i vores virksomhed og som nation skaber andre historier, der kan supplere de gamle”, siger Christian Ørsted i sin ny bog ”Livsfarlig Ledelse”. Og ”de andre historier” skal, for eksempel, vise vej til bæredygtig ledelse.

Af Olena Denysyuk

Vi får ansvar og glæde, vi anerkender, at vi kan godt lide at have mange jern i ilden, for det betyder, at ens liv er fyldt op med vigtige ting. Vi elsker at fortælle, at vi er alt for travle.

Men kan det også være en årsag til psykiske lidelser, udbrændthed, stress, dødsfald.

Så hvordan kan vi ”skabe” en bæredygtig ledelseskultur ved hjælp af ”andre” nye historier, der supplerer de gamle, når vi ”ligefrem SKAL! brænde for vores job”?

Christian Ørsteds bog er et bud på ”de andre” historier, som kan være en årsag til livsfarlige ledelse, om dem, der er farlige for vores psykiske helbred.

Her er nogle af hans opmærksomhedsvækkende tanker, som vi alle sammen burde forstå essensen af.

Historie No. 1: Frideden er falsk

Strategisk ledelse eller mytteri? (”Livsfarlig Ledelse” af Christian Ørsted, Anmeldelse) Del1

Det er ikke længere godt nok, at være en STRATEGISK LEDER, som i det skjulte kan være utopisk. I dag skal ledelse være BÆREDYGTIG, fordi vores psykiske helbred er i ledernes hænder.

 

Af Olena Denysyuk

I den ideelle virksomhed vil jeg forvente, at strategisk ledelse styres på baggrund af STRATEGISKE mål, som en virksomhed forholder sig til, dvs. dens vision, mission, markeds situation, konkurrence, resurser. Traditionel eller hierarkisk, økonomisk, innovativ, kreativ ledelse er ”bare” en proces, der hjælper til at gennemføre målet. Men i sidste ende bliver ledelsesbeslutninger taget til gavn for  virksomhedens indtjening, med effektivisering i fokus.

 

Her kommer motivation, anerkendelse, personlig udvikling og teamwork ind i billedet. Det er de strategiske ledelsesværktøjer, der hjælper ledere og medarbejdere med at komme tættere til målet, eller overleve på den konkurrencemæssige slagmark, eller styre organisatoriske ændringer eller opnå fordele ved vidensdeling.  Derfor får vi også friheden til at udføre vores arbejde, fordi ”det rummer værdier, som ordentlighed, arbejdsmoral, socialt ansvar og effektivitet”, der også hjælper med at komme til målet.

 

Men noget kan gå helt galt: på tidspunkt brænder vi simpelthen ud, selvom vi bliver glade og tilfredse for vores arbejde. “Ofte brænder vi netop ud, når vi er mest tilfredse og føler os på sporet. Det er nemlig der, vi bliver dødmotiverede”, siger Christian Ørsted, som har arbejdet med coaching i 15 år. Og det er virkelig farligt for vores helbred, vores innovative kompetencer, vores familier og liv…

På kunstnerisk oplevelse hos Børnekulturhus Ama’r

Det nybyggede Børnekulturhus Ama’r byder på kunstneriske oplevelser til børn fra 0 til 18 år. Oplevelser, som styrker børnenes kreativitet, sprog, koncentration, kommunikation og hukommelse. Huset, som er skabt af børn og for børn.

Af Olena Denysyuk (09.03.2013)

”Det skæve hus” på Amager med arkitekten Dorte Mandrup i spidsen.

Foto: Olena Denysyuk

”Pas nu på, lille skat! Hold fast! Hvor er det fint, det du kan, dygtig!” siger den lidt nervøse, men stolte mor, mens hun kigger på en klatrevæg som strækker sig fra stueetagen til 1. sal i en 45 graders vinkel. En lille kravlende abe klatrer, griber, kaster sig, lander, hopper, råber ”grib!”, mens hun kaster sit lille tøjdyr, en kat ned fra toppen. Hun glider hurtigt ned for at tage en tur til. Der er også børnestemmer i et andet lokale: ”se min lanternelampe”, ”nej, hvor er den fint”.”Vent til den blive lidt tørrere, så kan du godt lege med den”.

Velkommen til ”det skæve hus”, et hus på Amager, hvor kreativiteten bogstavelig talt hænger i luften.  En mørk og kold blæsedag i marts, kan hurtig blive til en til en farverig og sjov ”miniferie–for–alle–børn”.

Huset byder på begivenhedsrige oplevelser, frit leg, billedværksted, musik, dans, koncerter og meget mere. En ”skole” med usynlig og synlig undervisning i kreativitet, uden rammer, uden programmer, uden specifik undervisning. Kun et tema, som er ”Kærlighed” i år, der skal gå igennem alle værker.

How to Deal with the Emotional Crisis in a Calm and Cool Way?

If people were to choose a planet, where they prefer to live on, they will have two choices. The one planet will be orbiting around facts, details, systems, and laws – “real things”. The second one will be orbiting around abstract dimenions, feelings, and creative ideas- the “intangible things”. If the planets were to exist- there would be never ending devastating crises. Not because one planet is better, than another one, but because people from different planets will display and absorb the emotional response to situations differently. The name for the crisis would be The Emotional Crisis.

So how to deal with the crisis in a calm and cool way?

By Olena Denysyuk

The failure to understand the dimensions of feelings has its own price: loss of friends, husbands, good deals, goodwill – frankly speaking almost everything that involves human interaction. The consequent outcome of this failure might eventually further accelerate the misperception or misjudgment of human behavior/nature/incentives on the longer run. The effect is even worse, when we choose to stay hooked on being right (a topic for separate post) or see things from a limited/subjective standpoint  to the point that it actually turns into emotional stupidity – you would form your own delusional perception of reality.

In general, I think, feelings and emotions are a challenging subject to discuss, as it is more subjective, than anything. Sometimes ourselves and not only surrounding people fail to understand our emotional states. 

Our brain catches the “tangible and intangible information”, selects only the necessary information, process and analyses it, and consequently send signals to react. Due to different personalities, experiences, genes, brain anatomy, status quo, as well as social and family status, the same information will result in different outcomes at different times, as well as the same information will result different actions in different people. So there is no black or white, right or wrong, bad or good in people’s behavior- there are millions of dimensions on how our brain will catch, select, process and analyze this information. Besides, we are all different in our emotional intelligence and experiences; therefore we have different capacities to grasp the emotional side of the game. So her it comes: conflicts, stress, anxiety and emotional distress.

WHAT DOES CREATE TRENDS?:About the book by Malcom Gladwell, "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make Big Difference "

Malcom Gladwell, "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make Big Difference "


Sometimes small things can make big differences. All you have to do is find the hidden buttons to these small things, which actually have the power to act big. Let’s look at the case of epidemics, let’s find the hidden mechanisms that originate and sustain the trends and social epidemics.

By Olena Denysyuk

 I have often been asking myself, why do we love to follow trends, that, at first glance, we might not like? But which, we might like it later?

 

In this regard, I chose to read the book  by Malcom Gladwell, "The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make Big Difference ", a book  about what makes ideas infectious, what messages can spread the ideas, and how to start and sustain social epidemics and trends. It didn’t answer exactly my question.  

 

 

And when I read the book, I was thinking of giving it only 2 stars on Goodreads. But by reaching the end, anyway, it earned one extra star.   

With all respect to journalism, I was initially a little disappointed that a book about trends/epidemics (sociology, in broader terms) was written by a journalist. I might have been spoiled by the most intelligent book by Daniel Kahneman, "Thinking, Fast and Slow", as it was written by an expert. He managed to deliver his study of psychology and sociology not only reliably, but also amusingly. 

 

It's not that there is something wrong with Gladwell’s ideas and hypothesis, but I presume I am a bit critical towards his choice of arguments and research material-some of it seems weak to me, and he even sharpened some of it to fit into his own ideas. So I wonder why the book was so recommended by so many clever people.

 

 It's not that ORIGINAL, NEITHEIR ACADEMICALLY nor SCIENTIFICALLY. Here, the book had lost one star.

 

But soon after, I realized, it is rather good entertaining book - within the fields of marketing, but not human behavior or economics, as I originally thought it would be. And the book is even a bit thought-provoking and brain-teasing, I admit. The lost star found its way back!  

Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything (Review and Reflections) OR HOW TO THINK OUT OF THE BOX?

What caused the death of Nicolae Ceaușescu. Poverty? Dictatorship? Ignorance towards his people?  What do you think? A little hint: In 1966, one year after Ceaușescu had become the Communist dictator of Romania, he made abortion illegal in order to increase the population.

By Olena Denysyuk

The reform had an effect: within one year of abortion ban, the Romanian birth rate had doubled. The lives of these babies were miserable, being born by poor and young mothers, who would otherwise have chosen abortion. These babies were more likely to become criminals. On Christmas Day of 1989, Ceaușescu learned from his mistakes the hard way. With a bullet to the head. From the people of his nation, tired of living in poverty. People, who probably wouldn’t be born if not for the abortion ban- the ban that gave him a bullet to the head- NOT the poverty, NOT the ignorance. The brutal mistake of 1966, which he was not prepared for.

This is one of Freakonomics’ examples of novel thinking- by looking deeper, finding the root of the cause, rather than focusing on generally accepted truth. This is a case of how to think out of the box.

So what is Feakonomics about?