Thursday, June 12, 2025

Embracing the Journey - Reflections on Life, Work, and the Future (2025 Jun 12)


Other Journaling Days
2025 Jun 12

"Happy Birthday, Babaji! Miss you a lot."

Today marks another year, a personal milestone that often prompts reflection. As I navigate through the ebb and flow of daily life, a simple yet profound quote resonates deeply: "Count your blessings and start each day afresh!" This isn't just a feel-good mantra; it's a powerful philosophy that reshapes perspective. When you consciously acknowledge the good in your life, a positive outlook naturally emerges, influencing how you perceive people, situations, and challenges. Coupled with the idea of starting each day anew, it propels you beyond "Ground Zero," past the starting line, and into a realm of continuous growth and renewal.

My days often involve a blend of personal pursuits and professional responsibilities. Recently, I've been delving into the world of blogging, inspired by motivational content creators like "Productive Peter." It's a fascinating journey of self-expression and learning. Work, on the other hand, has been surprisingly relaxed, perhaps a testament to the quiet efficiency that sometimes prevails. A significant project, the "Network Engg Assistant" Migration, has reached a crucial point, marked complete with the procurement of a DNS for the back-end service. These small victories, whether in personal endeavors or professional tasks, contribute to the tapestry of a fulfilling day.

Life, however, is rarely linear, and personal relationships often add layers of complexity. My upcoming trip to Ajmer from Gurugram, with tickets secured, is a case in point. The initial excitement surrounding a connection with Harshita has, unfortunately, waned. A mother's intervention, followed by Harshita echoing the sentiment of impatience, cast a shadow over what could have been. It's a reminder that expectations can sometimes lead to disappointment, yet the journey itself holds its own lessons. Despite the dampened enthusiasm, I remain open to the experience, curious to see what unfolds.

Amidst these personal reflections, a larger, more existential question often surfaces: what does the future hold, particularly in a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence? As AI continues to advance, taking over tasks that demand mental energy and cognitive effort, one can't help but ponder the implications for humanity. A thought that frequently crosses my mind is the possibility of a monastic existence for people in general. A life of limited resources—food, possessions, space—dedicated to intellectual and spiritual pursuits. In such a scenario, the traditional motivators of complex tasks, novelty, and ambition might diminish, replaced by a simple passing of time, with AI managing the allocation of essential resources for basic survival. It's a stark vision, yet one that prompts deeper consideration of our purpose and value in an AI-dominated future.

My own writing journey mirrors this evolving landscape. While I can now articulate coherent thoughts and string together several lines with a sense of flow, crafting a complete piece of 300-400 words that maintains a singular focus remains a challenge. My current output often feels like a collection of disparate passages on varied topics rather than a unified narrative. It's a work in progress, a testament to the ongoing process of refining one's craft. Perhaps, in time, the pieces will seamlessly interweave, forming a cohesive whole, much like the diverse threads of life that, when viewed collectively, create a rich and meaningful existence.

Overcoming the Limitations of Being the "Smart Kid"


All Book Summaries

Introduction: The Hidden Trap of Being Labeled "Smart"

Many individuals grow up being recognized as the "smart kid" — quick learners, effortless achievers, and teachers' favorites. While this recognition feels good initially, it can create a fragile self-identity that becomes problematic over time. The core issue is that tying self-worth to innate intelligence turns it into a fixed trait, which can lead to stagnation, fear of failure, and avoidance of challenges.

The Concept of a Fragile Identity

Building self-esteem solely on effortless achievement results in a brittle self-concept. When faced with genuine challenges, these individuals tend to:

  • Avoid situations where success isn't guaranteed

  • Stick to familiar tasks to protect their self-image

  • Develop elaborate systems to dodge confronting new challenges


This avoidance stems from a fear that struggling or failing might rip off the "smart" label, leading to feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. The irony is that this fear prevents growth and reinforces stagnation.

The Problem with Perfectionism and Avoidance

Perfectionism isn't about doing your best; it's about avoiding the discomfort of not being perfect. This manifests as:

  • Procrastination due to fear of imperfect results

  • Rushing at the last minute, which guarantees subpar work

  • Reinforcing the belief that effort without immediate success indicates a lack of talent


This cycle, called the perfectionism procrastination loop, keeps individuals small and prevents them from developing resilience and grit. Breaking free requires redefining effort and embracing imperfection as part of growth.

The Comparison Spiral and Its Impact

Comparing oneself to others or to a past version of oneself can be destructive. The typical pattern involves:

  • Feeling devastated when peers succeed

  • Misinterpreting success as evidence of personal failure

  • Comparing current struggles to others' highlight reels, ignoring their efforts and struggles


To escape this spiral, shift focus from outcomes to processes. Ask, "What are they willing to do that I avoid?" instead of "Why am I not as successful?"

The Fear of Starting Over and Embracing Beginner's Mind

Many former smart kids resist new challenges because they see themselves as fallen prodigies. The fear of not being naturally talented leads to:

  • Quickly giving up when faced with difficulty

  • Believing that struggling indicates a lack of ability

  • Returning to comfort zones to avoid failure


The key is to accept that being a beginner is a necessary step for growth. Intelligence isn't the problem; avoidance of growth is. Embracing the beginner's mindset opens the door to new skills and experiences.

The Growth Mindset and Neuroplasticity

Adopting a growth mindset transforms how you view challenges. It involves understanding that:

  • Your brain is malleable and capable of change (neuroplasticity)

  • Effort and persistence lead to increased intelligence and skill

  • Discomfort during learning is a sign of brain growth, not failure


This perspective encourages embracing struggle as a vital part of development, making effort and mistakes valuable rather than shameful.

Practicing Productive Struggle

Productive struggle is about pushing just beyond current abilities through small, consistent risks:

  • Start with tiny steps, like 5 minutes of imperfect work

  • Focus on regular exposure to discomfort, not overwhelming yourself

  • Build grit by persevering through difficulty


This approach fosters resilience and long-term growth, shifting the focus from avoiding failure to embracing learning opportunities.

The Joy of Not Knowing and Cultivating Curiosity

Letting go of the need to always be the expert allows for genuine discovery and joy in learning. Key points include:

  • Adopting a beginner's mind, which is open and curious

  • Recognizing that ignorance is a natural part of growth

  • Practicing epistemic humility — accepting "I don't know" as a strength


This mindset reduces anxiety, accelerates learning, and restores the excitement of exploration, similar to how children approach new skills.

Building a Diverse and Stable Identity

Relying solely on intelligence makes the self-concept fragile. To create stability:

  • Develop non-intellectual aspects of identity, such as values, relationships, and passions

  • Define personal ethics beyond achievement (e.g., kindness, courage, creativity)

  • Recognize that achievement should be an expression of who you are, not the core of your worth


This diversification provides resilience against setbacks and helps you see yourself as a whole person, not just a "smart" individual.

Redefining Success on Personal Terms

Question traditional success metrics like grades, status, or recognition. Instead, focus on:

  • Activities that deeply engage and fulfill you

  • Contributions that give you purpose

  • Living a meaningful, sustainable life aligned with your values


Your worth is no longer tied to external validation but to authentic fulfillment. This shift promotes a more humanized and holistic approach to achievement.

Conclusion: The Journey Toward Wholeness

The transformation involves moving from fragmented brilliance to an integrated self. It requires:

  • Valuing growth over comfort

  • Prioritizing authenticity over image

  • Building resilience through small, consistent risks


Remember, being the "smart kid" was just the beginning. Your true potential lies in embracing challenges, cultivating curiosity, and developing a diverse, resilient identity. The discomfort you feel now signals readiness for growth — a sign that you're on the right path to becoming your best self.

Tags: Video,Motivation,

Key Concepts on Developing Mental Strength


All Book Summaries

Introduction to Mental Strength and Its Misconceptions

Mental strength is often misunderstood as being loud, aggressive, or unflappable. However, true mental strength is characterized by calmness and composure in chaotic situations. The most intimidating individuals are those who remain unshaken when others are losing control, making difficult decisions effortlessly, and facing criticism without flinching.

Contrary to popular belief, mental strength isn't about being tough or fearless; it's about being anti-fragile—growing stronger through challenges rather than just resisting them. It involves dancing with fear rather than avoiding it, turning fear into a partner rather than an enemy.

Most people desire mental resilience but neglect to invest time in building it, often spending more time on trivial decisions than on developing their mental fortitude. The core idea is that your mind is either strengthening or weakening daily—there's no neutral ground.

Chapter 1: Your Mind's Operating System

Your mental software operates in one of two modes:

  • Reactive: Gets hijacked by emotions, leading to impulsive reactions (e.g., sending angry emails).

  • Responsive: Acknowledges emotions but maintains control, responding thoughtfully (e.g., pausing before replying to criticism).

Neuroplasticity allows the brain to rewire itself based on repeated behaviors:

  • Reacting emotionally strengthens reaction pathways.

  • Responding thoughtfully strengthens response pathways.

Thoughts are likened to seeds in a garden—watering chaos leads to chaos, watering control leads to control. We often neglect to consciously upgrade our mental operating system, despite doing regular maintenance on our phones.

A diagnostic exercise involves observing reactions versus responses over a week, fostering awareness that can rewire the brain for better emotional regulation.

Chapter 2: Fear Inoculation Protocols

Building mental resilience is akin to CrossFit for emotions—challenging but addictive once results are seen. The key is systematic exposure to controlled discomfort:

  • Start with small discomforts (e.g., cold showers, difficult conversations).

  • Gradually increase exposure to challenge fears intentionally.

This process programs courage into the nervous system, transforming involuntary fear into manageable responses. Brave individuals aren't fearless but are skilled at managing fear. They seek out respectful disagreement and feedback, turning potential threats into opportunities for growth.

Homework: Face one small discomfort daily for a week to build confidence and resilience.

Chapter 3: Building Cognitive Armor

Constructing mental defenses involves protecting core beliefs against criticism:

  • Identify and defend your core values, even when inconvenient.

  • Develop evidence files that support these values.

  • Create response protocols for criticism based on three questions:

    1. Is the critic qualified?

    2. Is there truth to extract?

    3. Does it align with my values?

Confidence is quiet and rooted in self-assurance, not loudness. The less you seek external validation, the more others will want to validate you. Building a foundation of non-negotiable values and evidence makes your beliefs unshakeable.

Chapter 4: Pressure Alchemy

Transform stress into a source of strength by reframing challenges:

  • Pressure and diamonds are created through similar processes—resistance leads to growth.

  • Interpret stress as a challenge, not a threat.

Preparation is crucial—pressure without preparation leads to panic. Strong individuals view problems as opportunities to develop skills and gather data. When overwhelmed, ask:

  • How is this making me stronger?

  • What skills am I learning?

  • How will this serve me in the future?

This mindset turns pressure into excitement and growth.

Chapter 5: Strategic Apathy

Managing emotional energy involves caring selectively:

  • Prioritize high-importance, high-control issues for full engagement.

  • Accept and adapt to high-importance, low-control situations.

  • Practice strategic indifference towards low-importance matters.

This approach conserves energy for what truly matters, reducing exhaustion and increasing effectiveness. The key is asking:

  • Will this matter in 5 years?

  • Do I have control over this?

  • Is this aligned with my goals?

Applying strategic apathy boosts mental resilience and focus.

Chapter 6: Decision Fatigue Immunity

Successful people pre-decide and automate routine decisions to conserve mental energy:

  • Automate daily routines (e.g., wake-up time, meals, responses).

  • Carefully consider major life choices with clear criteria.

  • Limit options to avoid paralysis—use the "paradox of choice."

Predeciding responses to common situations reduces mental stress by up to 80%. This systematic approach allows focus on critical decisions.

Chapter 7: Emotional Callusing

Building psychological scar tissue involves repeated exposure to discomfort:

  • Handle criticism well repeatedly to strengthen emotional resilience.

  • Use vulnerability stacking—deliberately seek low-stakes judgment situations.

  • Over time, criticism becomes data, rejection becomes redirection, and conflict becomes information.

The more you expose yourself to discomfort, the more your life becomes manageable, and your confidence grows.

Chapter 8: Reality Negotiation

Reframing situations allows you to control your relationship with facts:

  • Identify the absolute facts.

  • Consider the worst possible interpretation.

  • Find the most empowering, yet truthful, interpretation.

This process transforms setbacks into opportunities and criticism into growth data. Practicing daily makes you unshakable.

Chapter 9: Antifragile Thinking

Moving beyond resilience, antifragility involves growing stronger from stress:

  • Criticism, failure, and setbacks are viewed as opportunities for growth.

  • Seek out feedback that challenges you.

  • Use adversity as market research and education—costly lessons that make you better.

This mindset ensures that every challenge enhances your capabilities, making you more formidable over time.

Chapter 10: Confident Projection

True confidence is earned through experience and strength, not arrogance:

  • Calm, composed presence commands respect.

  • Body language: relaxed shoulders, steady eye contact, calm voice.

  • Respond to criticism and challenges with certainty, not defensiveness.

Authentic strength is subtle but powerful. When you stop reacting impulsively and start responding thoughtfully, others naturally defer to your authority.

The overall message emphasizes that mental strength is a compound effect—integrating fear inoculation, cognitive armor, pressure alchemy, emotional callusing, reality negotiation, antifragile thinking, and confident projection. Together, these elements create a formidable, unshakable mindset that naturally commands respect and enables you to thrive under any circumstances.

Tags: Video,Motivation,

Monday, June 9, 2025

Create a user in MySQL

To See All Articles About Technology: Index of Lessons in Technology

To create a new user in MySQL, follow these steps after logging into the MySQL prompt as root:


✅ Step-by-Step: Create a New User in MySQL

1. Login to MySQL

bash
mysql -u root -p

Enter the root password when prompted.


2. Create the User

sql
CREATE USER 'username'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'your_password';

✅ Example:

sql
CREATE USER 'ashish'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'StrongPass@123';

3. Grant Permissions

You can grant full privileges on a database like this:

sql
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON your_database.* TO 'username'@'localhost';

✅ Example:

sql
GRANT ALL PRIVILEGES ON translation_app.* TO 'ashish'@'localhost';

If the database doesn't exist yet:

sql
CREATE DATABASE translation_app;

4. Apply Changes

sql
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

✅ Verify:

sql
SELECT User, Host FROM mysql.user;

Let me know if you'd like to grant only read access, create the user for remote access, or anything more specific.

Tags: Technology,Database,

Install MySQL Workbench (Community Edition)

To See All Articles About Technology: Index of Lessons in Technology
(base) jain@jain-ThinkPad-T440s:~$ sudo apt install mysql-workbench
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree... Done
Reading state information... Done
E: Unable to locate package mysql-workbench

This error means mysql-workbench is not available in your default APT sources, which is common in some Ubuntu derivatives or if the required universe repository isn't enabled.


✅ Solution: Enable universe repository and update

Run the following commands:

bash
sudo add-apt-repository universe sudo apt update sudo apt install mysql-workbench

🛠 If you're still getting errors

It's possible your system is:

  • Not Ubuntu (e.g., Linux Mint, MX Linux, or older version)

  • Or the MySQL Workbench version is not supported in the official repos

In that case, you can install Workbench via .deb package from MySQL’s official site.


✅ Manual Install (if APT fails)

1. Download .deb package from MySQL:

Visit:
https://dev.mysql.com/downloads/workbench/

Select:

  • OS: Ubuntu/Linux DEB

  • Version: Match your Ubuntu version (e.g., 22.04)

2. Install downloaded .deb package:

Assuming the file is named mysql-workbench_*.deb:

bash
sudo dpkg -i mysql-workbench_*.deb sudo apt --fix-broken install

Let me know your Ubuntu version:

bash
lsb_release -a

I can then give you the exact .deb download link or instructions tailored to your distro.

(base) jain@jain-ThinkPad-T440s:~/Downloads$ sudo dpkg -i mysql-workbench-community_8.0.42-1ubuntu24.04_amd64.deb 
Selecting previously unselected package mysql-workbench-community.
(Reading database ... 171412 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to unpack mysql-workbench-community_8.0.42-1ubuntu24.04_amd64.deb ...
Unpacking mysql-workbench-community (8.0.42-1ubuntu24.04) ...
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of mysql-workbench-community:
 mysql-workbench-community depends on libatkmm-1.6-1v5 (>= 2.28.4); however:
  Package libatkmm-1.6-1v5 is not installed.
 mysql-workbench-community depends on libglibmm-2.4-1t64 (>= 2.66.7); however:
  Package libglibmm-2.4-1t64 is not installed.
 mysql-workbench-community depends on libgtkmm-3.0-1t64 (>= 3.24.9); however:
  Package libgtkmm-3.0-1t64 is not installed.
 mysql-workbench-community depends on libmysqlclient21 (>= 8.0.11); however:
  Package libmysqlclient21 is not installed.
 mysql-workbench-community depends on libodbc2 (>= 2.3.1); however:
  Package libodbc2 is not installed.
 mysql-workbench-community depends on libproj25 (>= 9.4.0); however:
  Package libproj25 is not installed.
 mysql-workbench-community depends on libsigc++-2.0-0v5 (>= 2.8.0); however:
  Package libsigc++-2.0-0v5 is not installed.
 mysql-workbench-community depends on libzip4t64 (>= 0.10); however:
  Package libzip4t64 is not installed.

dpkg: error processing package mysql-workbench-community (--install):
 dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.36.0-1.1ubuntu3) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.27-2build1) ...
Processing triggers for hicolor-icon-theme (0.17-2) ...
Processing triggers for shared-mime-info (2.4-4) ...
Errors were encountered while processing:
 mysql-workbench-community

You're almost there! The error you're seeing is due to missing dependencies required by the .deb package. Fortunately, this is common and can be easily fixed using APT.


✅ Fix MySQL Workbench Installation

After running dpkg, follow up with this command to automatically install all the missing dependencies:

bash
sudo apt --fix-broken install

This will:

  • Fetch and install all the missing packages required

  • Complete the installation of MySQL Workbench


🧪 Then (optional): Verify installation

You can launch MySQL Workbench via:

bash
mysql-workbench

Or search for it in your application menu.


🛠 If --fix-broken doesn’t work

You can manually install all missing dependencies listed:

bash
sudo apt install libatkmm-1.6-1v5 libglibmm-2.4-1t64 libgtkmm-3.0-1t64 libmysqlclient21 libodbc2 libproj25 libsigc++-2.0-0v5 libzip4t64

Then re-run the .deb installer:

bash
sudo dpkg -i mysql-workbench-community_8.0.42-1ubuntu24.04_amd64.deb

Let me know if you'd prefer a lightweight MySQL GUI alternative (e.g., DBeaver, Beekeeper, or HeidiSQL via Wine).

Above debugging fixed my issues:

I ran the below three commands:

sudo dpkg -i mysql-workbench-community_8.0.42-1ubuntu24.04_amd64.deb 
sudo apt install libatkmm-1.6-1v5 libglibmm-2.4-1t64 libgtkmm-3.0-1t64 libmysqlclient21 libodbc2 libproj25 libsigc++-2.0-0v5 libzip4t64
sudo apt --fix-broken install
Tags: Technology,Database,

Install MySQL on Ubuntu using terminal (Jun 2025)

To See All Articles About Technology: Index of Lessons in Technology

Here’s how to install MySQL on Ubuntu using the terminal — works for Ubuntu 20.04, 22.04, and newer.


✅ Step-by-Step: Install MySQL on Ubuntu

1. Update package index

bash
sudo apt update

2. Install MySQL Server

bash
sudo apt install mysql-server -y

3. Start MySQL Service

bash
sudo systemctl start mysql

4. Enable MySQL to start on boot

bash
sudo systemctl enable mysql

5. Secure the installation (optional but recommended)

bash
sudo mysql_secure_installation
  • Set a root password

  • Remove anonymous users

  • Disallow remote root login

  • Remove test database

  • Reload privilege tables

6. Verify MySQL is Running

bash
sudo systemctl status mysql

7. Log in to MySQL

bash
sudo mysql -u root -p

📦 Optional: Install MySQL Workbench (GUI)

bash
sudo apt install mysql-workbench

Let me know if you want to:

  • Create a new database and user

  • Connect MySQL with Python (using mysql-connector-python)

  • Allow remote connections or configure firewall settings

I'm here to help.

Tags: Technology,Database,