CVC Words -- The Tiny Building Blocks That Teach Children to Read

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If you strip reading down to its absolute foundation, you don’t get big books.

You don’t get paragraphs.

You don’t even get sentences.

You get three little letters.

C–V–C.

Consonant. Vowel. Consonant.

And those three letters — in the right order — quietly teach a child how reading actually works.

---

So What Exactly Are CVC Words?

CVC words are simple three-letter words that follow this pattern:

Consonant + Short Vowel + Consonant

Think:

• cat

• dog

• sun

• map

• pen

They’re small. Clean. Predictable.

And that predictability is what makes them powerful.

When a child sees:

c – a – t

And blends it into:

cat

They’re not memorizing a word.

They’re discovering a system.

---

Why CVC Words Matter So Much

Here’s something important:

Children don’t naturally “read words.”

They learn to read by blending sounds.

If we jump straight into long words or irregular spellings, children start guessing.

But CVC words force the brain to do something critical:

Sound-by-sound decoding.

b – a – t → bat
m – a – p → map
d – o – g → dog

This builds what educators call phonemic awareness and decoding skills.

In simpler terms?

It teaches children that reading is solvable.

Not magic.
Not memorization.
Not guessing.

Just sounds coming together.

---

The Beauty of Word Families

One of the smartest ways to teach CVC words is through word families.

Take the “-at” family:

• bat

• cat

• hat

• mat

• rat

Instead of learning five separate words, the child learns:

“The ending stays the same. Only the first sound changes.”

That realization is huge.

It reduces cognitive load.
It builds pattern recognition.
It boosts confidence quickly.

The brain loves patterns. And CVC families are pure pattern.

---

The Short Vowel Rule

Another reason CVC words are ideal for beginners?

They use short vowels.

Short “a” like in cat.
Short “e” like in pen.
Short “i” like in pig.
Short “o” like in dog.
Short “u” like in sun.

No silent letters.
No tricky combinations.
No unexpected sounds.

Everything behaves exactly as it should.

And in early reading, consistency matters more than complexity.

---

When Children Are Ready for CVC Words

Developmentally, most children begin blending CVC words around ages 5–6.

Before that, they’re building sound awareness:

• Recognizing rhymes

• Identifying beginning sounds

• Hearing ending sounds

CVC reading is where those listening skills turn into decoding skills.

It’s the bridge between “I know letters” and “I can read.”

---

Common Mistakes When Teaching CVC Words

There are a few traps adults fall into.

1️⃣ Saying Letter Names Instead of Sounds

We often say:

“Bee – ay – tee”

But that’s not how reading works.

Children need:

“Buh – aaa – tuh”

Sound first. Always sound first.

---

2️⃣ Moving Too Fast

Once a child reads “cat,” we’re tempted to jump to:

“cake”
“chair”
“train”

But those introduce silent e, digraphs, blends — entirely new concepts.

CVC mastery should feel automatic before moving ahead.

---

3️⃣ Teaching Too Many Words, Not Enough Patterns

It’s not about how many CVC words a child knows.

It’s about whether they understand the blending process.

If they can read:

cat
dog
sun

They can likely read:

hat
log
fun

That’s transferable skill.

---

CVC Words in EdTech (And Why They’re Powerful)

If you’re building a phonics app or learning system, CVC words are your Level 1 engine.

They allow you to design:

• Word-building drag-and-drop activities

• Sound blending animations

• Rhyme matching games

• Pattern recognition challenges

Because CVC words are structurally consistent, they’re ideal for adaptive learning.

If a child struggles with short “i,” you can surface:

• pig

• sit

• lip

• pin

And reinforce that vowel sound specifically.

CVC words aren’t just content.

They’re diagnostic tools.

---

The Confidence Effect

Here’s something that doesn’t get talked about enough.

The first time a child independently reads a CVC word…

You can see it on their face.

There’s a pause.

A blend.

And then recognition.

“Oh. I did that.”

That moment builds reading confidence more than any sticker chart ever could.

Because the child realizes:

“I can figure this out.”

---

From CVC to Real Reading

CVC words are not the end goal.

They’re the training ground.

Once blending feels smooth and automatic, children are ready for:

• Blends (br, st, tr)

• Digraphs (sh, ch, th)

• Silent e words

• Sight words

But if CVC isn’t solid, everything after feels unstable.

Think of CVC as the foundation slab of reading.

You don’t see it once the house is built.

But without it, nothing stands.

---

Final Thought

In a world obsessed with acceleration, CVC words remind us of something simple:

Reading isn’t about speed.

It’s about structure.

Three letters.
One short vowel.
Two consonants.

Tiny words that quietly teach a child how language works.

And once that system clicks, reading stops being mysterious.

It becomes empowering.

---

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Teaching Kids to Read? Start with Their Age, Not the Alphabet

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When we think about teaching reading, we usually start with letters.

A. B. C.

But children don’t start with letters.

They start with sounds.

And more importantly — they start with different sound skills at different ages.

If you’re building a phonics app, designing a curriculum, or even just teaching your own child at home, understanding developmental milestones changes everything.

Let’s walk through what typically happens between ages 3 and 7 — and why rushing ahead often backfires.

---

Age 3–4: Recognize Rhymes

At this age, children aren’t ready to read.

But they are ready to hear patterns.

If you say:

“Cat… hat…”

They might giggle.

If you ask:

“Do cat and hat sound the same at the end?”

They can often tell you yes — even if they don’t know what a vowel is.

That’s because rhyming is about listening, not reading.

This is called phonological awareness — the ability to hear sound patterns in spoken language.

And it is the foundation of everything.

At 3–4, the goal isn’t spelling.
It isn’t blending.
It isn’t decoding.

It’s simply:

• Hearing similar endings

• Enjoying silly rhymes

• Playing with sound patterns

Songs, nursery rhymes, playful word swaps — these are powerful at this stage.

If you push reading too early here, you skip the listening stage. And when listening isn’t strong, decoding later becomes harder.

---

Age 4–5: Identify Beginning Sounds

Now the child starts noticing something new.

Not just that “cat” and “hat” rhyme…

But that:

Cat starts with “c”
Dog starts with “d”

This is the beginning of phonemic awareness — the ability to isolate individual sounds.

If you ask:

“What sound does ‘bat’ start with?”

They can begin to answer:

“Buh.”

Notice something important:

We focus on the sound — not the letter name.

Not “bee.”

But “buh.”

At this stage, children start connecting:

Sound → Symbol.

But only lightly.

This is not the stage for reading books independently.

This is the stage for:

• Sorting pictures by first sound

• Playing “I spy something that starts with mmm…”

• Matching sounds to letters casually

It’s discovery, not mastery.

And this is where many parents accidentally create frustration.

They see recognition of letters and assume readiness for reading.

But identifying a beginning sound is very different from blending sounds together.

---

Age 5–6: Blend CVC Words

This is the big leap.

This is where reading actually begins.

Now the child can take:

b – a – t

And blend it:

bat.

This skill — blending — is the core engine of decoding.

Without blending, reading becomes memorization.

With blending, reading becomes mechanical and repeatable.

At this stage, CVC words (consonant-vowel-consonant) are ideal:

cat
dog
map
sun
hat

They are clean, predictable, and phonetically regular.

This is also where confidence can skyrocket — or crash.

If you give a child blends (like “br” or “st”) too early, they may struggle.

If you give them irregular sight words too early, they may start guessing.

But if you stay with simple CVC patterns until blending feels automatic, something magical happens:

They realize reading is solvable.

It’s not magic.
It’s not memorization.
It’s sound logic.

And that realization builds confidence.

---

Age 6–7: Decode Independently

Now we move from “learning to read” to “reading to learn.”

By this stage, a child should be able to:

• Blend smoothly

• Recognize common patterns

• Decode unfamiliar CVC words

• Start handling blends and digraphs

They don’t need to memorize every word anymore.

They can attack new ones.

They see:

ship
thin
crab
brisk

And instead of freezing, they try.

That’s decoding independence.

This is also when reading fluency starts to matter.

Not just correctness — but smoothness.

Because now the brain has freed up enough energy from decoding to begin understanding meaning.

And that’s the true goal of reading.

---

Why This Progression Matters

When we skip steps, we create fragile readers.

For example:

Teaching sight words heavily at age 4 may create early performance — but weak decoding.

Pushing long vowel rules before short vowel mastery creates confusion.

Expecting independent reading before blending feels automatic creates anxiety.

But when the sequence matches development:

• Age 3–4 → Enjoy sound

• Age 4–5 → Notice sound

• Age 5–6 → Blend sound

• Age 6–7 → Decode confidently

The process feels natural.

Not forced.

---

If You’re Designing a Phonics App

This timeline should shape your features.

For 3–4:
Make it rhyme-heavy. Audio-first. Playful.

For 4–5:
Focus on beginning sound identification. Tap-the-picture games.

For 5–6:
Design blending animations. Word-building tools.

For 6–7:
Introduce decodable stories and fluency tracking.

The biggest mistake in EdTech is designing for a “generic child.”

Development matters.

Sequence matters.

And respecting cognitive readiness builds confidence instead of pressure.

---

Reading isn’t just about letters on a page.

It’s about wiring the brain in stages.

And when we match instruction to development, children don’t just learn to read.

They feel capable while doing it.

And that confidence — more than any word list — is what truly changes their future.

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Building a Phonics App? Think in Levels, Not Words

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When we teach a child to read, we often make one big mistake.

We teach words.

But children don’t learn reading word-by-word.
They learn it pattern-by-pattern.

If you’re building a phonics-focused SPA (or any early literacy product), the most powerful thing you can do is structure it as a progressive roadmap of sound mastery.

Here’s a simple, powerful 5-level framework that mirrors how children’s brains naturally develop reading ability.

---

🟢 Level 1 – CVC Words (cat, bat, map, pan)

This is where everything begins.

CVC stands for:

Consonant – Vowel – Consonant

Examples:

• cat

• bat

• hat

• pan

• map

• tap

Why start here?

Because CVC words are predictable. Clean. Decodable.

They teach a child the most important reading skill of all:

Blending sounds.

b + a + t → bat

This is where the brain first realizes:

“Oh… reading is just sounds joined together.”

Within this level, you group by word families:

• -at

• -an

• -ap

• -og

• -it

That way, the child isn’t memorizing 30 words.
They’re learning one sound pattern and swapping the first letter.

CVC mastery builds decoding confidence.

Without this foundation, everything else becomes memorization.

---

🟡 Level 2 – Blends (br, cr, st, tr)

Now we gently increase difficulty.

Instead of one consonant at the beginning, we introduce two that blend together:

• br → brush

• cr → crab

• st → star

• tr → tree

Notice something important:

In blends, both sounds are heard.

b + r → br
s + t → st

The child must now process:

Two consonant sounds → vowel → ending sound.

Cognitively, this is a big step up from CVC.

This is where phonemic awareness deepens.

But because they’ve already mastered blending in Level 1, this feels like a challenge — not a shock.

---

🔵 Level 3 – Digraphs (sh, ch, th)

Now we introduce something different.

Digraphs are pairs of letters that make one sound.

• sh → ship

• ch → chip

• th → thin

Here’s the twist:

In blends, both letters keep their sound.
In digraphs, the two letters become a new sound.

This requires a mental shift.

The child must now learn:

“Sometimes two letters behave like one.”

If your app visually groups these letters (for example, slightly closer spacing or same color), it helps reinforce this concept.

This level is powerful because it expands reading ability dramatically. Suddenly:

ship
shop
thin
chat

become decodable instead of mysterious.

---

🟣 Level 4 – Silent e (Magic e)

This is where things feel magical.

Because they are.

We teach the child:

When an “e” comes at the end, it changes the vowel sound.

cap → cape
tap → tape
hat → hate

This is the moment reading feels powerful.

The child sees:

“Wait… I can change the sound just by adding one letter?”

Silent e teaches:

• Long vowels

• Pattern transformation

• Predictive decoding

It’s not just a new rule — it’s a reading upgrade.

And because the child has already mastered short vowel sounds in Level 1, this makes sense rather than feeling random.

---

🔴 Level 5 – Sight Words

Now we introduce something different.

Sight words are words that don’t always follow decoding rules:

• the

• was

• said

• come

• you

These must be recognized instantly.

But here’s the important part:

Sight words should come after decoding skills are strong.

Why?

Because if you introduce too many irregular words too early, children start memorizing everything instead of decoding.

Decoding builds independence.

Sight words build fluency.

Both matter — but sequence matters more.

---

Why This Roadmap Works

This progression mirrors cognitive development.

It moves from:

Simple and predictable →
to complex but logical →
to rule-shifting patterns →
to exceptions.

Each level builds directly on the previous one.

It’s not random vocabulary expansion.
It’s structured neural layering.

---

If You’re Building a Phonics SPA

Here’s what this means practically:

Don’t unlock random words.

Unlock patterns.

Instead of:

“Today’s 20 new words”

Design:

“Today we master -at family”

And don’t move forward until blending feels automatic.

Your app becomes:

Less of a word game
More of a reading gym

---

The Bigger Picture

When a child masters:

CVC → Blends → Digraphs → Silent e → Sight words

They move from:

“I recognize some words”

to

“I can read.”

That shift is enormous.

It’s the difference between dependency and independence.

---

If you’re building long-term, this 5-level roadmap gives you:

• Curriculum clarity

• Feature sequencing

• UX progression

• Adaptive learning milestones

And most importantly:

It respects how the child’s brain actually develops.

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Habits for Happiness - Lessons from 'The 80/20 Principle' by Richard Koch

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What if happiness isn’t something that happens to us, but something we can actually practice?

In his book The 80/20 Principle, Richard Koch dedicates a chapter to happiness—how to cultivate it, sustain it, and make it a more consistent part of everyday life. Drawing inspiration from psychology and behavioral science, Koch reminds us that even though our temperament shapes us, it doesn’t have to define us.

As Daniel Goleman, author of Emotional Intelligence, says:

“Temperament is not destiny.”

That means we can learn happiness. It’s a skill—one that improves the more we practice it.

1. Surround Yourself with Happy People

One of Koch’s most practical insights is deceptively simple: associate more often with positive and happy people.

Think about it—our emotions are contagious. It’s much easier to be cheerful around someone who radiates joy than it is to lift your mood when surrounded by constant negativity. Being around people who find humor in small things, who bounce back from challenges, and who encourage others to smile—these people become catalysts for your own happiness.

If you can, build your social circle with those who uplift you. And if that’s not possible right now, even reading or listening to uplifting voices—through books, podcasts, or videos—can make a difference.

2. Move Your Body Every Day

Koch also stresses the importance of exercise in cultivating happiness. Physical activity is more than just a tool for fitness—it’s one of the brain’s most effective happiness boosters.

When you exercise, your body releases endorphins—those natural “feel-good” hormones that help relieve stress and elevate mood. In fact, exercise provides many of the same benefits as antidepressants—without the side effects or the cost.

So whether it’s a walk, a dance session, or a simple stretch routine, daily movement acts like a mental reset button. It’s a reminder that happiness often begins in the body before it reaches the mind.

3. Engage Your Creativity

Another key to lasting happiness is creativity. Koch suggests indulging in activities that let you create—not just consume. This could be painting, playing an instrument, writing, cooking, or even journaling.

Journaling, in particular, has become one of my favorite daily habits. It’s not about writing something profound—it’s about giving your thoughts room to breathe. When you journal, you slow down, reflect, and often stumble upon insights about yourself that you wouldn’t have found otherwise.

Creativity connects us to a deeper sense of purpose. It’s not about perfection—it’s about flow.

4. Stimulate Your Mind

Happiness thrives on curiosity. Koch recommends regularly doing things that stimulate your brain—like reading, traveling, having meaningful conversations, or practicing mindfulness.

Even small doses of these can transform your mindset. Reading a few pages before bed, exploring a new café in your neighborhood, or meditating for five minutes can each create micro-moments of peace and discovery.

For me, combining reading, journaling, and meditation has created a rhythm that keeps me grounded and centered.

5. Set Achievable Goals

Finally, Koch encourages us to think beyond daily habits and focus on medium- and long-term happiness. One way to do that is by setting achievable goals—and working steadily toward them.

Start simple. The goal doesn’t have to be grand—it just has to be attainable. Small wins build confidence, and over time, this creates a powerful sense of control and satisfaction.

Happiness, in this sense, isn’t about constant excitement—it’s about direction. When you’re moving toward something meaningful, even slowly, life feels fuller and more rewarding.

The 80/20 Rule of Happiness

Koch’s overarching philosophy—the 80/20 principle—applies beautifully to happiness. It suggests that 80% of our joy often comes from just 20% of our actions or relationships.

So, ask yourself:
What are the 20% of things that bring you the most happiness?
And how can you do more of them—more often, more consciously?

Because happiness doesn’t require a complete overhaul of your life. Sometimes, it’s just about focusing on what already works.

Final Thoughts

Happiness isn’t luck, and it isn’t magic—it’s a habit.
From surrounding yourself with joyful people to keeping your body active, from nurturing creativity to setting simple goals—each habit becomes a brick in the foundation of a more content, fulfilling life.

And as Koch reminds us, if you practice these small shifts long enough, happiness stops being a goal and becomes a way of being.

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Rewrite Your Mindset: How Journaling Rewires Your Brain for Positivity

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5 Key Takeaways

• Journaling activates the prefrontal cortex, boosting rational thinking and positivity.
• Writing about emotions calms the amygdala, reducing anxiety and making room for positive feelings.
• Gratitude journaling builds neural pathways linked to happiness and appreciation.
• Journaling encourages cognitive reframing, helping you interpret situations more positively.
• Regular journaling strengthens memory and self-awareness, making positive reflections easier to recall.

How Journaling Can Train Your Brain to Be More Positive
Have you ever wondered why so many people swear by journaling? It turns out, putting pen to paper isn’t just a way to vent your feelings—it can actually change your brain and help you become a more positive person. Here’s how journaling works its magic, according to science:
1. It Activates Your “Thinking” Brain

When you write about your feelings, you’re using the prefrontal cortex—the part of your brain that helps you think clearly, solve problems, and stay positive. This means journaling can help you process emotions in a healthier, more logical way.
2. It Calms Your “Fear Center”

The amygdala is the part of your brain that handles fear and anxiety. When you journal about stressful thoughts, it helps calm this area down. As a result, you feel less anxious and make more room for positive emotions.
3. It Builds Gratitude Pathways

Writing about things you’re grateful for isn’t just a feel-good exercise. It actually strengthens the brain circuits linked to happiness and appreciation. Over time, this makes it easier for you to notice the good things in life.
4. It Helps You See Things Differently

Journaling teaches your brain to “reframe” situations. Instead of focusing on what went wrong, you start to see challenges in a more positive light. This skill, called cognitive reframing, boosts your resilience and helps you bounce back from setbacks.
5. It Improves Memory and Learning

When you reflect on positive experiences in your journal, you’re giving your hippocampus—a part of the brain that handles memory—a workout. This makes it easier to remember good times and lessons learned.
6. It Lets You Release Emotional Baggage

Expressive writing is like a mental detox. By getting your worries out of your head and onto paper, you stop them from swirling around in your mind. This frees up space for optimism and new ideas.
7. It Boosts Self-Awareness and Control

The more you journal, the better you get at noticing your thoughts and feelings. This self-awareness helps you catch negative spirals early and choose a more positive mindset.
8. It Shows You How Far You’ve Come

Looking back at old journal entries is a great way to see your own growth. Noticing your progress can boost your confidence and remind you of your resilience.
So, if you’re looking for a simple way to train your brain for positivity, grab a notebook and start journaling. Your future self will thank you!

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Unlock Your Calm: 9 Dalai Lama Habits for Students

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Unlock Your Calm: 9 Daily Habits Students Can Learn from the Dalai Lama

Hey students! Feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or just a bit scattered? Imagine having a calmer mind and sharper focus. While you might not be able to escape to a mountain monastery, you *can* borrow incredible wisdom from one of the world's most peaceful figures: the Dalai Lama. His daily routine offers simple habits that can transform your student life. Ready to boost your brainpower and find inner calm? Let's explore!

9 Habits for a Calmer, Sharper You:

1.  **Start with Quiet Time:** The Dalai Lama meditates early. You can adapt this by dedicating just 5-10 minutes each morning to quiet breathing or silent reflection. This settles your mind, preparing you for the day ahead.

2.  **Read with Purpose:** He studies deeply. For you, this means focused reading – whether academic material or meaningful literature. It strengthens your attention span and develops critical thinking.

3.  **Practice Daily Kindness:** "If you want to be happy, practice compassion." Commit to one small act daily, like helping a classmate or expressing appreciation. It reduces your stress and builds emotional intelligence.

4.  **Live in the Moment:** Mindfulness is central to his practice. Focus entirely on current activities during meals, walks, or study. This improves memory retention and reduces anxiety.

5.  **Clear Your Mind Through Writing:** Self-inquiry is key. Keep a simple daily journal to record thoughts and challenges. This eliminates mental clutter and helps process difficult emotions.

6.  **Develop Emotional Patience:** Patience is a core virtue. Before reacting emotionally to frustration with professors or grades, pause. This develops emotional regulation and improves communication.

7.  **Connect with Your Deeper Purpose:** His life shows service-driven purpose. Regularly remind yourself why education matters beyond grades. Reflect on long-term aspirations to sustain resilience.

8.  **Include Regular Movement:** Daily walking and stretching are part of his routine. Take brief walking breaks between study periods. This enhances cognitive function and maintains optimal brain performance.

9.  **Create Digital Boundaries:** He avoids excessive distractions for mental clarity. Establish screen time limits and designate tech-free periods each evening. This promotes mental clarity and self-reflection.

Adopting these habits isn't about becoming a monk; they're powerful practices for your busy student life. By embracing even a few, you can cultivate a calmer mind, sharper focus, and a more fulfilling academic journey. Give them a try – your future self will thank you!

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Do I need to find a purpose in life? — Mingyur Rinpoche

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Have you ever feel that I don't know how to do with my life? Yeah? Actually, you're not alone. Most people feel like that kind of feeling. And when we look around the most like society and the world normally expecting or forcing us to have great purpose, meaning of life. When we discuss with our friends, family and workplace, in the society, looks like everybody is forcing us, you need to find your own purpose. But most people not. So why is that? So, in our meditation traditional what we call "everything is impermanent". And "everything is interdependent", meaning cause and condition. Like for example, some scientists they find the greatest discovery. But this discovery is not there when they begin to look for those, right? So you just kind of like have many different ideas. And you try, do some experiment. Then you find something. Then you go forward. And at the same time life is up and down because of impermanent. What we call life is like wave of the ocean. But the most important thing is, we are more than what we believe. So actually you have what we call everybody has this basic innate goodness. So you have awareness, love and compassion, wisdom, skill potential capacity. So, the most important is be present be with you right now. And then follow the flow of life with use your own wisdom. Your own love, compassion, skills, try your best. But don't you tie on the result. So then maybe you can find the better meaning of life rather than forcing yourself that I need to find a single meaning and the perfect that is difficult. When you force something that thing disappears, right? So be here now be present and believe in yourself and try your best. But don't tie on the result. 

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What Actually Matters in Your 30s

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Forget the Checklists. Focus on What Compounds.

Your 20s are a decade of chasing: titles, milestones, aesthetics. You’re busy collecting highlights that look good from the outside. But when you hit your 30s, the game changes. Quietly, but profoundly.

This isn’t a time to keep checking boxes — it’s a time to build foundations. Because what you build now, while you still have energy, curiosity, and time on your side, will echo through every decade that follows. Compound interest doesn’t just apply to money. It applies to habits, relationships, health, and choices.

The biggest mistake most people make? Optimizing for the wrong things. Climbing ladders leaning against walls they never meant to scale. Spending their best years chasing things that won’t matter five years from now — let alone 50.

So what does matter?

Financial habits that compound.
It’s not about getting rich. It’s about giving your future self options. Start investing. Automate your savings. Understand the cost of delay. Every dollar you invest in your 30s could be worth 10x in retirement. Your greatest financial asset isn’t a high-return stock — it’s time.

Career choices with long-term alignment.
Stop chasing titles. Start chasing fulfillment. Take risks while you still have room to recover. Define success on your terms. Ask: Are you growing? Are you building skills that compound? Is your work aligned with your values?

Relationships that nourish.
Your 30s are for curating, not collecting. Choose people who make your life feel fuller. Deepen your friendships. Invest in your partner. Spend more time with those who truly matter — and less with your feed.

Health habits that last.
Your 20s let you get away with everything. Your 30s start keeping score. Focus on sleep. Move daily. Manage your mental health before burnout hits. Small habits, repeated daily, will do more than any 30-day transformation.

Mindsets that evolve.
Let go of perfection. Embrace growth. Say no more often. Choose depth over distraction. Trade hustle for intentionality. Your 30s aren’t about being flawless — they’re about being real and resilient.

The throughline? Integration. Each part — money, career, relationships, health — affects the others. Strength in one area gives you flexibility in the others. Your 30s are a decade of strategic investment in the person you’re becoming.

The real question isn’t am I behind?
It’s: Am I building something I’ll be proud of when I’m 80?

Because that’s what actually matters.

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'Thinking, Fast and Slow' writer Daniel Kahneman chose to end his own life, says report

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Renowned psychologist Daniel Kahneman opted for assisted suicide in Switzerland, sharing his decision with close friends. He believed the burdens of life would outweigh its benefits. His choice, seen by some as consistent with his research, was deeply personal and not intended as a public statement.

Nobel Laureate and a psychologist, best known for his work on psychology of judgment and decision-making as well as behavioural economics, Daniel Kahneman took the decision of ending his own life, a Wall Street Journal report said.

The report, published on Friday, said that shortly before Kahneman died in March last year, he sent an email to his friends saying that he was choosing to end his own life in Switzerland.

“I have believed since I was a teenager that the miseries and indignities of the last years of life are superfluous, and I am acting on that belief. Most people hate changing their minds,” he said, “but I like to change my mind. It means I’ve learned something…” read the email Kahneman wrote to his friends before flying to Switzerland.

While the world mourned his death last year, only close friends and family knew that it transpired at an assisted-suicide facility in Switzerland. “Some are still struggling to come to terms with his decision,” the report said. 

His last email went on to say: “I am not embarrassed by my choice, but I am also not interested in making it a public statement. The family will avoid details about the cause of death to the extent possible, because no one wants it to be the focus of the obits. Please avoid talking about it for a few days.”

Who was Daniel Kahneman? 

Kahneman was one the world's most influential thinkers, a psychologist at Princeton University, winner of the Nobel Prize in economics in 2002 and author of the international bestseller ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ published in 2011. 

Born on March 5, 1934, in Tel Aviv, British Mandate of Palestine (now Israel), Kahneman lived in Paris but moved to Palestine with his mother and sister after his father's death in 1944. 

He studied psychology at Hebrew University and the University of California, earning his Ph.D. in 1961. Kahneman researched on decision-making under uncertainty resulting in the formulation of a new branch of economic, prospect theory.

Kahneman's award wining research

“Before his groundbreaking research, economists had long assumed that human beings are rational. By that, they meant that people’s beliefs are internally consistent, they make decisions based on all the relevant information and their preferences don’t change,” the WSJ said.  

However, Kahneman refuted this definition of rationality. He also did not contend that people are irrational. Instead, he argued that “they are inconsistent, emotional and easily fooled—most easily of all, by themselves… In short, he made the case that people are neither rational nor irrational; they are, simply, human," the report said.

His decision to take his life

The WSJ report added, “Some of Kahneman’s friends think what he did was consistent with his own research. ‘Right to the end, he was a lot smarter than most of us,’ says Philip Tetlock, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania. ‘But I am no mind reader. My best guess is he felt he was falling apart, cognitively and physically. And he really wanted to enjoy life and expected life to become decreasingly enjoyable. I suspect he worked out a hedonic calculus of when the burdens of life would begin to outweigh the benefits—and he probably foresaw a very steep decline in his early 90s.. I have never seen a better-planned death than the one Danny designed'.”

His friends and family say that Kahneman’s choice was purely personal; he didn’t endorse assisted suicide for anyone else and never wished to be viewed as advocating it for others.

Some of his friends knew about his plans before he went to Switzerland. Despite their efforts to talk him into deferring his decision, he wouldn't budge. In fact, he had to ask a friend to stop after they relentlessly pleaded with him. 

“Life was certainly precious to him. Kahneman and his Jewish family had spent much of his childhood hiding from the Nazis in southern France during the Holocaust. ‘We were hunted like rabbits,’ he said,” the WSJ said. 

His final words in his final email were: “I discovered after making the decision that I am not afraid of not existing, and that I think of death as going to sleep and not waking up. The last period has truly not been hard, except for witnessing the pain I caused others. So if you were inclined to be sorry for me, don’t be,” the report said.

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Tags: Behavioral Science,Psychology,Emotional Intelligence,