Latest news with #RobertGreene
Time of India
4 days ago
- General
- Time of India
How to instantly read people's true emotions, reveals renowned author
In any social situation, whether it's a business negotiation, a first date, or a casual conversation, what someone says may not always clearly show what they truly feel. Beneath polite smiles or carefully chosen words, people often hide their real emotions. But according to Robert Greene, bestselling author of The Laws of Human Nature and The 48 Laws of Power, there's a small but powerful trick to catch someone's genuine feelings before they can actually conceal them, this can be done by observing their face the moment they first notice you, by a little trick! Greene writes, 'Approach someone from the side and catch their initial micro-expression before they can mask it.' This technique is based on the psychological concept of micro-expressions. These expressions can be described as those momentary, involuntary facial expressions that reveal true emotions before a person can consciously conceal them. These expressions often last less than half a second but can offer deep information into what someone is really thinking or feeling. According to Greene, the element of surprise is essential here. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Semua yang Perlu Anda Ketahui Tentang Limfoma Limfoma Pelajari Undo When someone approaches from the front, people have a few seconds to compose themselves. But when you approach from the side, they often reveal a raw emotional reaction before their social filters kick in. This secret trick, which was revealed by the author, also aligns closely with the work of renowned psychologist Dr. Paul Ekman, who has extensively studied human facial expressions. Ekman discovered that micro-expressions are universal and tied to basic human emotions like anger, sadness, fear, surprise, and happiness. They are hardwired into our biology and occur regardless of age, culture, or background. This makes them powerful tools for reading people, if you know how to spot them. Greene's advice builds on this research, suggesting that those initial seconds of facial reaction are often more honest than an entire conversation. How to use this in the real world? In daily life, this hidden trick can be quite useful. For example, in a business meeting, it can help to understand how a colleague truly feels about a proposal, even if they're being diplomatic in their response. In personal relationships, one might catch a flicker of disappointment, excitement, or nervousness before your partner even says a word. However, Greene also warns readers not to jump to conclusions too quickly. Observing micro-expressions accurately takes time, patience, and practice. Misreading them can lead to false assumptions. He advises being calm, observant, and nonjudgmental while applying this skill. Robert Greene believes that people show more in a few quick seconds than they ever do with words. It's all about noticing those small, natural reactions that happen before someone has the chance to hide or control them. We all wear emotional masks, whether it's to be polite, protect ourselves, or come across a certain way. But if one can catch that tiny, unfiltered moment before the mask goes on, they get a real idea of what someone's actually feeling.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Time of India
Techie's cry for ‘purpose on weekends' sparks conversation on identity burnout in corporate life. Netizens say, ‘you're not alone'
It started with a simple, soul-baring post on Reddit's r/developersIndia — a backend Java developer with five years of experience posed an honest, quietly devastating question: "What do you work on during weekends?" But what followed wasn't just a list of tech hacks or productivity tips. It was an outpouring of emotion from a generation of developers grappling with an unsettling truth: when your job defines your worth, what remains when the deadlines vanish? #Pahalgam Terrorist Attack India much better equipped to target cross-border terror since Balakot India conducts maiden flight-trials of stratospheric airship platform Pakistan shuts ports for Indian ships after New Delhi bans imports from Islamabad The original poster (OP) laid bare their paradox. Proficient in Spring, problem-solving, and software design, they enjoy coding at work — and yet, weekends hit like a void. 'I think of building solutions,' they wrote, 'but everything already exists.' Even the idea of learning something new is clouded by the existential question: What's the point, if AI can just generate it anyway? This spiral of doubt — not quite burnout, not quite boredom — captured something deeper. The post struck a nerve, quickly garnering hundreds of responses. What emerged wasn't just advice. It was a mirror held up to the modern tech worker's soul. Beyond the Code: The Identity Crisis Lurking in Plain Sight The most upvoted comment didn't mince words. 'You're not struggling with weekend productivity ,' it declared. 'You're struggling with the fact that you've let your job become your entire identity.' It echoed a discomfort many professionals have long internalized: a life so tightly tethered to work that the absence of structure feels like a crisis of self. The comment hit a nerve for a reason. With hybrid work models and always-on connectivity, the lines between personal and professional lives have blurred into oblivion. And for many in tech, particularly developers, their skills are not just tools — they're personas. So, when there's no Jira ticket to solve, no deployment deadline to meet, a frightening question arises: Who am I outside of all this? You Might Also Like: Google techie's viral post sparks debate on work-life balance in big tech. Netizen says, 'you get paid more than 40 LPA' Scroll, Overthink, Repeat: The New-Age Weekend Dilemma Another user chimed in with a different angle, asking a question that feels all too familiar: 'Do you still have energy on weekends?' Even those who enjoy their jobs find themselves drained by Friday evening, marooned on their couch, endlessly scrolling, trapped between guilt and inertia. Yet others responded with long, impassioned lists of books, skills, and tools to master — from Isaac Asimov's I, Robot and Robert Greene's psychological deep-dives, to Blender 3D design and shell scripting. 'Be so good at making your computer work for you,' urged one commenter, turning the weekend into a personal renaissance project. The implicit message: You're not stuck — you're sleeping on the best version of yourself. iStock Even those who enjoy their jobs find themselves drained by Friday evening, marooned on their couch, endlessly scrolling, trapped between guilt and inertia. From Side Hustles to Selfhood: The Many Roads to Reinvention Still, not every response was a call to optimize. One user took the liberating route: 'Find a hobby . For me it's biking and gaming.' Another suggested contributing to open-source projects, combining passion with purpose — a subtle reminder that growth doesn't always need to be monetized or strategic. In the age of AI, where generative tools can whip up code, design, and even content in seconds, developers are questioning not just what they should learn — but why . The very foundations of craftsmanship are shifting, leaving even seasoned professionals disoriented. You Might Also Like: Bengaluru techie compares salary vs career vs life in Dubai, USA, and India. His final verdict will surprise you But perhaps the most compelling takeaway from the thread wasn't a solution, but a sentiment: You're not alone in this strange, searching phase of your career. And maybe, just maybe, weekends are not for productivity at all — but for rediscovering joy, meaning, and an identity untethered from your job title. The Algorithm Can't Tell You Who You Are What began as one developer's quiet confession has now evolved into a rallying cry of sorts — a digital bonfire where coders and creators gather not to fix bugs, but to confront bigger glitches within. The post might fade from Reddit's homepage soon, replaced by the next trending topic. But its resonance lingers. In the silence of our weekends, it asks us to confront something louder than any Slack ping: Who are we when we're not 'doing' anything? And in a world run increasingly by algorithms, that might be the most human question of all.
