Peel your thoughts and emotions day by day. Question your beliefs. Question your desires. Question everything: your relationships, your dreams, your fears, plans, needs, wants, reactions, dramas, envies, biases, thought process, and perspective. Challenge everything you think you know. Challenge everything you believe as the truth. Reflect on your mistakes — learn. Try something new. …
Creating with Less Stress
5 years ago, I was a novice web writer. 5 years ago, I was a novice metal songwriter. I think I still am. I don’t see myself as an expert. I’m still learning. The only difference is, I now have the experience. I know what it takes. I know how it feels to fail and …
The Art of Catching Yourself
Can you catch yourself every time you get mad at something beyond your control? Can you catch yourself every time you beat yourself up for failing to achieve your desired outcome? Can you catch yourself every time you berate your spouse for his/her inadequacy? Can you catch yourself every time you want to prove you’re …
Not the Best, But Useful
We think being the best will lead us to success. But that’s not always the case. In reality, what most people really want is not the best. People want what is useful (to them). If you can be useful to others, you’re way more ahead than those trying to become the best. How can we …
Flush Them Out
It sucks when you do something good for others but they hurt you instead. But does it really matter if they hurt you? Would that change the fact that you exist? Will that make the world explode? The world doesn’t care about your feelings. People fuck up. And you may be the victim. But who …
Old Belief, New Belief
I bought 2 identical padlocks for our two rooms. Here, take a look: Padlock 1 was for our bedroom. Padlock 2 was for our home office. But there’s one problem: Padlock 2 couldn’t fit. On the other hand, Padlock 1 fit well. The staple was big enough. I didn’t want to wallow in frustration, right …
Money or Time? Awareness and Boundary
What most modern people want is to have enough money and more time. Money + Time = Ideal life But we have to remember the tradeoff (there’s always a tradeoff). Earning more money (the right way) would consume time. There’s a sacrifice. We might consider setting aside some hobbies or entertainment, and instead, use our …
10 Truths I Learned at 30
Last Aug 2019, I turned 30. What a year. This post should have been posted last year. But as usual, life gets in the way. Did a lot of things. Learned a lot of new things. You can check the truths I learned at 29 here. 1. The pain or adversity we experience today will …
You are “You”
“At the end of the day, it’s just you.” I’m not sure what that quote means for you. But I think about it this way: No matter what I do or what others do, at the end of the day, I still end up with myself. I’m still inside this body. This is a good …
It’s Happening Right Now
My wife and I moved into a new house 4 months ago. It was an abrupt decision. We weren’t prepared. But we took our chances. And glad, we made it. For the past 4 months, everything felt messy. I had to balance working (we both work from home) and organizing the house, and assisting my …
My Happiness Formula
I didn’t invent this. But you can try. Gratitude + Contentment + Acceptance Gratitude: Grateful for everything I have. Grateful for the time I can spend with the people I love. Grateful for being alive and healthy and safe. Grateful I can still do things that give me joy. I can still be useful. Contentment: …
It’s Not Their Fault
You have a dream. You want to become a painter. You want to become a musician. A novelist. A dancer. A scientist. You want to start your own small business. You want to start a tech company. But your parents, your relatives, and every person you know disagree because your dream won’t make you rich. …
Change it, Leave it, Accept it
In almost every circumstance, we only have 3 choices: Change Leave Accept If we can’t change it, then leave. If we can’t leave, then change. If we can’t change or leave, then accept whatever it is. But we all know that changing or leaving may lead to consequences we might regret. And accepting is easier …
Nobody Wants to Suffer, But That’s What We Need (Sometimes)
In the middle of suffering, we wish it to end. We wish to be in a different situation where everything feels pleasurable and smooth. But it is through suffering that we learn the most about life. The more we experience it, the more we become wiser. Suffering gives us a new perspective on what it …
Extracts from Motivational Speeches
I wouldn’t lie. A lot of motivational speeches on YouTube are fascinating. Thanks to those who compiled them. Yes, most of them are clichés. But who cares. Clichés are reminders. Everyone needs reminders or maybe a boost, especially when feeling down. Words are powerful. Here are a few that I happen to reflect a lot …