On turning thirty-three biologically (well, you know how it is with official document -> doesn’t align with actual birthday -> typical South Asian culture when I grew up in Nepal). Over the years – accumulated via struggles, crisis, healing and in between of small moments in life – I think these things have helped me to get things in life…I would not say “sorted out”, but I think at 33 I have found few things that has struck a chord in my heart and “being” in general. Might probably sounds cliche…
- Practicing mindfulness smoothes out the rough surface area of life.
- Mind your breath. When in doubt, take a long deep breath and feel your breath. It’s right now, right this moment that matters. Take a long deep breath. Beware of your reality. Again.
- Meditation, every now and then. Could be walking hours. Could be at workspace. A dedicated schedule. Feeling yourself, your thoughts, body, mind… and the world… everything in between.
- Journal your thoughts. No matter how small, how big. Crisis. Poetic. Gratitude. Suffering. Sadness. Laughter. Anything. Gives you clarity.
- Track your expenses. Has helped me optimize my financial decisions in life.
- Eat healthy. Getting in that “rainbow spectrum” helps you get so many things into your physical system -> directly connects to your mental being.
- Exercise. Move. Yoga. Running. Walks, short or long. Stretches. Crunches. Pushups. Pullups. Planks. Whatever you can do: just do it!
- Crisis in, crisis out. Existential crises are here to stay. (See: [[2023: A life in transition, same yet different]])
- Observe and introspect your thoughts and actions. Helps you understand your biases and the unintended actions you exhibit on the external world.
- Don’t hesitate to apologize whenever you feel you fucked it up.
- Speak your heart out. Every time you get an opportunity.
- Gratitude healing. Close your eyes, think about things you’re grateful for. Anything. Right this moment, whatever you think of.
- Manage your responsibilities, everywhere. Family. Friends. Colleagues. Managers. Organization. Relationship.
- Adulthood and aloneness. Loneliness. It keeps on deepening unless you work on your relationships with people. (I suck at this deeply!)
- Reach out first. Don’t wait to be asked how you’ve been. Everyone is waiting for the same text.
- Having a pet helps you understand “unconditional love” so much. I love my cat, Nessa! She’s a cute little girl… :)
- Let go of your past self, but do understand your roots. You are what you were conditioned in the past. It’s okay to feel deeply sad sometimes.
- Sometimes “the past” comes haunting you in the moments you are so vulnerable.
- Be proud of your past self. All the hardships and difficulties, and suffering. It only made you stronger… 🌻 :)
- It’s okay to feel vulnerable. Vulnerability is what makes you grounded to your “self”.
- Trade the transactional for the Deep and the Meaningful.
- It’s okay to feel that life is inconsequential. It’s okay to feel like nothing matters really. But look at yourself, your past, the things you are connected to in life… (See: [[Life: Struggle, Absurdity and Happiness]])
- Nobody is coming to save you. Everyone is deep in their own shit. Your own actualizations are the only rescue that’s ever shown up.
- Don’t hesitate to update your priors and beliefs. Keep learning. Keep growing.
- Zoom out. Watch the birds. Look at the sky, the clouds, the stars, the eclipse. Your inner self. The external factors. Everything. The insignificance makes you feel alive perhaps.
- Cleaning is therapeutic. Cleaning the house, physical space… digital space… everything. Heals mind and body.
- Work doesn’t define your “self.” You will burn out treating a job like your identity. And when you do, say it out loud: to your manager, to your friends, in writing…
- Reformulate your issues, if things are not working out.
- Fall in love. With someone. With yourself. With the world. With everything. Awe-ism.
- Understand impermanence. Anicca. Gives you perspective about your own issues, suffering, happiness – and that of the world… everything. (See: [[Vipassana Re-treat]], [[Vipassana Retreat II]], [[Attachments to desires]])
- Make things. Build things. Art. Poetry. Music. Prose. Creative freedom helps you express yourself.
- It’s okay to seek help. Ask whenever you can…
- Birthdays. New years… are just checkpoints, not the absolute milestones. You have your own pace. But just keep going! (See: [[About Time, Life and Values]])
Metta! ❤️ 🌻