2022

As 2022 begins to draw its curtains, I write this feeling like a new man. As I have told those closest to me, I would like to think of 2022 as the visual turning point on a graph (if I were to put my life on a graph, x axis being the years and the y axis being simplified to progress and regress).

- Just like a craft, the more precise repetition, the better you get at it. The same could be said about who you are. As I began to know who I really am, I began to get my own style. A style which doesn't really on material possessions but spurred by true beliefs from a collaboration between the mind, the body and the soul. (Me last year in 2021 would have scoffed if I ever read myself write something like that)

- Eliminating noise. Whether it be excessive food, possessions, habits, thoughts, people... I have been consistently and steadily removing anything unnecessary out of my life. Of course, there are times when my categorisation of what is necessary and what isn't has been wrong but through time, I begin to de-clutter my life. Unlearning is the greatest form of learning. Be concise, silence is golden. And as per law of attraction, similar energy will attract.

- An extension to the above point, I am trying to live below my means. A well made $50 shirt covers the same body stylistically as a $300 shirt without the brand. This seems obvious but growing up in my youth, people around me were quite conscious of brands and that definitely seeped through my mind and my surface level desires. I threw out as much of this as I could.

- As my father often says, do what you don't like the most. If we choose to avoid it, it most likely is because it is hard. I get that blanket approaches don't always work but for me, getting up early, going to exercise, eating healthy, not going out all the time... from big to small things, we avoid things that require us to put in effort. Our growth and elimination of this unnecessary lies within us going through the dissonance within the discourse.

- My strict upbringing was made to make or break me. Life is much like that too, it will make or break you. If it breaks you and you give up, that's where your chapter closes and that is who you will be. Those that make it through to the end (although there is no end!), will 'make it' in whatever they desire. It is within this constant, life long repetitions of dissonance, where we will find answers.

- Finding my rhythm. This is abstract and very underrated. Imagine walking and having to think about each step. It would be clunky and lacking rhythm. We all need our rhythm and once we have it and we are in the zone, we need to ride it for however long we can sustainably go for. Be goal oriented, be task driven. And importantly, if your rhythm is disrupted, which inevitably it will be, be adaptive and resilient to get back to it. Lightly, not desperately. Be patient.

- Humans can only really master one maybe two things. Dig deeper, not wider. As a martial artist, my dad tells me, do one technique really well. For me, it would be my side kick. Revolve things around that. As Bruce Lee would say, he would fear the person who practices one technique 10000 times over 10000 techniques, once.

- We are here today because of the choices we made yesterday. Our life is a series of moments at some place at some time. As life is never to be in control of, we should safeguard ourselves where ever possible. Protect the mind! It is more important than food or water. Of course, oxygen comes first. The mind runs with us 24/7 and dictates where our life will go. Date yourself, sit with your thoughts.

- Tread lightly. Don't be so serious. Even amongst the highest of achievers and those who chase the wildest dreams and ambitions, I respect those who can do it with a smile and a joke. Humans are creatures of community and sharing. When you are kinder to yourself, you are kinder to the world. Enjoy the journey, more than the destination. There is really no destination, but a life long journey. We don't need to prove anything even to ourselves. Keep your learnings and your life internalised. Despite social media's paradigms, we don't need to blow our trumpets. Keep your circle small, live life off the phone.

- Life is a constant act of balancing the see saw. We will never find that perfect spot, we go too far to the right, we come back to the left. And that is how it should be. So too are the reasons to fight. I believe they can change constantly, although sometimes can be very slightly.

- Similarly to the above, we have two selves, just like the story of two wolves. It is a constant battle and that is okay. We need to feed both of our selves, the good and the bad.

- Practicing true gratitude, practicing positivity, practicing love. These are NOT MAGICAL moments. Don't chase feelings. Feelings such as motivational bursts, are all temporary and volatile. Discipline, love, everything that is meaningful takes ONGOING practicing. This takes effort and consistency. Love will always trump hate.

- The ego. I believe the ego is not just a big hulking aggressive man but a silent protester who refuses to cooperate. When things are too hard, this ego tells you to run away. We must defeat this ego, occasionally let it slip as per balance, and remind ourselves this is not truly who we are. Our souls once understood will always shine brighter than whatever conditioned consciousness we have created throughout our lives. We have two lives, one when we are born and the other when we realise we have not been living like who we are truly are.

Thank you.