In Part 1, I shared reflections on developing positive mindsets and habits. Now in Part 2, we’ll dive deeper into fostering skills like reading, writing and listening. Cultivating such abilities nurtures understanding through varied viewpoints.
I’m eager to explore more lessons learned from walking my own winding road. So without further ado, let’s dive straight into the good stuff!
When Life Throws Curveballs, See the Blessing in Disguise
This piece of advice may sound familiar, as it echoes the sentiments of ‘Seizing Opportunities Without Regrets’ in Part 1. However, here, I will approach the topic from a different perspective. So, please, stick with me and enjoy the read!
If I could send advice back to my younger self, I’d want to instill the belief that we can shape our own reality. Concepts from the intriguing film ‘What the Bleep Do We Know?!’ explore how our thoughts and mindset sculpt our world. Visionary thinkers like Dr. Joe Dispenza and Dr. Bruce Lipton provide scientific insights into how our beliefs and emotions can profoundly influence our biology and what unfolds in our lives. You can gain another view into this topic by reading Maciek’s post about core beliefs.
I’ve gained a new appreciation for life’s curveballs and challenges. I now see them as opportunities for growth rather than obstacles. Every struggle or failure serves a purpose—it pushes you one step closer to self-discovery and forging the path you’re meant to walk. When you’re deep in the trenches of a struggle though, it’s hard to see the bigger picture. A bad breakup or failing an important exam can feel earth-shattering in the moment. But in time, you realize it was just one scene in the long play of your life.
I used to agonize over difficulties and dwell on worries. But experience has taught me not to take life too seriously or dramatize every trial. Those old troubles that once kept me up at night seem far less significant now. They were guideposts shaping me into the person I am today.
My mindset now is – there are no real wrong turns or coincidences. If plans change or you fail, get curious. Learn, grow, and redirect yourself positively. Trust it’s all happening for a reason to put you on your true intended path, even if you can’t see that reason yet. This aligns with principles that go by different names, but refer to the same idea – like the law of attraction or karma. What you put out into the world echoes back. With an outlook of positivity and gratitude, you tend to draw more good your way.
My dearest friend embodies this spirited mindset. Even when obstacles arise, she stays vibrant with passionate energy for life. It’s as if the universe conspires to help her. I think her magic lies in maintaining immense gratitude for each moment and blessing.
I’ll never forget a day when everything flowed effortlessly, as if the world were working in my favor. My family was under the weather, but I was energized and eager to help. I went shopping to get groceries and supplies for everyone, paying in cash. It was only later that I realized I’d left my wallet at home, and I had spent nearly all the cash in my pocket, leaving me with only a couple of cents. Surprisingly, nothing went wrong; it all worked out fine. Coincidence? I do not think so.
This experience reminded me of a story that Indra Devi shared in her book ‘Forever Young, Forever Healthy.’ Through fierce concentration, she manifested exactly what she needed: a clip to fasten a flower in her hair, somewhere on the floor – an unlikely event. Our minds have the power to lift us up or defeat us. Indra claims that with focused intention, we can achieve the outcomes we desire.
I’m still working on fully embracing this positive perspective during life’s ups and downs. But experience keeps revealing that setbacks are never final. Like when I missed the deadline for an exam I needed to study abroad. Or that first devastating university exam failure. I wanted to bury myself, seeing it as disastrous! Yet it led me to new adventures – a prestigious research job where I met my wonderful partner. It is indeed true that the saying goes, “When one door closes, it opens unforeseen ones.”
So the message here is clear: when plans unravel, don’t dramatize – redirect yourself positively. Stay open to life’s surprises. Trust each failure has a purpose to guide you where you’re meant to be. There are no wrong turns, just unexpected new directions leading you exactly where you need to go.
Cultivating the Habits of Reading and Writing: A Key to Personal Growth and Success
Reflecting on my life, I wish I had dedicated more time and energy to reading and writing, particularly in my vibrant and energetic twenties. Nurturing the habit of reading in one’s formative years lays a solid foundation for the future, as it equips you with knowledge—a form of power that can be harnessed when put into practice. Moreover, reading from diverse topics at a young age sets the stage for a successful journey, for knowledge is power, and embracing it is a choice.
Reading not only broadens one’s perspectives by exposing them to new ideas but also enhances creativity and imaginative thinking. By opening the doors to various case scenarios, reading enables us to explore possibilities we might not have otherwise considered. This expanded worldview, in turn, fosters open-mindedness, as it encourages the consideration of others’ perspectives, even if they are not always agreed upon.
In addition to these benefits, reading boosts cognitive development and critical thinking skills, while simultaneously enriching vocabulary and language abilities. These skills are invaluable in today’s world, where effective communication is vital to success in nearly every profession.
To summarize, the key benefits of regularly reading include:
- Broadening one’s perspectives by exposing them to new ideas
- Enhancing creativity and imaginative thinking through exploring various scenarios
- Fostering open-mindedness by encouraging consideration of different viewpoints
- Boosting cognitive development and critical thinking skills
- Enriching vocabulary and language abilities
Growing up, I was an avid reader, a habit instilled in me by my mother. However, during my university years, I found myself drifting away from this habit, as the constant exposure to academic texts left me craving relaxation and leisure. Regrettably, I lost touch with this enriching practice, only to rediscover its value post-PhD. I now realize that countless remarkable books await discovery, and I lament the time I’ve lost.
As for writing, I have never been particularly skilled at crafting engaging and imaginative texts. My comfort zone has always been numbers, and I struggled to link paragraphs and create cohesive narratives. Despite my proficiency in grammar, I lacked the creativity and imagination necessary to excel in writing. However, through dedicated efforts like daily journaling, I have sharpened and refined my writing skills.
Journaling, as Jordan Peterson emphasizes in his book ’12 Rules for Life’, can be a powerful tool for self-discovery and personal growth. Peterson encourages his readers to write in a journal daily, as it helps clarify one’s thoughts and emotions. By putting complex emotions into words, we can gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our motivations. Writing enables us to uncover our genuine, authentic selves that often lie beneath surface-level rationalizations.
For example, when we write about why we love a partner, we may discover underlying reasons that we had never explicitly considered. By reflecting on our feelings and putting them into words, we can gain valuable self-insight. Expressing one’s inner depths and journey on the page, though difficult, grants valuable enlightenment when revisiting past entries.
To summarize the benefits of writing:
- Sharpening communication skills invaluable for personal and career success
- Promoting self-discovery through clarifying thoughts and emotions in words
- Gaining deeper self-insight by reflecting on feelings and motivations
- Uncovering one’s authentic self beneath surface level rationalizations
- Providing valuable enlightenment when revisiting past journal entries
Although I am still honing the art of writing, I am convinced that adopting this habit earlier in life would have granted me a heightened awareness of myself. The story of my life would be different—not necessarily better or worse, but undeniably unique.
In conclusion, embracing the habits of reading and writing can significantly impact one’s personal growth and success. By fostering creativity, enhancing communication skills, and promoting self-discovery, these practices lay the groundwork for a fulfilling and enlightening journey.
The Wisdom of Listening: What Youth Gains from Embracing Elder Perspectives
Looking back, I see how a widespread tendency among the young is to believe we’ve gained all the knowledge we need simply by virtue of living through adolescence. Filled with bravery and energy, we feel we must discover everything for ourselves rather than learn from those already further along on life’s path.
It’s normal and even admirable to be immersed passionately in the excitement of youthful exploration. However, that exuberance can breed impatience – a dismissive attitude toward elder wisdom assuming times have changed too radically or they don’t truly understand us in our modern contexts. While eras do differ, lived experiences from varying generations offer invaluable lessons regardless of cultural shifts.
When young, it’s easy to see the world revolving primarily around satisfying our need to assert intellect to others and prove ourselves right at every turn. But in reality, parents and grandparents have already confronted more trials than we can conceive of at our age. Their guidance, while not quashing independence, aims to shortcut struggles they themselves weathered.
One mistake I think most of us commit is believing we now know better than someone who has lived double our years simply due to freshly experiencing adolescence ourselves. We start to think our opinions must constantly be imposed and can’t be wrong. It’s understandable that feeling like the center of attention comes naturally as adolescents, driven by ego in this formative stage of life. However, allowing that habit to persist long-term can be problematic.
Unfortunately, modern societies seem to reward those unwilling to show doubt or flexibility in their views. A prime example is politicians who steadfastly claim to hold ultimate truths, refusing to concede being incorrect about any stance. Such rigidity is an immature behavior, especially in adults expected to comprehend their limited perspectives differ from others’. True philosophers seek universal truths through open exchange of ideas, not imposition of singular viewpoints.
There exists admirable courage in admitting another argument changed one’s opinion – a sign of humility many lack. Yet flexibility and consideration for varied lenses typically cultivate healthier relationships than domineering attitudes prioritizing being perpetually right. Nature itself tells us why through providing two ears for listening and one mouth for imparting – a sign we are designed to learn through hearing others’ perspectives before imparting our own.
Similarly, listening to elders not only gleans wisdom from overcome trials, but also strengthens bonds through learning intimate histories, passions and perspectives before their inevitable departures. Graciously receiving knowledge differs from knowledge freely imparted. By dedicating time to really listen and understand loved ones, their presences can endure long after physically gone.
Reflecting on my youth, I recall periods consumed by a similar sense of ego that clouded truly empathetic listening. Though discovery energized me, consistently making space to understand varied perspectives did not come intuitively. Even now, I still catch hints of these tendencies and strive daily to improve.
In conclusion, listening attentively to our elders holds invaluable benefits. It allows their wisdom from lived experiences to guide us, avoiding struggles they’ve already overcome. When we make time to understand differing perspectives with care and respect, we nourish relationships for lifetimes while growing wiser well before life’s hard lessons find us alone. May we embrace this gift of intergenerational sharing.
Why You Should Consider Entrepreneurship Early On
Entrepreneurship was never on my radar growing up, and I don’t fault my family for that. They encouraged me to pursue the conventional path of university, a degree, and a stable job. At the time, building your own business seemed like an unrealistic fantasy. It took me years to realize that a regular 9-5 job could only scale so far. Trading time for money meant hitting an income ceiling. But creating your own company allows for ‘limitless growth and freedom’—if you can surmount the initial challenges.
This revelation was eye-opening. I no longer believe you have to “work hard” to succeed. As Robert Kiyosaki emphasizes in ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’, the wealthy don’t work for money, but rather make their money work for them through assets and smart investments. True success comes from “working smart” by building streams of income beyond pure labor.
With the right business idea, you can create value for others while also attaining financial freedom. Kiyosaki transformed my views on how wealth is accrued. I wish I had considered entrepreneurship sooner. But it’s never too late to pivot. My passion, and Maciek’s as well, for sharing knowledge led me to take the leap with this website—it was scary but immensely rewarding.
I dove into books to understand the intricacies of business. ‘The Personal MBA’ by Josh Kaufman demystified everything without the hefty price tag of an MBA program. I realized how achievable starting a company can be with the right mindset and strategy.
Building a business isn’t for everyone. But for the entrepreneurially-minded, it can be deeply gratifying. Doing work you love while creating value for others—what could be better? And financial independence provides choices and control over your time. Some call wanting wealth “greedy.” But money simply represents freedom. Who doesn’t want the freedom to live life on their own terms? You can attain it by ethically providing value to people. That’s as noble a pursuit as any. Start small, find your niche, and fill a need creatively. You might be amazed by what blossoms.
The main message I’d tell my younger self is this: At the very least, keep an open mind to entrepreneurship. Consider it as a viable path, not just a pipe dream. Even if you don’t take the leap to build a business right away, let the possibility brew. Don’t just default to the well-trodden trail of college and corporate jobs. For the bold and brave-hearted, forging your own trail can lead to incredible rewards. Not everyone will want to be an entrepreneur, and that’s ok. But you owe it to yourself to consciously assess if it’s a good fit before dismissing it outright. Entrepreneurship isn’t for everybody—but it could be for you.
Conclusions
And with that, we’ve come to the end of this two-part series reflecting on life lessons from my three decades so far. Thank you for joining me on this journey of exploration. I hope you’ve gained perspective and insights to carry forward on your own path.
- What insights most resonated with you from Part 1 and 2?
- Which advice would you share with your own younger self?
- How have perspectives on topics like mindset, opportunities or listening evolved for you through life’s lessons?
I’d love to hear your reflections in the comments below – let’s continue the conversation!