Don’t fake it till you make it
Faking it always felt off and went against my value of truthfulness. Now I say upfront what I lack, share my plan to fill the gap, and let people decide.
Journal · Page 3
Personal reflections, essays, and life thoughts.
Scoop of Work
A contractor's quote with misspelled words reminded me I used to be too strict about grammar. I understood every line. Words are tools, and these did their job.
Gaining self, losing self
When I was younger I wanted to be self-made and need no one, and my relationships stayed shallow. Learning to depend on people showed me more of who I am.
Age of Money
My first credit card bill shocked me. YNAB taught me to give every peso a job and let my money age. Reaching 180 days gave me room to plan and take risks.
Getting back on track
Some days I have zero motivation and can't wait it out. My checklist to get back on track: sort finances, brain dump, exercise, eat well, and disconnect.
Working out everyday as a keystone habit
I've worked out for more than 80 days straight during stay-at-home orders. It became a keystone habit that pulls other good habits along with it.
A loving kind of procrastination
I stopped trying to beat procrastination. Now I use a competing response. When I want to escape a hard task, I spend that time with my family instead.
Two-month break of taking new projects
I'm turning 30 in two months, so I'm pausing new projects to try something of my own. My focus is this site and building a habit of writing and publishing.
Fill your cup and let it overflow around you
I felt guilty doing fine in quarantine while others struggled. My approach: make sure my family is secure first, then give the excess to anyone who needs it.
Time for introspection
The quiet days between Christmas and New Year are a good time to look back and look ahead. These are the questions I ask myself to start that reflection.
Relative size perception
The Ebbinghaus illusion shows the same circle looks small among big ones and big among small ones. If I want to grow, I should be around people bigger than me.
The good side of being unfair
We usually hear 'unfair' from the side being taken from. But we can be unfair by giving more than needed. That's the kind of unfairness I want to aim for.
Wishing for a stress-free life
Unexpected stress kept throwing me off. I used to wish it away. Now I'd rather build the capacity to handle it. Here's what I'll try the next time it hits.
Don't end the week with nothing
Inspired by Patrick McKenzie, I set a weekly goal to produce something I can show. A week gives just enough urgency. This page tracks what I shipped each week.
Monday Weekly Reviews
Monday is when I review my week and plan the next. I come in fresh from the weekend. These are the questions I ask so I don't end the week with nothing.
On reading books
How I want to read. One book at a time. Take notes, edit each idea so it stands alone, and add it to Anki before moving on. Plus how I pick the next book.
Choose
A short reminder to myself. Most of the great things in my life won't happen by chance. They will happen because I chose them.
Depth over distance
A short note on effectiveness over efficiency. Instead of asking if I'm doing things right, I want to keep asking if I'm doing the right things at all.