Thinking Out Loud
When I want to reflect on my life, and the time that I spent, I want to remember my collection of memories.
Memories from great discussions, delectable food, amazing scenery, laughing where my voice cracks - everything in between.
Not the amount of hours I worked, or the money in my account.
The little thoughts that swirl in my head when I go to sleep and when I wake up.
This month, I was thinking about two mindsets: scarcity vs. abundance.
Read MoreThis month, I was thinking of superheroes.
For years, I loved watching Marvel and DC heroes save the world with their sublime strength, skill and talent.
For me though, my favorite heroes were decidedly…human. None were bestowed with supernatural abilities; rather, all were normal guys who transformed themselves with work, grit and tenacity.
Here are different lessons I learned from my favorite heroes.
Read MoreThis month, I was thinking about how things catch on — like a wildfire blazing in the forest.
In a matter of days or weeks, something can spread so fast and so forcefully, it becomes a cultural phenomenon.
It’s stunning to see this process unfold, but what amazes me: sometimes the catalyst comes from sharp and savvy marketing.
Here are a few notable things that caught my eye over the years:
Read MoreHope all of you have started the year happy and healthy.
In the spirit of good health, I want to share a TED Talk that I really liked — the idea of emotional hygiene.
Guy Winch, a psychologist (and ironically, a twin too!), speaks about taking care of ourselves mentally — similar to ways we take care of ourselves physically.
Most of us having good physical habits: we exercise, we diet and we floss. And when we get sick, we seek out proper help to heal — medicine, therapy, etc.
So why not apply the same idea to our psychological health? What about practicing good hygiene for our brain?
Read MoreThis month, I was thinking how people become great.
From spectacular athletes to powerful thinkers, certain people have found a distinct formula for success.
So…what is it? What is the secret, powerful method that got them to the top? More and more, I read that greatness is found only after being…boring.
By boring, I mean the discipline to work. Every day — rain or shine. For a long, long time.
It’s neither glamorous nor easy nor fast. It’s a deep and enduring commitment to your craft. Small steps in a thousand mile journey.
Tom Clancy put it well: “An overnight success is ten years in the making.”
Here are a few examples of boring greatness that continue to inspire me:
Read MoreRecently, I caught myself drifting — lost in memories of the past and thoughts of the future.
The past is both comforting but haunting. You’ve gone through it, and you already know what’s happened. And like a highlight reel, you can spend hours looking over your own footage. I spent a lot of time thinking on how to edit and adjust my footage. I was caught in a reminiscence of everything behind me.
The future is exciting but fickle. You’ve never gone through it, and you have don’t know what’s going to happen. And like a movie trailer, you can spend hours planning out your new footage. I spent a lot of time trying to direct and prepare scenes yet to come. I was caught in a rapture of everything ahead of me.
But I soon realized, I was losing touch with today. Bit by bit, it was getting washed away by the past and the future.
Could I do anything to experience a richer, fuller present?
A few things have helped me keep presence in the present:
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