When fear knocks, let faith answer.

I just finished an amazing Masterclass with Robin Roberts.

She is an absolute tour de force — bursting with warmth & brimming with confidence. Her story is inspiring: from breaking multiple barriers to anchor both ESPN & Good Morning America, while also fighting through 2 rounds of soul-sapping cancer.

She shared many beautiful lessons that resonated:

• When fear knocks, let faith answer. A belief in “Everything will be okay in the end” can be a powerful ally as the waves of life get choppier. We can’t predict our future: good or bad. An opportunity could be knocking next. As Robin shares: “Get ready for your suddenly” because something may be around the corner, and “God’s delays aren’t his denials” because timing is everything.

• Make your mess your message. Your ‘mess’ — the raw, scary underbelly of your life — can be a great healing opportunity for many people similarly struggling. Robin was hesitant to share about her 2 battles with cancer, especially with audiences on live TV. She decided to be open and share actions, such as early detection and blood donations. Thousands of people were likely saved from her vulnerability.

• ‘One Day’ vs ‘Day One’. Don’t dawdle; we have only 1 precious life. Why postpone things further? It’s easier to kick the can down the road for so many of our dreams and ambitions. Robin exclaims to take charge of your life as soon as you can. Flip your approach from something that you’ll do eventually (‘one day’) to something you can try to do today (‘day one’).

• “I get to do this” - Let optimism course through your veins, even for the mundane. You might hate waking up early or walking in the cold. Robin invites us to elevate our thinking to say “I get to do this” versus “I have to do this”. That little bit of sunlight in a cracked day can make the difference; changing the way you think can change the way you feel.

Robin, I was dazzled by your grace and humor. We are better off because of you. Thank you!

Deceny Quotient

Intelligence: how can we measure it? Perhaps logically (IQ). Perhaps emotionally. (EQ)

But I love this new spectrum proposed by Ajay Banga, CEO of Mastercard: by decency (DQ)

For those in your community: it’s going beyond just feeling the emotions of others, but actually caring for them. Not weaponizing via manipulation or demeaning with your smarts.

Treating people with respect — daily — and value them as you do your loved ones.

The new algebra of leadership: IQ+EQ+DQ.

Human doings

I love today for the ritual it brings around planning.

Many of us are putting together what we can do better for this new year. And it comes in a variety of flavors: resolutions, milestones, habits.

As I grow older, I’m starting to realize how powerful it is to just do something. 5 minutes. Add a reward. Maybe make it fun?

We all can be exceptional. Just make sure it’s an ounce of action, versus a ton of theory.

Let’s do this, 2021! Happy New Year.

Joy is ours.

A beautiful day to remind ourselves of this — and choose to hold space for it.

My prayer is that you’re surrounded with every ounce of it today ♥️

Be well & happy, happy Christmas!

Chop wood, carry water.

A quotation I came by this week:

“Before enlightenment, chop wood and carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood and carry water.” —Wu Li

For me, enlightenment is building a healthy and happy partnership with my mind and my world.

This takes work. A lot of it. We will ‘chop ‘ and ‘carry’ a lot before it’s all over.

But maybe, it’s not supposed to be over. Maybe the work is a blessing all along.

And just maybe, harmony is a friend we’ll meet along the way.

Feel the Wheel

As a spectator of my mind, most of the time I’m asking: “What am I actually feeling?”

I came across this helpful (and beautifully designed) diagram: the Feeling Wheel. In 1982, Dr. Gloria Wilcox published this tool to elevate how to acknowledge what’s arising within.

She writes: “The wheel has proven useful in assisting clients to learn how to identify, to express, to generate, and to change feelings.”

What I like about this wheel is that it nudges us to go further. For example, If you’re feeling bad, you may be feeling overwhelmed. When you’re feeling happy, you may be feeling inspired.

When we push ourselves to truly identify the emotion, we can then address it appropriately (and bring a loved one to help too).

Scan the wheel - what’s (really) going inside your head today?

Everything can be music

On my favorite podcast TED Radio Hour, I heard a fantastic episode: Sound And Silence.

It plunged you into the sonic world — and for me, gave a wonderful exposure into the presence and absence of sound.

A curious story came up: the composer John Cage and his song of 4′33”. In 1952, Cage performed this wildly bold and controversial classical piece in front of a massive concert audience. What is it? Booming brass? Sparkling strings?

Nope. It was four minutes and 33 seconds of full, complete silence.

But was it actually silence?

The piece encourages the listener to ‘hear’ the ambient noise around them for almost 5 minutes: the bustling of the paper, the creaking of the seats, even the gurgling of their stomach.

From NPR: “Unlike compositions designed to make the outside world fall away, here was a music that, when it engaged you, made the present world open up like a lotus blossoming in stop-motion photography.”

What a wonderful reminder for centering around the present. Because then, as Cage says: “Everything can be music.”

Savor the small

This is such a special week in the US: Thanksgiving.

As a collective, we get to take a whole day to remember our blessings. Especially needed in a year like this.

My mind drifted to an article from Leo Babauta’s Zen Habits. He mentions about savoring. Of course, this can mean the yummy food we get to eat this week, but I love the broad application of this word when it comes to gratitude.

There are so many gifts to appreciate if we can take the extra 5 seconds to soak them in.

Here is my list of 5 for this week.

1. The soft breeze of a circulating fan under a fluffy comforter.

2. The twinkling constellation of lights from a Christmas tree at dusk.

3. The sweet rush of flavor from your favorite chocolate (read: KitKat!)

4. The radiant warmth and steam from a morning shower.

5. The crisp feel and satisfying scent from thumbing through a real book.

Take a moment, look around; what is giving you some joie de vivre?

Juggling: Rubber vs Glass

At work, our leader shared a very illuminating article from Nora Roberts: how to juggle your life with multiple priorities. A feat 100x more complicated when you have children.

There was a deeper image that stuck with me: classify the balls you have in the air. Are they rubber or glass?

Why do this? You can actually determine what’s ‘fine’ to drop. A rubber ball can bounce back; while a glass ball has no point of return.

It’s a dream to believe we can keep a thousand balls in the air. It’s more practical (and comforting) to know you can drop some and be okay.

Glass first; everything next.

Plot twist, not a setback.

This year has likely changed so much for so many — with sickness, loss, disruption, fatigue, confusion. More nouns than we’d like to bear.

Something I read this week was helpful: “It’s a plot twist, not a setback.”

Any good story we read is winding - and no character is without challenge. Could this just an ‘interesting turn of events’ versus a ‘trough’?

My goodness: it can be difficult to reframe things in this way. But reminding myself there are many chapters left to go.

Isn't she lovely?

She floated everywhere she went, spreading soft sunlight to every corner she touched.

She laughed from the center of her heart, warming the room the longer you stayed.

She invited you into her home as her own, comforting you with spoonfuls of care.

She asked questions with such genuine intrigue, opening your soul to reflect.

She watched over our family, protecting us with her steady, calming aura.

She was lovely.

Rest in love, my beautiful Ammama.

Open more doors

I’ve written before about holding the door.

Now, it’s time to open more doors. And with looming US election next week, we now have the best key available.

This is the time where we can elect people and support policies that align with our values. This is the time to break down the old and build up the new. This is the time we can use our voice to the fullest capacity.

This is the time to vote. Grateful to the millions who already have.

Don't pick a fight with reality

If we’re not careful, it’s easy to tell ourselves a story of reality.

Reality is so subjective to the eyes of the beholder. It’s easy to conflate how things should be to how things actually are.

But deep down, we know what’s true. It’s often scary and uncomfortable. But if you ask yourself what’s really going in your world, there is solace on the other side. (I’ve struggled with taking this leap of faith.)

So a promise: instead of dragging ourselves kicking and screaming to face reality, what if we can quietly and courageously embrace it?

If we know our truth, it can set us free.

Novelty

So much of this year has upended our context of the world.

One of the things I’ve been thinking: why exactly are we feeling down? Many of us have so many blessings and privileges: a comfortable home, a delicious meal, a paying job.

On the plus side too: life has slowly seeped back. Seeing a friend or two, getting dinner at a restaurant, maybe even seeing a movie. Most of that is…pretty normal? So why the malaise?

A friend summed it perfectly: there are few things to look forward to; less variety and novelty. Perhaps a far-off trip, a heartfelt wedding, a bustling concert, or even a change in routine. And we have less agency to plan for anything — given the turbulence of the world.

Realize how much of life isn’t the experience, but the anticipation of it. So let’s do something novel!

For me, it’s a camping trip this weekend. Hugely out of my comfort zone, it’s something I’ve been both excited and nervous about for a while; yet, it has filled me with so much joy to look forward to.

Is there any variety you can look forward to before the year closes? After all, I hear it’s a good spice to life!

Better than you found them

We can’t get through this life alone. And where’s the fun in that anyways? Life’s better when we can give and get love from our circles.

And that’s why this beautiful saying really hit me: “Leave people better than you found them.”

A kind, caring attitude to everyone pays so, so many dividends — and if everyone adopts this sentiment: so much healing of our fractured world could happen.

Reminding myself to always be an ally of the light.

The Ginsburgs

This week, I watched RBG.

It was a wonderful documentary on the life of incredible & iconic Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

My goodness: I was struck how much she gave to us — with her brilliant and ferocious work to uplift women (and many other people along the way).

There was one thing that drew me in: her marriage with her husband, Marty Ginsburg. Their partnership filled me with so much comfort and warmth.

They were different people: Marty, more playful and outgoing, with Ruth, more shy and soft-spoken. But their love was filled with deep adoration, care, and respect.

Stories of how Ruth took notes for Marty until the odd hours in the morning when he was sick, or how Marty became a voracious cheerleader to promote Ruth for her Supreme Court nomination.

At a time where gender norms were extreme, it was incredible to see both of them take such a modern, shared partnership. As it ought to be.

This letter from Marty to Ruth near the end of his days gave me so much light:

“My dearest Ruth – You are the only person I have loved in my life, setting aside, a bit, parents and kids and their kids, and I have admired and loved you almost since the day we first met at Cornell some 56 years ago. What a treat it has been to watch you progress to the very top of the legal world!”

8x8

I’ve been itching to write a longer-form piece, but couldn’t think about a topic I wanted to cover.

Then it dawned on me: this year in 2020, I have been working 8 years in corporate jobs — and fortunate to have learned some things along the way.

Thanks to the extended downtime of quarantine, I am excited to share my 3-month project: 8x8: 8 Tips to Unleash Your Work Performance (under Guides)

My goal? Empower young professionals with their career with practical tips and templates — such as running good meetings, preparing for 1:1s and annual reviews, and managing their inbox.

Grateful for your support as a patron and for sharing this with anyone kicking off their career.

[8x8 Guide] 8 Tips To Unleash Your Work Performance

$8.00

Purchase

I can be, and still.

I saw a fantastic image the other day. A reminder of how much emotional range we can have.

For many years, I struggled with the fact that feelings were a ‘path’ - and once you were down a path, your identity was set.

Far from the truth. Our identity flows by our own definition; and we should divorce the notion that only certain feelings match certain identities. And you can feel a mosaic of emotions - both ones that cast vote to that identity and even ones that don’t.

We can be one thing, and still be another.

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Power of Bookshelves

I’ve been slowly making my way through Malcolm Gladwell’s Masterclass on Writing. It’s been a great watch from a fascinating author.

Gladwell had an interesting analogy on finding new ideas: use what’s in and around a person’s ‘bookshelf’

• Get inspiration from their ‘bookshelf’: You likely have an interesting friend who knows weird tidbits, odd facts, and peculiar stories. When you’re stuck, meet with this friend and share openly about your project and work.

  • How to apply this: Ask their thoughts on your project, and see if it triggers any ideas. You know you’ve struck gold when they start to say things like “Oh, this reminds me of __”. Their orthogonal thought might catalyze a new perspective you might have never have considered.

• Look for related ‘bookshelves’: Your interesting friend probably hangs out with other interesting friends. Gladwell shares: Just as the library organizes books by related topics, it’s in your advantage to scan the shelf above, below, and next to the ‘book’ you like.

  • How to apply this: How do you find other ‘books’ on other shelves related to the ‘book’ you like (your friend)? Ask your friend to introduce you to someone in their network: aka another ‘shelf’. Where one good idea is, there are many.

So when you’re looking for your next big idea, keep reading and searching. It’s okay if it leads to nowhere; there is a lot to learn on the journey.

Meet at their spot

We all have a safe spot that soothes us.

It could be drinking coffee on a crisp morning, watching sports on a rainy afternoon, or playing music on a quiet night. Our best time of the day to feel safe, secure, and at ease.

And I realized this week: this spot could be the best invitation to get to know someone. So meet your loved ones there.

There’s something beautiful about connecting when their tank is the fullest. Conversations feel more special, more expansive, and more vulnerable.

You might have to sacrifice your own spot from time-to-time, but it’s worth the price of admission. And maybe later, invite them over to your spot too?