A repetitive prompt to push your mind and experience a variety of ideas and thoughts.
December 2020 — my first brush with the “I AM…” journaling.
I expected that a notebook assuring me “positive affirmations” will gradually turn me into a super-sonic-positive-attitude person.
December 18, 2020 — My first entry in this journal book.
I AM…..
I AM…..
I AM…..
I AM…..
I AM…..
As a sincere pupil, I went on five times only to realize that another five “I AM…” were waiting after a “leaf” break in the middle of the page.
I was supposed to answer ten “I AM….”
How am I supposed to come up with ten different ideas every day?
Suddenly…
Life is short, but you can still fit in a lot of “real” years.
Recently an office colleague left my team. It's always sad to see a hard-working team member leave.
Despite the Covid enforced WFH, I was fortunate to catch up with him on the office premises. On someone’s last day in the office, it makes much more sense to speak in person than over a phone call.
After the usual greetings, the conversation moved on from his career choices to the next few years of challenges to his long-term goals.
I was the more experienced one (I think so!) and therefore took the liberty to give him my “take” (just another way…
When you are tired, down and out — hit a simple routine instead of the TV remote.
I love habits.
I love routines.
I love talking about them.
I love playing with them.
Routines don’t bound you; they uplift you. Routines make you free to do important things. Habits and routines are not just for the disciplined; it’s the way to get disciplined.
The Covid enforced WFH was an amazing thing for me. Every day, I woke up only to realize that I don't have to commute to the office, and I told myself — Wow!!
In the first year of lockdown itself, I started experimenting with my morning routine. A lot of journaling entered my life…
“Make Your Bed” by William H. McRaven and my relationship with these beautiful principles
A hard-bound, less than 150-pages, tiny — but a book that punches you in the face. Not just the first time, but every time you read it. Writing about the principles spoken by Admiral William McRaven is my way to learn more and stay relevant.
Admiral McRaven set these ten principles when he addressed the 2014 graduating class of the University of Texas System.
The ten principles
Let the itch of “let’s do something” pass away, and you will meet a new you.
Stop reading.
Right now.
Get away from whatever you are doing and recall the last time you let yourself get bored.
Hmmmm.
Bored?????
Think.
I am sure it’s tough.
It’s tough to let ourselves get bored. It’s tough for us to believe that a simple act can help elevate your spirits, creativity, and ideation.
Boredom is your blank canvas — a pious blank space in which you can fill the color of your choice. It’s an opportunity to be your creative best.
First, however, you need to rebel against the itch which forces you to fill this space with the…
12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to Chaos— Jordan B. Peterson.
“12 Rules for Life: An antidote to chaos” by Jordan Peterson is a complex read. The rules may sound simple, but the way this Canadian clinical psychologist has defined these life essays is grueling yet interesting.
Rule 4 is my favorite (Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today), but that doesn’t stop me from going back to this book for the other ones. And that’s why I want to explore them one by one.
Rule 1: Stand up straight with your shoulders back.
There is magic in cheering for others' wins. Let’s do it more often.
To stay physically and mentally fit, running is my go-to habit. It’s simple, easy, cheap, and convenient. I don’t want any fancy clothing or tools to make it happen. Instead, I need my Huaraches, and I need “ME.”
In the past few years, running has transformed me. A habit that started to kill some unproductive time ultimately turned into my best mate.
- Running has made me consistent.
- Running has improved my self-awareness.
- Running has given me moments of mindfulness.
- Running has helped me see new places.
- Running has helped me meet new friends.
- Running has improved my confidence.
When you…
Don’t let the insecurity virus enter your life.
Who doesn’t love Disney? The characters are extraordinary, and the movies always encourage me to think differently.
Wreck-It Ralph — I was watching this 2012 movie with my little one. My 9-year-old was tired by the evening and was looking for some YouTube fun. I begged her to watch a Disney movie that can animate us both and end the day on a high.
To my surprise, she agreed!
After a few minutes of scrolling, we landed on — Wreck-It Ralph.
The story is about characters inside a gaming console. Yes, literally — Inside a gaming console!
The gaming parlor…
Your life will change when you decide to shift roles.
It was 6 A.M., and I was with my Morning Pages. In the next three hours, a packed Outlook calendar was waiting to be unleashed. I had my to-do list ready for the day. I started putting down my thoughts on how am I going to manage the day.
I aspired to prove to this day that I am the Captain and I will win.
Strangely, my mind and the Morning Pages were not in agreement.
I wanted to be the captain, but the free-hand writing forced me to write something —
“Why captain? …
Journaling is an investment to increase your efficiency and productivity.
If the concept and subject of money interests you (which I believe it does), then you should be aware of the concept of “Time Preference” and its impact on your decision-making.
Time Preference
We are mortal, and hence anything offered us today means more value than in the future unless the future holds more value of the same thing to compensate for the wait.
If you weigh present consumption more than in the future, you have a higher time preference.
If offered enough remuneration to…
Nishith Goyal
Author — Be Better Bit-By-Bit, Long-distance runner, Diarist, Self Transformation Coach. Podcast-"Be Better Bit-By-Bit" & “10 Bullets- 100 Words” Book Summary
