Life
Success in Creativity, Commerce, or any other discipline doesn’t necessarily lead to success in Life, as can be inferred from the many examples of “successful” people who had or have an unfulfilled Life.
I do not have everything figured out! Still, here are some things that have helped me have a better Life over the years and that might help you too:
Practices & Resources—
-Swimming.
-Yoga.
-Pilates.
-Stoic philosophy.
-Buddhism.
-Acceptance of the fact that no person, philosophy, book, or religion is omniscient, and that we all have to figure out what works best for each of our lives, moment to moment, mostly through trial and error. This can be scary, but it’s certainly freeing!
-Using Freedom on my laptop and phone to eliminate digital distractions.
-Going into nature often.
-Using a planner.
–Freeing my art from monetary concerns.
-Supporting the IndieWeb.
–Using social media intentionally and as little as possible. Only using it professionally, not personally.
-Owning my own web domain.
-Creating, owning, and managing my own website.
–Having a /now page on my website.
–Using a private email account.
-Minimizing screen time.
-Screen-free evenings.
-Keeping my devices’ screens on grayscale most of the time.
-Keeping my phone on offline mode most of the time.
-Only using my phone or computer intentionally and constructively.
-Reading from a physical book every day, however little.
-Prioritizing reading from physical copies over reading from digital copies.
–Being mindful and intentional when it comes to money.
-Investing passively in financial markets (you can start here!).
-Exercising daily, however briefly.
-Combining flexibility, strength, and cardiovascular training.
–TRX.
-Keeping journal-size notebooks.
-Keeping a pocket-size notebook and a pen on me.
-Yoga nidra.
-Mindfulness meditation.
-Meditating each day.
-Being open to therapy or any other form of asking for help.
–Tapping.
-Caring about my diet.
-Minimizing my gluten intake.
-Eliminating processed and “fast” food from my diet.
-Living alcohol-free.
-Living coffee-free.
-Living smoke-free.
-Doing my best to live free from any addictive substance or behavior.
-Caring about my sleep.
–Sleep with Me podcast for nights of insomnia.
-Sleeping with a weighted blanket.
-Nurturing meaningful relationships.
–Doing my best to maintain contact with cool people I know.
-Letting go of negative relationships (whether personal or professional).
-Living free from dating apps.
-Choosing to share sex only within a meaningful, committed relationship.
-Prioritizing real-life interactions over digital interactions.
-Asking for forgiveness (if applicable) and forgiving myself (always) when I make a mistake.
-Being accountable in relationships, e.g., keeping my word, not “ghosting,” etc.
-Being open to having difficult conversations.
-Natural breathing.
-Developing my voice.
-Training as a martial artist.
-Learning via deliberate practice.
-Writing a gratitude list in the morning.
-Journaling in the evening.
