I’m beginning this new weekly publication – The Almanack of Good Life – to share all that I’m studying and reflecting upon about dwelling a great life. It’s a brand new try, however I hope to take this far. On this age of fixed info overload, I’ve discovered immense worth in taking time to pause and mirror upon significant insights about life. This article is my means of sharing that journey with you.
Every week, I’ll curate a choice of thought-provoking concepts, inspiring quotes, and sensible knowledge I’ve encountered in my readings and private reflections. My purpose is to create an area for us to discover collectively what it means to reside with objective, kindness, and fulfilment. I stay up for your type help.
The Japanese Ensō image within the banner above represents wholeness and the cyclical nature of life, whereas additionally reminding us to embrace the imperfection and the fantastic thing about our incompleteness. Its minimalist design displays the Zen precept that much less is extra. It’s like a visible means of claiming “life is a journey, not a vacation spot” and “perfection is overrated.”
What I’m Studying
The Circulation of Life
Manish Chokhani instructed me this within the first episode of The One % Present –
Life is evolution. It’s like when the raindrop falls, after which it turns into a part of the river, and the river goes to the ocean, and the ocean offers out steam, and it turns into the cloud, and it comes again. So, it’s a cycle, and the invention of how we’re a part of this grander cycle of life is admittedly the aim and the journey that we now have. And in case you inform the drop of water that you’ve had such a protracted journey from the Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal to affix with the ocean, it’s not a journey however a circulate which was meant to be. And you’ve got selections alongside the way in which of whether or not to take this observe or that observe. Do I find yourself in Arabian Sea or Indian Ocean? However we’re going to find yourself within the sea, by some means. It’s a part of nature’s design.
In case you consider it, the way in which we’re designed so fantastically that the primary 25 years of your life you might be solely desirous about your self – I, me, myself. And you might be studying, rising, getting an training, and so forth. You then discover your accomplice, and abruptly, you begin transferring your ideas and a spotlight to that particular person. Then you could have youngsters, and it abruptly multiplies. Then it multiplies into your organisation, then it multiplies into your society, then into your nation, your world, your universe.
That’s the nature of the way in which we’re designed to evolve, to get nearer and nearer and nearer to what I name the ocean. And also you realise that you’re the wire which is transmitting the electrical energy which is there on the planet. We speak of solar energy, however we’re additionally photo voltaic powered in a way, and part of this circle of life. We have now to be the circulate.
What a ravishing thought! Pondering of ourselves as each the vacationers and the trail is a liberating feeling. Like rivers carving their means by landscapes, we form our destinies whereas being formed by the contours of life. Our experiences, selections, and actions circulate collectively, creating currents that affect the world round us.
As Manish talked about, we’re finally conduits of common vitality, very similar to leaves reworking daylight into life-sustaining nourishment. Our objective just isn’t to withstand this circulate however to turn out to be one with it, recognizing that our particular person streams are a part of an unlimited ocean of consciousness.
To really reside is to embrace this circulate, to acknowledge our function on this total existence. It’s all about understanding that whereas we could appear separate, like particular person notes in a symphony, we’re all a part of the identical lovely composition.
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The Paradox of Constructing Persistence and Self-discipline
Thomas Sterner writes a couple of paradox of life in his ebook The Training Thoughts –
Persistence, the flexibility to stay calm and accepting within the face of delay or adversity, is a advantage many aspire to own. But, the journey to turning into affected person typically checks our current reserves of endurance.
We discover ourselves annoyed by our lack of progress, sarcastically impatient with our impatience. This round wrestle can really feel like making an attempt to raise oneself off the bottom – a seemingly unattainable job.
Equally, self-discipline – the observe of coaching oneself to behave in a managed and systematic means – requires a basis of self-control to construct upon.
We want self-discipline to get up early, follow a routine, or preserve a brand new behavior. However cultivating this self-discipline calls for that we already possess some measure of it. It’s akin to needing cash to earn money. The preliminary funding of willpower is essential.
The questions is – How can we develop these qualities after we want them to develop them within the first place? I feel the reply lies in understanding that development in any sphere of life, together with turning into affected person and disciplined, just isn’t linear however cyclical and incremental. Every small act of endurance or self-discipline, regardless of how insignificant it could appear, builds upon itself. It’s a gradual strategy of reinforcement, the place tiny victories accumulate into vital change over time.
All you must do is – begin small, then construct on.
Setbacks shall be part of the journey, however keep in mind that the very act of making an attempt to construct on will itself be an train in these virtues.
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Actual Wealth
James Clear on the “actual” wealth in life –
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Write for Your self
Lawrence Yeo’s Extra to That is one in every of my favorite blogs. In his submit Write for Your self, and Knowledge Will Observe, he writes one thing lovely that I extremely relate to –
The facility of writing just isn’t concerning the reward you obtain from others. It’s concerning the realization {that a} kinder and wiser model of your self is accessible everytime you want that particular person essentially the most.
Every time I’ve put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard), I’ve typically stunned myself. I’ve uncovered ideas and emotions I didn’t know I had. I’ve discovered readability in confusion and hope in moments of doubt.
I’ve additionally realized that it’s by writing that we are able to entry part of ourselves that’s extra affected person, extra understanding, and sometimes wiser than we notice.
After all, looking at a clean paper or a display is rarely straightforward. It’s difficult to face our ideas truthfully. However after we accomplish that, we create a dialogue with our greatest selves – the model of us that we aspire to be.
If you’re not doing it already, I encourage you to put in writing not simply as a method of communication however as a pathway to raised understanding your self and in your private development. Whether or not it’s journaling, inventive writing, and even jotting down fast notes, let your phrases be a mirror reflecting your innermost knowledge.
The Sketchbook of Knowledge: A Hand-Crafted Handbook on the Pursuit of Wealth and Good Life.
This can be a masterpiece.
– Morgan Housel, Writer, The Psychology of Cash
Guide Suggestion
Tuesdays with Morrie is likely one of the finest books I’ve learn on dwelling a great life. It’s a dialog between a scholar (the writer, Mitch Albom) and his ex-teacher (Morrie Schwartz), who’s quick approaching dying as a result of a debilitating illness. Right here’s a ravishing passage –
So many individuals stroll round with a meaningless life. They appear half-asleep, even once they’re busy doing issues they suppose are vital. It’s because they’re chasing the unsuitable issues. The best way you get that means into your life is to dedicate your self to loving others, dedicate your self to your group round you, and dedicate your self to creating one thing that offers you objective and that means.
As Morrie instructed Mitch, a very significant life is one lived with intention, compassion, and a way of objective that extends past our particular person selves. It requires us to get up from the slumber of meaningless pursuits and have interaction totally with the richness of the world round us.
I extremely suggest Tuesdays with Morrie.
Quotes I’m Reflecting On
“We’re what our ideas have made us. So take care about what you suppose. Phrases are secondary. Ideas reside. They journey far.”
– Swami Vivekananda
Don’t fear that youngsters by no means hearken to you; fear that they’re all the time watching you.
– Robert Fulghum
…the iron prescription: each time you suppose some particular person, or some unfairness is ruining your life, it’s you who’re ruining your life.
– Charlie Munger
That’s all from me for in the present day.
Let me know your ideas on this primary subject of The Almanack of Good Life publication, and methods I can enhance it. Additionally, if in case you have concepts or sources you suppose I can share in future letters, please e-mail them to me at vishal[at]safalniveshak[dot]com.
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Thanks in your time and a spotlight.
~ Vishal
