Sometimes we don’t seek advice, what we seek is the ability to act upon what we already know is right. We already have the answers. It’s just that our minds aren’t tuned enough to subconsciously make the right choice. That’s when we need to make a conscious effort to remind ourselves of what’s right, what’s important, what matters.

Here’s a list of 10 things I often find reminding myself. This is the advice I’d happily give to others, but have a hard time following myself. These are the answers that demand recitation, until they get embedded into my subconscious. Here they are:

1. You are 24. What’s the hurry?
   Early monetary success set the bar up high, but that doesn’t change the fact that you have years to figure things out. Take your time, all the time you need. There’s no right age to show the magic.

2. Always always do it for the joy of it. Do not compromise.
   If you enjoy it, continue to do it. If you don’t, let it go. There’s simply no other reason for you to do it if it isn’t fun. And if you are having fun, you will do your best work anyways.
   Don’t do it for money, or fame, or status, or reputation, or to fit in, or meet an end goal. Do it for the joy of it.

3. There is only one timeline — this one. And believe it or not, it is the correct one.
   Sure you want things to have happened a certain way. Sure hitting wall after wall hurts, and it’s tiring. But life needs to unfold in this way only. That’s how it’s meant to be. The only choice you have is to accept.

4. It is not comfort zone. It is contentment.
   On the outside, it may feel like your entropy is dying down. You’re still, right here for years now. On the outside, it may seem you’re in a comfort zone. But little do they know how uncomfortable it is to practice contentment.

   

5. You’re picky because you know yourself.
   You don’t get easily impressed. You don’t get easily flattered. You don’t get easily comfortable. All of this, because you know yourself. You have a clear idea of what you like, what you dislike; what gets you moving, what puts you off. Very few people do.

6. It feels permanent. How can it ever fall apart? But it always does. It is meant to.
   Value it. Enjoy it while it lasts. Then, gently let it go.

7. I know it feels like a distant dream, an impossibility. But so was ‘today’ some time ago.
   Rewind a few years back and you wouldn’t imagine yourself traveling to another country casually. If you’ve got this far, you can uncover the next. It’s not impossible, it’s just a couple of years away.

8. After you get where you want, you will miss this. This is special too.
   This slow, dull, unproductive, monotonous life. It has its own charm. One day you’ll be on the other side, and then, even these boring days will become nostalgic.

9. The rarity of it all is what makes it special.
   I know it’s painful that you can’t go there again, can’t meet them again, can’t live that one particular moment ever again. But doesn’t that make it special? Doesn’t that make it worthwhile? What were the chances for it to happen in the first place? Be grateful.

10. Go for it! Please, please just go for it!
    Those moments of inspiration, the moments that fetch the stupidest of ideas, do not let them go. If it triggers a subtle, burning sensation in your chest; if the water in your mouth starts to overflow; do not let it pass away. Act on it.

    

    No matter how stupid it sounds. No matter how out of reach it sounds. Don’t look for a reason. There is no reason. You gotta do it anyways.

🤔 Makes me wonder

I think part of growing up is realizing how common it is for new people to enter into your life, and for old ones to drift away. It hits hard the first few times because you’re not used to it. Afterall, you spent the first 15 years of your life with the same folks (more or less) in the same room. But then, it becomes normal.

Grow up even more and you’ll find that it’s not just people. Cars, careers, cities, memories, almost every thing in life is temporary. Very few things stick for long. Sometimes it’s easy to let them go, sometimes it’s hard. But you’ll always have to let go.

💭 Aphorisms

How did you like this one? Any particular point you could resonate with? Let me know by replying to this email or commenting on the website :)

Until next time,
Aachman