Dear reader
It has been a while since my first - and to date - last post, and the reasons are manifold. 2023 was a challenging year personally with a loved one falling sick while working a day job that is a lot of fun but not your typical 9 to 5. And it is also high-pressure. But it wasn't just this.
I was amazed to find out how slow specific transformation processes can be. The upside to the slowness is that the transformation will be long-lasting. What do I mean by the transformation? First and foremost, I struggled with organizing all the ideas in my head and heart. Am I a travel blogger? Am I a musician? Do I want to inspire people through my writing? If this needs to be clarified, it is tough to define the type of content you want to create or the ideal persona you want to create it for. Defining a workflow that is fun, consistent, and manageable is also quite challenging. Finally, there is also the business aspect of things. I don't just want to treat my creative endeavors as a hobby. They are my passion that hopefully provides value to fellow travelers on this journey called life. And if it does, then I firmly believe in the principle of growth.
And then there is that lurching thought that it shouldn't just all be work, work, work but work weaved into many facets of life that make it meaningful: fostering relationships with family & friends, sharing new experiences, taking time for fun and games, doing nothing or taking care of your health. So follow along for my thoughts on three things that will be key to a fulfilled life in 2024.
Take care of yourself
First of all, you must take care of yourself. And, I don't mean becoming wholly self-centered but loving your neighbor AS YOURSELF. This means I focus on my health spiritually and physically by meditating, moving, working out, breathing, and stretching. In addition, I love to eat for pleasure yet so that I can focus on quality instead of quantity and apply the principles of moderation and variety. Also, I encourage you to get expert help if needed. This is a numerical illustration of how important your health is: if you succeed in all areas of your life but not in your health, you'd be at a 0.9999. But if you're healthy, you start at a 1.0000, and making progress in other areas is just an added benefit
Foster relationships
Secondly, it is so important to cultivate relationships. In the service/entertainment/creator industry, you could work 24/7. But what's all your success worth if you cannot share it with someone you love? I seek ways to foster connection with my family or creative ways to connect with friends or colleagues. It takes time, but it makes life worth living: play with your kid, meet up with that friend in a bar, or invite a co-worker for coffee. And harness the power of digital tools to keep in touch as well.
A framework for a fulfilled life
Finally, to build upon the foundation of health and relationships, a framework that allows you to follow your purpose and the fire burning in your heart is vital. Whether it is as an intrapreneur, entrepreneur, content creator, or artist, we will need to be able to deal with the dynamics of today's ever faster-changing conditions. And I don't expect 2024 to be any different. Thus, to succeed, I imagine embracing my imperfections, communicating my ambitions with my family, acting consistently, and admitting increasing ambiguity and uncertainty. The integration of those three key ingredients is a constant exercise.
My hope and belief is to overcome uncertainties, fear, and setbacks and take you along for the journey. Indeed, I haven't figured it all out, but I aspire to be a voice that encourages you in 2024 and beyond.
