10 Insights Into Life - typewriter asmr (PART I)
Life is challenging, heartbreaking. Beautiful.
Life is joyful, disappointing, constantly changing
Life is emotions, feelings & experiences
Life is adventure & curiosity
Life is patience & LOVE.
When I was starting to organize my journal publishing project, one of the ideas someone recommended, was for me to summarize some of what I had learned after all these years of journaling. Perhaps write down some of my conclusions or insights into what I thought life was all about. Intrigued to see what I would come up with, I decided to read back through sections of my journals and write down ideas that caught my attention. Ideas or themes I thought were interesting or valuable.
In about two hours, my initial list had over 40 insights. I gave the list to a few friends to read through, to get their reactions and to see which ones resonated more than others. The questions they asked me, and the ones they wanted to know more about, helped me get the subsequent list down to 10. Over the next two posts, I will share 10 of my “insights into life.” The first five are below.
Then my friend Jenna suggested we go a step further and make videos with them. The result of those discussions turned into our typewriter asmr creative concept that we started posting on Instagram reels and tiktok a few weeks ago. You can watch them on the typewriter asmr page of my website or find them on YouTube. We would love to get your feedback or reaction to them.
So, here are 5 things I’ve learned about life…
1. In life, all of our actions are motivated by either LOVE or FEAR.
Love or fear drives every human action. Everything we do, every action we take is either out of love or out of fear.
Think of the various people and various aspects of your life right now.
Your significant other.
Your immediate family
Your friends.
The place you live.
The job you have.
The activities you fill your free time with.
The dreams you have or aspire to.
What is motivating you to stay in these relationships & these situations?
Is it more LOVE-based (i.e., “I love my significant other”, or “I love my job”)
OR
is it more FEAR-based (i.e., “I fear being alone” or “I fear losing my lifestyle.”)
2. Always, under every circumstance, be as positive as possible.
Energy, energy, energy. People like working with positive people. More often, people will choose energy and optimism over other attributes. For the average person, learning a new industry, technical skill or new set of responsibilities comes relatively easy with training and commitment. But being positive is an attitude, a state of mind, an approach to life. When you’re positive, you are often picked for projects, which gives others the opportunity to get to know you and your capabilities, which typically turns into new opportunities.
3. Our lives are filled with all sorts of experiences. Some are small. Some are life changing.
Our lives are filled with all sorts of experiences. Some are small. Some are life changing. Some we choose. Others are chosen for us. How we respond to these experiences, affects the outcome and overall happiness of our life. I think of it this way:
experiences + responses= outcomes
[ e + r = o]
Often, we don’t control the experiences we face or the outcomes we encounter. But to enhance our experiences, we can control how we respond. And the first step in controlling our responses is being prepared.
My goals in responding to life’s experiences include being graceful, kind, patience, and showing love. I always look to be as positive as possible. I try to be understanding and open to different points of view; empathetic and curious.
For all of us to have the most fulfilling and authentic experiences possible, we need to understand the things that have the most meaning in our lives. And to do that, we need to understand who we are.
Early on in my journaling, I realized one of its greatest benefits would be its ability to give me the freedom to explore who I am, away from scrutiny, biases and influence of those around me. My journal is my safe zone, my sanctuary. The place to work through my responses to life, independent from any interference. A place to practice, to learn from my mistakes and gain perspective on the situations I’ve faced, all in an effort to improve the way I’d respond to future experiences.
4. Do what you LOVE, with the people you LOVE, as often as you can.
I’ve mentioned this point several times in my posts. It’s one of my life’s mantras.
Whenever I ask myself, “what do I really want to do with my life?”
My answer, regardless of the details are a specific situation, person or opportunity is, “I want to do something different & interesting, something that’s unique. Something I’m passionate about. Something I want to spend time on. With people who are creative, inspired & talented. People who are as driven as I am.”
And following the outcome that answer has made the single biggest difference in all of my life experiences. I encourage everyone to respond honestly and hopefully you will experience the same.
5. Enjoy the moment. Be aware of the moment. Live in the moment.
Do your best to always be aware of everything going on around you. If you do, you have a better opportunity to put yourself in the best possible situation or position in every moment to live authentically & achieving your potential as human being. Living fully in the moment to get everything you can out of it.
Come back on Saturday February 13, 2021 to read 6- 10!
I would love to get your comments! Please feel free to share any of your life insights.
Love & Light!