a better life… just one percent at a time
There is no single journey to discovering pursuits that excite and energize you. It is, however, your deep and profound responsibility to discover these pursuits and push towards them. In the end, prioritize happiness. It is the only thing that really matters.
The only requisite is to find activities that give you a state of flow. That bring joy to your life, where time disappears and a sense of satisfaction in the journey and the end result is profound.
For those of us not born knowing our life’s goal, this is a difficult task. It’s a task I still struggle with. But one I am fortunate to pursue.
There are a few ways to help you on this journey to prioritize happiness. I do find reaching a sense of balance in the rest of your life, while not necessary, certainly helps. Having a sense of financial stability and independence and lack of attachment to tasks and things that don’t add meaning to your life give you a strong foundation. The desire to optimize your physical and mental health, and a drive to be balanced in all areas of your life and keeping yourself curious helps you stay energized and engaged in your world.
And these things that bring you passion and joy don’t have to produce, in the typical sense.
Spending quality time with your family and friends gives many a deep sense of joy. Not stressing out about things that won’t matter five years from now can bring a sense of peace. Living a life that is authentically yours, not something you think others want you to be, is a true source of happiness.
Sunday afternoon, and I’m sitting on the floor in the middle of an empty apartment. A glass of wine in my hand.
A thirty-five-year-old manager at one of the largest IT companies in my city. The only things in my living room are a stack of a dozen boxes, an air mattress and two suitcases.
Continue reading “From Downtown Loft to House Hacking”
After a couple of years living abroad, I was home! Home to bigger everything… bigger food portions, bigger apartments, and bigger disposable income. I was immediately bitten by the consumerism bug.
And it was intoxicating.
At first the larger portions made me feel uncomfortable, but I quickly became used to them and thoroughly enjoyed the gluttony. The lack of walking made me feel lethargic, but I soon relished having a vehicle and the convenience that came with it. I reconnected with friends, and a couple of evenings a week enjoyed lively conversation over drinks. Somehow I stumbled on the best of both worlds, enjoying the excess of American life, while keeping the confidence and independence gained living abroad.
Continue reading “Bitten by the Consumerism Bug”
Happy thirtieth birthday to me.
Let the death march begin.
It’s okay, I had fun in my youth. Shenanigans in my teens, going for something between goth and heavy metal. Dating a local musician, going to shows, becoming the unintended groupie. And my minivan really rounded out the persona.
I embraced the academic world, took a range of classes – philosophy, world religion, literature, biology, psychology, statistics. Even stayed up late reading great works, and made time to go to a few shows every semester. Slipped away and reunited with my high school friends over drinks and live music.
And then I became a corporate whore and suburbanite.
Continue reading “An Experiment With Minimalism Across the Pond”
In college, I kicked ass. Unfortunately for me, I had no idea good grades don’t guarantee a good job.
I completed a dual major in four years, while working 20-30 hours a week. I was part of a few college organizations. Becoming the secretary, and eventually president, of the Student Psychological Association at my campus was particularly fun and challenging. I kept a 3.75 GPA and graduated magna cum laude. I completed an undergraduate research thesis (a project typically reserved for master’s students) to get first-hand experience implementing, analyzing, and reporting on psychological experiments. My research paper for this work was published, and I even presented the results at a couple of conferences. I found an entry-level position in “my field” during the last year or so of my college career to best position myself for my first adult job.
The entryway to my career. The path towards “success.”
Continue reading “Good Grades in College ≠ Job After Graduation”
“Don’t worry about money.”
“Money will come if you follow your passion.”
I heard these sayings a lot in college. University life was amazing for me. Meeting people from many diverse backgrounds, feeling more like an adult, and having more controversial discussions about topics that interested me. I could choose my classes. Even choose what I wanted for lunch. It was more freeing, more intellectually stimulating, and more liberating.
Continue reading ““Follow Your Passion,” and Other Bullshit Advice”
Growing up, success meant one thing, and one thing only… having a good job! Unfortunately this meant sacrificing other things to take the lonely path to success.
Sure, you wanted to enjoy life and be a good person, but the epitome of success was having a good job. We judged many of our friends and family by their job.
Continue reading “The Lonely Path to Success”
After a bumpy adolescence, a liberating but poorly focused college career, and a job hunt that landed me with the same job title I had before I began college, I was already feeling a little disheartened by following the advice my family had given me.
“Just finish college, get a good job, buy a house, and you’ll be set for life!”
Continue reading “Why Become Just One Percent Better?”