The scariest place to be
is the same as you were last year.
A phrase has stuck in my mind for weeks: "The scariest place to be is the same as you were last year." Read again. Think. Feel. How does it sound to you?
The phrase embodies a challenging duality that hit me. While stability, routine, and consistency are necessary for thriving because what makes it extraordinary isn't creativity; it's consistency. Personal growth requires us to embrace change. Staying stuck in the same emotional, mental, or life situation year after year can feel pretty limiting—or even scary.
I like to know what to expect because I suffer from always creating big expectations on things. I love to feel! I am intense! But, at the same time, the feeling of having a routine makes me feel grounded and safe, knowing what to expect and how to walk from there. However, am I stuck?
I once was a fan of no day like the other, but as I grow older, it is nonsense to me. Yet, I am always open to changes that can increase my well-being. My habits make me proud of the person I am becoming. Because as Michelle Obama said, we are always becoming, never finished, a constant work in progress. If you are not, rethink. It's not cute to be the same person forever. Evolution requires room for improvement, and there's always a place to work within you. Mine, for example, was reading.
My goals at the beginning of the year constantly included reading more books, but for the past 5 years, I have read only one or two books up until this year. I decided to include reading time in my morning habits; instead of constantly scrolling, why not read a book? I wake up every day at 7:30, drink water, make a latte, and from 8 is my reading time. My goal is according to my agenda; it needs to be realistic; otherwise, it wouldn't be possible to achieve, and I know I would get very frustrated. It's 10 pages, 10 minutes, or 1 chapter. Simple like that. No pressure, just read. And guess what? It's October, and I am reading my book number eight of the year.
Another thing I changed is allowing myself to read fiction. I cound't remember when I last read a story, instead of watching one. And made me rediscover the beauty of it. The excitement of not knowing what's coming next. if the book will end as you please. Whether the writer's writing suits you or is too tiring to read, but you are still committed to finishing the book. When it is so well written, you feel like you are friends with the character and almost get lost between reality and fiction. Or when you strongly identify with a character, it's almost like reading about yourself. I traveled the world reading this year. I read a Brazilian writer, American, South Korean, Italian, and British. Very diverse in only 8 books.
The key for me was not to look for perfection and commit to this new habit in my routine. One time, I read two books in a month, and other times, it took me almost three months to finish one. I don't want to feel stuck, ever. Yet, at the same time, it feels overwhelming to constantly search for improvement.
However, this reading situation I set myself for success made me reflect that I can also learn and grow from the comfort of my bed. This video made me rethink my systems and ways to work towards my growth. It doesn't always need to be as significant of a discomfort as I used to think. This video (which I linked before) made me rethink my systems and ways to work towards my growth. The discomfort was keeping the engagement going and keeping the promise I made to myself.
I found there's fun beyond streaming shows and films. I rediscovered the power of my imagination. I allow myself to look for stories instead of mindblowing or intellectual books. And concluded the cliché, small changes can definitely have a big impact.
As a person who is always searching, looking, and questioning things, this phrase I said at the beginning has sparked me into profound self-reflection. It made me revisit if I am the same person I was last October, which I can proudly say I am not. I see development and growth. And I encourage you to engage in this introspective journey as well. The year is ending, so what better time to do this, right?
🟠 #INTERNETFINDS: weekly things worth sharing and consuming 🧠
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Favorite Podcast of The Week ➞ Adam and Kristen explain how much their spouses are involved in career decisions, how excited they are for more romantic comedies to be made, and the chemistry between them on screen.
Video of The Week ➞ Asics commercial “The Desk Break” is a simple yet powerful reminder that our bodies and minds are deeply connected, and a little movement goes a long way! 👏
Christina Aguilera - What a Girl Wants (ft. Sabrina Carpenter) ➞ The duo we didn’t know we needed, but we are now obsessed! — What a girl wants, what a girl needs. Whatever makes me happy sets you free.
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”― James Clear, from the book Atomic Habits