What if you had the power to write your fate? We couldn't foretell what would happen, but we could write about what we wanted to see in the future and be explicit about the goals and dreams we wanted to achieve. We couldn't go back in time and change what had happened, but we could write about it and interpret our memories based on our own experiences. We can't change what's going on right now, but we can release our stress by writing down our present thoughts as meditation and therapy for our mental health.
What if the most effective self-help hook is one you create for yourself? I don't mean the best self-help book for everyone; I mean the best self-help book for the author. I am a great lover of self-help books and have read quite a few. They provide me with brief bursts of vigour and motivation, but they do not affect my behaviour. I would be very successful now if all of those books worked, but instead of taking action, I am discouraged and seek out more self-help books to read. There are many theories and made-up reasons for us to keep improving, but we'll never be able to do so if we don't practice. Writing for self-reflection, such as journaling, is at least supported by some scientific data. Science appears to demonstrate that it works without completely comprehending why it works.
On my thirty-first birthday, I've been considering what’s the finest gift I could get for myself? An iPad may be a costly item that I desire, but I am aware that monetary gifts provide only temporary enjoyment. Instead, I chose to get myself a notebook, which is a physical pen and paper on which I am writing, rather than a laptop computer. I'd want to try out a few of the potential advantages of writing right now. What if you start this experiment by jotting down your thoughts?
To start writing a book, begin with the first sentence. Then, the rest is history. This technique is what my Mentor, Ernest Chen taught me. You do not need to crack your head or apply critical thinking. You do not need to think a lot or think a long time for the first sentence. But, it takes titanic willpower to put down the first sentence. Somehow, I spent time thinking and thinking logically and critically before I decided on the first sentence. I wanted to be perfect. But I had forgotten that I could change and edit the text to make it better. After the first sentence, the rest became easier. I just type out my thought seamlessly. Many times, it depended on my mood and feeling. The process can be nonverbal when it comes to intuitions; nevertheless, it can be quite messy when I write out my mental process. Not just because my writing was a mess, but also because my mind is chaotic. If I have a clear mind, I could logically write and speak about the advantages and disadvantages of various things if I know what I'm doing. By writing down my faults in my cognitive process, I was able to see them. As a result, I could improve my critical thinking skills.
Second, writing about something is the most effective approach to learning about it. I'll write down the issue after I've written it down. I'd want to solve them, and then I'd read books and articles on the subject. I try to convey the meanings in my own words after I understand them, and if I'm having trouble explaining the concept in simple terms, I haven't fully absorbed the information or comprehended the reasoning behind the notions. It means that I should re-study the contents or seek out more sources of information. The approach also improves the view from various perspectives. Memories linger longer in our minds when we write them down.
Third, I could jot down a lot of things now that I will forget afterwards. When I was writing about my childhood, I realized I had forgotten most of it and had only hazy memories of what had transpired. It would be a terrifying thought, like if my life had never happened. How can I be so certain that I have lived in the world before if I have no recollection of what happened to me as a child?
The political regime is constantly attempting to alter history by rewriting events. How could we believe and learn from a book published by the victor's side of the tale while the losers' side of the story was forgotten? Of course, I don't want to write to preserve the loser's perspective, but I have a responsibility to retain memories of what occurred in Hong Kong and the implications of the news. Even if the political system rewrites history, historians may uncover my journal later to document what happened to the people.
Overall, it would be amazing if my experiment of defining my destiny succeeded. I've always wanted to be a decent person, but what exactly does that entail? I need to be more clear about the type of behaviour that a decent person should exhibit. And I could confirm and remind myself that I should act in these ways as a nice person. Likewise, I wish myself a happy birthday, but what exactly does happiness entail for me? To various people, it could mean different things.
Do I have a good time on my birthday? I'm not sure, but I'm sure there isn't any reason to be sad about it. I keep track of the things for which I am grateful. Thank you to my family for sending me birthday greetings from all across the world. Thank you to my mentor and friends for the birthday cakes and everyone else who wishes me a happy birthday on Whatsapp, Linked In, and Facebook.
Material presents are less important to me these days, but enduring connections are more important. Rich individuals would not be lonely if they could buy relationships with their money. Despite this, I felt lonely during the covid period due to the lockdown. I hope that the connection and relationship can continue to flourish despite being separated by the geolocation.
Also, isn't it true that happiness isn't just about how much I take, but also how much I give? How could I make a positive contribution to society? How might I stay committed to my goals and conquer all of life's challenges? It is what I intend to write about in my book regularly. In the worst-case scenario, if my experiment fails, at the very least, writing is a valuable life skill that I must sharpen and practice regularly.