DT Year in Review: 2023

This year was yet again a blessed one, in its own ways. As much as I complain about the trivial matters in my life, I can't help but to acknowledge how much abundance there is in my life. Sure, I want so much more but for what's its worth, as it stands right now, I don't think I could've asked for more from 2023.

This year saw me being laid off from my job, something I did not foresee but it's given me a big opportunity to now question and challenge more of the things in my life. This year I also found an unprecedented love for running and it gave me more than I could ever imagine.

Everything in between this, I learned a whole heap of lessons which I'd love to share with you below.

Focus on proving yourself right, not others wrong

I hate to admit this and I hope other males in their mid-20s would do the same, but I have a chip on my shoulder. One that often leads to me trying to do things to prove a point to others. And while the outcome from successfully proving others wrong has provided some joy, this joy I have realised is not sustainable and definitely not healthy. In fact, the truth is I have spent a lot of the year doing these things that while were enjoyable, were not aligned to my values and true passions. When media often tells us to prove doubters wrong, it's easy to be motivated by this and forget that at the end of the day, none of these opinions matter. If anything they distract us and divert us further from our true desires.

Put your truth above all else

Similar to the point above, being authentic is the most simple way to live. However, simple ≠ easy.

When you know your truth, that is, what it is you really want - not what you think is considered to be "cool" or might get you respect from peers), you begin to question a lot of things. But it's through these questions that help you filter out your true desires and find alignment in all the things you do. You spend less time doing things that are done for the sake of or for external validation, and more on things that fill your cup.

The work is in doing the work

How many of us are guilty of writing down our goals, setting a plan and then even ... all for us not to do work.

We are guilty because all of us know deep inside that this is not the work. In fact, it is trivial tasks done to make us feel like we are doing the work. The only way to do the work is to do the work.

The magic you're looking for is in the work you're avoiding.

Self confidence comes through stacking (self) evidence

I'm still working on this and it wasn't until the latter end of the year that I began putting this into motion.

Everyone has insecurities and I think for most creatives, like myself, a major part of this stems from this friction that's born from the inability to hone in on a skill. This friction that is already brewing is often worsened when we other creatives or peers who are executing what we wish to be executing, at a level that we feel is impossible.

This is why its been said that it's envy and NOT comparison that is the thief of the joy. Envy because it's when we want what we see from others that does damage to our self-confidence. Comparison is actually good because it gives us a benchmark to measure ourselves against.

However, the antidote for this is to do the work and push through the early hurdles of learning that new skills, or the early hurdles of putting yourself out there.

Importantly, we must figure out what self-progressions looks like for our own trajectory. For me personally, I made it a goal to keep at it with videography. My skills were and still so raw that I felt embarrassed posting my work online, feeling as though there was such a huge gap mea and the creatives I looked up to. But the truth is, you just have to start and stack that evidence because once you get that momentum, it gets a little bit easier. Sure, my work is still so far from where I want it to be but because I'm measuring my own progression, the evidence that I'm stacking is my own and it's enough to build my self-confidence.

What you appreciate, will appreciate

One thing I know I want to double down on in 2024 is to be more grateful. Life gets so busy that we forget we are living a life we once prayed for. How many of us want more that we forget the small things we have in our daily lives are the things we once thought were out of reach.

All the times I felt inadequate, looking back on memories and realising how blessed I am was a way to recalibrate myself.

So yes, I'm going to strive for more but not let wanting more neglect what I already have - for I know that I am living such an abundant life.

Don't consume too much self-development

I might sound controversial for this but something I learned myself this year is that being too immersed in self-development material.

I've spent hours throughout the year listening to countless podcasts including the likes of Modern Wisdom, The Knowledge Project, The Rich Roll Podcast and more; on my walks and long drives. And while they all have given me a lot of wisdom, they've also inhibited my ability to create. Learning something new is a great feeling - it provides a sense of progression. But it's also dangerous if all we do is consume, and don't create.

Another inhibitor is that as 25 year old listening to the successes of figures much older than me, I lost touch of reality. Reality being that it takes time and a lot of failure to get from where I am to where those figures are.

Running is so good for the soul

I picked up running with the hope of losing weight, and while I did so successfully; running has given me more than I could ever imagine.

Running has been a way for me to regain personal agency. For all those times where I felt things were going against my will, I leaned on running.

With running, I was able to control what I wanted to control. My distance, my pace or where I ran. Running allowed me to do honest work, teaching me that whatever I put in, I will get out.

Running was almost a super vitamin, giving me instant clarity after every run and empowering me to have sharp focus for any tasks I had after.
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I entered into races and exceeded my expectations - which reminded me of what honest work could do.
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Running also gave me an opportunity to connect with nature in a new way. My ideal weekends would see me going for a coastal run after chasing the sunrise with my camera - and I wouldn't have it any other way.  

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The longer you wait for the future you want, the less time you will have to spend that future

I don't have much to say but as cliche as it sounds, the best time to start something was yesterday.

I have had a few projects that I have been subconsciously running away from and when opportunities came along, I rejected them because I knew I wasn't ready. I think this is the worse thing you can do for yourself.