Steph's Ripples

We have the ability to adapt with anything that happen. We have the power to adjust. We are okay when we go through that situation. A lot of time we think we cannot - it's all in our mind.

I admit, I lost track again. It's alright. We all do. Things happen. Stumbles are part of the journey. To get back to life, take tiny steps. 1 single action. The key is it doesn't have to be huge, only enough to get you started again.

Always think about the bigger picture. Think bigger than yourself. Sometimes we are so focused on ourselves, our own little world, our own life that we forget that we are only a tiny fragment of life on Earth. When we think outside the box, we are able to progress. We are not dwelling on our own issues, but thinking for the greater good. We stop taking things for granted. We appreciate what we have. We realise that in our own little world, all is well except for what we make of it. 

Life is not meant to be taken seriously. Don't take anything personally. You are not a target, even though you have to be cautious, always be on your guard and keep your eyes open.Trust only yourself and show trust to the right people. Things come and go. Don't fuss over the little things. Take it easy.

I spent my childhood not enjoying reading. Trust me I was well-read, but my creative side or rather literary side was lacking. I couldn't come with fake stories to write. I was very limited in terms of writing as an art of expression. It's not the ability, but the ideas wouldn't jump at me. This is probably one the greatest regrets I have. I wished I read more and enjoy it. In later years, I started reading fiction. The first books I ever read was the Harry Potter series and that changed my perspective on reading. It took me to a new level of discovery. It was an eye-opener. Harry Potter, of course, still remains one of my favourite series ever. It's not only a disturbingly amazing story, so beautifully written but was also the beginning of my reading journey. Reading is so beneficial in so many ways. It can inspire you, make you cry, make you dead furious. It is the best form of learning. It can take you to new worlds. It is a journey of self-discovery.

I am good enough. Repeat × infinity. Part of me believe the reason why we don't trust ourselves is simply because we think or are led to believe that we're not good enough. This halters our ability to do our best, to be our best version, to thrive. We need affirmations to stop doubting our true potential. Have faith in ourselves. Reminder, the brain believes what you tell it.

Comparing is a redundant act. It is pointless to compare yourself with someone else because everyone has had different experiences. No one ever shares the same life as you. This means that you don't have to worry if people around you are 'living the life' or seems happier or more successful. It's their life. This is something outside your control. What you can do is always aiming to be a better version of yourself everyday. Do things which will make you grow.

This occurred to me today: the fact that you are not there, doesn't mean you won't get there. It takes time and sometimes, it could be a lifetime, but it is worth the wait. For example, we learn something new and we don't get it at first. We keep trying and there comes a point where we go with the flow. There is a transition period and I believe that's where a lot of us get stuck. We fail to go above that fine line. We give up before reaching the summit. Accept where you are right now. If you have something you believe in, persevere. Be patient and before you know it, you will look back and see how far you've come.

Everyone is on their own journey and path at various stages of life. We are all different and unique. We are the only ones who know what goes behind closed doors, what's happening inside of us. Sometimes it's peace and sometimes it's turmoil. You cannot only have one or the other. It's okay to feel emotional, to have irrational thoughts or lose your temper. You don't have to stay this way though. You have the choice to accept those and move on. 

There's still time. A huge excuse to not act. To procrastinate, to leave till later. It might be too late.

'Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.' - Joel Barker I am now convinced that thinking too much leads nowhere. Overthinking undermine the ability to act and perform. Why? It's simply because you're spending that time on thinking instead of taking action. Also, when you're thinking,  doubts slowly crept in and the thousands things you could do instead or all the different possibilities, as well as, distraction. Basically, all these leads to inaction and complacency. My message is to not think too much,  do not dwell on the details, make a move instead. Take action and everything will come together. Think on the bigger picture rather than what could be or what if. That's the plan for the new year. PS: Happy Chinese New Year!

This is a question I asked myself often. It's a rhetoric question with no real answer. Most times, it comes to my mind. Other times, it has to be asked. Sometimes, things can appear to be going wrong. However there is always a chance to make them right. It depends on the position you want to take.

At one point in my life, all I was ever doing is simply existing. Living to conformity, doing what I should be doing based on society's perception. I did all I was meant to do: study hard, get good grades, be a decent person. I was living by the rules of society's standard. At the same, I didn't know better. I thought I was doing pretty well. I didn't fail at many things. I did my best with every opportunity I got. It's ironic how you need to get lost to find yourself. Lost I have been. Many times. I think we all have dark moments, 'grey clouds' always lurking behind and waiting to make appearance whenever they get the chance to. They are not welcoming, but at the same time, reminders. They always show up for some reason.  Coming to the point of robots, I felt like I was becoming one in so many ways. Robots are like machines doing their job without asking why, with no emotions, no control whatsoever. I felt like that for a while, sometimes I still d...

Let's face it. To become good at something, you need to be consistently doing the work. This is the key and it's simple. Showing up everyday no matter what. Ironically what is simple is usually the hardest to do. We are often too busy trying to do everything. We get caught up by everyday distractions and what not. Keep this in mind. Focus on doing the work you need to get better and better everyday. Our duty is to become better versions of ourselves every single day. Leave everything else that is not bringing you closer to the person you want to be. 

Information we receive is often distorted by our own views and opinions. We don't pay enough attention to what is happening in front of us or around us, because we're busy running behind schedule, thinking about the past or the future. We fail to appreciate the blessings we're surrounded with because we choose to focus on other meaningless things.  Take a moment and consider everything you already have. Most probably you have all that it takes, but you can't see it because you're not paying attention to the essential. Take note.

There will be many times when you'll feel like 'Why bother?'. Truth be told, there is no such thing as the perfectly smooth sail. There will be waves, tides, storms. There will also be moments when everything feels like a breeze. In times of distress or what appear to be challenges, keep your eye focus on what matter, the direction to follow and your journey forward. There is no point in dwelling on what's preventing you from moving. Always stay focus on what is most important when you get distracted or carried away with everyday life.

There are always forces for and forces against what you do in life. I always feel that if something great is occurring in your life, then something unfortunate is happening to someone else. It's a balance of life. Things look bad when there's something to be learned. It's a reminder when you sidetracked. It's telling you there are new ways of doing things. They are aspects of life you have to deal with to grow.

Sometimes change doesn't come easily. It's hard to accept. It's impossible to let it sink. It's easier to resist, deny and avoid. Accepting change can be a challenge. However, it's for our own benefit. You don't want to stay behind and fail to live at the same time. Embrace change slowly and steadily.

Did it ever happen to you when you're trying to say something, making a point and the other person completely miss it? Well, it does occur several times and I found this has nothing to do regarding the point, but rather the person's own opinion about the subject matter. They have a mental image of how things should be, own beliefs and interpretations. We need to have 'open ears'. Be willing to hear what one has to say before interpreting it in our own terms. Stop being bias. Don't judge. This is besides the point of listening, of a two-way communication. If one wants to be heard, one has to listen. It doesn't mean you have to agree with everything one says, but rather accept what has been said, before jumping straight to conclusion.

It's never too late. Till our last breath. We've got to live life to the fullest. There's no point in dwelling in the past, not accepting things that already happened. It's never too late to start living, to follow your heart, believe in yourself. Live life as it comes. Take chances. Live the life you want to live. Now.

The reason we all get worried, anxious or stressed is simply because of uncertainty. The future is a mystery. We have no certainty about how things will turn out. We can never be 100% sure of an outcome. Often, life takes us by surprise. Often, unexpected happenings occur. Often, things don't go as planned. In spite of all, we have to continue moving forward. We cannot afford to stay stagnant. Life is worth living for all it has to offer. So any time doubts start creeping and making their way into your mind, accept them and don't dwell on them. There are so much more to do. Focus on things that matter to you. 

I see this blog as an opportunity to share advice, lessons learnt and general thoughts on life. This world is filled with knowledge, which is ironically a downside. There are too much information and it takes time for our brains to process everything. Our minds are overcrowded with information, in addition to our already busy lives. I feel it is essential to keep the information flowing. It is also important to know what to keep and what to leave (garbage in, garbage out). It is a question of filtering the essential. Take what inspires you, motivates you and ignore the rest. My thoughts are based on my life, experience and situation. We all have different perspectives on different aspect of life. I'm only sharing for the greater good.