Three Self-Improvement Activities to Boost the Year of the Dragon!
Group writing, reading and journaling
Play A
At the start of each year, I usually organize a writing habit-forming activity known as the 21-Day Writing Challenge in my CY Circle community. I believe in the benefits of writing and aim to use my influence to help others develop a writing habit.
For the past 21 days, participants have been answering three daily questions:
What energized you today?
What drained your energy today?
What small actions did you take today to work towards your goal or what lesson have you learned today?
After the 21-day challenge, participants need to review and summarize their writing by creating a long-form article that addresses these questions:
What energized you the most during the past 21 days?
What drained your energy most during the last 21 days?
What actions and habits helped you progress towards your goal, and what was your most significant lesson?
Through these 21 days of writing, participants will be able to identify what sparks their interest and what consistently drains their energy. Of course, this exercise isn't a one-size-fits-all solution; self-discovery takes a lifetime, and this is just one simple method.
Here is my summary of the past 21 days of writing. Interested readers can also use this template and join like-minded companions to put their chaotic thoughts on paper, laying a solid foundation for the upcoming Year of the Dragon!
What energized me the most during the last 21 days?
Chatting with loved ones; an impromptu solo trip to Japan; developing new hobbies, such as sage/incense and shamanic drumming; intensive reading of Carl Jung's works; David Goggins' podcast injecting a powerful dose of motivation; receiving many stranger's kindnesses on the high-speed train, e.g. helping with the luggage and sharing interesting travel tips; revisiting places from my school days, triggering many beautiful memories; meeting online friends from various chat groups IRL; friends always selflessly taking care of me, super grateful; savouring authentic Beijing roast duck; giving away unused items to those in greater need, allowing energy to flow.
What drained my energy the most during the last 21 days?
Being entangled in social obligations, having to do things against my true wishes; witnessing people acting out of line or showing off; overindulging in junk food; feeling the desire to change others' perspectives but only causing trouble for myself; experiencing digestive discomfort from eating out daily in Asia; having occasional impulses to destroy everything for some moments; constant fears occurred in my dreams - what am I really afraid of that my conscious mind didn't perceive?; feeling self-blame for not having regular CrossFit training; rampant consumerism; dissatisfaction with a friend's partner always undermining her and interrupting her speech.
The most important lesson I learned this month?
Think of those people and things that bother me as dumbbells, aiding me in achieving better outcomes. Consider this: if my deadlift is currently at 60kg, and you provide me with a 40kg barbell, it's merely child's play – no challenge whatsoever. It needs to be 62kg, 65kg, 70kg, steadily increasing; that's where the challenge lies, that's where the fun is! Similarly, my mental strength may be at 80 points, but I have to train it by continuously add weight to reach 100 points.
Never forget that every person you perceive as unpleasant and every challenging situation you encounter in life presents an opportunity for growth and enlightenment.
Play B
Since the age of five, I have been reading for an average of 10 hours per week, sometimes more, sometimes less. Through books, the authors become my virtual friends and mentors, as I absorb their words and transform them into knowledge.
Annually, I read between 50 to 100 books and compile summaries of the top 10 for my friends and family members (see this page for reference). Below, I'll detail my approach to reading.
Reading is like grocery shopping; approach it with a purpose and don't feel obligated to read every word. Just as you head straight to the shelves for fruits and bread, focus on the chapters that answer your questions in books. Skip the rest.
Avoid forcing yourself to read. Reading should be enjoyable, not a labour. If you can't get through a book, switch to another one. Some books may not interest you now, but you might find them intriguing later (like Carl Jung’s books to me). Timing influences your reading choices.
Reading also depends on your mood. I like reading multiple books simultaneously and choose based on different settings and moods.
Build your knowledge system. When delving into new subjects, return to the First Principle and read the most timeless and fundamental books to grasp the basic principles.
My methods for selecting books roughly fall into four categories:
Timeless classic books.
Recommendations from trusted sources and friends.
Books discovered unexpectedly while browsing bookstores and libraries.
Books related to topics I'm currently interested in.
How to learn through reading:
Before reading, consider what you want to gain from the reading experience.
When taking notes, summarise instead of copying verbatim. Use your own words to record what you've learned.
Apply what you've learned to real-life situations.
Join a book club or regularly discuss with friends to share what you've learned from books and fill in any gaps in understanding through conversation.
Don't just read a book once; read it multiple times. As the saying goes, you can never step into the same river twice. The content of books may not change, but your understanding will.
Try to find your next book to read in the footnotes or references of the books you're currently reading. This is a great way to build a knowledge system on a particular topic.
For unfamiliar authors, you can check out their social media or any talks online before diving into their works to see if their perspectives are worth spending more time understanding.
If someone says a book changed their life, believe them and take the book seriously. If a book is excellent, recommend it to others and pass it on. The job of readers and writers is to find outstanding things and fully utilise them in reading, writing, and rereading.
Play C
In his book "Schopenhauer as Educator," Nietzsche delves into the concept of individual uniqueness, highlighting the fear of societal judgment that often inhibits people from expressing their true selves. He critiques the tendency to conform to societal norms out of idleness and timidity, advocating for the rediscovery of one's authentic identity.
Nietzsche promotes self-discovery through introspection, encouraging individuals to ask themselves key questions: What have you genuinely cherished thus far? What brings you joy? What instils a sense of purpose? By listing these aspects, individuals may uncover patterns that reveal their deeply buried true selves.
Failing to take time for self-reflection amidst life's busyness can prevent the discovery of true sources of satisfaction. While satisfying immediate impulses may offer temporary joy, it does not contribute to long-term happiness.
Drawing from my personal experiences, adopting habits like "daily journaling" and "writing annual reviews" into one's routine can cultivate a thoughtful way of life with meaningful rewards. Growing up as an only child provided me with ample alone time for reading and writing, shaping a reflective lifestyle.
You might recall I wrote down “Flowism: My Philosophy of Living”, summarising my approach to life from over 30 years of experience. If you wish to take the time to reassess your life, you can refer to the following template:
Divide life into key periods, akin to writing an autobiography, classifying life into units or themes such as kindergarten, primary school, middle school, high school, university, etc.
Identify key experiences in each period, listing memorable events, whether positive or negative.
Analyse the causes of these events, understanding why some things went smoothly while others didn't.
Reflect on personal philosophy and values.
Here is a document I've created on Notion, outlining my living philosophy, principles, annual reviews, and additional insights derived from my daily journals and self-auditing method. Feel free to use it as a reference and create your own personalised document.
According to Chinese lunar calendar, February 10, 2024, kicks off the Year of the Wood Dragon for the Chinese New Year. I'm sending my best wishes to all my readers for a fantastic year ahead. I hope it's filled with lots of happiness, success, and good luck, just like the powerful dragon. Here's to a wonderful Year of the Dragon!
Excellent that you like and have those skills.
Not many have the patience, like my tutor who says she can't do calligraphy. I can't believe she said that.
By the way, your pic is intriguing and it inspired me to write fast.
Shufa And The Bird
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I saw a rare bird in the forest
among the blooming wild flowers
verdant growth I saw everywhere
life was teeming and buzzing
I dabbed my ink brush in water
and then onto the ink block
My brush touched the rice paper
without lifting traced an outline
No thoughts. My hand kept drawing
Then I realized this is not a bird
It was sage smiling with a cell phone.
I kept drawing faster.
before the bird flew away.
Hi Camilla,
This wonderfully detailed; you are very good :)
So thanks for sharing your amazing process. You are beautifully organized indeed. I am different. I go by flow; whatever catches my attention and resonates. If I force myself to be organized like in a corporate job setting, my creativity is blocked. Paradoxically, when I do not force "it", I found to be more productive - more so than than using a detailed plan. So that is my plan so far - and it has worked LOL.
Another thing I practice - I do not like that word, I prefer no practice, spontaneity ( Tao), is to get out of my comfort zone and do challenging things - like take workshops in say like: 书法 Shūfǎ or 山水画
Shānshuǐhuà. I know this may not work for some people. You have to find your way in your journey of exploration and that is exciting when you do and it all comes together -- then you move onto the next thing LOL
享受龙年
Nicholas