Personal Developement

2022 has been a transformational year for me; I now look forward to 2023 to make the best year ever

Wow, what a year for me personally, and I am sure it’s been the same for each of you. But did I think the same way back, and the answer is no? I was introduced to a great exercise – the reflection exercise, which helped me appreciate and feel excellent about everything I have experienced this year. The same reflection exercise has enabled me to understand my shortcomings and where I fell short, either personally or professionally.

I am writing this blog with the intention of a yearly review of this past year which has gone by that, in a way, is a reflection but, more importantly, is a promise to ensure the coming time for the year(s) to me as an individual.

From Consumption to Creation

From an economic standpoint, creation offers a greater reward than simply providing what is already in demand. Creating something new gives individuals the opportunity to make something that satisfies their wants to create something. It also allows me to be more agile and responsive to changes in the market, as I can quickly create things for new problems as they arise. The entire approach of focusing on creation than consumption has enabled me to be flexible, which can give me an edge in my day-to-day life.

 In the last two years, creation has gotten more serious for me; it started with creating and writing weekly blog articles, launching my Podcast (Masters Decoded), bringing the Youtube channel started and being consistent with it.

 Making myself uncomfortable and in an unknown situation

I have realized that I have created a world and situation which has made me comfortable with what I do and experience in life. The year I started manifesting that I would like to put myself in an uncomfortable or participate in something which provides a new perspective on everything. I came across the LifePlugin summit, which I could have attended in April. However, I procrastinated and was finally able to participate in November. More about LifePlugin in future blogs. Similarly, I signed up for 1BillionSummit in Dubai in December, which enhanced my thinking on the creator economy.

Mindfulness and Breathwork

I have been a non-believer in meditation for the longest time. I have tried it before, and my mind couldn’t just sit still; it would keep bouncing around places and thoughts that did not save me. However, at the LifePlugin summit, my perspective on mindfulness and breathwork completely changed. I attended the conference and participated in the workshops for different types of mindfulness and breathwork practice which changed me in those three days. I would not want to spoil the entire summit's fun. If you want to discover, be yourself without any pre-judgments, experience friendship which you have never experienced before and get yourself in an uncomfortable position, I highly recommend the conference.

Continue to learn

I have evolved over the years by ensuring I continuously learn on topics aligned with my professional or personal passions. However, what has changed this year for me, my learning platforms have expanded manifold. I recently did a Youtube video on this topic on my channel, and you can look at the various platforms I go to every day to expand my learning.  Learning helps me stay ahead of the curve. This year, I am of a mindset that doesn’t run behind the certifications or testimonials but is more focused on documenting and storing the learnings in my second brain and furthering the training by imparting/sharing the knowledge with others.  

Enhance my knowledge of my body

At the start of the year, I got hit with Covid-19, and even after getting vaccinated and a booster, I contracted Covid again in late August, which was not a pleasant experience. Though biohacking has been significant on my agenda from the start of the year, I have been personally able to achieve the following: 

1.     Get better sleep even in my travels and am not intoxicated with harmful pills of Melatonin and other forms of Allopathic medicines

2.     Understanding food types that impact my Glycemic index has made me not have system crashes after lunch or dinner

3.     Understand the importance of small but essential movement and other physical activities, which includes walking that help boost my mood

4.     Reduce my caffeine intake significantly.

Though I haven’t been able to get my weight in control, that is the big plan for 2023, and hopefully, when I write this blog at the end of 2023, I can report the outcomes of my achievements on the health front.

The accountability and reflection exercise in crafting my significant learnings and takeaways from the year gone by is a self-fulfilling exercise. I plan to continue this path as the years pass by. Hopefully, in 40 years, when I am seated in my armchair and reading all the articles I have written, I can reminisce about the years gone by.

 

I wish you and you to make 2023 the best year we ever had.

Power Series: Why gift yourself each year on your birthday?

We are born on this planet Earth with a purpose and make an impact in our own ways. - Anees Merchant

Every one of us is important and born on this planet ‘Earth’ to drive something important and move each day by a second, minute, and hour. There are various emotions we go through the year and continue to focus on aspects to improve our lives and individuals around us. While we navigate the multiple facets of life (ups and downs), we often forget to appreciate the most important person, that is, ‘Us.’ The proposition applies to individuals who are in a capacity to earn or in a position to gift themselves.

So why gift yourself every year? The idea is not being selfish or think that you are alone in the world. We often are focussed on making individuals around us feel special and an essential part of our life. Out of love, we tend to express our gratitude and love either through gifts or objects which represent our love, compassion, or affection for the other person without an intention that the other person would reciprocate your expression. Often than not, we do get reciprocated by our near and dear ones. However, it is not necessary to expect the same gesture in return from everyone you care or show your compassion.

I often recommend to individuals that we need to learn to love ourselves first before we appreciate others around us. Many life coaches often suggest that we get ourselves goals that are SMART (Specific, Measureable, Achievable, Realist, and Timebound) for a year ahead. These goals should include personal and professional aspirations and need not be declared open to everyone. So what happens, once you achieve your goals, you quietly feel proud or have a sense of accomplishment. At this moment, if you truly have completed your goals and have overachieved them, then it is important you declare them and appreciate the milestones you have achieved.

The way of appreciation is giving yourself a gift (the most expensive in your benchmark) to self appreciate yourself. The self-appreciation is a self-gratifying process that gives you a personal high and provides a sense of contentment and calmness. You can pick a date in a year where you would mark such a moment. The best one, as per me, would be your birthday or other important dates which are monumental in life. I would also recommend that you do it once only, as that would hold the special meaning in life for you and would also set a personal goal each year.

If you follow such a practice then I would like to hear from you. Chao..

Power Series: Podcasts for Personal and Professional Development.

In my previous posts of “How I continue to Simplify my life,” I had recommended listening to Podcasts as an excellent medium for Personal and Professional development. I got introduced to Podcasts by my good friend and colleague - David McBride, and thanks to him, I love the Podcasts experience. Podcasts are long-form content, and my personal opinion is that you cannot just listen to it, probably like the music. However, you can put it on during long commute or other opportunities where you have less distraction, and you can focus on what the hosts or individuals who are speaking to gain knowledge.

The list of Podcasts that I am recommending is not exhaustive but are a few of the favorite ones which I have subscribed too and look forward to the content and gain inspiration.

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Masters of Scale

A mini MBA personally for me. I have gained a lot of knowledge from this series.

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The Disruptive Entrepreneur

Highly recommend Grant Cordone interviews.

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Digital Analytics Power Hour

Recommended for individuals who are building their career in Digital Analytics

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Happy Market Research

Highly recommended for individuals who are within the Market Research industry.

Though I would keep adding to the list, I would recommend each of these Podcasts series do not have good episodes. Like any song or movie, you would need to read what the content or topic is going to be about or who the interviewee is all about. Once you do the research then go ahead and stand committed to the Podcasts.

Do let me know your thoughts on these and if you have more such recommendations then do post it on the comments box. Chao..