Step 19: Three Things That Improve Your Life

I’ve been reading a lot recently and I’ve been watching many interviews with wise people who achieved a lot in life (I recommend the following YouTube channels: Inside Quest, Impact Theory and The School of Greatness), because I want to make some changes in my behavior, alter my habits and lead a more mindful life. All these people have their rituals that helped them achieved what they dreamt of. Everyone did something different, but there are three things that they all have in common:

1.Breathe. I know it sounds stupid, but when you take a closer look, it’s not stupid at all. I’m still working on this one, but I already know that nowadays we don’t breathe properly. We don’t take these deep breaths to help oxygen get to our brain. They encourage you to take at least one very deep breath every day. And ideally – to spend 5 minutes in the morning and 5 minutes in the evening just breathing. It seems nothing – only 5 minutes – but it’s not that easy, you’ll see (I get distracted after a minute). I started practicing and we’ll see where it goes. 

2. Meditate. I think we really underestimate (at least I did) the power of meditation. When you hear “meditation”, you probably see people in their yoga positions and you immediately roll your eyes saying: I’m not a Buddhist, I’m not doing this. It’s not like that at all! Meditating can be many things – it can be praying, if you pray; it can be just sitting in silence; it can be listening to someone you like on YouTube (someone who lifts you up) or on a podcast; it can be even listening to music. It’s everything that helps your brain relax and flow whenever it wants to. I’m sitting a few minutes in silence, listening to some motivation on Youtube or to music on the subway, thinking about nothing. It calms me down, gives me perspective on things and helps me distance myself from my problems. Try it, it’s only 5 minutes. And you do have 5 minutes a day.

3. Journal. This one is tricky, because you guys will probably say it’s a bit childish or stupid. Only it is not. Keeping a journal is like having your own shrink that you don’t have to pay money to. I started keeping a journal when I was 13 and did it (more or less daily) for more than 10 years. Then I stopped, I don’t remember why, and I came back to it a month ago. It feels amazing. You’ll be shocked what you’ start writing about. It’s not a diary, so you don’t have to write what your day was like. You just write down your thoughts on what happened to you, on what you feel, what ideas you have, or what’s on your mind at that particular moment. Write down two pages, or one page, or a few sentences. It doesn’t have to be an essay. I love it because coming back to your notes is always surprising. As I said – it’s your own, free shrink that clears your mind. 

Try these tools and see if they improve your life. I bet they will. And I hope I’ll be consistent and will be practicing them too. 

The idea for this post came from the book I’m reading right now. It’s an amazing read: „Tools of Titans” by Tim Ferris, I recommend it to everyone. Tim Ferriss is the best-selling author in the US and is known worldwide, as well: his book „4-Hour Work Week” earned him millions already; he also has the best-known podcast in the US. Tim interviewed people from different fields: there were enterpreneuers, actors, athletes, writers etc. He took out the essence of what they said and put it together to create a guide to a healthy, wealthy and mindful life. Amazing book. I call it my Bible nowadays. As soon as I finish reading it… I’ll start reading it again.

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