Few years back I realized that mental peace is my top most priority in life. In my 20s my priority used to be happiness but soon that was not enough. Without sanity and the belief that I am doing the best I can at any given point, even happiness was not enough. Last couple of years I went back to reading. I broadened my view with books which were out of my comfort zone. Books, which I would not have picked up given a choice - a lot of memoirs, non-fiction, self-help etc. Books, which would help me understand our habits, choices, thoughts.
This year, I decided to focus on spending time with myself doing things which bring me joy and help me feel productive without the task being laborious. These are some of the lessons I have learnt along the way, some through the books and others through my personal experiences:
1. DO NOT WORRY ABOUT WHAT OTHERS THINK
"Don't let the expectations and opinions of other people affect your decisions. It's your life, not theirs. Do what matters most to you; do what makes you feel alive and happy. Don't let the expectations and ideas of others limit who you are. If you let others tell you who you are, you are living their reality — not yours. There is more to life than pleasing people. There is much more to life than following others' prescribed path. There is so much more to life than what you experience right now. You need to decide who you are for yourself. Become a whole being. Adventure." — Roy T. BennettWe all have been there ... a negative comment, or unfavorable feedback can easily ruin the day. It is not easy to get past it. It does not happen over night but if you really think about it (and try) you will realize that what others think it is their business. They are a viewer of your life from outside. It is you who know the reasons and have to live with your actions. So do what makes the most sense to you. People will move on to the next person in a heartbeat while you will be left wondering, "what if?"
[ Related: Five Quotes On Inner Peace ]
2. MAKE NO EXCUSES
If you really want to do something, do it. Don't over think. Don't over plan. Just do it. The branding, the aesthetics, the what-not is all well and good to a certain extent but in the end you have to just roll with it. How many brands you know have changed their logos? How many have completely changed their products? It can all be worked out but if you never take any action you will never get anywhere. It also applies in your personal life, whether it is a skill you want to acquire, or a class you want to take or habit you want to break - Don't wait for Monday to start something. Just do it.3. THIS IS NO SUCH THING AS FAILURE
We all know how Steve Jobs was fired from Apple and how he came back and conquered the whole market. Or how Thomas Edison attempted creating a light bulb 10,000 times before he was successful in making it. Or how Marlyn Monroe was first rejected as a model/actress. It is all part of the process (journey?) If you really want to do something or be someone all you have to do is find a way to keep that passion alive. And the best way to keep the passion alive is to keep working on it without expectations. Do it for yourself. Learn from what is not working, improve and keep at it. That's the only way to achieve anything.4. PERFECTION IS AN ILLUSON
There is no such thing as perfect. The word itself is quite pointless. Perfect is boring. Perfect is bland. No one likes perfection. That is why we are all trying to disrupt the popular culture and constantly deviating it in different directions."If you look for perfection, you'll never be content."
— Leo Tolstoy Work with what you have today and down the line with passion and practice you will get close to perfection. But never attempting something because you believe you are not 'perfect' is like giving up even before trying. Don't chase perfection. Chase passion. "The gem cannot be polished without friction, nor man perfected without trials." — ConfuciusMoving on to the outfit ... seen here living my perfectly imperfect life at a weekend staycation at Lord Baltimore Hotel. Collaborated with Nordstrom and Jess for a photoshoot at this historic property. I cannot tell you how much in love I am with this Lewit set <skirt + top> I am wearing below. This skirt fits like a dream and is super flattering. Just in time for the Nordstrom Sale, if you are a cardholder.
Photography via JessBeeCreates
