A sharp sense of observation is like a compass in the fog, essential for decision-makers. But truth is, it’s becoming rare these days.
Last night, he started talking. About the anxiety that had been creeping in, how it shook him from the inside like his whole body was trying to reject everything he ate. His tone wavered, typical of someone struggling to express what’s on their mind. You could tell his head was full, but nothing was coming out right.
'Taking care of people is exhausting, you know?'
He wasn’t looking for advice. He just wanted someone to sit with his pain. The truth? He was the one messing it up. His focus was all over the place. His thinking short and impulsive.
It was… concerning, to say the least.
When was the last time you just sat still and did nothing?
Stillness gives us space to explore. We get to look inward and outward, all at once.
But lately? Just a few seconds of quiet and boom, we’re reaching for our phones. Standing in line at the ATM? Phone. Waiting at a red light? Phone. On the toilet? Definitely phone.
Gen Z calls this FOMO. Fear of Missing Out. And yeah, I know I’m stuck in it too. I know it’s draining me, but somehow, I still can’t stop.
This week’s screen time? 6 hours and 23 minutes per day. Triple the amount from the last time I felt like I had control. And guess where most of it went? Yep… social media. The place that offers noise in the middle of silence, anywhere, anytime.
But lately I’ve been wondering… is this really the kind of noise I need? What exactly am I chasing?
Let’s be honest. On a scale of 1 to 10, how well do you know yourself?
What are your strengths? What makes you different? Why are you here? What’s your core purpose?
If your answers feel shallow, maybe it’s time to pause and dive a little deeper.
This is what he always does when his focus slips. It’s not magic, but for him, it works. A way to awaken his thinking muscles, and emotional ones too.
Everything I do is to enrich myself. I don’t hesitate to dance on others’ suffering while showing off the medals I’ve won.
My final score for him: minus eleven.
He took a deep breath. Held it. Released it slowly. Again and again. His face softened. Like he was trying to quiet his noisy ego and actually listen to himself.
Is it wrong to want to be acknowledged?
WRONG! No, I mean, wanting recognition isn’t wrong. But where he went wrong was searching for it from others. What can we really expect from people? Why not start with ourselves?
Think about your childhood, what made you happy? What made you cry?
Think about your teenage years, what made you feel alive? What made you feel like nothing mattered?
And now, what are you fighting for?
Tuning into your emotions helps you see yourself in a wider lens. And only with that kind of space can you finally breathe again, and reconnect with what makes your life meaningful.
It's ok to stay in the comfort zone. And if you do leave, make sure you come back with something worth adding to it.
Ever wonder what kind of curiosity our ancestors had enough to lead them to fire?
They had to get burned. They probably threw all sorts of stuff into the flames just to see what happened. Curiosity made them do it.
And truth is, everything around us today is still full of things to touch, notice, and wonder about.
Never assume you already know enough. Don’t get too caught up in watching people live their lives across the world through your phone. There’s still so much beauty to notice nearby.
Your job is to choose, filter, and carry home only the things that help expand the comfort zone you’re building.
Keep exploring. Stay curious. Pay attention to what pulls you in.
