6 Unconventional Things Helped Me Live My Dream Life [For Real]
And helped me achieve big goals
If you have been reading my writing, I talk a lot about how you have full control over your life and everything you need to live the life you want.
No one, I repeat, no one can stop you from achieving that.
Six years ago, when most people were settling down, I made the decision to move across the ocean all by myself.
Many questioned my decision, including my family.
Naturally, I felt fearful and scared because I didn’t know anyone in the new country.
Everything, from the new location to the new workplace and culture, was completely unfamiliar.
My motivation stemmed from wanting to shed my old self and discover the real me.
Have you ever had a moment where you tried to do everything right in life?
Studying hard to get good grades, graduating from a top-notch university, landing your dream job, and so on.
From an outsider’s perspective, it may seem like you have everything. You’re living the dream life that many aspire to.
But one day, you come to a realization that this isn’t what you truly need. It’s no longer something you can relate to.
The aspirations you once had no longer resonate with you. What you thought was a dream life has turned into a nightmare.
I don’t know what happened or where things went wrong.
I can’t even comprehend how my life ended up like this, trapped with no way out.
The narrative you tell yourself becomes your reality, and sometimes your mind becomes the biggest barrier you’ll ever face.
Perhaps this resonates with you as well. I know it’s scary even to think about.
So, what’s the solution?
I awkwardly sat down to find a solution, taking some time off to think, to think deeply. Here are the hard things I am doing now to help me live my best life:
1/ Prioritizing myself above anything else:
I’m someone who is always available to other people.
I reply to texts and emails instantly, and I pick up phone calls on the first ring.
But over time, I realized that people only reach out when they want something from you.
Everyone prioritizes their time and work, so why shouldn’t I?
I learned that to get what you want, you have to be willing to disappoint people ruthlessly.
You can’t always hang out, and you can’t always be available to listen to their problems.
Now, I would rather disappoint others than disappoint myself.
2/ Do what you think is right
When I started writing online, everyone asked me why I am doing this.
Some made fun of me.
Some said I will quit in a few weeks or months.
Some said I don’t have anything worthy to say.
Some said who will read.
When I wrote personal stories online, some said I am an attention seeker.
But in last two years I got good at writing.
I got good at learning new things.
I started loving the writing routine.
It helped me build self-awareness.
It helped me take tough decisions, take more risks.
Now people come to me and ask how they can also start.
It took me 2 years of consistent writing for people to actually notice me.
So if no one is able to understand what you do, why you do.
It’s okay to choose unconventional paths.
Keep walking on it.
Keep showing up.
Believe in yourself.
It will pay off one day or another.
Don’t kill your dreams and desires because some people don’t approve of it.
3/ Don’t let success stories fool you
On all social media platforms, you will find updates about success stories and how everyone is able to achieve big, bold goals. Congratulations to everyone.
But the reality is that when you meet people in real life, it’s often a different story. Everything worthwhile in life comes with its own struggles and failures.
Speaking specifically about writing:
- Writing is hard.
- Publishing an essay while juggling a demanding full-time job is even harder.
- Not earning income from writing is the toughest because it can be demotivating.
The combination of these three factors turned out to be a bad choice for my confidence, creativity, and risk-taking abilities.
But here’s the twist: to produce great creative pieces, you need to distance yourself from energy drainers and negativity.
If you’re an aspiring creator like me, I can’t tell you the best path to choose.
Whether to pursue your passion full-time or part-time is a decision you have to make.
However, what’s important to understand is this: Don’t let others’ success stories mislead you.
Explore your options because you are unique, and your circumstances are unique.
Ultimately, your goal should be to do what you love while having a support system that allows you to take risks and provides a safety net.
4/ Investing in my self-education:
- I read two books every month.
- I take online classes to further educate myself.
- I indulge in research to discover what I can apply in my day-to-day life.
- I have learned about designing my life, mindfulness, and different techniques to create a sustainable life.
I haven’t bought a single dress in the last three years, and I’m okay with that.
I mostly eat home-cooked food.
That’s my idea of building a sustainable life by educated myself everyday.
Every month 5% of my income goes in books, doing online courses.
Stop caring as much about other people what they think.
Criticism is good but don’t let it affect your mental health.
What you do today determine your tomorrow.
5/ Keeping your curiosity alive
When I get to the end of my life, It’ll be the small things that matter the most.
Sharing dinners with friends. Traveling solo. Being there for my family. The present moment is all we have.
I think we all are creative in some way or another. Everyone can be more creative with simple things that you do daily — maybe it’s your work, the way you cook your meal, or maybe it’s the way you dress up and express yourself.
Everything we do has creativity and a bit of imagination that does wonders.
Keith Sawyer, research psychologist and author of “Zig Zag: The Surprising Path to Greater Creativity,” says that you can be creative with few steps that can lead you to be more creative and set you in the right direction.
Let your mind wander, and who knows? You just might have the “aha moment” you were working so hard to achieve.
6/ The key to a successful life:
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had this dream of changing the world, but growing up, I had no idea how — let alone what I wanted to do with my life.
As I am thinking and recalling my last few years, I can’t help but gasp in amazement about how my life has turned on its head.
“Yesterday I was clever so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise so I am changing myself.” — Rumi
Trust me when I say this — I thought I had it all figured out.
It felt like a perfect trajectory to sacrifice everything else.
Sure, I felt miserable at times in my career when I had to do things I don’t enjoy and when some seniors were mean just because they can.
But everybody told me that everybody goes through this and I should not whine about it.
So anytime you feel stuck and want to change something, remember one thing for sure- no matter what you pick, you should give your one hundred percent best to make the most of it.
If you are alive and breathing, you can surely do it.
What happens after that it’s not in your control.
But how you react to it is.
We live at a time when things are normalized just because everybody else is doing it.
I assure you, the day you find yourself, you will never have to find your purpose to be happy.
Because you have it all figured out anyway.
I think that will make all the difference.
Can you relate?
Hit reply and share in comments.
Be Bold
Be Courageous
Be Your Best