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Productivity, Timely Series

Life Reset At Eighteen!

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I am holding up for a LIFE RESET AT 18.

First, I’ll love to scream this, “I’m back!”. This writer is resurrected, I pray.

Hurray to you all like me looking forward to a life reset as you turn big 18 [and those anticipating 18].
Age eighteen is society’s golden age, most of us “day old eighteens” are busy trying to pull the best outfit, the best party and share the most gorgeous images straight out of the studio. Nice one.


If you are a control and productivity fanatic like me, well, you are definitely not alone. Welcome. Here’s a ghost cup of coffee, tea [or any refreshment you love] sit back, relax, I will just roll over a fresh canvas and we can start this reset art.


Why am I looking forward to a life reset?


You see, big eighteen is society’s grand license to more expectations and it’s not easy to skip on the demands pilling up from yourself to do better.
No pressure. I’m not pressuring myself or expecting myself to figure everything out, no. I just did a good reflection and saw some flaws in my character that I’m paying for with my fulfillment as a young person.


This is my personal way of giving myself another chance to start all over again with all the qualities I took for granted: actions, boldness, consistency, discipline, commitment, systems, and so on. If I don’t declare a reset I’ll feel uneasy and like I’m just trying to mend old failures but what I want is a new person trying to be better as an individual… bringing to life with baby steps all the characteristics and disposition I’ll love to see in myself.
It would not be hasty; it will not be perfect [though I love the idea of perfect]. It will be struggling to choose commitment daily as much as I can. It will be doing the work rather than just making endless lists.
Your turn. What is your why?

How am I carrying out this reset?

My photo before 12:00am
  • WRITING X JOURNALING


For the past 10 days before my birthday, I tried putting down in a digital notepad [keep notes] all my reflections and thoughts I had about the coming big 18 and ending 17. This helped me with a glimpse of clarity in what I think I did wrong, did right and what I will love to change; then came a list of things I’ll want to do.
So:
I created a random document in my phone called “life reset” and dropped an idea of what I’ll like to do whenever the idea came and after a while I tried considering and organizing the events.

  • DECLUTTER
From google


Believe me this was a big deal to me. I am yet to see some of the results but there is peace in knowing you have less around you. It makes sense that as you try to RESET, you take out things that you don’t use anymore or you are no longer acquainted with. It ushers in that sense of freshness and newness. Try not to go overboard with this or analyze this too much. Try not to remove things that you’ll regret, just remove whatever you know is not necessary.

Here is what I did:

I deleted contacts that I didn’t use frequently and those I had second thoughts about; I wrote them down in the contact form at the back of my journal just in case the need for them arises. Believe me I wanted to remove so much more than I already did but some acquaintances need to stay even though communication is not frequent example course mates, and people that think they know you but don’t.
I deleted videos, images, messages, apps, files, SONGS. I love music; so much. But I knew I had to let go of those songs I’m so quick to next when they start playing. What is the use of having a long list of songs when you’re always skipping a lot [I can always download again when I finally miss them]. This felt hard at first but after then, I felt really good.

I know I will still do more of decluttering because of the fresh feeling it holds. I’m looking forward to library and wardrobe declutter once I am ready for thrift shopping.
The act of decluttering did set that vibe of a rest… The mood was ignited. That’s pretty much it [for me at least]

  • BIG CHANGE


I FINALLY came up with what all this was about. Why? Why do I want to change? Goals and tasks are based on a central desire. Choosing that desire automatically puts you through your goals when systems are created. Mine was:


▪️Reducing procrastination as much as possible.
▪️Growing discipline
▪️Taking more actions more than I make lists and goals. That is, being less passive and more active.

And the plan here was to stick with taking baby steps DAILY until I sink into autopilot.

  • SHEDULES AND ROUTINES


OKAY, I am still in the process of creating a functioning, realistic and productive schedule and building it into a routine. My goal for this routine is:

to know what to do and realize the time for actions, not necessary living an adventure-free routine life. No, just scheduling my activities and guarding those times least I neglect my commitments.


I have certainly asked myself, are you ready to commit? And I try to say to myself, that no matter how small and mundane these tasks may seem, it is not here to give me glory but to help mould my character as a young adult.

I am yet to establish these routines but I hope it goes well and I HOPE to stay committed daily and I won’t feel to make adjustments if any time block fails.
I am going to adopt the pomodoro method of getting this done [tomato unit 🍅] and soon enough I’ll have feedbacks. Also, I’ll be scheduling specific tasks for specific time blocks.

Be sure to watch youtube videos, ask question to both trusted people and google [yet guard your choices]. Get to know how others are pulling through. All these will open you to new ideas you’ll love to test.

  • BOOKS

IN ALL you do, never neglect reading books. Make it a frequent task as much as you can. As for me:
I will be exploring classic novels and financial books, I pray and I will try to take aesthetically pleasing photos of which ever I engage in [for the gram and my eyes].

Try as much as possible to explore new genres of books as this might open you to new interests or ideas.

  • LANGUAGE


YES I will be learning a new language and I think you should. I am doing this clearly from my love of accents, polyglots and playing characters. They say passion is not enough so I have gone to google and searched up,

“Why it is important that I learn a second language”.

There you have it. As for me, my first pick is Spanish for a second language. So please remind me I am a becoming student of Spanish, gracias. I am about to buy a cheap Spanish lesson notebook which I’ll be using for this long journey. And I hope to make a future blog post on my progress and process under the category productivity and growth. Speaking of categories…

  • THE BIBLE
  • I have not been reading my Bible and that has to change. Whether it was born from my reflection or from God’s will… It remains beautiful

I have not been reading my Bible and that has to change. Whether it was born from my reflection or from God’s will… It remains beautiful. Recently I kept wondering why I am a fanatic for romance and for love in general, love displayed in life overall. I concluded that I might just be in love with love itself… Within a moment of epiphany I realized that God is love and Jesus must be real. I realized that it could be Jesus himself showing me the beauty of love: who he is himself and why I should love. I choose faith, I choose to love him because he loved me first… And I’m reading the Bible to learn how to love, to change into all those qualities I admire. I choose to grow in love

  • CATEGORIES

I HAVE temporarily categorized my actions and focus into the following: productivity, language, school, reading, socials, spiritual, photography, and looks. It’s not fixed, things can change, and this will help me organize my actions, mobile space and information.

TYPYING ALL these now just showed me how much I am planning on committing to. This would SURELY not be easy because I am a respectable, high ranked, professional procrastinator and planner without major actions. But then again, that’s it. That’s what I desperately want to change.

I hope to share my progress via my instagram account and brush that one a bit as I am a lover of aesthetically pleasing photos.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic my plan of purchasing a camera and learning editing has been suspended till further notice.


I HOPE to keep up with school work and study my bible frequently. All these, I wish to DO, key word, DO.
It’s been a long chat, I forgot to refill your cup of tea [or whatever you may be drinking], forgive my manners. It’s been a pleasure chatting with you on my birthday and new age.

Above all, I pray I don’t sleep out of my commitments for I will deeply break my heart and accountability all over again.
And like I said before, Baby steps, that’s just what it is.

Blossom

X

In her September Thoughts, Welcomes

Journals and New Leaves

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Long September, new October.

Grow gently and truly
By Destiny Felinah

When the sun came up today, I looked up at the sky and asked, “God where are you taking me now? ” The best part of this question was that I had a smile on my face as I asked the question. It was a special kind of question because I didn’t know the answer but I knew it would be amazing and beautiful… And I was aware it wasn’t going to be easy. I was aware that soon I was going to break down again but it’ll lead me to a whole new ground that stimulates goose bump and happy tears.

September is not going to come around again. This september is gone forever and I am relaxed at the thought that I have no regrets. None.

I don’t regret the shift of goals. I don’t regret the moments I spent doing nothing.
On the last day of August I had drafted a mini plan; a plan highlighting the biggest things I wanted to do (I had planned starting a podcast). The month of September went in a way I never imagined and also in a way I imagined. I discovered much more than I thought I would, I found new parts of myself and I was still able to do some of the things I planned doing (finishing the book of John, first Timothy and Second Timothy).

It was a moment when I gave myself a chance. When I stayed in solitude sometimes just to embrace myself. Where I had deep thoughts and hard truths.

I may not have started a podcast but I did go through a healing process; like a series of mindset bath. I feel like all the right things happened (even the bad days). This only makes me hold on tighter to my new, favourite mantra :
“Trust the future to be beautiful. It may not go as you imagined but it will still be beautiful. You might walk a different path you never thought you’ll walk but you’ll still meet a beautiful end… “

We have gotten to the end of the September Challenge (In her September thoughts). This is not a goodbye but it’s the end of September.

On the bright side, it’s a new beginning with new chances and experiences. It’s fresh with new lessons and pain lying ahead.
In summary, life is worth it.

THROUGH OUT THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, I HAVE :

  • experienced more of peace and hope.
  • Been able to experience healing in my thoughts and emotions. I have started my journey away from self-pressure.
  • Been able to create contents for this new blog.
  • Do things even when I don’t feel like it.
  • Spend my time with God and His word. And I found fun ways to be with Him. I have been really open to God with my doubts and confusions about Him and I watched Him provide some answers (and when I had no answers, I watched trust and faith take over).
  • I have read books religiously.
  • I have heard from new amazing people and sent direct messages.
  • Discovered more of who I want to be and where I want to be.
  • Been watching my true attitude and behaviours and I’m trying to be honest to myself about the ugly sides (very discomforting).
Call me sunshine. I love colours

This is not the end of The Purple Journal, It’s a new beginning… Again, I’m proud of the photos.

With Love, Light, Grace…

From The Purple Journal.

XOXO

In her September Thoughts

20 Seventh

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WHAT DO I DO WHEN MY PEACE SEEMS THREATENED?

SHAKING CALM

27 September 2019

“What a wonderful world…. “

We live in a new age world where being restless and anxious is a full blown disease. We sit in the midst of people yet wander to places far from the present. It is now normal to be in the present yet know nothing about what’s happening in the present, because our minds are always seeking for what’s next — not what’s before us.
Now whenever we get a chance to be happy, all we can do is imagine what it would be like when the party is over and the sun goes down. What it’ll be like when life comes back at us.

Why do you want to ruin the present by imagining and meditating on what could go wrong — in the future!

PEACE AND HOPE

Yeah, I keep mentioning this. I can’t hide how overwhelmed and grateful I feel for this. The bible says, “my peace I leave with you…” I have personally experienced this peace. When conflicting ideas and thoughts come to my mind, it feels like my mind is not willing to hold on to it for so long. It just longs to be settled and simply, peaceful.

FEAR

Again. The world will always have opposing forces. It’s not a surprise that in the midst of so much peace and calm, wild thoughts attacks us. It’s not a surprise that when we refuse these thoughts, a new war starts to build up in our minds; FEAR.

We accuse ourselves for being too relaxed. Our mind starts accusing us as being extremely indifferent or too carefree. Our minds can even accuse us for being too scared to face our problems. Such truthful lies!
We’ve lived on this earth long enough to believe a lie that being peaceful is abnormal. The trend is to be worried and overly concerned about all the things we can’t handle at the moment.

In the middle of the calm and peace, there might exist a building fear of loosing this peace. Peace feels so good and miraculous that we might actually start becoming worried of loosing this peace. We forget that this fear itself is a perfect way to start giving out our peace.

Why think about what will happen when you loose your peace of mind… And maybe returned to being the clumsy, anxious, sick kitten? Why do that when you can just — settle.

Lately I’ve been waving off this uncomfortable thought of loosing this peace and hope that I am so excited about, the one I am so surprised and grateful for.
We become scared that the moment we loose our peace, we become fraudsters. It begins to feel like we tricked the world and made them believe in a peace that was just perhaps a mood swing. We get scared of admitting that the growth we so claimed to have was just for a little while. We get scared it will stand against the new practice and lifestyle we’ve come to preach about, enjoy and share with the world around us…

BEING STRONG

Humans have grown so accustomed to waving off the present while holding on to the future in their heads. We can’t deny the fact that the present will always be the present and the future will always be the future. In as much as we are making preparations for a FUTURE downfall, we can also be grateful and happy in the moments we are standing on.

Well, what can I say. Instead of thinking about all these, we could choose to just enjoy this moment while it lasts; this peace. We could always write this feeling down and keep the memory. And when it seems like it’s gone, we could always come back to that entry and know that there was a time we were this peaceful. This can be a great source of hope. If we do this, we might just be filled with the faith that it can happen again.

The faith is not about not getting into bad times and moments; for they must come. The faith believes in fighting… And it says, “fight the good fight of faith.” The faith doesn’t mean we won’t get troubled, it simply tells us to fight with faith when the struggles and worries come. It tells us not to settle for it. It tells us to believe and win over oppositions, even when it seems too hard. It teaches patience in war.

“Change is inevitable.”

Just look at you. Few months ago you were so anxious you’ll never get to this point. Look at you showing off so much power and strength you’ve built up as you passed through your tiny holes… Look at you now in the lights. Even though you might not have so much light around you, now you see the light. Now you have a stronger chance of seeing your way to the bigger lights.

In essence, once you thought it will never be possible but you’re now living in your thought out future impossibility. You have grown more knowledgeable. Stronger. More patient. More open. More vulnerable and better.
Even though your peace and hope will get taken away from you again, always remember that it’s an opportunity to go through another growth process. When you came out of your last struggle, you came out better.

Hope and faith can hold you in this moment of fear. Through hope and faith you can be rooted in a believe that; it will only build your peace. Maybe this time when your peace comes back to you; when you win back your peace, it will be much greater. You will get stronger and firmer.

This is the idle growth mindset and faith.

We must be able to accept who change is and know that change is definitely coming for us. It’s coming on an attempt to take us through the highs and lows so at the end we can become great, strong and skilled surfers of life.
It was through the rough storms and pain that you learnt the value of peace. It was through these moments you discovered the beauty of peace. Would you settle for this place you have now, when you know you can have much more? It was through the journey of anxiety and worry that you found this peace you once never knew to exist.

Even though your beautiful, loved peace goes away, maybe you’ll only journey into a deeper form of peace. A more secured kind, planted in the memories of your journey.
You can choose to enjoy your peace while it lasts and fight for it or you can choose to see the brighter side of the change about to come. You can choose to anticipate just how beautiful, refined and genuine your peace will become when you meet it again.

Growth comes in so many areas of life and time. Just because you’ve grown in one area or phase, doesn’t mean you’re done growing. We never stop growing through life.

Grow with The Purple Journal today.

“I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!”
John 14:27 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/jhn.14.27.TPT

NEWS FLASH: For those who didn’t join us from the beginning, this note is to remind you that the purple journal is approaching the end of this series. This series is one that brings to the light, the September thoughts of The Purple Journal as this journal goes through a growth journey.
We strongly encourage people that feel like they just can’t figure out what’s going on in their young lives to give this series a chance. It’s called “In her September thoughts.”
You can also visit past post since the beginning of the month. It will help you move with trail of thoughts and understand better.

How has your month been and what are you planning to grab as the new month arrives?

From The Purple Journal
With love, light and grace…

XOXO

In her September Thoughts

10nTh September

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CHALLENGE

10 September 2019
I snoozed the alarm at 05 am, so I pretty much rushed myself to school. Today was a day I anticipated. I had pretty things to cross off my to-do list; start with a good morning routine, I had to go tool shopping, look for a nice house, make a post for the September Challenge and another post in respect to today being suicide prevention day.
One, I pretty much used my legs to walk so many blocks. I searched so many shops for the tools I needed.
Two, I came home, freshened up and was ready to post.
Boom. The document was missing. The story I prepared to post on my instagram in respect to suicide prevention day was missing. I didn’t shout, I couldn’t. I just stayed on the sit and assured myself I was sad. I still haven’t shouted. I didn’t bang the table, I just know I’m sad.
I apologize because just like fourth of September, tenth of September have turned out to be too personal. I feel like the day crashed.
No instagram post, No well thought out blog post. These were the top guys on my to-do lists. The fact that they didn’t go well made the day look unproductive.

Let’s switch to the bright side.
I did go shopping today. I went shopping for work space tools.
So here is a less personal tip:

  1. JOURNALS: Journals come in different sizes and designs. I personally don’t like small journals because I like to write freely except the to-do journals which I keep small. You can personalize your journal for any purpose.
    I make my to-do list in a journal and not on a piece of paper because flipping back at the previous days work makes me track my productivity and gives me good motivation to get done with the present lists.
    If you quickly forget your thoughts, keeping a journal around will be a nice habit to build. And to those trying to discover their life paths, journaling (not a real word) can turn out to be a pretty map. Try to categorize the journals and possibly keep multiple journals because this solves a problem of clustered information. I got a blue journal today.
  2. STICKY NOTES: Aside from being pretty and colourful, sticky notes can serve you in times when carrying a journal can be difficult. It can even make you read a book you find too plain or too Boring. It also does good work with vision boards and school notes. I bought a pack because I loved all the colours.
  3. HIGHLIGHTERS: very good example of the term, standing out from the crowd. Whatever detail you want to stand out from the rest can be highlighted. Even for designing pages you find too plain, it helps you outline your books with your own personality. I got a pack because I love colours, it’s my personality.
  4. BIBLE: I always new I was sinking in my Christan life. I developed a strong urge for rediscovering God and there’s no better way to do that than with a Bible. I wanted an outstanding pretty bible but I was low on budget. With the above tools you can turn your Bible into a rainbow. Bible study just got fun. I got NIV version and the bible feels so comfortable in my palms. It’s a new start.

These are a few, there are more sophisticated tools. But these ones just make me feel ready, new and pretty. Funny how new tools brings your table and mind alive.
Getting these tools can be a great way to start organizing your life and work. As I stepped into a new phase of personal development, I found it necessary to start with new tools. Fresh and ready for new stories. There’s this air it brings around you.
Maybe the thought that you have a handful of things in control now.

It’s just a great place to start. Start by making your work space bright and warm and new.

P. S not so much today… But everyday in September is a challenge and I accepted that challenge.

In her September Thoughts

4ourTh SepteMber

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04 September 2019
Maybe today wasn’t so great. Maybe it was.
Today is not a day I can call productive, except stalking successful people became something amazingly productive.
In the process of becoming, I have stopped at different junctions. I have screamed at several junctions just to justify my frustration.

The part I’ll not forget is the part where you see other people living your dreams already. This will not be toxic for you if you stick to being happy they’re making it rather than comparing. This is pretty hard but it’s the right thing to do.
Well, in other to become what you desire … I think it’s necessary to stalk and admire and simply see how others live your dreams. If this doesn’t happen you wouldn’t really know what your dreams look like. You’ve got to see other people rock it better.

Mark Manson has led me through the acknowledgement of our innate human languages: pain, suffering, being unsatisfied e.t.c. Satisfaction, fulfilment and happiness are not constant, it’s a constant walk towards them.

I downloaded a piece title peaceful relaxing soothing… It will be playing for over one hour and for the next one hour I pray I don’t over analyse my invisible work and progress. Maybe all I want to do is drown and feel the words in the title of this tune I downloaded. Like nothing ever happened. Like I don’t feel frustrated. Like the money I spent on purchasing the data I used for simply stalking the internet will turn into an investment.
So much cash, that I don’t have. So all that’s left to investing is my time, mind and emotions. Maybe the tune turned intoxicating cause my hands are just dancing on the keyboard while my eyes are staring at the words I am creating on the white screen.
Just right now, it started raining and the lights went out. Some things will never stop seeming magical… I
I just…

P. S Sorry this post is too personal and….

But that’s what this month’s for. I have to write everyday. It’s a challenge and I took it. And whether it makes sense or not, I AM POSTING IT!

NOTE: The post picture was not taken by me.

Fighting!

In her September Thoughts

THiRd SeptEmber

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3 September 2019 .

SMILE


I can’t help but think of a smile from a different perspective and this is strictly based on experience.
Smiling is more than just expressing an emotion. It’s more than expressing joy, excitement, happiness and gratitude. When I think of smiling, I see it as a way of telling your story but ending the story with a message. I see it as a window that emits light.

A Smile is a form of energy that can be transferred from one person to another. It’s one that displays the light that lives in a person’s soul. If your soul is not full of light, then your smile cannot have life in it.


Have you ever looked at someone’s smile and just smile along? Have you experienced a contagious smile? I believe the light that shines from our soul holds a message. It can be for negative reasons or positive.
Example, if someone has been in a hopeless situation and grown to have hope, this experience heals their wounds and fill them with light. So if that person smiles at you, your soul is more likely to register and feel of hope.
This is a personal experience: Radhi Devlukia Shetty is a woman I’ve thought about deeply. Just observing her facial expressions helped me understand this. It felt like magic the way her smiles made me smile instantly. I just look at her and smile. When I thought of her, I felt more light. At first it felt too weird to be true. But the invisible world far exceeds the things your mere eyes can see and understand.
This woman’s smile led me towards wishing to have that light lingering in my smile. That hopeful smile. When I see her smile, all I think of is hope for the future and freedom from life’s load.
There are many more messages a smile can tell someone. It could tell you to be patient, to hang on, to be peaceful , to be grateful, to be hardworking, to do more, or even to rest. To concur to something and more…

Did I try to smile like her? Yes I did. I felt my smile was not just bright as hers, I wanted it to make people smile. One night I was resolving an inner conflict I had with myself and after that I realised that my smile and Radhi’s smile didn’t have to look the same. I had my story and she had hers. Our smile could look different but send the same light, the same message; maybe hope or love or fulfillment or healing. All that mattered was that it was real and not forced; that was a moment of peace for me.

I thought about a story from Sheila Walsh’s book, Get off your knees and pray. The story was about a baby born with down syndrome and the pain the parents felt from this challenge. He grew up but not as a normal kid. He couldn’t learn easily, he was made fun of, might never get married or have children. Here are some statements from this chapter I wouldn’t forget in a hurry:
Sheila said,“I wish I could show you a picture of this young man’s smile. There is a gentle grace about him and a deep abiding sense of the presence of God and his angels.”
His mom said,“People have told me they can tell he loves the Lord, his faces shines! …”
This is a life testimony of Eric Kuntz’s smile. You can see that his smile tells a message of God’s grace as it shines. Amazing thought to me.

“He cries when someone else cries (even if he doesn’t know why he is crying)… “


Smile from your heart. Give light to people. It’s an affordable gift you can throw around. You can throw it right at people’s face and they wouldn’t get offended. No one will punch you for throwing this gift! Put a message on your smile. Not just for your selfies.

Be more than a flashlight.

SMiLe.
P.S Tell me, can you relate to this?