Although it's clear that mental health has played a critical role in human existence since our first thoughts, I have not personally had a good relationship with my mind. My mentality, largely cultivated by my immigrant parent upbringing, instilled an unwavering determination and a "never settle for less" attitude. As a second-generation Asian American, I was raised by parents that had limited resources when they first stepped foot in America. This lack of physical ownership, language comprehension, and general financial opportunity are what they used as motivation to create the space they needed.

Asking 3 Why's is a memorable process that has helped me rationalize self-doubt and anxiety, address workplace conflicts, and consult on new ideas or business concepts. Asking yourself "why" 3 times will help you get to the root of your desires or the basis for interpersonal conflict.

Willful daydreaming will never be a completely mindful practice. Feeling the Earth under our feet as we walk, noticing the pressure from the seat we’re sitting on, or the feel of the steering wheel in our hands while we’re driving is an important exercise in centering our minds and reducing anxiety (worrying about the future) and depression (thinking about the past). But allowing our bodies to fall into the very natural process of background thinking is a valuable habit and practicable skill in moderation.

I have an on-again, off-again relationship with meditation and mindfulness practice. Over the last few years, I've tried a fair share of meditation apps, programs, and podcasts to help practice mindfulness.

Yesterday, in under 30 seconds, "Buddhism TikTok" taught me the true meaning and purpose of mindfulness that I didn't know after years of exercise. It wasn’t about finding inner peace or calming nerves to help me work more proficiently. It was about presence.

The anniversary of the pandemic has been a surprising mental state. It's an anniversary of the last time we did things without restrictive lockdowns or fear of infecting others. It marks the last time you went out to eat, or attended a live concert, or saw your parents/grandparents, and for some the last time you ever saw someone.

When we get too caught up in our constructed environments and our hopeless circumstances, it becomes hard to see beyond our own blinders. We think briefly about all the repercussions of our actions or our inaction and we let our minds project worst-case scenarios when in reality we should be thinking rationally about what our next step will be. Our lives are decided by the actions we take at each moment, not by playing out what could happen.

While listening to my podcast episodes today, I stumbled onto NPR’s Life Kit episode on How Solitude Can Improve Your Mood. As I listened to the examples they shared and the common misinterpretations of the term solitude, I came to a few realizations:

Like anything else worth doing, solitude takes practice and preparation — like you prepare for a conference call or a workout, set your intentions and let others know that you need uninterrupted time to practice

The smaller you go, the less impactful it may seem to the final goal, but tiny changes beget larger changes, and eventually bring you to the finish line — or at least tell you when you should stop.

So I asked myself — Why? What’s the purpose?

Why would I want to curate a version of myself to seem like something that is less organic than how I view myself. You should not have to discount your accomplishments like you should not lie or falsely represent yourself. Neither path is an authentic approach to expressing your true self.