Making Life Changes

Since my wake-up call, I started making some life changes. It’s still in the making and I am sure I will continue to evolve but these are some of the changes that I started with.

• Started journaling. I have been searching externally for answers. Finally realized that answers are inside me. Journaling is a way to get to those answers. Creating things is a way to find answers and journaling is one form of creation. There is a lot to unpack on this one so, will come back to link a separate post on this topic of journaling and finding answers from within.
• Started absorbing FI resources like:
  1. FI books – I didn’t know that there were so many books on Financial Independence. But since I live in Korea, it is expensive to get all the books shipped to me. So, I started to use Kindle/Audible instead. And I actually found it to be even better. I can just listen to books during my daily commute or when I do my evening walks. One of the books I just finished is Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe Dominguez. This book is a must read for anyone interested in personal finance and looking to achieve Financial Independence. And if you are like me, then I suggest you get the audible along with the Kindle ebook. This way you can read AND listen. No physical books to carry, no mess. There are a few other books I started reading – I will create a separate post just on FI books.
  2. FI podcasts – started to go down the rabbit hole of learning everything that the FI community offered and voraciously devoured all that I can. Went from ChooseFI to MadFIentist to CatchinguptoFI to TheSidehustleShow to… There is just so much content out there that you could listen to podcasts every day for months and you would still only be scratching the surface.
  3. FI blogs – Ok, so this is where you can really get lost because there are even more blogs on this topic than there are books and podcasts. Contents range from investments to savings to taxes to mindsets… and blogs are also good because often, these blogs have forums where you can get more involved, ask questions and stuff. Here is a post on FI blogs that I found quite useful to me.
• Increased Quiet Time with God – There are many sources out there for doing your quiet time. For me, the most practical way to stay close to the Bible was through this mobile app called, Youversion. By the way, Youversion is a non-profit organization and this is not an affiliate link. It is just a simple and practical way to stay in touch with the bible. You install the app on your phone and then just check it out once a day to get the daily bible verse with a 2 to 5 min for sermon and prayer. If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a go.
• Stopped doing and taking unnecessary things in my life. For example, I used to drink 4, 5, sometimes 6 cups of coffee everyday. Stopped doing that. I also stopped drinking alcohol. I drank a few glasses of wine like every other day since my mother passed. But, it was only to escape. After a while, I was only drinking out of habit and I started to have difficulty sleeping every time I drank. I don’t think it was good for my body. So, I quit. Now I just drink water. And I feel better, I sleep better. I am more in touch with my cells. No, not self, cells.

• Started saying “no” more often. Before, I used to just go along with things (an easy-going guy) and spend my time doing things that I didn’t particularly care about. But, now, I am more stringent with my time and my energy. I think I used to go along spinelessly because I thought that if I didn’t, then I would hurt people’s feelings or that they would talk badly about me. Well, I realized that sometimes, you just need to say no even if it hurts their feelings or even if they say bad things. My time and my energy is far more important to sacrifice.
• Revisited my life purpose. Finally, I realized that my purpose does not have to be some divine bestowment from the heavens. Instead, purpose is anything that I care deeply about and is aligned with my core values. And it can change over time. So, I can stop stressing about finding the ultimate life purpose that is perfect and eternal. Small steps, small purposes are perfectly fine, as long as it’s in the right direction.
• Created this blog. I realize I need to create more and consume less. The only things I have been creating are corporate documents like Excel and PowerPoint at my corporate job. It’s time to put that creative power to something more lasting and hopefully helpful to more people. This blog is about achieving financial independence. But, actually, one of the greatest realizations is that financial independence is not really about money. It is about finding the freedom to do what you want to do with life. It is about finding your purpose and having the time and resources to live it. I will record my progress (successes and failures) here on this blog. I hope this blog can help others who have decided to go on the same journey.