Self-Discovery, Systems, and Synchronicity

Was 2023 another year where you felt like you were jumping from one project to another, barely able to catch your breath? Or did you feel like you were constantly trying to keep a bunch of plates spinning in the air, leaving you exhausted, overwhelmed and unfulfilled? Perhaps you experienced a burnout?

This was precisely my state of mind until I consciously decided to take the first steps on a self-reflective journey, setting one goal for myself - to resolve this internal miscommunication or what I call “inner incoherence”. With the year coming to an end, I thought it would be a great time to share some insights that maybe you could take heading into 2024.

The Catalyst

Before entering my ‘reflective era’ there was a simple question, little did I know the profound implications of these 10 words, “How would you describe your year in a single word?” Without hesitation “bittersweet” fell from my mouth. Taken aback not only by my answer but also by the swiftness of its delivery, I decided to sit with my response and take stock.

I recognised that this year, both personally and professionally, I experienced some of the highest and lowest moments of my life, leaving me feeling unbalanced, as if my axis was off by a degree or two, and now questioning my direction and purpose, feelings that for me were raw and unfamiliar.

This led me to question more deeply the origins of these feelings, why I had never experienced them before, or perhaps I had, but they’d been left unacknowledged. I couldn't say with certainty. What started as a simple question ended up being the catalyst I needed.

Two books were particularly noteworthy during my journey and proved fundamental in guiding me:

• Brené Brown’s "The Power of Vulnerability"

• Tiago Forte’s "Building a Second Brain"

Each with their own focus, equipped me with the necessary knowledge and tools to make a lasting impact.

What followed was an enlightening and vulnerable journey inwards. One that I never knew I needed, but which now demanded my attention. What was exposed was a breakdown in communication with myself, marked by self-neglect and misalignment. My inner voice had become silent; the past, present and future me were no longer aligned.

The final discovery - that I was inexperienced, inefficient, and ill-equipped - highlighted that change was needed!

The Power of Vulnerability

This book played an important role in making me realise the importance of embracing vulnerability and how doing so can lead to a greater connection with myself and a sense of worthiness.

By opening up to myself empathetically and authentically, it helped me face my internal misalignment, allowing me not only to locate my inner voice but also to really tune into what it has to say - which, once started, is a lot!

I’ve spent a lot of time asking myself questions and giving myself permission to answer without fear of judgement, documenting the answers along the way. I keep in mind that these questions will resurface time and again, and hope that through their comparison I'll gain greater insights.

The topic of letting go of perfectionism is also addressed, a trait with which I often described myself, but am learning to release. In particular perfectionism is described as a hindrance to the ability to feel vulnerable and authentic, encouraging us to embrace imperfections and understand that making mistakes is part of being human.

Building a Second Brain

My old way of managing involved jotting down everything – notes, to-do lists, you name it. If I wasn’t noting something down on a post-it, or piece of paper, it was a screenshot saved to my laptop or phone.

I recognised that this 'offloading' helped not only to free up some mental capacity but also ease the burden on my consciousness. I no longer needed to store things in my mind and constantly remind myself of their presence.

However, this approach fell short when, sometime later, I would revisit a screenshot. Forgetting to add additional notes or context, I often was at a loss to understand why I had saved it in the first place.

After reading Forte's book I realised that I didn't just need to write things down; I needed a comprehensive system to keep everything in check, to better analyse and reflect, and one that was easily accessible.

In this way, I could not only take digital notes but also organise, archive and recall them efficiently and instantly. It was as if I had found the missing pieces to a puzzle I didn't even know was missing.

And you know what? Having this kind of system in place has been a game-changer!?

The concept of creating a ‘digital second brain’ and selecting Notion as my tool of choice has evolved into numerous databases that I use to track various aspects of my personal and professional life, including habit and fitness tracking, project management, CRM, knowledge banks and more.

The Journey of Self-Discovery

Aside from the wealth of knowledge, ideas and strategies to which I’ve been exposed to this year through books, articles, blog posts and podcasts, the most significant step has been applying what I've learned - a step that many of us overlook. I’ve focused on implementing these new ideas, strategies, and systems.

One of the other discoveries has been journaling, something I admit I had never done before. In an unexpected way, it has helped me reconnect with myself, uncovering patterns in my life that I had previously overlooked. I've gotten to know myself in ways that has been enlightening.

I’ve been surprised not only by the content I've documented, including the conversations and thought-provoking moments that have occurred, but also by how much I enjoy writing and how cathartic the process is.

Journaling has become my method of communicating with myself, helping me discover common threads and repeating patterns that I wasn’t previously aware of.

Where next?

The journey so far has been a revelation. I've learned the importance of opening up, being vulnerable with myself and allowing myself to feel. I recognise now the importance of having the right systems in place for better alignment and communication, leading to increased organisation and productivity. A great way to start 2024.

Writing this sparked a memory of something I once read that resonated deeply with me: 'Wherever you go, there you are.' This emphasizes the importance of nurturing internal harmony and effective self-communication, as you will always be with yourself - a realisation I will carry with me moving forward.

And for those of you that read this far thank you!

I hope I have imparted some wisdom and that my story motivates you in some way to take the time to self-reflect and really listen to that inner voice. Keep in mind that the first step is to raise your level of awareness.

And don't forget to be patient with yourself and practice kindness throughout this process.

-- Richard

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