On Throwing Fears Like Stones
It's day 54 of documenting 2025.
Happy Sunday! 😊
It's a brand new week already.
A week that will usher in the new month.
It's amazing to know how this year is moving.
If I say so myself, this year is moving quite fast.
Wasn't it few days ago when we shouted, "Happy New Year"?
I'm going to capture every moment of 2025, every day.
In writing, of course 🙂
Somehow, I feel that something big is going to happen.
Do you feel it too?
Yes? No?
Whether you feel it or not, something wonderful will happen to you this year.
(I claim it....Amen 🙏)
So, yesterday I had to go for lessons at the tutorial center.
For reason of THE EXAM.
This time, it was in the morning.
While waiting for the class to start, I took a crack at Chemistry.
I admit, it was kinda fun to learn about oxidation and reduction.
Oxidation number...
Test for redox agents....
Chemical equations....
I wouldn't say it brings back memories of when I studied it in high school.
It actually felt novel....like I was learning it for the first time.
Before trying Chemistry, I made a bold move to talk to a total stranger.
He was also waiting for classes to start and I've never seen him in evening class.
This time, I wasn't scared.
It actually felt like a normal thing.
What? Me? Normal?
The past me of two years ago would rather shut her mouth and 'get high' on silence than talk to a total stranger.
I guess I've changed....
No, that's not the word 🤔
I've grown.
Yeah, that's the word.
Well, it was a relatively brief conversation.
I asked him about the morning lessons which he came for (from Mondays to Fridays).
He said he preferred coming for evening lessons but he usually had things to do after lessons in the morning.
He told me his name after I asked.
Then I told him my name at the end of the conversation.
That was it!
These days, I'm the one asking people what their name is.
But I don't talk to every single random girl or guy.
I'm picky about the people I decide to start a conversation with.
The atmosphere even has to be 'just right' before I approach the other person.
I take all of this as conversation practice.
I don't want to research how to converse properly.
I want to do it first.
Then I can point out mistakes and correct them.
It's how I like to learn.
Doing it first before doing any research on it.
Anyhoo....that's how my yesterday went.
Oh wait!
One more thing....
I did something weird last night.
Something that sounds quite ridiculous.
But somehow, it felt like therapy.
It's quite embarrassing 🙈
But I'll say it anyways.
Then it's left for you to decide if it's pure stupidity or something worth noting.
This happened after dinner.
I was outside the house, taking a walk.
Talking to myself, as usual.
Then I thought of an excuse to throw stones.
Seriously!
There's a pile of small shapeless stones in the far end of the compound.
I went over and grabbed two handfuls of them.
Then I dropped where I stood, at a far distance from the wall at the end of our compound.
I said to myself,
"The fears in your mind are like these small stones....your thinking just magnifies them.
Now, I want you to think of each and every one of them.
Hold a stone as you name that fear.
Then throw it....as far as you can"
That's exactly what I did.
I held a stone for each and every fear of mine.
All the fears I could think of.
Then I threw the stone at the wall after naming the fear.
I can't explain the psychology behind this.
Or why I thought of it that way.
I would just say, I was "throwing my fears as far away as I can"
Would I say I felt better? Nope
I felt nothing after throwing the stones.
But it felt emotionally intensive to think of all the fears I had.
And fun to throw the stones.
Pay no attention to me, I'm just telling you what I did.
Try it at your own risk 😅
That's a wrap for stones and strangers.
Let's get into highlights.
It's a thing now.
I read a book or two before I start typing any post.
Then I share the points I highlighted in the book.
The books for Monday to Friday are pre-determined.
However, on Saturdays and Sundays, I select a random book.
Today's reads are:
365 Days With Self-discipline (the usual)
Awaken The Giant Within (random pick)
I usually read, section by section.
Let me share what I highlighted.
365 Days With Self-discipline
📌 On Underestimating The Long Term Approach
"A staggering number of people give up on their goals just weeks or months into them, discouraged that they still haven’t reached their goals or that their results are lackluster"
"However, the sky is the limit for those who are in it for the long haul. Ten years of dedicated practice can turn anyone into a world-class expert.
When you gain momentum, you’ll get exponential results. The trick is to stick to your goals long enough for the velocity to accrue."
"Whenever setting a new goal, take the long-term approach.
Unlike the person who assumes that their world can change overnight, be in it for the long haul, and the short-term fluctuations won’t make you give up."
I've nothing to add here.
These are directly from the book.
Quoted, not paraphrased.
I hope they speak to you as they do me.
Awaken The Giant Within
📌 How To Change A Belief (continued)
"If you question anything enough, eventually you'll begin to doubt it. This includes things that you absolutely believe "beyond the shadow of a doubt."
"Our beliefs have different levels of emotional certainty and intensity, and it's important to know just how intense they really are."
"An opinion is something we feel relatively certain about, but the certainty is only temporary because it can be changed easily. Our cognitive tabletop is supported by wobbly, unverified reference legs that may be based on impressions."
"A belief, on the other hand, is formed when we begin to develop a much larger base of reference legs, and especially reference legs about which we have strong emotion.
These references give us an absolute sense of certainty about something."
"A conviction, however, eclipses a belief, primarily because of the emotional intensity a person links to an idea.
A person holding a conviction does not only feel certain, but gets angry if their conviction is even questioned."
"Of course, fervent conviction is not the exclusive property of fanatics.
It belongs to anyone with a high enough degree of commitment and dedication to an idea, principle, or cause."
"Clearly, it's in the actions that one is willing to take.
In fact, someone with a conviction is so passionate about their belief that they're even willing to risk rejection or make a fool of themselves for the sake of their conviction."
Do you see the pattern here?
An opinion becomes a belief, a belief becomes a conviction.
Sadly, some of us have limiting beliefs that may have become convictions.
But I think there's a positive side to convictions.
I'll share more on that next time I read the book.
I hope you learned a thing or two.
That's all for today's post.
Thanks for reading, my friend 😊
I appreciate you stopping by to hear what this writer has to say.
I hope this new week favors you.
As well as the coming month.
I'm Duon Ada.
I'm documenting 2025.
And I'll see you tomorrow.
Ciao 💕
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