Courage To Begin Again?

It's day 181 of documenting 2025.

It's a new week! 🙂

Ironically it's also the end of the month.

The day every paycheck comes in.

Cha-ching! 💰

Speaking of paycheck, it's going to be my last one from my writing gigs.

I'm taking a new direction....and working under agencies doesn't serve the purpose anymore.

I resigned....for good.

Looking back, it was a wonderful experience.

I definitely learned a lot....and even taught some people how to do write for IG brands as well.

(Story for another day...)

Besides, I have samples and samples of content I created that I could add to my portfolio.

But my boss was kinda pissed 😡 

I could tell from his tone in the last voice note he sent.

In his opinion, I couldn't just start work and say I want to quit after a month....

"It's not done like that", he said.

I apologized and gave my word that I would never approach him anymore for a work position in his consulting agency.

I'm walking away from that...not looking back.

I realized that it was needful if I was to regain my focus.

It's no longer about money....it's about disciplining myself to take on less and finally stop exchanging so much of my time for average pay.

Today's Highlights perfectly illustrate what I mean.

365 Days With Self-discipline 

📌 On the Disciplined Pursuit of Less

"If success is a catalyst for failure because it leads to the "undisciplined pursuit of more,” then one simple antidote is the disciplined pursuit of less. 

Not just haphazardly saying no, but purposefully, deliberately, and strategically eliminating the nonessentials."

Quote by Greg McKeown

I like the way he put it....

The non-essentials.

That job was definitely one of it....and I'm not saying it's not a good one.

I'm just doing what I need to for my personal growth 😌

It takes work to simplify one’s life, and perhaps that’s why most people are engaged in the undisciplined pursuit of more rather than less.

Saying no is uncomfortable, so by default they say yes to new obligations.

They don’t pause and ponder on how they use up their energy because it takes too much work. There’s always something urgent to do, and hence they never take the time to deliberately eliminate what’s unessential in their lives so they

can focus on what matters.

This was me for the last two months.

This part completely describes what was going on...in addition to the fact that I was overwhelmed most of the time.

Not anymore.

If you want to retain control over your life, embrace the strategy of deliberately pursuing less. 

Instead of thinking how you can add more to your life, figure out what you can eliminate from it, in order to make more time for what matters most for you. 

Think twice before you accept any new obligations or add new events to your calendar.

Totally 💯 

This is the game plan.

I'm looking inwards now...not focusing on if a brand's content align with their audience.

And I'm taking a bold step, one that required courage.

Beginning again.

I had a chat with my friendly psychologist on the topic, while I was trying to make up my mind.

My mind is made up now 😌

Here's how the chat went:

Me: How does one find the courage to begin again?

ChatGPT: By accepting that endings don’t mean failure—they just clear space. 

Courage starts small, with one honest step forward, even if your voice shakes.

Me: End of distractions....beginning of growth...Is that correct?

ChatGPT: Yes, exactly. When distractions fall away, clarity rises. And with clarity, growth begins.

Me: What are the different levels of distractions out there?

ChatGPT: Distractions can come in layers—some loud, some subtle. There are external ones: noise, social media, constant notifications, other people’s expectations. 

Then there are internal ones: overthinking, self-doubt, emotional overwhelm, or the stories we tell ourselves. The deeper ones often feel like part of us, so we don’t notice how much they pull us away.

Me: What deeper ones? 🤨

ChatGPT: The deeper ones are things like fear of failure, needing approval, comparing yourself to others, unresolved pain, or chasing perfection. 

They quietly shape your choices and pull your focus—even when everything outside seems calm. They’re distractions disguised as survival.

Me: What can you say to someone who avoided these distractions earlier but slowly began to entertain them?

ChatGPT: I’d tell them this: slipping doesn’t mean you’ve failed—it just means you’re human. The fact that you notice it means your awareness is still alive. Gently return. You don’t need to start over. Just start again, from where you are.

Me: Beginning again clears the overwhelm of those distractions, right?

ChatGPT: Exactly. When you begin again, you shift your focus from the mess to the moment. 

It cuts through the noise and brings clarity—like turning the lights on in a cluttered room.

Me: The cluttered room being the mind 😌

ChatGPT: Yes 😌  

All that noise, guilt, “should haves,” and unfinished thoughts—like clothes and boxes scattered everywhere. 

Beginning again is you opening a window, letting light in, and calmly putting things back in place, one item at a time.

Me: What does that window signify? Self awareness?

ChatGPT: Exactly. The window is self-awareness—seeing things clearly again. It’s the moment you pause, take a deep breath, and remember what truly matters. It's how light returns to a space that felt dim.

Me: I love that analogy.

It takes courage.... something that we already have, right?

ChatGPT: Yes, it’s already inside you—like a hidden flame waiting to be reignited. Sometimes you just need the right moment or mindset to let it shine again.

Me: And the feeling of disappointing others or missing out?

It's part of what one needs to face...like pain?

ChatGPT: Exactly. Facing that fear of letting others down or missing out is part of the growth process. It’s uncomfortable but necessary—just like pain, it signals that change is happening inside. Embracing it helps you move forward stronger.

Me: But you know that it's for your growth that all these sacrifices have to be made....

Not being available, not responding, keeping silent 😶

ChatGPT: Yes, it’s tough, but those sacrifices are like pruning a tree—cutting back what holds you so new growth can happen. 

Silence and stepping back aren’t about giving up; they’re about protecting your space to heal and grow. It’s okay to put yourself first.

Me: Yeah...

I needed to remind myself of that.

Thank you 😌

Could you give a very short summary of our discussion?

Not the conclusion yet...

ChatGPT: You recognized that growth often requires tough sacrifices like silence and setting boundaries. 

Though it feels hard, these actions protect your space and help you focus on what truly matters. Facing the discomfort of missing out or disappointing others is part of the journey toward personal growth.

Me: Wonderfully put, Arnold 

Now for the piece de resistance....conclusion in poetry style 

(Did I get that expression right? 🤔)

ChatGPT: You nailed it! 

Here’s your poetic conclusion:

In silent spaces, courage grows,  

Where unseen strength begins to show.  

Sacrifice, the quiet art,  

That guards the mind, protects the heart.  

Through missing out and closing doors,  

We find ourselves, become much more.  

Growth whispers soft, beyond the noise 

In stillness blooms our truest voice.

I'm starting to like poetic conclusions very much 😄

Anyways, I hope you learned a thing or two...or at least, were reminded of the fact that you're courageous enough to make a change in your life.

That's all for today's post.

Thanks for reading, my friend ☺️ 

I'm not really promoting my blog posts anymore....

I'm leaning back a little.

If you found this post, it's probably through the main site, Documenting 2025.

Thanks again for stopping by 🎀

I wish you a wonderful day ahead and a Happy New Month in advance.

I'm Duon Ada...as always.

I'm documenting 2025,

And I'll see you tomorrow.

Ciao 💕