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Life Worth Living: The Importance of Documenting and Self-Expression

A life worth living is also worth documenting. If we aim to lead a prosperous and successful life, I firmly believe that documenting everything is crucial. When we recognize the importance of life and its need for documentation, a natural question emerges: what benefit does it bring? Why should I write, and for whom am I writing? First and foremost, you are not writing for others; you're writing for yourself. Simply putting your thoughts on paper can work wonders. By doing so, you engage in a process of analysis, often appreciating your achievements and, at times, recognizing your shortcomings to address them.

Thus, if you seek improvement in your daily life, documenting it becomes essential. Perhaps, in the future, your documentation may inspire not only the next generation but also others. Even if it seems inconsequential, the potential impact is significant. In our era, inspiration is invaluable. Sharing your wisdom and achievements, if you believe them worth sharing, is encouraged. Why not document and share with everyone?

I strongly advocate for the practice of documenting our lives, encapsulating our thoughts on paper, and delving into various topics to share knowledge with others. Whether our expertise comes from reading a book, watching a movie, or conversing with someone, the act of writing it down is the best way to retain that knowledge. Nowadays, it's easy to turn these writings into a blog, allowing you to share your insights with the world.

What happens is that initially, there are various blogging platforms on the internet where you can create a blog and publish it. This was one thought that crossed my mind. Additionally, social media platforms exist where one can express their feelings through tweets and similar outlets. I have experimented with both avenues. Initially, I wrote blogs on Medium.com and later shared my thoughts and brief excerpts on Twitter through posts. However, both platforms, in essence, are traps. After all, we are all human. Once you engage with these platforms, you find yourself exploring further. In Medium's case, you encounter numerous other blogs, ultimately dedicating your time to them, which pulls you deeper into their ecosystem, leading to excessive time spent on the platform.

The same applies to Twitter and other social media platforms. Your intention might be simply to share a thought as a tweet, but you're quickly overwhelmed with a barrage of related tweets, people's profiles, and so forth. These platforms are designed not for the genuine expression of thoughts but to capture your attention and keep you engaged for extended periods.

The allure of receiving likes and shares, and the anticipation of responses plays into the psychological feedback loop of dopamine hits and the anticipation of rewards. This manipulation is a game these platforms have mastered. Recognizing this, I decided to withdraw from these platforms, refusing to participate in what I consider a pointless game.

Consequently, I concluded that the best approach is to create my own blogging site. This could be a WordPress site, which I have used in the past, or a customized website. Even a simple, single-page website where you continuously add your blogs suffices. This approach eliminates the need for platform dependencies, subscriptions, and the chase for likes. It's about establishing your own brand, your site, and your content. You host it on a platform of your choice, shielding yourself from external influences and drama, thereby not falling prey to tech companies' tactics. You maintain control over your data, sharing and expressing it on your terms.

I've come to this conclusion after various experiments and occasionally falling victim to other platforms, but I am content with this model and plan to continue without external input. Notably, history shows that all successful individuals possessed, among other traits, a knack for expressing themselves both verbally and in writing.

Both verbal and written expression are critically important skills. In fact, historically, great emphasis was placed on teaching individuals how to articulate their thoughts clearly in both spoken and written form. I personally believe that the ability to express oneself is a crucial trait that one should continually work on and improve. It's a simple principle: the more you work on something, the better it gets. Thus, it's important to be mindful of how you express yourself, choosing the right words and knowing when silence is more appropriate. Achieving this balance is key; it's not about constantly talking or mumbling without purpose, nor is it about remaining silent and merely absorbing everything. Instead, it's about expressing yourself eloquently when needed and embracing silence when it's called for.

This principle applies to writing as well. Knowing when to express your thoughts on paper and to what extent is an art. Historically, great polymaths were not only skilled orators but also proficient writers, continually honing these abilities. Many were teachers, benefiting from the daily practice of articulating concepts to an audience, thereby refining their skills over time. Teaching a concept repeatedly not only improves one's ability to convey it but also deepens understanding and fosters connections to other knowledge areas.

In our era, technology offers unparalleled opportunities for self-expression and skill improvement. You don't need a classroom to share your ideas; technology enables you to practice speaking, refine your writing, and benefit from tools that improve grammar and style. However, technology is a double-edged sword, offering immense benefits but also distractions and the potential for misuse. It's crucial to leverage technology's positive aspects while avoiding its pitfalls.

My approach is to embrace the valuable tools technology provides without letting it distract or detract from my focus and goals. This mindset is about appreciating the benefits of technology and sidestepping its negative aspects, ensuring that, while technology may impact many areas of life, it does not commandeer my attention.

Documenting our lives is more valuable than any sum in a bank account. Therefore, my attention and time are not for sale, a detour from our main topic, but pertinent nonetheless. Returning to the core subject of documentation, it's a vital practice one should engage in daily. Whether experiencing something new, meeting someone, visiting a place, encountering a novel concept, reading a book, watching a movie, or simply living our day-to-day lives, documentation is key. Our daily thoughts may often repeat, but new experiences are easily forgotten if not recorded. Reflecting on these documented moments can reignite memories and insights that were once vivid but faded over time.

Encouraging young people to write from an early age is also crucial. Beyond mastering grammar and sentence structure, becoming a proficient writer involves more nuanced skills. The foundation of good writing is reading. Interaction, classes, and other forms of learning are valuable, but the bulk of true knowledge acquisition comes from reading. True understanding, especially of complex concepts, often requires engaging with the material in depth, typically found in books rather than summaries, articles, tweets, or podcasts.

Reading broadly across various disciplines—not just within one's field—is essential for comprehensive knowledge. My personal inclination towards philosophy, psychology, history, politics, economics, neuroscience, technological advances, and the study of religions and their historical impacts reflects the breadth of interests that can enrich one's understanding of the world and oneself. To grasp the essence of life and to become well-rounded, one needs to explore a wide range of subjects. Understanding history, the principles of various religions, and the social and psychological effects of different behaviors is crucial. This knowledge informs how strategies and behaviors might be applied by or against us in various contexts.

Documenting life experiences and investing in a broad, deep reading habit are foundational to personal growth and understanding. These practices not only enhance our ability to express ourselves but also deepen our comprehension of the world and our place within it.

Understanding the various facets of life, especially within the business arena, necessitates knowledge of business traits, negotiation techniques, and communication skills. These are learned behaviors essential for becoming an informed individual. It's entirely possible to live without this knowledge, leading what might be described as an ordinary existence rather than an enlightened life. This ordinary existence involves routine activities—waking up, eating breakfast, working, returning home to watch TV or stream content, indulging in leisure activities, and repeating the cycle. While this routine may suffice for some, it represents mere existence, not truly living.

Living, in its essence, is about personal growth and mastery over diverse subjects. Understanding the history and background of concepts enables us to comprehend people's actions and their reasons. This knowledge allows us to see beyond surface behaviors to the influences shaping individuals, including cultural and religious beliefs. Such understanding fosters a non-judgmental perspective, appreciating the complexity of human experiences and ideologies.

By adopting a proactive approach to life—observing, writing, and learning daily—we become participants rather than mere spectators of our existence. This engagement enables us to appreciate life more deeply, evolving into more learned and wise individuals. I encourage everyone to document their journey, observe their environment, and take an active role in their lives. This approach is not about letting life happen to you but about steering it in your desired direction, cherishing each moment, and continuously learning. My hope is to persist in this endeavor, becoming a happier, wiser person content with life.

art of self expression