A guide to conscious living: 17 things I’ve learned.

I had just discovered a new content creator on YouTube some weeks back and while I scrolled through the comments on the particular video I was watching, one stuck. It said something along the lines of, “everything got better when I stopped living my life passively” and that’s a word right there because it is so true. The very moment that we realize that our actions and in actions are what really make up our entire lives, everything turns around. The need to live life actively and be present for every aspect of it hit me in 2017 and I’ve been on an imperfect but progressive journey ever since. Now, I don’t know it all and I haven’t read all the best selling books on intentional living on this planet but I know what I have experienced. I know my mistakes and I know how I have corrected them and so, I’m going to tell you everything I know. Stay with me.

1. Everybody is winging this life thing, don’t be fooled. As much as I strongly believe in the need to have support systems and mentors(sometimes), it’s also a default mental note for me that nobody knows it all and while I can learn and draw lessons from people’s experiences to make my journey easier, it’s safer for me to always remember that they are human and this allows me to give grace for them to be imperfect too.

2. Social media is a bane…or not. Excessive screen time is bad for you, yes, but time spent scrolling through the internet can be productive if you make it to be. Around 2018, I started curating my social media feed to meet my needs. Now, save the annoying ads here and there, after constant tweaking, my Instagram really suits all the things that I love to see and learn about. I always learn something new everyday and it’s the hack to not feeling like you’re always wasting your time. If you still indulge in gossip blogs in 2021, you might need to do a little evaluation because to what end exactly? Mind your business.

3. There’s no real living until you start living alone- maybe or maybe not. As a 22 year old, undergraduate student, I still depend on my parents for housing. Now, I know all about how your time is not really yours when you live with older people, especially in Nigeria, but there are tiny ways to stay in charge of your life by explaining why you need your time and what you intend to do within that time and negotiating your availability with them. It has a 60% success rate based on my experience so you could just try, you’ll never know.

4. The earlier you own your difference, the better. No two people are the same.

5. You will learn that you are capable of doing so many things. Let your resourcefulness blow your mind from time to time and do not put yourself in a box. On the rough days, when you’re trying to accomplish just one thing, it will serve as a gentle reminder that you can do anything, no matter how little or big.

6. Enjoy every experience and make memories. Write down the experience, take a photo, they will remind you of how far you’ve come.

7. Discipline is very key to getting things done. Plan your time and your days as much as you can. However, when the slow days come, bask in them. They will help you to recharge for the days when the grind is harder.

8. Practice self-compassion from time to time. Soft landings in-between long journeys are very important and this life is one crazy trip.

9. Your sense of self worth will determine what you tolerate and what you do not. It will take work to achieve a high value mindset but it is worth every ounce of it.

10. Speak to yourself with caution and love because it builds trust. Trust in yourself and trust in your ability to make the right decisions on important life situations.

11. Master self-awareness. It will save you a whole lot of trouble.

12. Finding true friends might be a journey; people will leave you and you will leave people too but go along with it because when you find them, it will be worth it. Show up for your friends and allow them to show up for you.

13. Show kindness and love fiercely.

14. To want ‘more’ is a good thing. Life is too short to be mediocre but in your quest for more, always remind yourself to be happy wherever you are. Treat that space you are in like a steward would their tasks. More can really only come to you when you have been consistent with little anyway.

14. Comparison is the thief of joy. Believe it.

16. Immerse yourself in knowledge, you can never go wrong with it. The internet is free for you to learn new things. Listen to podcasts, watch YouTube videos, read books. Investing in yourself mentally does wonders for your development as a person.

17. Your faith journey is very key to living your best life. Trust God through everything.

Your world is only as small as you make it.

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Hi friend, thank you for reading! Let me know what point stood out for you in the comments. Also, if you like it, please share and hit the follow button so that you can get a notification when next I publish a post.

Until next time,

Sending you loads of light and love.