August challenge complete ✅: 1 win a day
For the whole of August, I was writing down 1 win a day in my gratitude journal. I told myself that these can be big things or small things, it doesn't matter. All I wanted to do was to train myself to affirm myself and allow myself to sit what that feeling of achievement without seeking to criticise it.
Looking back at my entries from the past 31 days, I must say that August's challenge gave me ammo to use when my self-critical part shows up.
Here are some of my wins for the month:
*2 Aug: I brought down reusable containers to take home lunch and dinner, so as to reduce waste
- 5 Aug: I stepped out of my comfort zone to ask to join another team for lunch, rather than eat alone
- 7 Aug: I got to play with a relative's Maine Coon-Ragdoll mix, who took a liking to me (much to the envy of my wife 😝)
- 9 Aug: I watched the National Day Parade live for the first time in my life
- 15 Aug: I managed to stick to a half-portion of rice at an Indian restaurant
- 20 Aug: I ran 4.3km in 30 minutes today!
- 23 Aug: I stumbled on a guided nature walk in Cubbon Park and learnt a lot about Bangalore's "Central Park"
- 29 Aug: I had my first improv showcase and felt proud that I could rewrite the narrative that I can't act
This is a practice that I will continue for as long as it serves me.
Now for September's challenge, I have something silly. For this month, I will not use my phone in the shower. Sometimes I listen to music or podcasts to unwind, but perhaps the best way to unwind might be to let the body just decompress quietly.