<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0" xmlns:itunes="http://www.itunes.com/dtds/podcast-1.0.dtd" xmlns:googleplay="http://www.google.com/schemas/play-podcasts/1.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Conscious Living: Conscious Living Practices]]></title><description><![CDATA[ Conscious living practices to incorporate into everyday life.]]></description><link>https://rachelooi.com/s/conscious-living-practices</link><image><url>https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!f_BL!,w_256,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ae577db-f3d0-44a2-ba4b-c25cd2319e78_600x600.png</url><title>Conscious Living: Conscious Living Practices</title><link>https://rachelooi.com/s/conscious-living-practices</link></image><generator>Substack</generator><lastBuildDate>Wed, 08 Apr 2026 09:52:23 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://rachelooi.com/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><copyright><![CDATA[ROKH, Rachel Ooi]]></copyright><language><![CDATA[en]]></language><webMaster><![CDATA[rachelooi@substack.com]]></webMaster><itunes:owner><itunes:email><![CDATA[rachelooi@substack.com]]></itunes:email><itunes:name><![CDATA[Rachel Ooi]]></itunes:name></itunes:owner><itunes:author><![CDATA[Rachel Ooi]]></itunes:author><googleplay:owner><![CDATA[rachelooi@substack.com]]></googleplay:owner><googleplay:email><![CDATA[rachelooi@substack.com]]></googleplay:email><googleplay:author><![CDATA[Rachel Ooi]]></googleplay:author><itunes:block><![CDATA[Yes]]></itunes:block><item><title><![CDATA[What truly matters]]></title><description><![CDATA[A repost of last year's Conscious Living practices #2]]></description><link>https://rachelooi.com/p/what-truly-matters-a5f</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rachelooi.com/p/what-truly-matters-a5f</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rachel Ooi]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2025 08:44:24 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XS6J!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7203b42-fd96-42f3-bd70-4c19989ba6c0_640x678.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pullquote"><p><strong>The <a href="https://rachelooi.com/s/conscious-living-practices">conscious living practice series</a> ended half a year ago. Somehow, it did not resonate with my readers or me as much as I had hoped. But, as the year comes to an end, I find myself looking for my own year-end practice again. So I thought I'd resend it to you, long-time readers, or share it with the new ones. I hope it helps you end the year more consciously.</strong></p><p><strong>This will be my last post of the year. Until next year, with my <a href="https://rachelooi.com/s/conscious-living-letters">bimonthly letter</a>, I wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!</strong></p></div><p>How many of you have a long list of reflections and gratitudes by now?</p><p>Maybe you&#8217;re like me&#8212;still working on it&#8212;and that&#8217;s completely okay! What matters is that we&#8217;ve been <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/reflections-and-gratitudes?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=true">more mindful over the past two weeks and taken small steps toward reflection</a>.</p><p>Life tends to get busy these weeks as the festive season approaches. Decorate the Advent Kranz, get mini gifts, and hang up the Advent calendar. Decide on gifts and who will receive them. Make and send Christmas cards. Bake Christmas cookies.</p><p>Our family also has three birthdays to celebrate around this time! Yes, that's <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/the-stories-we-tell-ourselves?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">the story of our lives</a>. One birthday celebration down, we have three more parties to go: one for each child with their friends, and one with the family.</p><p>Amidst all this busyness, I&#8217;ve found that taking even a few moments to reflect on the past year can bring clarity and calm.</p><div><hr></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;50ca8d3b-f072-46a1-aa6a-416a09b1cd5e&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Welcome to the first installment of our conscious living practice series. I&#8217;ve shared more about why I&#8217;m starting this here. In essence, my goal is to deepen mindfulness and enrich our shared journey toward conscious living.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Reflections and gratitudes&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:5702243,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rachel Ooi&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Writer | Connector | Conscious living advocate | Cultivator of an intentional life &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F71f0dc95-41eb-42d9-be95-4c3f9bedb390_598x598.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2024-12-05T14:00:38.769Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5ef73d5c-1d5f-419d-9f08-7f5c81169f20_640x608.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/reflections-and-gratitudes&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living Practices&quot;,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:152316037,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:11,&quot;comment_count&quot;:9,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ae577db-f3d0-44a2-ba4b-c25cd2319e78_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div><hr></div><h2>Pre-Practice</h2><p>If you have your reflection list, skip this pre-step and <a href="https://rachelooi.com/i/153481897/heres-what-we-are-going-to-do">go straight to the practice</a>.</p><p>For those who want to gather reflections quickly, find an uninterrupted time for reflection, and focus only on this year. This keeps the task manageable.</p><p>Set a due date&#8212;perhaps this weekend or by Christmas&#8212;to complete your reflection session</p><p>Use a 30-minute timer and start looking through your chosen resources (calendar, photos, journals, notebooks, planners) for reflections, and write down any points that you deem noteworthy.</p><p>This is what I did to assemble a list quickly. </p><p>Since I plan everything in my life on the calendar, it is a good way to recall what I've done and see all the meaningful events. For some of you, it may be your planner or to-do list. </p><p>At the same time, as I reviewed each month, I looked through my photo album to recall events I might have missed!</p><p>To give you an idea, here&#8217;s what my list looked like after following this process:</p><ol><li><p>Celebrated my kid&#8217;s birthday with Oma and Opa.</p></li><li><p>Started 1-1 dates with my kids.</p></li><li><p>Consistent lunch dates with my partner during the week.</p></li><li><p>I launched this <a href="https://rachelooi.com/">Conscious Living </a>Substack and wrote a lot this year, reconnecting with my passion, connecting with myself, and processing it all through writing.</p></li><li><p>We went on a boat trip down the Neckar Valley with Oma, Opa, aunts, uncles, and cousins. All the kids were very excited but surprisingly well-behaved.</p></li><li><p>Lots of spring and autumn walks and hikes.</p></li><li><p>Friendship reunion trip in Bali!</p></li><li><p>Spent precious time with the old loved ones&#8212; Mummy, Lai Ma, and Lai Pa. We did some deep talking with&nbsp;<a href="https://parentsarehuman.com/products/parents-are-human?variant=44816454942879">the Parents Are Humans cards</a>.</p></li><li><p>Family beach holiday in Majorca.</p></li><li><p>Built <em>tanglungs</em> (lanterns) with the kids together and did a walk during the Mid-Autumn festival<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-1" href="#footnote-1" target="_self">1</a>.</p></li><li><p>Monthly catch-up calls with my girls&#8211;an initiative born from our reunion trip.</p></li><li><p>I made lovely connections here on Substack.</p></li><li><p>I did the <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/thank-you-for-being-my-daddy?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">writing protocol to deal with my grief</a> over my father&#8217;s death.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/why-conscious-living-is-the-key-to?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">Writing about conscious living</a> brought back this core meaning of my life to the forefront.</p></li><li><p>I attended several training sessions at work, which rekindled my passion for learning.</p></li></ol><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XS6J!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7203b42-fd96-42f3-bd70-4c19989ba6c0_640x678.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XS6J!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7203b42-fd96-42f3-bd70-4c19989ba6c0_640x678.jpeg 424w, 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https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XS6J!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7203b42-fd96-42f3-bd70-4c19989ba6c0_640x678.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XS6J!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7203b42-fd96-42f3-bd70-4c19989ba6c0_640x678.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XS6J!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7203b42-fd96-42f3-bd70-4c19989ba6c0_640x678.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@nate_dumlao?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Nathan Dumlao</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/sun-rays-coming-through-brown-grass-tzCJWNB0gHg?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><div><hr></div><h2>Here&#8217;s what we are going to do</h2><p>For Conscious Living practice #2, you should have a list of reflections and gratitude to reflect on.</p><h3>For beginners</h3><p>Find a cozy spot with a warm drink and sit down with your notebook or laptop. Read through your reflection lists without judgment. Just read it for what it is.</p><p>Next, choose your top 5 to 10 entries&#8212;they resonate deeply, repeat themselves across the list, or stand out to you. Circle or summarize them in a shorter list.</p><p>Like me, I noticed I had listed several events and celebrations with Oma and Opa, and I had mentioned my gratitude to them on multiple occasions. I mentioned all the 1-1 connections in my little family, with kids and my partner. I was thankful for my summer trip back home, reconnecting with <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/a-love-letter-to-my-best-friend?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">my friends</a> on our Bali trip, and afterward, my mother, nanny, and her husband in my hometown. I am also grateful for the new connections I made here on Substack. Thanks to my <a href="https://rachelooi.com/">Conscious Living</a> publication on Substack, I was proud and happy to start writing again. I felt reconnected to myself, especially in my pursuit of conscious living.</p><p>In your top list, go through it again and try to find a pattern. Here are some questions that may help you:</p><ul><li><p>What motivates you?</p></li><li><p>Does this reflect a value you cherish?</p></li><li><p>What do you want more or less of?</p></li><li><p>Who matters most to you, and how are you nurturing those relationships?</p></li><li><p>What&#8217;s most important to you, and how are you prioritizing it?</p></li><li><p>What sparks your curiosity?</p></li><li><p>What&#8217;s one goal you&#8217;d like to pursue?</p><p></p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.&#8221; - Goethe.</p></blockquote><h3>For seasoned practitioners</h3><p>Like the last round, I have an option for some of you who are used to this exercise. After you have answered the prompts, try distilling your answers into a word or a short phrase. This will be your &#8220;word of the year.&#8221;</p><p>For example, Gretchen Rubin reflects on why she chose &#8220;Door&#8221; as her&nbsp;<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/articles/one-word-themes-for-2025/">word of the year.</a>&nbsp;For her, it was a time of transition and expectation. To me, it is also a beautiful visual metaphor for opening up new opportunities and adventures.</p><blockquote><p>Your word might be a noun, a verb, or an adjective. There&#8217;s no wrong way to pick as long as it&#8217;s meaningful to you. - <a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/articles/one-word-themes-for-2025/">Gretchen Rubin</a></p></blockquote><p>As for me, the pattern became clear on what my word of the year would be&#8212;<em>Connection</em>.</p><p>I want to deepen my connections with my partner, children, family, friends, and myself. I also want to extend my connection to nature and the world at large.</p><p>This word also aligns well with my ethos of conscious living. To connect, we need to be present, and being connected helps us stay grounded in that state, too.</p><div class="pullquote"><p>If you enjoyed this nudge towards a more conscious and mindful living, consider subscribing or upgrading to support!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe now&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://rachelooi.com/subscribe?"><span>Subscribe now</span></a></p></div><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-1" href="#footnote-anchor-1" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">1</a><div class="footnote-content"><p>The Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night. On this day, the Chinese believe that the moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of autumn. [<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival">1</a>]</p><p></p></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The delightful lightness of being]]></title><description><![CDATA[Conscious living practice #6]]></description><link>https://rachelooi.com/p/the-delightful-lightness-of-being</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rachelooi.com/p/the-delightful-lightness-of-being</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rachel Ooi]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 04 Jun 2025 20:40:08 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uJSG!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><em>Welcome to our regular <a href="https://rachelooi.com/s/conscious-living-practices">conscious living practices</a>. This time, we will try a lighter exercise.</em></p><p><em>If you enjoy these practices, feel free to share them with a friend.</em></p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/the-delightful-lightness-of-being?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Share&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://rachelooi.com/p/the-delightful-lightness-of-being?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=share&action=share"><span>Share</span></a></p><div><hr></div><p>Let&#8217;s explore the lightness of life.</p><p>The joy of lightness.<br>The beauty of lightness.<br>The fun of lightness.<br>The delight of lightness.</p><blockquote><p>Why live and strive for meaning when it is all so fleeting and never to return? Or should we live <em>because</em> of it? - <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/for-a-brief-moment-of-lightness-i">For a brief moment of lightness, I became heavy</a></p></blockquote><p>Let&#8217;s enjoy the lightness of life because it is ephemeral and non-recurring.</p><p>Every single moment, significant or not, is just as precious. Every one of them happens only once and will never return.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/subscribe&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Upgrade to support conscious living&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://rachelooi.com/subscribe"><span>Upgrade to support conscious living</span></a></p><p>There are many small joys and lightness in our daily lives.</p><p>Eating ice cream by the little canal with my son, our feet cooling in the running water.<br>Packing the whole family into the car to drive off to a spontaneous trip somewhere.<br>The warmth of the sunlight trickling through the canopy of trees while hiking with my child.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uJSG!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uJSG!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uJSG!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uJSG!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uJSG!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uJSG!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg" width="450" height="599.896978021978" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:1941,&quot;width&quot;:1456,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:450,&quot;bytes&quot;:6260636,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/i/165214046?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uJSG!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uJSG!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uJSG!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!uJSG!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8a24c38f-3437-4100-8c8a-2a20e48c36fd_4032x3024.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a></figure></div><p>Light itself &#8212; a word coincidentally homonymous with the feeling of <em>light</em>ness &#8212; brings me to the Japanese word <em>komorebi</em>.</p><p>The film &#8220;Perfect Days&#8221;<em>&#8212;</em>which inspires this practice<em>&#8212;</em> uses <em>komorebi </em>to show how we can find beauty and meaning in everyday life, even in the seemingly mundane.</p><div id="youtube2-0nillvLHHJE" class="youtube-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;videoId&quot;:&quot;0nillvLHHJE&quot;,&quot;startTime&quot;:null,&quot;endTime&quot;:null}" data-component-name="Youtube2ToDOM"><div class="youtube-inner"><iframe src="https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/0nillvLHHJE?rel=0&amp;autoplay=0&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=0" frameborder="0" loading="lazy" gesture="media" allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowautoplay="true" allowfullscreen="true" width="728" height="409"></iframe></div></div><p>We can extend <em>komorebi</em>&#8212;the way light filters through trees &#8212; to other places, too, if we&#8217;re paying attention.</p><h3>This is what we are going to do</h3><p>We are going to look out for <em>komorebi </em>and the other ways light is present in our lives<em>.</em></p><p>When indoors, marvel at how the light slips in through the curtains and openings. How light dances on tiles, mirrors, and walls.</p><p>Outdoor in nature, marvel at how light breaks through the trees on the sidewalk, in the park, or the canopy of leaves in a forest. How light reflects off running rivers or calm lakes.</p><p>In the urban space, marvel at how light weaves through human constructs&#8212;buildings, poles, shadows, corners.</p><p>Notice the light's color, its ever-changing texture, its movement, and its lightness.</p><p>Let the noise fade into the background as the light envelops you.</p><h3>For those who want to do more</h3><p>Try noticing other kinds of lightness in your life&#8212;not just what you see, but also through all your other senses.</p><p>The first taste of coffee in the morning.<br>The gentle breeze on your face.<br>The ringing laughter of a child.<br>The soft touch of a well-placed hand.</p><div><hr></div><h2>Share with us</h2><p>What lightness of life have you noticed and delighted in?</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/the-delightful-lightness-of-being/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://rachelooi.com/p/the-delightful-lightness-of-being/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><p><strong>Companion post:</strong></p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;dc6da221-401c-4e72-ae61-16dd87a7a7c8&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Spring arrives for me when the city bursts into shades of pink&#8212;one Sakura tree after another in bloom (or Kirschbaum, as we call it here in Germany).&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;For a brief moment of lightness, I became heavy&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:5702243,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rachel Ooi&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Writer | Connector | Conscious living advocate | Cultivator of an intentional life &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F71f0dc95-41eb-42d9-be95-4c3f9bedb390_598x598.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2025-05-22T18:52:38.407Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F06f5f73a-e251-4532-976a-5fede55d81e0_4284x5712.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/for-a-brief-moment-of-lightness-i&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;Essays&quot;,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:164144017,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:18,&quot;comment_count&quot;:0,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ae577db-f3d0-44a2-ba4b-c25cd2319e78_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[The space between belief and choice]]></title><description><![CDATA[Conscious Living Practice #5]]></description><link>https://rachelooi.com/p/the-space-between-belief-and-choice</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rachelooi.com/p/the-space-between-belief-and-choice</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rachel Ooi]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 30 Apr 2025 18:49:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hMkS!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>After unearthing one of my core beliefs that I had unknowingly carried all this time, it felt like an &#8216;aha&#8217; moment.</p><p>It was something I had always known but never truly acknowledged. It lived in the background, quietly shaping my choices, until I finally realized what it was.</p><p>It was the gap between my version of who I thought I was and reality.</p><p>Now that I know this, I can catch those moments when my <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/why-conscious-living-is-the-key-to?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=false">autopilot takes over</a>, when my core belief activates without me even noticing. And in those moments, I have the power to pause, to step back into <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/why-conscious-living-is-the-key-to?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=false">conscious living</a>, to choose my response&#8212;and therefore, the outcome.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;Between stimulus and response lies a space. In that space lies our freedom and power to choose a response. In our response lies our growth and our happiness.&#8221; - Viktor Frankl</p></blockquote><p>Catching it is easier once you know it&#8217;s there. Choosing differently is harder. The old patterns&#8212;the childhood routines&#8212;feel comfortable. They offer certainty. </p><p>But between your old belief and its opposite lies a space. A space where freedom lives. A space where you can choose to walk a different path.</p><p>At first, forging that new path feels like hacking through a jungle&#8212;uncertain, uncomfortable, full of unknowns.</p><p>It&#8217;s hard to forge new paths. But it&#8217;s not impossible. And it can be freeing. And it&#8217;s worth it.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hMkS!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hMkS!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hMkS!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hMkS!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hMkS!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hMkS!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg" width="406" height="609.634375" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:961,&quot;width&quot;:640,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:406,&quot;bytes&quot;:172967,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;topImage&quot;:false,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/i/162355333?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hMkS!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hMkS!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hMkS!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!hMkS!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F001f902d-fdce-486c-a132-ddac6ce405aa_640x961.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">The space between wilderness and clam. Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@willianjusten?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Willian Justen de Vasconcellos</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/brown-trees-gMOgJoxSTwQ?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><h2>Here's what we are going to do</h2><p>Before we begin, I encourage you to read my <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/the-parts-of-me-i-didnt-choose">essay on core beliefs</a> first. It shares the background on how core beliefs are formed, how they shape us, why uncovering them is essential, and my personal experience with it.</p><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;751abc27-3f52-4313-9d5b-e0d69e431e38&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;From unearthing to becoming whole.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;The parts of me I didn't choose&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:5702243,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rachel Ooi&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Writer | Connector | Conscious living advocate | Cultivator of an intentional life &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F71f0dc95-41eb-42d9-be95-4c3f9bedb390_598x598.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2025-04-11T20:38:29.083Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5b9d007d-98e5-423b-81d2-9c1c2e3d9623_640x426.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/the-parts-of-me-i-didnt-choose&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:161091596,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:9,&quot;comment_count&quot;:7,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ae577db-f3d0-44a2-ba4b-c25cd2319e78_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><p>We&#8217;ll try to identify our core beliefs. Sometimes they surface easily; other times, it takes a bit of patience.</p><p>Either way, give yourself time and be kind to yourself. Every experience is different. These guiding questions can help you reconnect with your younger self.</p><p><em>&#9889; Important: Revisiting childhood memories can be a triggering experience. If you&#8217;re not ready, you may want to skip this practice.</em></p><h3>A few questions to ask yourself</h3><p>As a child:</p><ul><li><p>  What were you praised for?</p></li><li><p>  What were you reprimanded for?</p></li><li><p>  What expectations did you connect those experiences to?</p></li><li><p>  What strategies to react to those expectations?</p></li><li><p>  What strategies are you still using today?<code>    </code></p></li></ul><p>Whatever you find, meet it with compassion. Greet your core beliefs as an old friend. They have, after all, brought you to where you are today.</p><h2>For those who want to go further</h2><p>We shall work further with the core beliefs that we have unearthed and learn how to manage them.</p><p>Ask yourself:</p><ul><li><p>What core beliefs still serve me today?</p></li><li><p>Which ones push me forward&#8212;or pressure me?</p></li><li><p>Which ones limit me?</p></li><li><p>Which ones create a sense that I&#8212;or others&#8212;am not enough?</p></li></ul><p>Then, choose one limiting core belief to work on first. We will determine its opposite to create new possibilities for action.</p><blockquote><p>&#8220;When you write it or speak it out, it should make you squirm. And if you're lucky, you might stumble upon a <em>Sehnsucht</em> feeling&#8212;a longing for something that gives you angst, but you kind of wish you had it or even wanted it.&#8221; - <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/the-parts-of-me-i-didnt-choose">The parts of me I did not choose</a>.</p></blockquote><p>Ask yourself:</p><ul><li><p>How can I formulate an opposite belief that pulls me in a completely different direction?</p></li><li><p>What words does this new belief need to have a lasting impact on me?</p></li><li><p>How does this opposite belief feel? Does it stir something in me, or do I need to intensify it further?</p></li></ul><p>Finally, visualize yourself with the opposite. That&#8217;s it. Just let it do its magic.</p><h2>What I did with the practice</h2><p>When I worked through this practice myself, I uncovered <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/the-parts-of-me-i-didnt-choose?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=false">a core belief I shared</a>&#8212;I am strong and must protect my freedom at all costs.</p><p>It was limiting for me because I find it difficult to ask for help or be vulnerable, and I'm also hesitant to commit myself to anything that may restrict my freedom.</p><p>Working with its opposite not only scares me, but it also uncovers a <em>Sehsucht</em> in me&#8212;the longing to not be in control, to just be, and to let others help me.</p><h2>Share with us</h2><p>If you&#8217;ve uncovered a core belief&#8212;especially a limiting one&#8212;feel free to share it.</p><p>And if you&#8217;ve explored its opposite, I&#8217;d love to hear what effect that had on you, too.</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/the-space-between-belief-and-choice/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://rachelooi.com/p/the-space-between-belief-and-choice/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Are you enjoying this practice? If you&#8217;d like to explore conscious living more deeply, consider subscribing to join our growing community or upgrading your support.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;61ed143a-c81b-4ed5-b510-c4bc0cd869a6&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;We will observe ourselves&#8212;only to observe, recognize it as it is, acknowledge it, and then let it go. This activity is inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh&#8217;s The Miracle of Mindfulness.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;md&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Observe self&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:5702243,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rachel Ooi&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Writer | Connector | Conscious living advocate | Cultivator of an intentional life &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F71f0dc95-41eb-42d9-be95-4c3f9bedb390_598x598.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2025-03-03T15:29:23.092Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/observe-self&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living Practices&quot;,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:158279793,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:10,&quot;comment_count&quot;:3,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ae577db-f3d0-44a2-ba4b-c25cd2319e78_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;f6e9a168-1c6e-49fe-86c4-1bf159dc997a&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Do they shape us or do we define ourselves?&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;md&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;The hidden power of names&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:5702243,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rachel Ooi&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Writer | Connector | Conscious living advocate | Cultivator of an intentional life &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F71f0dc95-41eb-42d9-be95-4c3f9bedb390_598x598.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2024-10-24T14:02:15.226Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fef846cc9-d60d-44c2-a627-886b6c1cd805_640x445.png&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/the-hidden-power-of-names&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:150598538,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:24,&quot;comment_count&quot;:15,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ae577db-f3d0-44a2-ba4b-c25cd2319e78_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;8a08e697-189b-4033-8cfb-d52048f0bd25&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;plus the philosophy of the now and what freedom means.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:&quot;Read full story&quot;,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;md&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Why conscious living is the key to happiness&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:5702243,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rachel Ooi&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Writer | Connector | Conscious living advocate | Cultivator of an intentional life &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F71f0dc95-41eb-42d9-be95-4c3f9bedb390_598x598.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2024-05-03T08:02:06.556Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4f9d42bb-5330-44d2-acb3-8f4cda37c6ab_640x363.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/why-conscious-living-is-the-key-to&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:144254142,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:16,&quot;comment_count&quot;:8,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ae577db-f3d0-44a2-ba4b-c25cd2319e78_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Observe self]]></title><description><![CDATA[Conscious Living practice #4]]></description><link>https://rachelooi.com/p/observe-self</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rachelooi.com/p/observe-self</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rachel Ooi]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Mon, 03 Mar 2025 15:29:23 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Q4sM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>I am currently enrolled in a leadership training programme for women, and it starts with working on our inner selves. For someone who has done a lot of self-analysis, taken countless personality tests, and was once a hard-core fan of the MBTI, I still learn a lot of new insights into myself.</p><p>When I started <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/in-praise-of-traveling?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">solo backpacking</a>, it was as much a journey outward into the world as it was inward into myself. I was often hyper-aware as I explored new terrains, observed different cultures, tasted new foods, and immersed myself in novel experiences at alarming speed and quantity. <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/in-search-of-awe?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">In moments of awe</a>, I would feel a subtle shift within me&#8212;thousands of thoughts rushing through my mind, rewiring who I was. When night fell, I retreated into the hostels, often just reading or writing in a corner of a lobby, especially if it was one of those with good relaxing vibes. Sometimes I may feel especially extroverted and talk to fellow backpackers for tips and maybe even join up for the next day's adventure. But more often than not, I retreated inward, and pondered about life.</p><p>Alone out there, with just me against the world, it is almost impossible not to raise some self-awareness.</p><p>But that was just the surface of self-awareness. Motherhood, however, was the real awakening. Giving birth to another life and having them tethered to you as if you are their entire world brings up profound existential questions. And there&#8217;s nothing like a toddler or a young child, to bring out all your childhood memories and traumas, surprising yourself at how little it takes to trigger you, to push your buttons and to bring in floods of emotions you have long stored away in the deepest recesses of your mind.</p><p>This leadership training has humbled me again as someone who once thought she knew herself well and what she stood for. It has shown me that learning about oneself is a lifelong journey&#8212;a never-ending process of undoing and remaking. And it can be one of the greatest gifts you can give yourself.</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Q4sM!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Q4sM!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Q4sM!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Q4sM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Q4sM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Q4sM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg" width="640" height="424" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:424,&quot;width&quot;:640,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:null,&quot;bytes&quot;:51200,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/i/158279793?img=https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg&quot;,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Q4sM!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Q4sM!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Q4sM!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!Q4sM!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F83f2060a-0cc4-4528-8255-89237cfaa87c_640x424.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@jusfilm?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Julia Vivcharyk</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/woman-near-white-wall-PiKsgwTcflI?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><h2>Here&#8217;s what we are going to do</h2><p>For the next two weeks, we will introduce small moments of self-awareness into our daily lives. We will observe ourselves&#8212;only to observe, recognize it as it is, acknowledge it, and then let it go. This activity is inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh&#8217;s The Miracle of Mindfulness.</p><p>For example, when a feeling of sadness arises, immediately recognize it: &#8220;A feeling of sadness has just arisen in me.&#8221; If it continues, acknowledge it. If there are no feelings, recognize that there aren't any. If you notice tension in your shoulders or neck, acknowledge it: &#8220;I feel tension in my shoulders and neck.&#8221; If possible, allow yourself to release and relax those areas.</p><p>Each day, set aside 5 minutes to check in with yourself:</p><ul><li><p>Observe how you feel emotionally.</p></li><li><p>Do a quick body scan&#8212;notice any tension, relaxation, or discomfort.</p></li><li><p>Acknowledge them and then let go.</p></li></ul><p>After two weeks, take a moment to reflect:</p><ul><li><p>What have I learned about myself?</p></li><li><p>Which emotions or sensations showed up most often?</p></li><li><p>What surprised me the most during this practice?</p></li></ul><h3>For those who want to go deeper</h3><p>In addition to the above, you can also incorporate these practices:</p><ul><li><p>When you feel triggered or stimulated, pause. Take note of what is happening within you and acknowledge it. Permit yourself to stay in the space between the trigger and your response. Sometimes, choosing not to respond could be the best response.</p><blockquote><p><em>&#8220;Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.&#8221; - Victor Frankl.</em></p></blockquote></li><li><p>Refine your emotional awareness. Instead of broad labels like &#8216;stressed&#8217; or &#8216;happy,&#8217; try to pinpoint your feelings: Is it frustration or disappointment? Excitement or contentment? The more precise you are, the better you can understand yourself.</p></li></ul><p>Ask yourself these, too, at the end of two weeks:</p><ul><li><p>How did I respond to my emotions and sensations?</p></li><li><p>What new awareness have I gained about myself?</p></li><li><p>How can I continue using the space between stimulus and response?</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h2>Share with us</h2><p>I&#8217;d love to hear about your practice of self-observation in your daily life. Let&#8217;s inspire each other!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/observe-self/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://rachelooi.com/p/observe-self/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Are you enjoying this practice? If you&#8217;d like to explore conscious living more deeply, consider subscribing to join a growing community or upgrade to support it.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;9bb5a3d1-2926-4e5d-a9e6-c1e9706f037a&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;When we were young, life was a constant wonder, and filled with awe through the discovery of many new things about the world in our immediate environment. As we grew older, the sense of wonder diminished, and so did our experience of awe.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;In search of awe&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:5702243,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rachel Ooi&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Writer | Connector | Conscious living advocate | Cultivator of an intentional life &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F71f0dc95-41eb-42d9-be95-4c3f9bedb390_598x598.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2024-02-13T21:17:39.445Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F879b37bb-78d1-4a90-a4ad-8a6bde88765d_640x427.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/in-search-of-awe&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:141571512,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:5,&quot;comment_count&quot;:7,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ae577db-f3d0-44a2-ba4b-c25cd2319e78_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;b5f70991-f515-4949-af65-7d6a8b803830&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;My obsession with traveling began during my first sabbatical break, venturing through China, Mongolia, and Nepal. Lucky for me, I started my maiden backpacking with a good friend, who is a veteran himself. He showed&#8230;&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;In praise of traveling&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:5702243,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rachel Ooi&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Writer | Connector | Conscious living advocate | Cultivator of an intentional life &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F71f0dc95-41eb-42d9-be95-4c3f9bedb390_598x598.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2024-02-29T20:24:39.041Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fe0c52bde-2190-4c03-97e0-653c13cb94c4_640x427.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/in-praise-of-traveling&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:142152333,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:3,&quot;comment_count&quot;:4,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ae577db-f3d0-44a2-ba4b-c25cd2319e78_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;4166a495-9cae-4f06-a12e-e4672670b8bd&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;I awoke just before dawn, something that rarely happened to me, a serial night owl. As I drew back the curtains across my studio&#8217;s entire wall of floor-to-ceiling windows, I was greeted by the sun rising over Kuala Lumpur&#8217;s skyline, its famous twin towers standing proudly in the distance.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Why conscious living is the key to happiness&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:5702243,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rachel Ooi&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Writer | Connector | Conscious living advocate | Cultivator of an intentional life &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F71f0dc95-41eb-42d9-be95-4c3f9bedb390_598x598.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2024-05-03T08:02:06.556Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4f9d42bb-5330-44d2-acb3-8f4cda37c6ab_640x363.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/why-conscious-living-is-the-key-to&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:null,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:144254142,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:16,&quot;comment_count&quot;:8,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ae577db-f3d0-44a2-ba4b-c25cd2319e78_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:true,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Embrace slow. Take a pause.]]></title><description><![CDATA[Conscious Living practice #3]]></description><link>https://rachelooi.com/p/embrace-slow-take-a-pause</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rachelooi.com/p/embrace-slow-take-a-pause</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rachel Ooi]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jan 2025 14:03:16 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8HEa!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0362a99d-4b22-41b3-b0d3-14ba0361741b_640x960.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pullquote"><p><em><strong>Welcome to the third installment of our <a href="https://rachelooi.com/s/conscious-living-practices">conscious living practice series</a>. I&#8217;ve shared more about why I&#8217;m starting this <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/a-journey-to-conscious-living-together">here</a>. I aim to deepen mindfulness and enrich our shared journey toward conscious living. Previously, we dive into <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/what-truly-matters?r=3e7vn">what truly matters</a> in our lives.</strong></em></p></div><p>Does it feel like life hit the fast-forward button as soon as the year began? If so, you&#8217;re not alone.</p><p>My life has gone on a fast track since the year turned 2025. It may be because we have a big trip coming up. We are going home to Malaysia for the Chinese New Year (yay!), also known as the Lunar New Year.</p><p>So this year, after many years since I've not celebrated back home, I once again find myself in the interlude&#8212;the time after New Year but before the Lunar New Year.</p><p>The interlude is the in-between. The pause. The space between the closing of one door and the opening of another, full of anticipation.</p><p>For those who celebrate, the Lunar New Year is a time of renewal, family, and connection&#8212;much like a second chance to start the year fresh.</p><p>Even if you&#8217;re not among the 2 billion of us celebrating this occasion, why not join in and revel in this interlude?</p><p>Let&#8217;s take a moment to slow down and create space before diving into all our <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/what-truly-matters?r=3e7vn">intentions for the year</a>. By inviting slowness into our lives this month, we can step into the Year of the Snake<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-1" href="#footnote-1" target="_self">1</a> with clarity and calm. </p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8HEa!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0362a99d-4b22-41b3-b0d3-14ba0361741b_640x960.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8HEa!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0362a99d-4b22-41b3-b0d3-14ba0361741b_640x960.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8HEa!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0362a99d-4b22-41b3-b0d3-14ba0361741b_640x960.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8HEa!,w_1272,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0362a99d-4b22-41b3-b0d3-14ba0361741b_640x960.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8HEa!,w_1456,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0362a99d-4b22-41b3-b0d3-14ba0361741b_640x960.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw"><img src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8HEa!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0362a99d-4b22-41b3-b0d3-14ba0361741b_640x960.jpeg" width="326" height="489" data-attrs="{&quot;src&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/0362a99d-4b22-41b3-b0d3-14ba0361741b_640x960.jpeg&quot;,&quot;srcNoWatermark&quot;:null,&quot;fullscreen&quot;:null,&quot;imageSize&quot;:null,&quot;height&quot;:960,&quot;width&quot;:640,&quot;resizeWidth&quot;:326,&quot;bytes&quot;:173193,&quot;alt&quot;:null,&quot;title&quot;:null,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;image/jpeg&quot;,&quot;href&quot;:null,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;topImage&quot;:true,&quot;internalRedirect&quot;:null,&quot;isProcessing&quot;:false,&quot;align&quot;:null,&quot;offset&quot;:false}" class="sizing-normal" alt="" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8HEa!,w_424,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0362a99d-4b22-41b3-b0d3-14ba0361741b_640x960.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8HEa!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0362a99d-4b22-41b3-b0d3-14ba0361741b_640x960.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8HEa!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0362a99d-4b22-41b3-b0d3-14ba0361741b_640x960.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!8HEa!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F0362a99d-4b22-41b3-b0d3-14ba0361741b_640x960.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" fetchpriority="high"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@morgane_lb?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Morgane Le Breton</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/gray-asphalt-road-with-white-line-TXouC7AKUCs?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><div><hr></div><h2>Here&#8217;s what we are going to do</h2><p>For the next two weeks, let&#8217;s take deliberate pauses in our lives. As we go about our day, we can keep these thoughts in mind. Choose one or more that resonate with you. There&#8217;s no need for perfection&#8212;the goal is to invite more mindful slowness into our lives.</p><ul><li><p>Observe times of the day that feel most rushed. How can we slow it down? If we rush too often, we will miss the special moments.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>When someone seeks to connect, stop whatever you are doing or thinking, look the person in the eyes, and give them your full attention. Listen. Connect. This is incredibly impactful with children.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Pause before reacting. Breathe. Count to 10. Allow the lag time between experiencing emotion and giving a reaction. Pause before verbally responding or answering a question. Give yourself a moment to gather your thoughts.</p></li></ul><p>For those looking to deepen their practice, choose one or more of the following to practice, or you may even create one of your own. Choose a frequency that is doable for you. The goal is to fill your cup and embrace calm.</p><ul><li><p>Give yourself permission to slow down. Meditate, do yoga, read a book, paint, or take a bath.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Practice calm. Set aside a quiet time of the day to light a candle, sway to slow music, or practice a grounding exercise.</p></li></ul><ul><li><p>Communing with nature. Go for an awe walk, walk slowly, and engage all your senses&#8212;see, smell, hear, and feel the breeze or cold on your skin.</p></li></ul><div><hr></div><h2>Share with us</h2><p>I&#8217;d love to hear how you create space to slow down in daily life. Let&#8217;s inspire each other!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/embrace-slow-take-a-pause/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://rachelooi.com/p/embrace-slow-take-a-pause/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Are you enjoying this practice? If you&#8217;d like to explore conscious living more deeply, consider subscribing to join a growing community or upgrade to support it.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-1" href="#footnote-anchor-1" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">1</a><div class="footnote-content"><p>The snake (&#34503;) is the sixth of the twelve-year cycle of animals that appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The coming Lunar New Year will signify the start of the Year of the Snake.</p></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[What truly matters]]></title><description><![CDATA[Conscious Living practices #2]]></description><link>https://rachelooi.com/p/what-truly-matters</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rachelooi.com/p/what-truly-matters</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rachel Ooi]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sun, 22 Dec 2024 10:40:27 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XS6J!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7203b42-fd96-42f3-bd70-4c19989ba6c0_640x678.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pullquote"><p><strong>Welcome to the second installment of our <a href="https://rachelooi.com/s/conscious-living-practices">conscious living practice series</a>. I&#8217;ve shared more about why I&#8217;m starting this <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/a-journey-to-conscious-living-together">here</a>. I aim to deepen mindfulness and enrich our shared journey toward conscious living. Previously, we started the practice with <a href="http://Welcome to the first installment of our conscious living practice series. I&#8217;ve shared more about why I&#8217;m starting this here. In essence, my goal is to deepen mindfulness and enrich our shared journey toward conscious living.">reflection and gratitude</a>.</strong></p></div><p>How many of you have a long list of reflections and gratitudes by now?</p><p>Maybe you&#8217;re like me&#8212;still working on it&#8212;and that&#8217;s completely okay! What matters is that we&#8217;ve been <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/reflections-and-gratitudes?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web&amp;showWelcomeOnShare=true">more mindful over the past two weeks and taken small steps toward reflection</a>.</p><p>Life tends to get busy these weeks as the festive season approaches. Decorate the Advent Kranz, get mini gifts, and hang up the advent calendar. Decide on gifts and who will receive them. Make and send Christmas cards. Bake Christmas cookies.</p><p>Our family also has three birthdays to celebrate around this time! Yes, that's <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/the-stories-we-tell-ourselves?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">the story of our lives</a>. One birthday celebration down, we have three more parties to go: one for each child with their friends and one combined with the family for them.</p><p>Amidst all this busyness, I&#8217;ve found that taking even a few moments to reflect on the past year can bring clarity and calm.</p><div><hr></div><div class="digest-post-embed" data-attrs="{&quot;nodeId&quot;:&quot;50ca8d3b-f072-46a1-aa6a-416a09b1cd5e&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;Welcome to the first installment of our conscious living practice series. I&#8217;ve shared more about why I&#8217;m starting this here. In essence, my goal is to deepen mindfulness and enrich our shared journey toward conscious living.&quot;,&quot;cta&quot;:null,&quot;showBylines&quot;:true,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;sm&quot;,&quot;isEditorNode&quot;:true,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Reflections and gratitudes&quot;,&quot;publishedBylines&quot;:[{&quot;id&quot;:5702243,&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Rachel Ooi&quot;,&quot;bio&quot;:&quot;Writer | Connector | Conscious living advocate | Cultivator of an intentional life &quot;,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F71f0dc95-41eb-42d9-be95-4c3f9bedb390_598x598.jpeg&quot;,&quot;is_guest&quot;:false,&quot;bestseller_tier&quot;:null}],&quot;post_date&quot;:&quot;2024-12-05T14:00:38.769Z&quot;,&quot;cover_image&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5ef73d5c-1d5f-419d-9f08-7f5c81169f20_640x608.jpeg&quot;,&quot;cover_image_alt&quot;:null,&quot;canonical_url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/reflections-and-gratitudes&quot;,&quot;section_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living Practices&quot;,&quot;video_upload_id&quot;:null,&quot;id&quot;:152316037,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;newsletter&quot;,&quot;reaction_count&quot;:11,&quot;comment_count&quot;:9,&quot;publication_id&quot;:null,&quot;publication_name&quot;:&quot;Conscious Living&quot;,&quot;publication_logo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F5ae577db-f3d0-44a2-ba4b-c25cd2319e78_600x600.png&quot;,&quot;belowTheFold&quot;:false,&quot;youtube_url&quot;:null,&quot;show_links&quot;:null,&quot;feed_url&quot;:null}"></div><div><hr></div><h2>Pre-Practice</h2><p>If you have your reflection list, skip the this pre-step and <a href="https://rachelooi.com/i/153481897/heres-what-we-are-going-to-do">go straight to the practice</a>.</p><p>For those who want to quickly gather reflections, find an uninterrupted time for reflection and focus only on this year. This keeps the task manageable.</p><p>Set a due date&#8212;perhaps this weekend or by Christmas&#8212;to complete your reflection session</p><p>Use a 30-minute timer and start looking through your chosen resources (calendar, photos, journals, notebooks, planners) for reflections, and write down any points that you deem noteworthy.</p><p>This is what I did to amass a quick list. </p><p>Since I plan everything about my life on the calendar, it is a good source for me to recall what was done and view all the important events. For some of you, it may be your planner or to-do list. </p><p>At the same time, when reviewing each month, I also looked at my photo album to recall some events I might have missed!</p><p>To give you an idea, here&#8217;s what my list looked like after following this process:</p><ol><li><p>Celebrated my kid&#8217;s birthday with Oma and Opa.</p></li><li><p>Started 1-1 dates with my kids.</p></li><li><p>Consistent lunch dates with my partner during the week.</p></li><li><p>I launched this <a href="https://rachelooi.com/">Conscious Living </a>Substack and did a lot of writing this year, reconnecting with my passion, connecting with myself, and processing it all through writing.</p></li><li><p>We went on a boat trip down the Neckar Valley with Oma, Opa, aunts, uncles, and cousins. All the kids were very excited but surprisingly well-behaved.</p></li><li><p>Lots of spring and autumn walks and hikes.</p></li><li><p>Friendship reunion trip in Bali!</p></li><li><p>Spent precious time with the old loved ones&#8212; Mummy, Lai Ma, and Lai Pa. We did some deep talk with <a href="https://parentsarehuman.com/products/parents-are-human?variant=44816454942879">Parents are Humans cards</a>; they were great.</p></li><li><p>Family beach holiday in Majorca.</p></li><li><p>Built <em>tanglungs</em> (lanterns) with the kids together and did a walk during the Mid-Autumn festival<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-1" href="#footnote-1" target="_self">1</a>.</p></li><li><p>Monthly catch-up calls with my girls&#8211;an initiative born from our reunion trip.</p></li><li><p>I made lovely connections here on Substack&#8212;<span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Tiffany Chu&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:119143517,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/6cfc0b34-0df2-46cf-b2a8-a4ab03192667_1080x1080.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;a8b15505-30d3-4720-ac55-c185cee129a2&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Sarah Li-Cain&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:5421857,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fcb14c08e-71f4-45e6-a254-edf4444b2b24_1456x1048.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;5cd52eb9-db8e-4319-957d-5530c879abc4&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Istiaq Mian&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:142424816,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/539d0281-d14b-432f-92c9-43499347a596_2316x2316.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;cf6c7c41-0a52-48d7-a99b-f8c12a241e29&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Melissa-Jane Fogarty (Nguyen)&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:10283458,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/989f3881-57e1-4870-b104-b184f53d8c2e_2316x2816.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;11516af1-0586-43fb-b83c-ed5c5796bad9&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Lani V. Cox&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:94062031,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3e08d61a-bf7b-4d9a-bdb4-d3e46bb04327_1200x1600.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;10562976-10a0-4b19-804e-7857b6c5b711&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Victoria&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:17260393,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fee0db79b-bcc5-4f4f-80e5-c820719a379e_500x500.png&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;9a11bdd2-e36e-41d6-a951-bce1ade87302&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Suyin Tan&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:14807081,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://bucketeer-e05bbc84-baa3-437e-9518-adb32be77984.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5193c44b-8a78-4e79-aa51-f2561df51679_1164x1166.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;e6c80254-502c-4338-8718-36c4a064e579&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Ingrid Haring-Mendes&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:168276353,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4d9e982-52d0-4ecb-a256-d416cc276349_3024x4032.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;839e3271-8aa0-461d-9510-577474ae011e&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Sophie S.&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:205981078,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F6617910a-6714-4886-922a-27e9f592727c_1024x1024.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;412f39e2-6502-4ec2-a7e1-b13d6ead8dd7&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>, and <span class="mention-wrap" data-attrs="{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Yi Xue&quot;,&quot;id&quot;:73360036,&quot;type&quot;:&quot;user&quot;,&quot;url&quot;:null,&quot;photo_url&quot;:&quot;https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F4dc0ed52-505e-44d5-a18a-4ca1d12743e1_960x976.jpeg&quot;,&quot;uuid&quot;:&quot;f1fc262d-02c0-43b4-8fb8-444266030e02&quot;}" data-component-name="MentionToDOM"></span>.</p></li><li><p>I did the <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/thank-you-for-being-my-daddy?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">writing protocol to deal with my grief</a> for my father&#8217;s death.</p></li><li><p><a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/why-conscious-living-is-the-key-to?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">Writing about conscious living</a> brought back this core meaning of my life to the forefront.</p></li><li><p>I did several trainings at work, which rekindled my passion for learning.</p></li></ol><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!XS6J!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fc7203b42-fd96-42f3-bd70-4c19989ba6c0_640x678.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" 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class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@nate_dumlao?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Nathan Dumlao</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/sun-rays-coming-through-brown-grass-tzCJWNB0gHg?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><div><hr></div><h2>Here&#8217;s what we are going to do</h2><p>For the following Conscious Living practice #2, you should have a list of reflections and gratitude to look upon.</p><h3>For beginners</h3><p>Find a cozy spot with a warm drink and sit down with your notebook or laptop. Read through your reflection lists without judgment. Just read it for what it is.</p><p>Next, choose your top 5 to 10 entries&#8212;they resonate deeply, repeat themselves across the list, or simply stand out to you. Circle or summarize them in a shorter list.</p><p>Like me, I noticed I listed several events and celebrations with Oma and Opa, and I mentioned that I was grateful for them on multiple occasions. I mentioned all the 1-1 connections in my little family&#8212;with kids and my partner. I was thankful for my summer trip back home, reconnecting with <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/a-love-letter-to-my-best-friend?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_campaign=post&amp;utm_medium=web">my friends</a> on our Bali trip, and afterward, my mother, nanny, and her husband in my hometown. I am also grateful for the new connections I made here in Substack. Thanks to my <a href="https://rachelooi.com/">Conscious Living</a> publication on Substack, I was proud and happy to start writing again. I felt reconnected with myself again, especially in my pursuit of conscious living.</p><p>In your top list, go through it again and try to find a pattern. Here are some questions that may help you:</p><ul><li><p>What motivates you?</p></li><li><p>Does this reflect a value you cherish?</p></li><li><p>What do you want more or less of?</p></li><li><p>Who matters most to you, and how are you nurturing those relationships?</p></li><li><p>What&#8217;s most important to you, and how are you prioritizing it?</p></li><li><p>What sparks your curiosity?</p></li><li><p>What&#8217;s one goal you&#8217;d like to pursue?</p><p></p></li></ul><blockquote><p>&#8220;Things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.&#8221; - Goethe.</p></blockquote><p></p><h3>For seasoned practitioners</h3><p>Like the last round, I have an option for some of you who are used to this exercise. After you have answered the prompts, try distilling your answers into a word or a short phrase. This will be your &#8220;word of the year.&#8221;</p><p>For example, Gretchen Rubin reflects on why she chose &#8220;Door&#8221; as her&nbsp;<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/articles/one-word-themes-for-2025/">word of the year.</a>&nbsp;For her, it was a time of transition and expectation. To me, it is also a beautiful visual metaphor for opening up new opportunities and adventures.</p><blockquote><p>Your word might be a noun, a verb, or an adjective. There&#8217;s no wrong way to pick as long as it&#8217;s meaningful to you. - <a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/articles/one-word-themes-for-2025/">Gretchen Rubin</a></p></blockquote><p>As for me, the pattern became clear on what my word of the year would be&#8212;<em>Connection</em>.</p><p>I want to deepen my connections with my partner, children, family, friends, and myself. I also want to extend my connection to nature and the world at large.</p><p>This word also aligns well with my conscious living ethos. To connect, we need to be present, and being connected helps us stay grounded in that state, too.</p><div><hr></div><h2>Share with us</h2><p>What about you? How has this practice been for you? Did you uncover a pattern or identify what matters most? Perhaps you even found your word of the year.</p><p>Let&#8217;s inspire each other&#8212;share your reflections, patterns, or word of the year in the comments or reply to this email. I&#8217;d love to hear from you!</p><p>As usual, in the comments or, if you prefer, reply to this e-mail. I'd love to hear from you!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/what-truly-matters/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://rachelooi.com/p/what-truly-matters/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption">Are you enjoying this practice? If you&#8217;d like to explore conscious living more deeply, consider subscribing to join a growing community or upgrade to support it.</p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-1" href="#footnote-anchor-1" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">1</a><div class="footnote-content"><p>The Mid-Autumn Festival is a harvest festival celebrated in Chinese culture. It is held on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar with a full moon at night. On this day, the Chinese believe that the moon is at its brightest and fullest size, coinciding with harvest time in the middle of autumn. [<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid-Autumn_Festival">1</a>]</p><p></p></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item><item><title><![CDATA[Reflections and gratitudes]]></title><description><![CDATA[Conscious Living practices #1]]></description><link>https://rachelooi.com/p/reflections-and-gratitudes</link><guid isPermaLink="false">https://rachelooi.com/p/reflections-and-gratitudes</guid><dc:creator><![CDATA[Rachel Ooi]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 05 Dec 2024 14:00:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/5ef73d5c-1d5f-419d-9f08-7f5c81169f20_640x608.jpeg" length="0" type="image/jpeg"/><content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Welcome to the first installment of our <a href="https://rachelooi.com/s/conscious-living-practices">conscious living practice series</a>. I&#8217;ve shared more about why I&#8217;m starting this <a href="https://rachelooi.com/p/a-journey-to-conscious-living-together">here</a>. In essence, my goal is to deepen mindfulness and enrich our shared journey toward conscious living.</strong></p><div><hr></div><p>This is the time of year that invites reflection. With Thanksgiving behind us and the year drawing to a close, it&#8217;s the perfect moment to pause and look back before the holiday rush takes over.</p><p>I have yet to fully reflect, only having <a href="https://open.substack.com/pub/rachelooi/p/finding-connection-in-a-divided-world?r=3e7vn&amp;utm_medium=ios">recovered from the recent disconnection in the world</a>. What better way to begin than with this timely exercise to kick off our conscious living practice?</p><p>More than a decade ago, my friends and I threw a New Year&#8217;s party with the theme, &#8220;dress as who you want to be.&#8221; I went as a traveler&#8212;a childhood dream inspired by books I&#8217;d read&#8212;but I didn&#8217;t give it much thought at the time. A few years later, I became exactly one&#8212;a solo backpacker wearing the same jacket from that party.</p><p>At the party, we each explained why we chose who we wanted to be. This sparked off a yearly practice for us. We have since refined it, and always, the start was with reflection. We discovered that it is essential to think and deliberate. </p><p>Although we vaguely know everything in our lives, clarity brings forth not only joy but purpose.</p><p>I have never missed a year of this ritual since, and every time, I&#8217;m reminded of its power.</p><h2>Why reflect?</h2><p>Even if we say that the days are long but the year is short, it is not that short if we think about it. Sometimes, it takes a moment even to recall what we did in January.</p><p>Intentional reflection helps us slow down and truly see the life we&#8217;ve lived. It allows us to rediscover the beautiful moments, the milestones we&#8217;ve crossed, and the life-changing events that might have seemed like ordinary days at that time.</p><p>Through reflection, we gain insights into ourselves&#8212;our values, priorities, and joys. </p><p>What did we spend our time on? How does that align with what truly matters to us? What made our hearts sing? What surprised us? What made us laugh or cry? Who should we thank? And most importantly, what are we grateful for?</p><p>Which brings me to gratitude. As a naturally positive person, reflecting on the good things in my life fills me with a warm, fuzzy feeling.</p><h2>Why gratitude?</h2><p>Gratitude shifts our focus from what we lack to what we have. It&#8217;s human nature to overlook the good in our lives, often seeing it as a given. </p><p>But when we intentionally practice gratitude, we begin to recognize the effort, love, kindness, or even sheer luck behind the blessings we enjoy.</p><p>Research shows that gratitude can increase happiness and reduce bitterness. It&#8217;s a simple yet profound way to amplify joy and deepen our connection to the present moment.</p><p>When we take the time to notice and appreciate the good things and people in our lives, we naturally become more conscious of them, doubling our joy.</p><p>For instance, I&#8217;m grateful for:</p><blockquote><p>Time spent playing with my children, even if it feels unproductive.</p><p>My supportive in-laws&#8212;they made my summer trip with friends possible!</p><p>The flexibility of my work schedule.</p><p>My partner&#8217;s unwavering support.</p><p>A hot cup of coffee in the quiet morning.</p></blockquote><p>These small moments and gestures fill my life with joy and meaning. What would be on your gratitude list?</p><div class="captioned-image-container"><figure><a class="image-link image2 is-viewable-img" target="_blank" href="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MNiX!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8490e523-d7cb-4a3e-8c3b-fe4e46c93895_640x960.jpeg" data-component-name="Image2ToDOM"><div class="image2-inset"><picture><source type="image/webp" srcset="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MNiX!,w_424,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8490e523-d7cb-4a3e-8c3b-fe4e46c93895_640x960.jpeg 424w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MNiX!,w_848,c_limit,f_webp,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8490e523-d7cb-4a3e-8c3b-fe4e46c93895_640x960.jpeg 848w, 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https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MNiX!,w_848,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8490e523-d7cb-4a3e-8c3b-fe4e46c93895_640x960.jpeg 848w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MNiX!,w_1272,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8490e523-d7cb-4a3e-8c3b-fe4e46c93895_640x960.jpeg 1272w, https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MNiX!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F8490e523-d7cb-4a3e-8c3b-fe4e46c93895_640x960.jpeg 1456w" sizes="100vw" loading="lazy"></picture><div class="image-link-expand"><div class="pencraft pc-display-flex pc-gap-8 pc-reset"><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container restack-image"><svg role="img" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" fill="none" stroke-width="1.5" stroke="var(--color-fg-primary)" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><g><title></title><path d="M2.53001 7.81595C3.49179 4.73911 6.43281 2.5 9.91173 2.5C13.1684 2.5 15.9537 4.46214 17.0852 7.23684L17.6179 8.67647M17.6179 8.67647L18.5002 4.26471M17.6179 8.67647L13.6473 6.91176M17.4995 12.1841C16.5378 15.2609 13.5967 17.5 10.1178 17.5C6.86118 17.5 4.07589 15.5379 2.94432 12.7632L2.41165 11.3235M2.41165 11.3235L1.5293 15.7353M2.41165 11.3235L6.38224 13.0882"></path></g></svg></button><button tabindex="0" type="button" class="pencraft pc-reset pencraft icon-container view-image"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" stroke-linejoin="round" class="lucide lucide-maximize2 lucide-maximize-2"><polyline points="15 3 21 3 21 9"></polyline><polyline points="9 21 3 21 3 15"></polyline><line x1="21" x2="14" y1="3" y2="10"></line><line x1="3" x2="10" y1="21" y2="14"></line></svg></button></div></div></div></a><figcaption class="image-caption">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@prophsee?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Prophsee Journals</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/gold-and-silver-pen-on-brown-wooden-table-Ck1onTaYLkY?utm_content=creditCopyText&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_source=unsplash">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure></div><h2>Here&#8217;s what we are going to do</h2><p>I understand that we&#8217;re all at different levels with exercises like this. Some of you have been reflecting for decades, others are just starting, and some might be new to the idea altogether. To meet you where you are, I&#8217;ve included an extra step for those who want to take it further.</p><p>For the next two weeks, let&#8217;s commit to a daily reflection ritual. Set aside 10 minutes each day to reflect. </p><p>For some, it might work best early in the morning after waking up. For others, like me, it&#8217;s the quiet time before bed. Choose a moment that feels right for you&#8212;after the kids are tucked in, during the calm after dinner, or while sipping your evening tea. </p><p>The key is to find a time when you can be still and uninterrupted while attaching it to a daily event or habit to make it happen<a class="footnote-anchor" data-component-name="FootnoteAnchorToDOM" id="footnote-anchor-1" href="#footnote-1" target="_self">1</a>.</p><p>Use a dedicated notebook or your daily journal if you have one. If you prefer digital tools, that&#8217;s fine, too&#8212;make sure it&#8217;s easy and comfortable to capture your thoughts.</p><h3>For beginners</h3><ul><li><p>Write the highlights of the day.</p></li><li><p>Write any highlights that come to mind&#8212;from today, this year, your current life, or even moments from your entire lifetime.</p></li></ul><p>These prompts will help you start noticing the extraordinary in the ordinary.</p><h3>For seasoned practitioners</h3><p>If you&#8217;ve already been reflecting regularly and want to expand your practice, spend extra time during these sessions (30 minutes) to explore your year in depth. Ask yourself:</p><ul><li><p>What moments stood out for you this year?</p></li><li><p>What were the key events or milestones?</p></li></ul><p>Helpful resources for this:</p><ul><li><p>Photos from the year to revisit memories.</p></li><li><p>Your calendar to review events and commitments.</p></li><li><p>Emails or messages, if they don&#8217;t overwhelm</p></li><li><p>Notes, journals, or any record you&#8217;ve kept.</p></li></ul><p>These resources can help jog your memory but don&#8217;t get too caught up in the details. This isn&#8217;t about perfection.</p><div><hr></div><p>Whichever method(s) you choose, by the end of these two weeks, you&#8217;ll have a meaningful artifact: a list of simple yet precious daily experiences, moments that stood out, people you&#8217;re grateful for, things that brought you joy, and perhaps even key events and milestones.</p><p>Keep this list, as we will need it for our next conscious living practice. For now, let&#8217;s focus on looking back and looking inward.</p><p>To recap, dedicate 10-30 minutes each day to reflection. Capture the highlights of your day/life as they come to you, and if you&#8217;re ready, reflect on the entire year.</p><p>I hope you find joy and insight in this practice. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments.</p><p>If you&#8217;d like to share your reflections, I&#8217;d love to hear them! Sharing not only inspires others but also enriches our own practice by offering new perspectives and deeper insights.</p><p>If you&#8217;re more comfortable sharing privately, you can also reply to this email or message me directly.</p><p>Either way, I look forward to doing this meaningful exercise alongside you. See you in the comments!</p><p class="button-wrapper" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/p/reflections-and-gratitudes/comments&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Leave a comment&quot;,&quot;action&quot;:null,&quot;class&quot;:null}" data-component-name="ButtonCreateButton"><a class="button primary" href="https://rachelooi.com/p/reflections-and-gratitudes/comments"><span>Leave a comment</span></a></p><div><hr></div><div class="subscription-widget-wrap-editor" data-attrs="{&quot;url&quot;:&quot;https://rachelooi.com/subscribe?&quot;,&quot;text&quot;:&quot;Subscribe&quot;,&quot;language&quot;:&quot;en&quot;}" data-component-name="SubscribeWidgetToDOM"><div class="subscription-widget show-subscribe"><div class="preamble"><p class="cta-caption"><em>Are you enjoying this practice? If you&#8217;d like to explore conscious living more deeply, consider subscribing to join a growing community or upgrade to support it.</em></p></div><form class="subscription-widget-subscribe"><input type="email" class="email-input" name="email" placeholder="Type your email&#8230;" tabindex="-1"><input type="submit" class="button primary" value="Subscribe"><div class="fake-input-wrapper"><div class="fake-input"></div><div class="fake-button"></div></div></form></div></div><div><hr></div><p>P/S: thanks to my wonderful planning, I just realized I won't be able to squeeze in <a href="https://rachelooi.com/s/conscious-living-letters">my monthly letter</a>, so I plan to send one at the end of this month for both November and December.</p><p></p><p></p><div class="footnote" data-component-name="FootnoteToDOM"><a id="footnote-1" href="#footnote-anchor-1" class="footnote-number" contenteditable="false" target="_self">1</a><div class="footnote-content"><p>&#8203;&#8203;When it comes to building new habits, you can use the connectedness of behavior to your advantage. One of the best ways to build a new habit is to identify a current habit you already do each day and then stack your new behavior on top. This is called habit stacking. [<a href="https://jamesclear.com/habit-stacking">1</a>]</p><p></p></div></div>]]></content:encoded></item></channel></rss>