Hey you,
I was blessed to live such a comfortable life in my home country.
When I was still in Jakarta, I ordered takeout a lot because it's much more practical. Many places were open late, and online delivery services were always available. On top of affordable food, discounts were everywhere.
Bike taxis could be booked quickly from my phone, so I didnāt walk much. I used digital payments whenever possible because I didnāt like carrying cash. Malls were crazy great for everything: meetups, events, shopping, eating out, etc.
Now, picture my life in Jena as the opposite of everything I just said.
Over time, I realized that eating out isnāt sustainable, so I taught myself to cook. Thereās no such thing as bike taxis here, so I walk more. At first, my muscles couldnāt handle it.
Malls? Try boring shopping centers.
Is it bad, then? Do I live miserably now?
Not really.
Thatās the thing about stepping out of our comfort zone, isnāt it?
Leaving my safe haven was scary, but Iām glad I did it because...
I wouldnāt be as tough as I am now if I hadnāt.
And this is more than just my new lifestyle. Iām talking about being more resourceful and resilient to take on challenges and situations that once seemed out of reach. Getting back up after breakdowns. Not giving up when life gives me crap.
After nearly 2 years of living abroad, Iām also grateful that:
Iām not saying that living abroad is the only way to get out of our comfort zone. Nor was I saying Iām better than those who donāt move abroad.
In fact, I want to use this weekās hard truth to encourage you to stretch your comfort zone, whatever it may be, because I think growth looks beautiful on anybody. Here are 3 simple ways:
Afraid that curiosity will kill the cat?
In The Maze Runner, Thomas's curiosity causes his friends' deaths and society's collapse. But it later reveals a grim reality about the outside world. It helps them survive.
I once was curious about the taste of Sauerkrautsaft (the juice out of fermented cabbage). It didnāt kill; it was just bad enough to serve as a lesson. š
So ask this instead: how many opportunities have we probably missed by not asking questions about the things around us?
Not all curiosity kills. But whatever answer comes from it, handle responsibly and keep moving forward.
The fight-or-flight response is set off by challenges, and it helps us deal with stress and danger. The more problems we try to solve, the more likely we are to succeed.
Even though it sounds great, that doesnāt mean we should do it all the time for the sake of faster growth.
Experience is indeed essential to self-growth. But on days when weāre depleted of energy, we can also say no without feeling bad about it. Take as much time as you need.
Speaking on camera has always made me self-conscious. That's why making Instagram reels can sometimes feel nerve-wracking.
But if I hadnāt started it, I wouldnāt have known how much fun it is to record myself and work on the editing. Or how much Reels could increase my brandās reach.
We do have a choice about whether or not we want to change. And although not every change is comfortable, feeling uncomfortable is a sure sign of growth.
ā
Disclaimer: Everything expressed here comes from my personal experience. I never claim to be an expert.
Thanks to Carol Dweck, I now understand the concept of a growth mindset in a completely new light. Known best for her work on motivation and mindset, she debunks common myths about growth mindset, which has become something of a clichĆ©. š
This tweet perfectly captures why we might be hesitant to try something out. Itās not because we lack the skills necessary to do it. š ļø
Even though Iāve only been blogging and sending out newsletters for three weeks, Iāve already picked up a lot of valuable lessons. To stay motivated on my creator path, I jotted down three important micro-goals. š
I put up screenshots of some of the things Iāve writtenāvery simple videos, and it seems to have struck a chord with some people. Maybe you want to check out my videos too? š¤³
As the temperature keeps dropping, a pullover underneath my jacket is now a must.
I recently switched from Telekom to Aldi Talk as my mobile network provider because they have annual plans. Instead of paying monthly, I figure it would be better to pay once a year.
I found the process pretty complicated, but thankfully, my boyfriendās got my back. š„°
I also made an Instagram Reel about how I felt when I went to Berlin to get a new passport.
The algorithms for both Instagram and TikTok are crazy in their own ways. Iād love to write about how Iāve used both platforms to spread the word about my writing.
ā
I hope you enjoy this letter. See you in the next one. š
Cheers,
Devi
by Devi
š A space for self-reflection+ a diary of an š®š© in š©šŖ
Hey you, The idea of being āself-madeā is often glamorized as a testament to individual triumph. Self-made billionaires. Self-made women. But being the social creatures that we are, can one truly claim to be self-made? A few days ago, I told my boyfriend about my aspirations to be a self-made woman. My concept of it came from years of being independent. Leaving home was a big step in that direction. Ever since I ventured solo to another city for my bachelorās degree, I knew I wanted to strike...
Hey you, Though I donāt really write in ink these days, at least in the digital realm where screens illuminate our paths, my words have been gracefully dancing across pixels. Yet, I confess that my writing routine remains a constant struggle to tame the chaos that is consistency. There have been moments when lifeās demands and unexpected detours have forced me to take hiatuses from the craft I hold dear. Though necessary, these pauses have sometimes left me feeling like being off-beat. One...
Hey you, Love has a way of sweeping us off our feet, filling our hearts with warmth and hope. But beneath the surface of bliss, a quiet fear lingersāan unspoken worry that whispers, āWhat if it all slips away?ā Such a thought visits me occasionally whenever I nestle into the cozy nook of our couch, wrapped in the warmth of his arms. Weād giggle and playfully map out our dreams for the future. Amidst the tenderness, doubts like, āWhat if life takes us on different paths? What if our dreams...