Appreciate Life Based on Value and Merit. Measure what is important by it’s value, achievement and dedication.
Move beyond the grind of productivity to discover a life measured by value and merit. Explore how to shed external validation and find true self-worth through right intention, wise action and deep self-honour.
AWAKEN TO SELF
awaken to life
Appreciate Life Based on Value and Merit. Measure what is important by it’s value, achievement and dedication.
True Productivity
Self-Worth
This story was written based on what happened to me around October last year (2024). The original story was being written as a journal entry in my personal notebook. Since it has been more than half a year passed, I think it’s time to share something that is ‘proven’.
The game called Productivity.
I caught up in the game of productivity — efficiency — effectiveness. My goal at that time was to do things more, better and faster. After finishing one task, I started another one immediately. Just like some saying, ‘The reward for someone that works well, is more work’. I take little time to care for myself and to replenish. When I rest, I feel guilty about it and compensate myself by doing even more work.
When I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis on my both hands (and particularly fingers), I knew that something was not right. You can read the details in another story that I’ve posted, and long story cut short, I’ve been doing work way beyond my capacity and that actions harmed the body as the result.
If you are someone that is REALLY enjoy do much and incredibly find satisfaction in it, go ahead. Otherwise, for the majority of human population, I believe, resting and recuperating is necessary. That is the natural flow of the world. Just like you can’t force flowers to keep on blooming non-stop 24/7.
I was contemplating a lot during my rehabilitation period. I knew that being faster and doing more didn’t really resonate with me and I definitely didn’t feel any satisfaction from it. The revelations didn’t come far behind. The root cause of all the challenges that I faced was because of a Wrong View or wrong mindset. You can call it perspective, or mindset, or belief system.
I genuinely thought that by doing more for others, I increase my personal value and people will start to value me more. I couldn’t even be more wrong than that. I mistook the external appreciation as an internal value of self. If people find me worthy, then naturally I am a worthy person. Mamma Mia!
By the time I have to go, there’s no lingering regrets and guilt, and I can confidently pat my back and say ‘‘I’ve done well. It is a life that worth living. It’s a great life.’’
Our mind was pure at beginning, just like a newborn baby. Then, we grew up and started to absorb everything around us like a sponge, not knowing whether it’s beneficial for our journey or not. And… before we knew it, we’ve become like ‘this’ and most of us didn’t know what happened to ourselves and how to ‘fix’ it.
And most of the time, it is a harder action. When the general public encourage us to do more and harder in terms of productivity, your wiser friend will tell you otherwise. They will encourage you to face your life directly.
What is your motivation by doing it? What is your intention by doing it? What is your aspiration by doing it?
The Right Motivation, Right Intention and Right Aspiration will help us towards the more positive life direction. It might be a less crowded life journey if you compare it to the ‘other lane’, but definitely worth your time in the world, during this life. And maybe… before you know it, you will be accompany by several travelers along the way while going through their life journey as well.
SO, rather than following blindly on what the trend says, I’d rather live my life using VALUE and MERIT as parameter.
I focus on the things that I’ve accumulated and dedicate for others. I make sure that I go to sleep with no regrets and open my eyes in the morning with gratitude for being still alive. I want to savour every moment I’m still living to truly live in it.
Third. The wiser friend will ask you to look into your life and DO what’s necessary.
With Love and Lights from Jakarta, Indonesia. 31 July 2025.
First. We are all WORTHY. To receive love, care, forgiveness and appreciation.
Second. People who are wiser than us can see the true value of us.
I have found that ONLY the wise who can truly see us for what we are. I mentioned ‘wise’ and please do not mistaken it as ‘old’ or ‘senior’. The one that could appreciate us and guiding us to the next right step and direction have gone through the journey themselves. That’s why the Know. They Understand.
On the contrary, the one who are vibrating in a lower frequency, will only keep on attracting the same non-beneficial friends to themselves. Which means, if you hate something about your life, maybe your job, etc, and you keep on whining about it, you’ll eventually be surrounded by people who have the same frequency with you.
Did this story resonate with you? I would love to hear your thoughts, your stories, or any questions it might have inspired. I would be delighted to hear your contemplations and honored to feature stories and responses in this space.