Mystery Gift Box #018 | 2022 in Review: The Discovery of the Inner and Outer World

Hey friends,

Last day of 2022.

This newsletter edition is me closing the year out by sharing parts of my 2022 annual review ❤️

Here’s one of my favourite songs to match with the theme of this newsletter 🎶

A Year of Inner and Outer Discovery

Honestly…

2022 was unlike other years.

It has been a rollercoaster of a year; a year of character building, love, darkness and doubts, reconnecting with inner self, leaving common ground and exploring unknowns, and meeting new friends (and many sparring partners).

The growth was less controlled and expected; some were conscious decision with unexpected outcomes and some were completely under the radar (you don’t know what you don’t know).

I am very grateful for all the experience and people that has been part of this transformative year.

2022 was a special year that I will remembered vividly ❤️‍🔥

🎭 My two biggest challenges this year

1. Macro balance vs micro passions (obsessions)

2. Inner doubts and instability

🎉 Here are some highlights of the year

🔬 PhD

1. My paper got accepted into the 2022 NEURIPS workshop; get to fly to New Orleans US to visit and attend the conference and present my paper

🧠 Personal Growth

1. Read 34 unique books this year plus 20 rereads

2. Explore inner self through 1-1 therapy, group therapy, and life coaching

3. Learned bachata dancing for 3 months;

4. Worked on my knowledge management system and it now contains 35 areas

5. Had a strong morning routine of journalling, reading, and training (BJJ and Workouts)

🎭 Relationships (Family, Friends, and Love)

1. The first half of 2022 was dates and a relationship; it didn’t work out in the end but I learned a lot from the experience… it was painful but transformative; thank you ❤️

2. Met new friends at university and BJJ

3. Tried my best to spend more time with people I care about and love

🥋 Health and Fitness

1. Quit the gym chapter after 7.5 years; still train in the gym 2 - 3 times a week but with a different agenda 💪🏼

2. Completed multiple V6s in bouldering and did lots of rope climbing

3. Started BJJ on 5th September 2022 and loved it; this is my current sport arena and I have a feeling this one is going to stick for many years 🥋

❤️‍🔥 Entrepreneurship

1. Completed the NEF+ programme

2. Worked on Synthesis for 9 months; still focusing on finalising the value proposition and build; learned a lot and collecting assets on the way;

⏳ Time Ownership

1. Had my first consulting client (one-off) to help them with applying NLP to their business

✋🏼 A Better Tomorrow? (What did you do to make the world a better place?)

1. University mentoring and teaching 📖

2. Writing and sharing ideas and resources on weekly newsletters ✍🏻

🧠 What have I learned this year?

The biggest lesson I learned this year is you come first (self-love).

The biggest surprise of the year would be familiar negative experiences; define as experiences that are objectively bad but feels familiar / comfortable… learn more from the video below about psychotherapy.

The biggest thing I completed this year would be exploring my inner world through therapy, group therapy, and life coaching. It’s something new to me but it has been fun and I have learned a lot more about myself. This is a forever learning journey and it’s now part of my life moving forward.

What are you most grateful for?

1. My growth mindset — your perspective determines how you view things in life and I am grateful that during setbacks and low times, I was able to quickly see things from a positive angle. I am lucky in this sense.

2. The people around me — thank you to those who have been a part of my life and have helped me when I needed it the most. You know who you are.

3. The health of my family — I am grateful that my parents and brother are safe and healthy. I love them ❤️

Other lessons

1. Devil Hand with a Buddha Heart

2. Enjoy the relationship rather than overthinking about the relationship

3. Skill deteriorates slower than muscle - prioritise skill to get better at the skill, then focus on rebuilding strength

10 activities that gives me energy

1. Learning

2. Quick family time

3. Writing and sharing

4. Acquiring new skills

5. A good morning routine

6. Exploring new things and experiences

7. Hanging out with friends (1-1)

8. Expanding my knowledge management system

9. Character building and levelling up execution prowess

10. Thinking deeply about life (inner work and exploration)

3 activities that drain my energy

1. Dating and relationship drama

2. Admin work

3. PhD work that’s too difficult to begin or unclear where to begin

📚 My most and least highlighted books

The Daily Laws: 366 Meditations on Power, Seduction, Mastery, Strategy and Human Nature by Robert Greene - 1839 highlights

How to Be Comfortable With Being Uncomfortable by Ben Aldrridge - 64 highlights

How to Raise a Genius: Laszlo Polgar

📹 Actionable psychotherapy video

Have interesting gems you want to share with me and others? Share it by replying to this email and I will include it in the next gift box :)

With love,

Ryan O. 🎮

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