Showing Up in the Rain: Discipline, Pride, and Gratitude

Swimming

The Night I Showed Up Anyway It was 9 p.m., the end of a long day, and I couldn’t stop smiling. My body was tired from training, my hair still carried the scent of chlorine, and yet my heart was full. Why? Because I showed up. That morning started with cycling. By evening, after work, […]

The Obstacle Is the Way: A Book Review on Turning Trials into Triumph

Beautiful morning

A Rainy Run and a Reminder I still remember the morning I first picked up The Obstacle Is the Way. It was during a season when training felt heavier than usual. I had an upcoming race, but my body was tired, my mind distracted, and even simple runs felt like dragging a boulder uphill. One […]

Man’s Search for Meaning: What I Learned About Resilience from Viktor Frankl

Sunset

The First Time I Picked Up Frankl’s Book I still remember the moment I first opened Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning. I was curled up in the corner of a library, one of those quiet afternoons when you’re just looking for something to inspire you. Honestly, I thought it was going to be just […]

Your Environment Shapes You: Choosing Friends Who Inspire Growth

Sunset

A Coffee Shop Realization As I was sitting in a small coffee shop near campus during my university days, I was sipping on a latte after hours of Finance coursework and Fine Arts projects. My eyes were heavy from the late nights, my brain tired from endless group projects, but something else felt even heavier. […]

How to Set Goals That Actually Motivate You

Set goals

A Little Story to Start With One January evening in my first year of university, I sat at my dorm desk staring at a brand-new planner. The kind with crisp white pages that smelled like possibility. I told myself: “This year, I’m going to change my life.” Within an hour, I had filled the notebook […]

5 Habits That Changed My Life Before 20

Habits

The Morning I Realized Habits Were Everything I still remember a morning back in high school when I was cramming for an exam. I had a half-eaten bánh mì on my desk, an iced coffee sweating all over my notes, and my brain running in circles. It hit me: I can’t keep living like this. […]

5 Mindset Shifts That Changed My Life Forever

Keep going

Why Mindset Is Everything There’s a version of me from 10 years ago who would be stunned by where I am now. Giving TEDx talks.Training for Ironman.Mentoring students and coaching young professionals. Back then, I had dreams — but I also had fear. I doubted myself. I waited for permission. What changed? My mindset. These […]

Quieting the Inner Critic: A Step-by-Step Guide to Reclaiming Your Confidence

Journaling

That Voice Inside Your Head You know that voice. The one that whispers: “You’re not good enough.”“You’re going to mess this up.”“Who do you think you are?” That voice is known as the inner critic—and left unchecked, it can sabotage your confidence, creativity, and even your relationships. It shows up when you’re about to try […]

How to Build Unshakable Self-Belief (Even When No One Believes in You)

Sunset

Why Self-Belief Matters More Than You Think Have you ever looked in the mirror and thought: “I’m just not good enough”?Maybe someone doubted you. Or maybe worse — you doubted yourself. If that sounds familiar, I want you to know something:You’re not alone — and you’re not stuck. Self-belief isn’t something you’re born with. It’s […]

Why Struggle Is Part of the Story, Not the End of It

Running

There’s a moment during every long bike ride, every solo run, every cold night away from home when the thought creeps in:“This is too hard. Maybe I should stop.” And for a long time, I used to think that struggle meant I was failing. That if something wasn’t flowing easily, maybe it just wasn’t meant […]