I’ve heard that journaling is rocket fuel for self-improvement, which is why I tried to start the habit while I was unemployed during the pandemic. One night, I brought out a small notebook and jotted down my thoughts. I will never forget what happened the next morning: I woke up in an extraordinarily good mood!

It was easy for me to journal religiously — until I started my new job. My days quickly filled up with work, chores, exercise, and writing. With less time and energy, it became difficult for me to take the time to sit and reflect. …

It turns out that the phrase “been there, done that” hardly applies to writers. We suffer through all these creative blocks, and yet, having “been there” doesn’t mean we’re fully relieved of them.

But — sigh — it’s the life we chose.

Maybe the point of the creative life isn’t to rid ourselves of the struggles, but to simply equip ourselves to better handle them.

And maybe that starts with a phrase — a tiny but powerful string of words you can pull out of your mental pocket anytime you need it.

These three-word mantras have helped me rise above…

SMART YOUNG PROFESSIONAL

I used to think that confidence was the most impressive trait a person can have in the workplace. As it turns out, the corporate world isn’t short of confident people. But do you know what’s a truly rare asset? What really makes a person stand out?

Clarity.

I realized that strong, clear thinkers are the ones who shine in a room full of people. They’re not necessarily the smartest. They aren’t always right. But people are drawn to them because their thought processes and approaches make everybody’s lives easier. They can distill the most important parts of a situation. …

From day one (ish, but more on that later), I’ve tried really hard to get every story curated and get into top publications. And I’m proud that I’ve achieved those two things early in my Medium journey.

But something’s been nagging at me lately. Or perhaps it’s been at the back of my mind for longer than I’d like to admit. It’s always easier to suppress things when you’re doing well.

Curation and high-profile publications count for a lot to succeed on this platform. …

The plan was to start writing at 9 am. As I write this second sentence, it’s nearing lunchtime. I can hear the ghost of my workaholic past grumbling, “Where the hell did my time go?!”

The answer:

I love reading. And I wish I could say I always have. But I wasn’t this natural book lover who grew up itching for another read after I’ve turned the last page of a book. As I got older, I looked at all the smart and impressive people around me and saw a pattern: They were voracious readers.

Truth be told, that was probably my strongest trigger to read more. I wanted to be that well-read, cultured intellectual — or at least feel or seem like it.

In our personal and professional lives, there’s a certain version of ourselves that…

FITSPIRATION

Most people look forward to shopping. We love new collection drops and end-of-season sales. The thrill of store-hopping and bargain-hunting. But for Redg De Vera, it was often a nightmarish experience. The worst part?

Fitting rooms. It was an unforgiving place — with its fully mirrored walls showing his body from every angle. He confessed, “I’ve cried so many times in fitting rooms.”

Redg has been battling obesity for the longest time. When he quit his job in retail marketing in September, he weighed 220 lbs — the heaviest his 5 feet and 3 inches tall body had been. …

A film led by a Black figure and a predominantly Black cast wouldn’t do well, the critics said. Hollywood had never seen such a story succeed on the international stage — which is probably why Black Panther was a long-rumored movie before its official announcement.

When former Disney CEO Bob Iger finally gave the green light for production, he was fully aware that the stakes were high, from both a business and cultural stance.

Marvel had never done anything like this before. And neither had the African-American director Ryan Coogler. He didn’t have any blockbusters to his name and he’d…