It’s cool to think that someone has supernatural strength beyond the realm of mere mortals. As much as I’d like, I can’t burn intensely forever. Sometimes I need to rest.

Since the beginning of this year, I’ve been learning how to punch without breaking my hand. My phone book that I taped to a tree got a little soggy in the rain lately, but it makes it easier to see my progress. As you can tell, I do more damage with my left hand than my right.

When I first started punching, it really hurt! Even though I didn’t hit very hard, I still ended up with bleeding left hand and a bruised right. Due to my injuries, I had to… Continue reading

I’ve been practicing parkour for the past week and I’m very excited. I feel a new sense of freedom because I now have a way to interact with my environment, rather than being defined by it.

Parkour is a physical discipline of moving through obstacles with efficiency. Imagine Jackie Chan running away from the bad guys. When I started telling my friends what I’ve been doing, I also found out that “hardcore parkour” was featured in The Office a few weeks ago. Parkour has received media attention from people jumping from roof to roof, but it has much more to offer to a person seeking self-actualization.

Freedom from Others

Sometimes I feel trapped by my urban surroundings. I am confined by buildings and follow predetermined paths. There are many people (civil engineers… Continue reading

It is nice to have a balanced life. Every once in a while you may need to temporarily break that balance to achieve difficult goals. Once you move past the challenge, you can become balanced again.

For the past two weeks I was going through the most intense study session of my life. Never before have I been more focused and never before have I been more unbalanced. I was preparing for my first actuarial exam, which has a 30% first time pass rate.

I was stressed to my limit. Last Thursday, I took my exam and was overjoyed when I was greeted by the computer screen saying “Congratulations! A preliminary analysis of your test results shows that you were successful in achieving the passing score.” I was relieved to find… Continue reading

I was re-reading through the Four Hour Workweek and I am starting to understand Tim Ferriss’ method of doing amazing things. To get to somewhere exceptional, you must be willing to go beyond where others fear to go.

Emboldened by Tim Ferriss’ philosophy of life, I called up Professor Mihály Csíkszentmihályi last week to get his advice on waiting for flow. I nervously called on Monday, but he was still on Summer vacation. Still nervous, I called again on Tuesday and he picked up. I chatted with him for about 10 minutes, where he gave me some advice and referred me to a PhD student of his.

Something that strikes me about how Tim Ferriss gets in contact with famous and busy people is that he always goes after… Continue reading

Although I tend to focus on goals and the future, I do take the time to enjoy the moment. I breathe in, focus on my sensations, and exhale. In the moment I feel happy.

There are a few simple things in my life when I cannot help but to feel really good. When they happen, I take a breath, focus on the good feelings, and feel at peace. It’s meditation on a micro-scale. Here are 7 ways I enjoy the moment:

1. Taking a shower after a long run: I ran track in high school and I am currently training for a 5k to help fight human trafficking (my girlfriend will be doing the swimming portion). It’s probably the rush of endorphins from the run, but I love taking a slightly