Life becomes more complex and despite what Problem Solving 101 Book or management consultants tell you, problems can’t always be cut into chunks or “workstreams” LOL. Facing this complexity, we can no longer turn into evidence and best practices. Activate: judgment. Activate: intuition. — There was a time in my life when I had no understanding of my values yet. My mind was always scattered and I attached myself to inessential goals. I hurt people, projected my pain onto them, and kept pushing away my relational needs.

Everybody must have heard that popular saying “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” — The saying always sounds a little bit off. What are we supposed to do then, always trying to find a room where we’re the dumbest? It is in humans’ nature to want to feel essential, useful. We want to be smart not for the sake of being smart, but so…

Damn it, I’m graduating. I am so ready to leave graduate school with its 3-hour-long classes and papers-I-put-efforts-into that never got meaningful feedback (except for a couple of professors that take their teachings seriously). I am not ready, though, to face the reality of who I really am. In school…

I never thought I would have enlightenment in an emo concert when my body was constantly pushed to the back of the crowd by people moshing, my face wet because someone in front of me accidentally spilled her drinks when putting her hands up, my voice hoarse from singing loudly. — But it did happen in December 2021. I was watching Taking Back Sunday, my favorite band in middle school, for the first time, alone in New Jersey. Of course, I expected it to be one hell of an experience. After all, I had been waiting for a chance to…

Indonesian parents hate struggling artists. They can’t stand the thought of their kids having unstable jobs, spending all day just making arts and being labeled as the quirky one in society. They hate it when their neighbors or relatives ask about what their children are up to and they can’t give the ideal answers. — But people, all over the world, love the story of struggling artists, especially when they’re successful. It’s romantic for them — the idea that someone patiently sticks to his/her passion for so long and then has an overnight success. The common people wish that they have just a small dose…

When I was younger, more emotional, and easily blinded by everything I read in the media, I always believe that the world is inherently flawed and screwed, and if we want it to change we have to start a big revolution to dismantle the whole system. — …which is still partially true, but as I grow older I realize now that 1) the world is a much better place now than centuries ago (which means it truly CAN be a better place), and 2) dismantling whatever system with big revolution is most of the time unrealistic, unsustainable…

It’s a little too late for a birthday Medium post, but since I’ve been writing one every year, I figure I should not break the chain. I turned 28 years old a week ago. This year’s birthday is different for one obvious reason: I am living my dream. Last year…

Michelle Obama once said that one of the reasons she doesn’t want to run for office is that she is tired of the somewhat nasty polarization of left vs right, Republican vs Democrat. The American two-party system is something I could never understand until now, but the influence of this…

Having a prestigious degree or job has very little impact on confidence and self-worth. You would still be the same person inside. How you think of yourself matters the most, no degree or credential could change that. Proof: ever see someone that is so attractive but is constantly insecure? My…