Growth

Inspired by Carl Jung’s work that helped define the human ethos through his ‘Map of the Soul’, I present 10 perennial lessons that delve into my own learnings from a decade. No matter how old you are or where you’re at, these lessons will help you navigate your own map of the soul to live a happier and more fulfilling life.

Too often we’re bombarded with glamorised one-hit wonders and ‘overnight’ successes — the uber-intelligent college dropout who founded a unicorn startup, the before and after photos of an influencer’s toned physique, or the prince charming who sweeps the unexpecting lead off her feet.

As a recent owner of Sapiens and Homo Deus, I was excited to see Yuval Noah Harari’s latest book — 21 Lessons for the 21st Century recently at the airport.

How many times have things not gone your way in life?

Crying uncontrollably on a friend’s lounge room floor was the recent call-to-action I needed. Heartbreak and rejection had eaten away at my confidence and while feeling like a former shell of myself, I barely recognised who I was.

It was April 2016. I was 25, and enthusiastic about life.

While defiance may not cause extreme suffering today, why do we often want what we can’t have? Why is rebelling so appealing? What can we do to overcome this?

Reinvention is a journey that requires nurturing, much like how our bodies develop strength and muscle memory though repetitive physical activity.

“We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we default to the level of our training.” — Archilochus

“You are who you are and where you’re at because of what has gone into your mind.” — Zig Ziglar