What follows is a summary of my journal from 2021, which I wrote on New Year's Day. One month into the new year, I copy it here to remember:
As a new tradition, I started off yesterday, a review of the previous year. I would like to start this year with a review of the habits I would like to see in myself. Some half-established and some half-forgotten. In an order chosen by "God" from my own writings and from my mind.
Seek, not find. Be hungry at all moments for an improvement of your thinking. Do not tie your identity to the expression of a meaning. Be quick to new horizons, and do not let lost beliefs find refuge in the scaffolding of your mind.
Remember the best moments. Record your proudest moments and happiest thoughts so that they will be at hand to give you strength and inspiration at every trial. You can balance this with acceptance of the worst moments. Even in those, cherish everything you wish to preserve.
Choose your own narrative. Do not let a false belief about yourself stop you from doing something great. If you or someone else labels you as X, consider that you may become not X. If someone says you are annoying, consider acting differently. If you are bad at remembering the names of characters in a book, consider making an effort to remember them. Oftentimes, the narrative you construct, "I can't do something," is made true by sticking to it. This is as true in yourself as it is between people.
Carpe momentum. To do anything, you must do it "now." Today was tomorrow. Use the time you won't miss to do the things you're missing time to do. Do not forget the power of now. You can do anything, then do it now. There is no better place than here, no better time than now, because this is the only spacetime you can ever do anything in. Do not accept the habit of "next time" or "tomorrow." Do something great right now.
When talking or texting someone, don't say the first thing that comes to mind. Consider the space of possible responses and cast away those which are not the best, most useful, most uplifting, even if they are clever.
Value the wisdom of the old. The status quo, whether in the advice of your parents or in our institutions, is there for a reason. Try to understand it and learn from what you can. Oftentimes, there are hidden secondary effects. Do not think it will be easy to tear down and build anew a complex (esp. nonlinear) system. You must actually understand it even if you wish to change it.
Be slow. Do it right or do it twice. Achieve monotonicity. Demand quality. Do not make mistakes you know how to avoid. Slow and steady wins the race. Exponentials are magic.
Do not clean up only to have to make a mess again in order to complete a task. Embed yourself in the inevitable chaos of the world. Use the random motions of your desires to your advantage. Be an opportunist, not a failed puppeteer.