#guide for life journey

[deep-definition]

What Gives You Direction in Life? | Find Your Life Purpose

Discover what truly gives you direction in life—from purpose and passion to values and relationships. Explore how to find clarity, meaning, and motivation every day. Photo by Marlon Trottmann on Pexels.com What Gives You Direction in Life? Life can often feel like a vast ocean—beautiful, unpredictable, and sometimes overwhelming. In such a wide and uncertain world, it’s natural to wonder: What…

[tahbhie]

Creating Emotionally Devastating Scenes.

Crafting a scene that earns the total sympathy of your readers can be challenging, but it's not impossible. Most emotionally devastating scenes fail at two things, but when these are done right, the results can be powerful.

⚪ The Important Concepts for Writing an Emotionally Devastating Scene

1. The Build-Up,

2. Breaking the Dam.

Before I explain these concepts, let me share a case study.

⚫ Case Study

I wrote a story about a young orphan named Jackie and her younger brother. Their village was burned down, leaving them as the only survivors.

For the next few chapters, readers followed their painful journey and their struggle to survive. The younger brother had a heart problem, and Jackie vowed to become a cardiologist to save him.

She was very ambitious about it, but at the time, it was very ironic. Later in the story, when they encountered a tragic living condition with a family, the brother died while telling his sister how much he missed their parents.

When her brother was fighting for his life, she was sent out of the room, only to be let in again to see his cold, lifeless body.

⚪ Explanation of Concepts

1. The Build-Up

The build-up is extremely important when you aim to convey strong emotions. Here's a secret: if you plan for a scene with strong emotions, start leaving breadcrumbs from the very beginning of the story.

Take the previous case study. I carefully built up their journey so people could easily relate and feel the pain of the older sister during her brother's sudden death.

You need to give the situation enough reason to feel utterly hopeless and devastating. Gradually cultivate the tension until it's ready to let loose.

⚫ Understanding the Use of Breadcrumbs.

Breadcrumbs in stories ensure you utilize the time you have to build up certain emotions around your characters.

At the beginning of my story, Jackie’s fate was already pitiable, but she survived every hurdle. This gave the readers enough to feel for her while still leaning away from the outcome. When I built enough, I introduced her brother's sudden death.

Hence, leave your breadcrumbs while leaning away from the outcome.

⚪ How to Properly Leave Breadcrumbs

When building up your story, consider these elements:

☞⁠ Character Relatability: The characters need to be realistic to draw readers into the story. This helps readers invest themselves in your story.

☞⁠ Realistic Emotional Pain: Just as characters need to be relatable, their emotions need to be realistic and not appear forced.

☞⁠ Create a Strong Emotional Attachment: Give them something they care about or that has the power to ruin their lives in any way. It could be something that makes them happy or something their happiness relies on. When it's time, snatch it away without remorse.

☞⁠ Have a Backstage Struggle: This struggle keeps readers occupied, so they won't see the outcome coming. For example, Jackie’s constant struggle to find food and shelter keeps readers engaged while the impending tragedy looms in the background.

☞⁠ Attach Believable Elements: For a realistic character, emotion, and struggle, attach believable elements. It could be death, ailments, sickness, disorder, disappointment, failure, etc.

Now that we've covered the build-up, let's move on to the next crucial part.

2. Breaking the Dam

This is when you make your readers feel the strong emotions alongside your characters. All the tension you’ve been building up is released, making all emotions come into play.

☞⁠ Break Your Strong Attachment: Cut off your strong attachment from your character when they least expect it or at a point when they couldn't use more struggles (i.e when they are helpless).

This will not only evoke readers’ emotions but also pique their curiosity as they wonder how the character will survive the situation.

☞⁠ Description of Sensory Details to Invoke Emotions: The advice of "show, don't tell" will be really helpful here. It's crucial to ensure that the final execution matches the build-up.

A well-crafted build-up can fall flat if the emotional release isn't handled effectively. To avoid this, blend the climax seamlessly into the narrative, making it feel natural and impactful.

Reblog to save for reference! 💜

[n1pp]

Henry Miller // "To make living itself an art, that is the goal."

[prettieinpink]

MAKING YOUR PHONE TO BE INTENTIONAL

MAKE A VISION BOARD WALLPAPER. Create one that aligns with your goals and dream self, so that every time you pick your phone up, you’re reminded of your goals and future vision. Also, great for manifesting! 

KNOW YOUR APP’S PURPOSE. For me, tumblr is a way I share advice and learn, YouTube I also learn from others, pinterest I get inspired, netflix is a way for me to unwind etc. If for any app, you cannot name a proper purpose/intent to use it daily or to help with your goals, delete it. 

DECIDE WHICH TYPES OF APPS YOU WANT. If you have a new phone, or you want to completely reset your phone, write or type, the apps, that you want and those you don’t. 

E.g I want to learn a language, practice mindfulness on the go, get some mental gratification that isn’t addicting, organise my life better and have a way to track my progress. I don’t want apps that support doom-scrolling, make me compare myself and are addictive. 

BE MINDFUL OF WHAT YOU SIGN UP TO. Newsletters, social media, subscribing to YouTubers and so on, just think about your goals and vision and if they align with them, every time you think about signing up/subscribing. 

HAVE NO PHONE TIME/ZONES. For me, my phone is not allowed to be used in bed. If I must use my phone, I have to get out of bed first. My phone is also not allowed during study time, so I put it in a separate room which makes it inconvenient. 

REGULARLY DO A DIGITAL DECLUTTER. Delete any old contacts that you don’t talk to, unsubscribe from newsletters and YouTube channels, organise your socials etc. Removes space and helps us to see our phones with more clarity. 

SET PURPOSEFUL WIDGETS. These can be anything, motivational quotes, your daily to-do list, reminders of your habits and so on. However, make sure you’re looking at them and they're not just taking up space. 

[a-path-by-the-moon]

[rheas-chaos-anthology]

How to feel alive/stop being bored out of your mind, a guide for losers

jump on your bed, write something teeny tiny on the walls, break a small rule

get a dollar worth of pennies and write lucky on them and drop one or two at places you go

bury something small that you like in a place you feel safe

make a small bracelet/anklet, even if its just a piece of sting and never take it off

take a really really cold shower

go star gazing/look at the moon

write a letter to your past/future self

write bad poetry/nice messages and tuck it into books at the library

sit and listen to a song that was your favorite four or five years ago, don't do anything else but sit and listen to it

make a trash journal. Get a cheap notebook and write down EVERYTHING in there, carry it around with you. It will help you figure out who you are/remind you that you are a person.

when was the last time you felt alive? Like really alive? If you remember, write it down in as much detail as you can. If you don't know, write down a time you were happy or very angry. Honestly, any strong emotion will work.

create a bad drawing, like kindergartener level. If you want, fold it up and stick it onto your fridge.

block that person

tell someone how much you appreciate them

put old things you don't need anymore in a box, write take care of it on top, and leave it somewhere

write positive graffiti in public restroom stalls

bake bread

[the-returnofartemis]

SHE'S ENTERING HER: SOFT LIFE ERA

affirmation: waiting for a sign is no longer my strategy; i am my own sign to begin | musical spotlight: zen by jennie

"nobody gonna move my life, gonna touch my goal, my matter"

you are someone worthy of knowing, accepting, and loving yourself on all levels – mind, body and spirit. as a woman, and more importantly, a human being, you deserve a life that celebrates your growth, autonomy and your journey toward peace, love, joy, passion and fun. you can create your dream life if you believe in yourself and show up every day to take small, meaningful steps. whether it's pursuing a goal, nurturing your relationships, or simply practicing gratitude, every effort counts. don't let fear or limiting beliefs hold you back.

this is a reminder that you are capable of so much more than you might believe. below is a series of questions that you can use as a journal prompt to reflect on your potential. revisit your answers as often as needed to remind yourself of your power to create a life you love and become the best version of yourself.

define your vision ⇢ set smart goals ⇢ take consistent action ⇢ trust yourself

ꕥ what does she like?

ꕥ what does she not like?

ꕥ how does she dress?

ꕥ what does her daily routine entail? (activities, schedule)

ꕥ what does she look like?

ꕥ what are her boundaries?

ꕥ what is her career or profession? (career, job responsibilities)

ꕥ what are her hobbies and interests?

ꕥ what is her ideal lifestyle?

ꕥ how does she handle stress and challenges? (problem-solving approach, coping mechanisms)

ꕥ how does she financially take care of herself?

ꕥ what does she spend her free time doing?

ꕥ how does she navigate conflicts or disagreements? (communication style, conflict resolution)

"nobody gonna touch my soul, gonna match my glow, like i dare you"

ꕥ what does she consume on social media?

ꕥ what are her long-term goals and aspirations? (career ambitions, personal achievements)

ꕥ whom does she inspire to be like?

ꕥ what successes/accomplishments does she have?

ꕥ what are her wellness habits? (health and self-care routines)

ꕥ how is her mental health doing?

ꕥ how does she preferred to be treated by others? (standard expectations from relationships)

ꕥ what music does she listen to?

ꕥ how does she pick herself up when she's down?

ꕥ how do people treat her? (interpersonal relationships, kindness)

ꕥ what are her weekly routines?

ꕥ what values and principles guide her decision-making? (personal ethics)

ꕥ what is love to her? (interpersonal and romantic relationships)

if you’ve made it this far, i hope you enjoyed this little corner of my world. thank you for reading and please feel free to share your thoughts! always remember to love yourself as if it’s your greatest romance.

the pictures featured in this post are from pinterest.

until next time,

artemis x

[qsplaylist]

how to handle failure ˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

because, with every success, there are 100 failures that came before it

allow yourself to process. it's useless to rush to "fix it." it's also of no use to beat yourself down for what happened. just let yourself sit with the disappointment or the many emotions for a moment. journal about it or something to help you process. it's completely normal to feel disappointed and upset.

detach your worth from the outcome. I often find myself going into that toxic loophole time after time again after I fail: blaming myself for everything, thinking that it's the end of the world, already planning on how to scrap my entire current identity, change my name, and move to Chad. but, failure is something that happens, not who you are. just because you failed at this thing does not mean that you are not smart, capable, or talented.

growth. mindset. I know it's cliché, but there's a good reason why it is repeated so much.

rebuild confidence with small wins. after failure, it's easy to doubt yourself. just like how, after success, it is easy to want to try again or pursue something more difficult. start with something small to regain your confidence in yourself. set mini goals that you can actually achieve. in my case, for example, i could write a tumblr post about failure (now you know what prompted this post...). once you achieve it, in my case sending out the post, you feel much better about yourself because you succeeded at one task!

now, you can finally problem solve. what could you have changed that was in your control? you can't control other's opinions on your performance (like judges' comments, placings, or outcomes), the weather, or anything else that has to do with other people or nature.

what you can control is how prepared you are for each circumstance (including performance-wise and for things like the weather), your own time management, etc. maybe there needed to be a change in approach. either way, focus on what you can do, not how you think things should have gone, or anything that you have zero control over. (calling myself out...)

keep moving. progress isn't linear. setbacks happen. even if it feels like the end of the world right now, it's really not. you are not behind, you are not defined by one moment. keep going, and soon the failure will seem small and insignificant.

failure doesn't mean that your dream is over. it just means that the path is different. you've got this. keep going!

sincerely, q's playlist

[toyastales]

Guiding Others

To truly understand and help others navigate their shadows, you must first confront and acknowledge your own. It's only by facing your own darkness that you gain the wisdom and compassion to guide others through theirs. https://whatyoulookingatnow.blogspot.com/2025/02/guiding-others.html

[bloomwithzoya]

☽ My 2025 Chapter Is Called: “I’m getting everything I worked for.” ☾

♡ A New Car

♡ Increased Income

♡ My Dream Body

♡ My Own Place

♡ A New Job

☀︎ Keep holding the vision. Keep nurturing the dream. This isn’t a maybe, it’s a manifestation ☀︎

♡ It’s okay to bloom slowly ♡

[tahbhie]

Let's talk about boring narratives, shall we?

It's possible for people to find your story boring. Before you get mad at them for abandoning your story, you might want to check out why they suddenly lost interest. 

Overdoing a theme or plot:

When readers start to say, 'We get it already,' it's time to ditch that theme and introduce something fresh. While it's important to have a strong theme, overemphasizing it can make your story feel heavy-handed and monotonous. Hence, your story gets boring. 

Being too predictable:

Add unexpected twists and turns to keep your readers engaged and on their toes. Make them think one thing and surprise them with something entirely different. 

Leaving everything to your readers' imagination:

Do you know why 'Show, don't tell' is such a popular and almost cliché writing advice? Readers get tired of shallow descriptions, that's why. When they have to keep guessing essential elements like how your setting looks like all through five chapters, they decline from the story in general and eventually stop reading. This opens door for confusion. Readers appreciate vivid descriptions and clear storytelling. Don't make them do all the work.

Sour twist:

A twist that feels forced or out of place will leave a bad taste. Ensure your twists are essential to the main plot, well-integrated, and believable.

Repetitive theme or twist:

We know 99% of themes or twists have been done a million times. It's up to you to find a unique angle to make it fresh and interesting.

Boring main characters:

Your readers invest in your characters, so make sure they are dynamic and compelling. Having an intriguing character can get people to the end of your story. 

Unnecessary scenes:

Avoid filler content. If it's not necessary, don't add it. Every scene should serve a purpose and drive the story forward.

Reblog to save for later 😉!

[hballegro]

the ideal way to watch quantum leap is actually via following me and watching clips i post with no context or clarifying details whatsoever, up to and including the actual plot of the show

[prettieinpink]

ESTABLISHING YOUR ROUTINE

A routine is essential for us to become the best versions of ourselves, but for us to fully commit to a routine, it has to be aligned with our needs and values.

hehe trying out a different aesthetic 😚😚

FIGURE OUT WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE DAILY. This isn’t what your to-do list currently looks like, but rather how you want your to-list to look like. If you can’t think of anything right now, carry a small notebook or open your notes app during the day to take notes of anything you may want to add to your routine.

BREAK THOSE TASKS INTO SMALLER ONES. This helps us to see more clearly in our routine and helps to make our tasks or goals easier to achieve. E.g. Avoid saying ‘study time’ but say flashcards and re-reading notes.

SET GOALS. This can be daily, weekly, monthly and so on. Just have those little habits in your routines that help you advance to reach your goals. This also helps with our motivation throughout the day.

STRUCTURE YOUR DAY EFFICENTLY. If you have a day where there are no urgent or important tasks to be done, use it to take notes on how you feel throughout. Document the times when you feel the most productive, energised, social and tired. Using this information, divide your tasks into the times that suit each other.

ALLOW FOR FREE TIME BLOCKS IN YOUR DAY. One, for just allowing some time for your brain and body to just chill. Two, just so if anything comes up, you have a free window of time to do it.

TEST YOUR ROUTINE AND MAKE ADJUSTMENTS. Throughout the day, ask yourself; ‘how does my routine make me feel?’ and ‘What tasks do I dread, and what do I look the most forward to?’ If need to be, make any changes.

BE CONSISTENT. This is the only way for a routine to be solid in your life, to do them at the same time every day. This tip sounds mundane, but you can always change it up a little. E.g. Listen to different podcasts or audiobooks every time you go out for your walks.

PREPARE FOR YOUR ROUTINE. Allow your environment to encourage anything you want to add to your routine, for example, if you want to do yoga in the morning, leave your yoga mat in front of your bed where you can see it.

INCLUDE BREAKS, FOOD AND EXERCISE. Resting, eating well and moderate exercise help us to be more productive in the day, and to complete our tasks to higher standards.

KEEP TRACK OF YOUR PROGRESS. See which habits you’re more inclined to do, and which ones you usually avoid. Sometimes, some habits just aren’t meant for us, and that’s okay.

FORGIVE YOURSELF FOR NOT COMMITTING. It’s okay, you’re going to have days when your routine is the least ideal. Don’t beat yourself up for it, instead try to at least accomplish one task that’s a part of your routine.

MAKE IT ENJOYABLE. Your routine isn’t something to punish you, but rather something that helps you to keep an orderly life. It should be something that you’re at least willing to do.

Some ways to make it fun: Listen to music while you do tasks, romanticise your routine as much as possible, include rewards for anything productive and try to involve your loved ones.

[angel-dustspo]

𝚂𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚘𝚕 𝚜𝚎𝚊𝚜𝚘𝚗 𝚒𝚜 𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚛𝚘𝚊𝚌𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐

[thescenicdetourtome]

Flowing Thoughts, Clear Vision

I tried six new meditations today. They were beautiful—each one rich with intention. But my mind was moving. Not in a frantic way, just flowing. Thoughts drifted in and out like waves on a lake. I didn’t try to stop them. I just watched them go by.

In one of the meditations, I saw a lake—still and vast. I’ve been seeing water a lot lately. In visions. In dreams. Always calm. Always carrying meaning.

And then I saw my kid—clearly, in my mind’s eye.

It wasn’t fleeting. It was vivid. Grounding. Like they were right there with me, even though they weren’t physically present. It hit me in that quiet, unmistakable way where you know it matters.

Despite all the mental movement, the rest of the day was calm. Like the water inside me had settled, even if the thoughts hadn’t. Like something deeper got what it needed.

I’m learning that peace isn’t about forcing stillness.

Sometimes it’s about trusting the flow.

Sometimes clarity comes in the middle of the ripple.

And sometimes a vision of someone you love meets you at the lake—and that’s all the confirmation you need.

[unconditionallove3]

Sometimes in life, there’s a feeling that something is incomplete within — a quiet ache, a sense of longing, like a missing piece of the emotional puzzle. We look outward for answers, for someone or something to fill the space. We search for connection in relationships, achievements, or experiences, hoping they’ll bring us home to ourselves. But the truth is, the connection you’re searching for has always lived within you.

It’s not out there — it’s in here.

In the stillness between breaths.

In the way your body whispers truths your mind forgets.

In the quiet knowing of your heart, waiting patiently to be heard.

When we turn inward with presence and compassion, we begin to remember:

We were never missing — only momentarily disconnected from ourselves.