Today, on November 25ᵗʰ, 2024, My Zen Path celebrates nine wonderful years. It’s been an incredible journey of self-exploration, reflection, sharing, and growth. This year, however, I haven’t been able to write as regularly as I’d like. Life looks a little different now — I’m balancing my consulting work with building my own product, Career Craft AI.
If you’re curious, Career Craft AI is a platform offering AI tools for writing tailored cover letters, providing personalized resume feedback, and enhancing professional presence. Building it has been both challenging and fulfilling, but it’s also left me with less time and headspace for the blog — especially since I’m trying to navigate the unfamiliar waters of marketing and sales (yes, I’m working on the whole ‘growth mindset’ thing ).
Another reason for fewer posts is that many recent TED Talks don’t quite align with My Zen Path’s core themes, and I’ve already explored the most compelling older ones here. I’ve also been craving more depth and originality — sharing exclusive insights or personal stories that truly inspire. That’s still my goal, though finding the bandwidth has been tricky.
That said, some exciting updates from this past year:
- Recognition for our piece on Ikigai: The blog’s Ikigai article, which connects the Japanese concept of purpose to the psychology of flow, is referenced by Positive Psychology. It’s one of the most-read pieces on My Zen Path, and seeing it acknowledged by a popular psychology website was such a proud moment.
- Academic shout-out for hard choices: MMichael Crumpton from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro cited our article Choices, not abilities… in his research paper. It’s fascinating to see ideas from the blog find relevance in academic discussions — a reassuring reminder that these posts do matter.
- My Zen Path Podcast: I’ve been experimenting with podcast formats and recently created one for the article Why Fit In When You Can Shine! using Google Notebook. You can listen to it here. I’m also planning a podcast that reflects on the entire journey of My Zen Path — soon!
Looking back, when I started this blog in 2015, it was born out of a desire to align my doing with my being — to shape my work around my passions and the life I wanted to live. Over the years, that alignment has been a work in progress, with varying degrees of success. I’ve shared those experiences here along the way, and I’ll continue to do so.
Now, as My Zen Path steps into its 10ᵗʰ year, I can’t help but wonder: is it time for a transformation? They talk about the “seven-year itch,” but perhaps for me, it’s a nine-year nudge — a gentle push toward something new. I don’t have all the answers yet, but I’m curious and excited to see where this path leads.
Tell me, what would you like to see more of on My Zen Path? Personal stories? Unique insights? A fresh take on old themes? I’d love to hear your thoughts…
