start having fun and experiment with your self-concept

Key wellness strategies & self-care / productivity ideas

• Experiment with your self-concept (especially self-esteem)

  • Treat “who I am” as something you can test and revise.
  • Don’t reject activities early with “that’s not me.” Try first, evaluate later.

• Challenge limiting identity stories through action

  • Notice old narratives like “I’m not athletic / I’m only artistic.”
  • Replace them by doing the thing (even if you feel awkward at first).

• Use your body as a feedback system (mental + physical self-care)

  • Yoga/Pilates approach (gradual strength-building)
    • Start at a baseline you can manage (even if it’s “barely not fainting”).
    • After you feel slightly stronger, move to more challenging classes.
    • Listen to your body; rest when needed (e.g., “child’s pose”).
    • Define “victory goals” as small wins (e.g., “didn’t faint next week”).
  • Weight training motivation layer
    • View strength as long-term health support.
    • It’s also described as helpful for recovery/coping in contexts like cancer and chemotherapy.

• Take “health wake-up calls” seriously

  • A major hospitalization experience became the turning point to prioritize bodily care.

• Increase joy + novelty to support mental well-being

  • Try new experiences (e.g., surfing for the first time) and let enjoyment update your self-image.
  • Depression is framed as “closed off curiosity,” with a recommendation to maintain play and openness.

• Reframe shame and external criticism

  • Shame is portrayed as fictional/projection—a story about what others think.
  • People who criticize often reflect their own internal negativity; don’t let it define your growth.
  • Progress becomes self-competition: “a little better than last time” (especially in the gym).

• Make life a “game” you choose

  • Shift from performing roles to pursuing what excites you.
  • The method: curiosity → trying → learning → adjusting.

• Role/character play as self-expression (physical avatar)

  • Dress, hair, makeup, tattoos, and aesthetics can help you “enter” the version of yourself you want to embody.
  • Use mood boards/visualization boards to align inner identity with outward expression.
  • This can also reduce decision fatigue (e.g., a consistent uniform), so attention can go to what matters (like kindness/care).

• Apply inquisitive self-observation (mindful preferences)

  • Ask questions like:
    • What feelings do certain clothes styles evoke (loose vs tight; dress vs pants)?
    • Which silhouettes feel more “like me”?
    • Do you feel comfortable being judged/performing, or genuinely authentic?
  • Collect “notes” about preferences to understand yourself better over time.

• Broaden sensory experience

  • Trying new foods/aromas is framed as:
    • intellectual stimulation,
    • expanding worldview and self-image,
    • building clearer self-knowledge about likes/dislikes.

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Presenters / sources mentioned

• Anna Howard
  • Podcast: “Wild Geese”
  • Episode: “Notes on Returning to Yourself”
• Sapiens (referenced as a book)
• BB (Korean singer/rapper “BB” mentioned)
• Cersei (referenced as a role model aesthetic for a photo shoot)
• Noreen (friend referenced in conversation)
• Orisa (friend who invited the speaker to Mu for surfing)
• Joan (director friend referenced)
• Meng (filmmaker friend referenced)
• Sapiens / Substack article
  • Substack article referenced: “everything is a win when the point is in the experience.”