The biggest lesson I learnt in 2024

What are you leaving behind this year?

The biggest lesson I learnt in 2024 is: Forget the third thing.

Whether we realise it or not, we all do things wanting something in return. We act, create, and share, but beneath it all, there’s often a longing for validation, applause, or acceptance.

For years, I’ve been sharing my work publicly—whether it’s the art I share on Instagram, the writing I share here, or the podcasts I’ve started sharing. And often, I’ve found myself consumed by the response, the likes, the validation.

I’ve been, as Marcus Aurelius calls it, focusing on the third thing. And in doing so, I forgot the point.

The first thing is the act.
The second thing is the benefit of the act.
And the third thing is what we want in return.

Focusing on the third thing distracts us from why we’re acting in the first place.

I make art that inspires me.
I share art to inspire others.
I don’t make art for validation.

So this year, I’m leaving behind the need for validation. I’m leaving behind the third thing.

What are you leaving behind in 2024?

JYK 🤍