Shows
Sum On Sleeve Podcast13 Beliefs I Stopped Holding. But They Still Haunt MeAll of us know at least a dozen people who do not share all of our beliefs. With over 7 billion of us, there is bound to be conflict. I can agree to disagree on topics like the correct way of hanging toilet paper or whether pineapple is an acceptable pizza topping (it is, btw).
The bottom line is that if the point of contention isn’t something close to my heart, I’m not going to fight over it. I don’t like camping, drinking, online shopping, watching sports or doing anything in the snow. I don’t care i...2023-12-2208 minSum On Sleeve PodcastSometimes I Wish I Sucked At ListeningListening is a life skill. Everyone knows that.
We’ve all seen self-help gurus, thought leaders, TED talks, psychologists and the latest news and research share how we should all be listening more than we speak…especially in a society where attention is scarce and distractions are plentiful. Everything seems to be TL;DR.
Listening skills are crucial for developing strong relationships. I mean it’s hard to make friends when you don’t know anything about them. If all you can hear is your voice throughout your interactions, you don’t have a friend…you have a s...2023-12-1508 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhy It’s Difficult For Me To Share Good NewsWhen we accomplish a goal, reach a dream, or win a fortune…how do our past and conditions affect the way we share that type of information?
Recently, I’ve been pondering about how we decide to share the good news we have in our lives. From inflation, global warming, an ongoing war and of course, that pesky pandemic we’re still trudging through…the world seems rather quite bleak right now. Good news can uplift others, inspire and even create more kindness in the world.
But for me, when something good happens, I’m reluctant...2022-12-2305 minSum On Sleeve PodcastI Quit My 9–5 Job To Pursue My Side Hustle 6 Months AgoIt’s been almost six months since I left my 9–5 job to become a freelance writer. Here are a few things I’ve experienced so far:
Full Transcript here 2022-12-1604 minSum On Sleeve PodcastI’m Struggling To Balance Writing for Pay Versus Writing for PleasureThe most common and basic rule about being a successful writer is to keep writing. But since starting my freelance writing journey, my desire to write for pay has slowly taken over my desire to write for pleasure.
Before freelancing, I would sit in front of my laptop and write and write until I ran out of time. Like my son would wake up or I would need to get dinner started. Time would fly by because my writing was merely a hobby.
I wasn’t being asked to write an article because I wanted mo...2022-12-0905 minSum On Sleeve Podcast8 Dreams I’m Holding Onto For NowLately, I’ve been thinking about my old dreams so I wrote an entire list that I’ve given up on despite thinking they’ll make me happy. Through that reflection exercise, I realized there are some old ones I’d like to revisit and some new ones I’d like to pursue.
Here are 8 Dreams I’m Holding Onto For Now
Never say never…
Full Transcript here2022-12-0205 minSum On Sleeve Podcast10 Dreams I Stopped Pursuing Even Though I Thought They Would Make Me HappyEveryone talks about how we need to keep dreaming, set goals, aim high and work hard. Because if you work hard enough, any dream is possible.
Bleh…I don’t think that provides the full picture. Don’t get me wrong, I love to dream, not only when I’m sleeping. I love visualizing the future of what may be.
What will a year from now look like? 5 years? 10 years? 20? 30?
Where will my new freelance endeavour take me?
Will I become rich and famous and get to meet Oprah?
Will spa...2022-11-2511 minSum On Sleeve Podcast8 Dreams I Had as a Kid That I’ve Given Up OnWhen I was on maternity with my first child, the monotony of routine allowed me to rediscover my passion for writing. As a kid, I wrote stories upon stories, from true, and untrue, to never being told to. It was a way for me to express myself by making those irrational thoughts into concise words and sentences, especially during that rollercoaster journey of becoming a new mother.
This rediscovery has sparked a career shift, aspiring me to become a writer, a dream I never thought I would pursue. So I started thinking about what other dreams I...2022-11-1806 minSum On Sleeve PodcastI Was Jealous of the Attention My Parents’ Gave My Eldest Sister Until I Became a MomThere are three of us: my eldest sister, my middle sister and me. The relationship I have with my eldest sister is like a snow globe; it stays dormant for most of the year but gets shaken up during the holidays.
My childhood memories of her are patchy, most of which were of her babysitting me and holding my hand while we crossed the street. By the time I started kindergarten, she was a pre-teen thinking about what career she wanted to pursue after high school. I was learning my ABCs.
View/Read the full...2022-11-1105 min
Sum On Sleeve PodcastBusiness advice, working mom guilt and leading with passion...an inspirational conversation with Becky Choi of Tummy WarriorsBecky Choi (Tummy Warrior™️)
“Follow your heart and have a big vision.”
Becky Choi is a Certified Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist, and the founder of Tummy Warrior diastasis recti coaching program. Becky is a mom of 2 little ones with a passion for diastasis recti (DR) as she experienced severe DR twice. She helps moms heal their diastasis recti, strengthen their core and improve their health and fitness.
She has been featured on Toronto Sun, CTV, Yahoo Finance and Amazon Kindle. Becky is the author of Diastasis Recti Secrets for New Moms: Proven Methods and Postpartum Exercises...2022-07-0120 minSum On Sleeve PodcastThe Negative Effects of East Asian Culture on Female Body Image with Authentic Energy's Jing FangIn this episode, Authentic Energy founder and Body Confidence Coach Jing Fang and I have an open and honest conversation about how our culture affected how we view our bodies. We dive deep into our postpartum journeys and how challenging it was to see our bodies change after pregnancy.
We compare East Asian media with Western media and how each has a different lens of body image.
We share stories about how our family influenced the way we want to portray ourselves and the shame and honour expectations.
Join us for a heartfelt, ca...2022-06-2446 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow The Pandemic Made Me Stop Wearing My Wedding RingAfter our wedding, I started wearing both my wedding band and the engagement ring. It felt very official like I’m a married woman now. Every morning, like clockwork, I would pop them on my finger before heading for work. I would be typing an email and then I’d look down at my hands and be in awe of my new status.
For years I wore them whenever I went out. I kept wearing them throughout both my pregnancies. But then the pandemic hit and I stopped.
Full Transcript: https://sumonsleeve.com/2021/09/how-the-pandemic-made-me-stop-wearing-my-wedding-ring-3-minute-read.html2022-06-1704 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow I Stopped Using Sex as a Weapon When We Started Trying For A BabyAs I entered relationships and became sexually active, I would keep a tally of my partner’s good and bad behaviours. For instance, if my partner did something that made me happy, I would be more inclined to have sex because I felt he deserved it. And if he did something that upset me, I would be less inclined because I felt he didn’t deserve it.
Sex became a reward and withholding it became a punishment, creating a power imbalance in the relationship. Unknowingly, I was objectifying my body by using sex as a weapon to get...2022-06-1007 minSum On Sleeve PodcastAs an Asian Woman, Self-Work Means Creating Balance Between Collectivistic Instincts and Individualistic UrgesAs I finished school and became a young adult, I noticed many non-Asian peers go on self-discovery journeys.
From travelling the world, exposing themselves to different cultures, jumping from job to job, attending personal development seminars, getting (and becoming) life coaches to reading self-improvement books, they were working on themselves to define who they are.
Their value for personal identity put them in pursuit of purpose and meaning while mine led me down a path of further education and a stable job with a healthy pension.
I couldn’t relate. I was told wh...2022-06-0309 minSum On Sleeve Podcast5 Things I Started Spending More Money on When I Hit My 30’sI turned 36 earlier this year. It was a simple celebration with my husband, our kids and a very decadent chocolate cake from Whole Foods. It was perfect.
As I made my wish and blew out the single, pink candle, I realized my life had changed quite a bit in the past 5 years. I no longer try to impress people I didn’t care about. I declined events I know I won’t enjoy. Lastly, I stopped spending money on things that didn’t matter to me like new clothes, make-up, heels and drinks.
Instead, with the bu...2022-05-2704 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow I Landed My First Freelance Writing Clients as an IntrovertOne of the toughest and daunting parts of being a freelance writer is finding work. As an introvert with a touch of social awkwardness, asking people to hire me isn’t exactly my forte.
However, I’m 3 months into my freelance writing journey and so far, getting clients hasn’t been too much of a headache. Here’s how I landed my first clients without getting too far outside my comfort zone.
Full Transcript here2022-05-2105 minSum On Sleeve Podcast5 Things I Stopped Spending A lot of Money on When I Hit My 30’sI turned 35 this year and as I reflect on all those years of adulthood, I realized how much money I frivolously spent on things I didn’t care about. Maybe if I didn’t spend that, I would be a millionaire by now?
You know, if I had taken every penny I earned from my part-time job in high school and invested it into Google in 2004 (the year I turned 18 and when it IPO’ed), I would be laughing right now.
However, it doesn’t mean I regret spending that money because my 20’s were a time of...2022-05-1407 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhy I Decided To Pursue A Freelance Writing CareerI value getting paid for my work, not for the time I spend at work
I have a plan to leave my 9–5
I made a decision earlier this year to start freelancing so that I could leave my 9–5 and focus my time doing what I love. So in the last two months, I’ve been side hustling like there’s no tomorrow.
As I continue this adventure, I’ve realized why freelance writing aligns more with who I am, my values, beliefs, lifestyle and priorities than being an employee. Here’s why.
Full Transcr2022-05-0709 minSum On Sleeve Podcast5 Reasons I Exercise and Eat Well That Aren’t Related To Weight LossIn my late 20’s, I ended an 8-year long relationship. As part of my healing and recovery, I started digging deep into myself about my toxic habits and behaviours. With less time focused on trying to resuscitate a failing relationship, my mind freed up space to dedicate to myself. I realized how terribly I was treating myself.
It’s an ongoing journey but one of the most important insights I discovered about myself is that in order to be happy, I needed to focus my attention on how I was feeling. Eating well and exercising regularly is not...2022-04-3008 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow I Realistically Figured Out My Freelance Writing RateAlthough I’ve been blogging since 2017, I only officially started my freelance writing journey a little over 2 months ago. I’ve dibbled and dabbled with selling books and courses but the amount of money I was making just wasn’t enough for me to leave my 9–5. But most importantly, it was leading me down a path that didn’t align with my passion for writing.
When I made the decision to start freelancing, the first thing I had to do was realistically figure out my rate.
Opposing opinions and methods
So I Googled “freelance wri...2022-04-2306 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow I Made $3525.71 In My First Two Months As A Freelance WriterTwo months have flown by
After debunking some serious misconceptions about freelance writing, I started my journey with zero expectations. I don’t regret it for a second as the last 2 months have flown by.
I am doing this as a side gig in addition to my 9–5. Those additional hours have proved to be more rewarding and more meaningful than the 8 that I spend in the office, zoning out in meetings, writing arduous emails, doing small talk with coworkers and eating my lunch at my desk.
I have a firm plan to leave my jo...2022-04-1607 minSum On Sleeve Podcast3 Toxic Myths About Body Positivity That I Used To Believe InGrowing up, I struggled to love myself. From social pressures, the media to overly critical family members who constantly compared me to my skinnier peers, I never felt like my body was good enough.
I went on my first diet when I was 8 years old. My plan was to skip breakfast, eat half my lunch and only vegetables for dinner. I failed miserably.
Then as I entered my teen years, I developed an eating disorder that consisted of dangerously restrictive diets, bingeing and purging and extreme workouts. In my young adult years, it became chasing...2022-04-0906 minSum On Sleeve Podcast3 Misconceptions That Discouraged Me From Becoming A Freelance WriterI never thought I would be a freelance writer
When I first started blogging in 2017, I had no idea where it was going to lead me. I was a new mom who was working her 9–5 and trying to find some balance at home. Writing became my source of reason and means of therapy.
Jump forward 3 years later and I’m at home on my second maternity leave, changing my son’s poopy diapers. I knew I was going back to my 9–5 but I also knew I didn’t want to do that forever. I wanted to figure...2022-04-0208 minSum On Sleeve PodcastMy Daughter Called Me Out for Fighting With My HusbandAfter having a fight with my husband in front of our kids, I wasn’t able to do what my daughter wanted me to. I felt like I was repeating my parents’ behaviour but this incident inspires me to keep trying to be a better person.
Full Transcript Here2022-03-2606 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhy I Wouldn’t Want To Live The Digital Nomad LifestyleExperiencing new cultures and immersing myself in the day-to-day life of people who grew up in a different environment than me is one of my favourite ways to learn and grow. Travelling helps boost my creativity, practice empathy and broadens my horizons.
And when I return home, finishing the adventure allows me to truly appreciate where I live and practice gratitude for the simplest things I have.
But would I do it as a way of life? Like the growing number of digital nomads who work and live remotely in faraway lands?
Nope...2022-03-1808 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow I Made $3.590.11 By Trading Stocks In 2 Years With No Investing ExperienceDisclaimer:
This article is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or on any specific security or investment product. I’m only sharing what worked for me and my opinions. I highly recommended you seek professional advice from someone who is authorized to provide investment advice.
I started with $5000 as an experiment to make $100. How I made $3500 trading stocks with no finance background.
https://sumonsleeve.com/2021/04/how-i-made-3-590-11-by-trading-stocks-in-2-years-with-no-investing-experience-8-minute-read.html2022-03-1113 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhy I Don’t Expect My Friends And Family To Read What I WriteWhen I first started blogging, I had no idea who was going to read my stuff. It was a space for me to express myself, put feelings into words and make sense of what was going on for me as a mom.
4 years later, I’ve had distant family members, anonymous strangers, friends of friends, folks I used to go to school with, and old coworkers reach out to me, praising me for what I’ve written. It’s amazing how the power of the Internet and my affinity for words can connect folks across the world from a...2022-03-0405 minSum On Sleeve Podcast9 Asian Female Stereotypes That Need To DieWhy not both?
I wish this meant I could have both soft and hard tacos but instead it’s experiencing both sexism and racism as an Asian woman. It’s like if I’m not being discriminated against for being a woman, then I’m being discriminated against for being an Asian.
And if it’s not that, there’s a third category where race and gender come together into a mixed bag of shit, from subtle to blatant, the worst of both worlds. And that needs to die.
So here are 9 Asian female stereo...2022-02-2605 minSum On Sleeve Podcast5 Valuable Life Lessons I Learned From My ExesI used to believe I needed to scrub clean of my past and start fresh every time I stepped into a new relationship. So when I first started dating my husband, I told him I didn’t want to talk about my past relationships. The past is the past right?
However, I’ve realized the experience and wisdom I gained from being with my exes have not only helped my marriage but taught me so much about myself. Here are 5 valuable life lessons I learned from my exes.2022-02-1907 minSum On Sleeve Podcast9 Examples of Microaggression I’ve Experienced as an Asian CanadianI knew I had experienced racism, from being made fun of how I look and what I ate to having someone shout ‘ching chong’ at me while they drove by. Those acts were blatant and obvious.
However, microaggressions are, to say the least, micro. They happen so subtly that after each incident, I would feel confused, unable to pinpoint what I had experienced and what I felt about it.
I didn’t know I was being discriminated against for being Asian because it was unintentional and/or indirect. In addition, the person discriminating against me didn’t...2022-02-1108 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhy I Started Using Screens At MealtimeI was really against using screens at mealtime because of everything I know about distracted eating. It prevents them from listening to their bodies, enables unnecessary snacking between meals, and increases their risk of obesity later in life; using screens at mealtimes seems to do more harm than good.
In addition, I’ve personally struggled with emotional eating most of my life and battled an eating disorder when I was a teenager. It wasn’t until my late 20’s when I started treating my body right. Learning to eat mindfully, listening to my body’s hunger and full cue...2022-02-0408 minSum On Sleeve Podcast5 Stereotypes About The Youngest Child That Aren’t TrueGrowing up with two older sisters wasn’t easy. From always getting hand-me-down clothes, toys and shoes, playing catch up because I was “never old enough”, having a fraction of the baby pictures that my sisters had, to being called the wrong name too many times to count, being the youngest had its challenges.
Over the years, I’ve realized that although those experiences shaped a part of who I am, they didn’t define my life. My identity is the cumulation of different experiences, not just my experience as the youngest in my family. Like with all psych...2022-01-2806 minSum On Sleeve Podcast24 Reasons A Mom Is On Her Phone When She’s Watching Her KidsFrom books, calendars, watches, radios, CD players, pedometers, cameras to GPS, the phone has replaced so many things in our lives. It’s incredibly difficult to avoid using our phones. I even use the camera as a mirror sometimes. Therefore, instead of criticizing this mom’s behaviour, I came up with a list of things moms do on their phones when they’re watching their kids.2022-01-2106 minSum On Sleeve PodcastThe Time I Listened To My Child Instead Of Jumping To ConclusionsThis was my first taste of my kid keeping something from me because they were scared of my reaction. There will be many more to come as they grow up. I don’t expect the conversations to happen like this every time, especially when they reach the tricky teenage years.
However, I’m going to keep in mind that sometimes, sitting silently with my child gives them the time and space to find their voice. If I wait long enough, suppressing my urge to lecture and discipline, being present, listening without judgment, they might just share that voic...2022-01-1406 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow I Use My Fears To Stop Procrastinating On My GoalsI’ve discovered something about myself when I procrastinate. I delay things because I’m not scared of the consequences. The immediate gratification of looking at one more cat meme seems like a higher priority than typing up this article. I have rose-coloured glasses that make me feel invincible to the looming chaos.
I realized I need a sense of fear with meaningful and scary consequences that will light a fire under my ass to get me started. It’s kinda like that show Beyond Scared Straight* but instead of having inmates (or in my case, unsuccessful writer...2022-01-0710 minSum On Sleeve Podcast4 Underrated Habits That Helped Me Lose The Baby Weight Not Once But TwiceAfter giving birth, a mother's body doesn't just magically go back to the way it was. How did I manage to lose the baby weight after 2 kids? Here are 4 habits I adopted.
See: How to Cook So You’ll Actually Eat at Home
See: 5 Food and Cooking Hacks That I Forgot My Mom Taught Me
2021-12-1711 minSum On Sleeve Podcast4 Lessons Learned When I Self-Published 3 BooksCan you make money with self-published books?
It’s been over a year since I self-published 3 books, one about brutally honest dating advice, another about how to deal with Asian parents and lastly, one about how to have a healthy marriage.
Here are 4 lessons that I learned:2021-12-1010 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow I Stopped People-Pleasing And Started Living Life On My Own TermsPeople-pleasing = low self-esteem
From always saying yes, breaking promises with ourselves, sacrificing our values to help someone out, enabling toxic behaviours, keeping silent to prevent hurting someone’s feelings even though they’ve hurt ours, being inauthentic about our true feelings to siding with the majority when we completely disagreed, people-pleasing behaviours come in all forms.
When I reflect back on my life, I’ve had my fair share of trying to get people to like me. Starting in my teen years, it was about doing anything to rise up in the ranks of the high s...2021-11-2611 minSum On Sleeve Podcast3 Things I Did To Increase My Medium Partner Earnings From $17.08 to $354.79 Per MonthI've written on Medium for years and I never thought my partner earnings would increase to the 3 digits. Here are the 3 things I did to reach this.
Humble beginnings with zero expectations
I’ve been writing on Medium for over 3 years. At first, it started as just another avenue to get folks to read my stuff. I published here and there, not thinking much would happen. I rarely logged in and when I did, I would basically dump a bunch of old blog posts, schedule them out throughout the month and didn’t bother to chec...2021-11-1908 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhy I Was Furious When My Husband Surprised Me With A Break From The KidsI've heard the stories of wives praising their husbands for surprising them with a break from their kids. However, a break wasn't what I wanted.
I thought I wanted the surprise
I’ve heard the stories of women praising their husbands for surprising them with a day off, taking the kids out and giving their wives a much-deserved break. It’s like that joke about what mothers really want on Mother’s Day: a day to not be a mother, to do whatever they want without the kids.
When I hear these stories, I can s...2021-11-1208 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow To Move On After Your Story Has Been RejectedAs a writer, it sucks when you get that email saying your article, proposal, or idea wasn't accepted. How do I deal with the rejection so that I can quickly move on and keep writing?
You’ve probably heard the wise saying,
“It’s not a rejection; it’s a redirection.”
Okay, sure but it still sucks when you get that email saying your article, proposal, or idea wasn’t accepted. Over 20 different publications have rejected my articles and yet I keep submitting them. The first time my article wasn’t accepted felt the worst but every reje...2021-11-0506 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow I Find Motivation To Write When I Don’t Feel Like ItWhat motivates us to want to write? It's about asking ourselves tough questions. What does motivation mean to me? Why do I want to write?
A writer’s block, burnout, and a lack of creativity are just some of the common struggles a writer experiences during the week. Pile on some rejection (from clients, publications, a mean troll), no one reading our stuff and a fear of putting ourselves out there again, it’s no wonder writers find it tough to keep going.
However, we pick ourselves up again and again, trudging along that writer’s path...2021-10-2209 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhy I Don’t Think I Wasted My Time Going To SchoolFrom kindergarten to university, I spent over half my life in school. Do I regret my decision? Was it a waste of time or time well wasted? It's about seeing the life skills I acquired from years of study.
I didn’t enjoy school
Don’t get me wrong, going to school wasn’t a pleasurable experience for me. I wrote an entire article about how I hated it even though I was good at it and concluded that doing well at something doesn’t mean you enjoy it.
From depression, anxiety, self-harm and an eat...2021-10-0811 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow One Missed Call Reminded Me To Appreciate My Family MoreAs a working mom, the days are long and hard. Here's my story of how one missed call reminded me that it's all worth it. Sometimes thinking about the scary stuff makes the hard days easier.
It’s a Wednesday afternoon.
I just finished drafting up an article when my son wakes up crying from his nap. I carry him downstairs and we start our mother and son dance party. He’s 1 so it’s more like I dance and he wanders around the carpet while I try not to step on him.
I press...2021-10-0109 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhat Happened When I Published 25 Articles In One MonthI took the challenge of writing 25 articles and getting them accepted by publications on Medium. Here's what happened. Increased traffic? Yes but so much more than that.
I was embarrassed to call myself a writer
Around mid-November, I read an article about how a writer was able to make 4K a month writing on Medium. I was astonished. I had been writing for most of my life and barely made a fraction of that in months.
Of course, the article was well-written, straight to the point and its takeaways slapped me in the f...2021-09-2408 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow To Cook So You’ll Actually Eat At HomeDoes cooking at home mean using only healthy ingredients? How to cook delicious meals you'll actually eat and look forward to leftovers. Because why make something you won't want to eat?
Tasteless food isn’t tasty
Imagine this. It’s a weeknight. You just finished work and you’re starving. There are leftovers in the fridge. It’s dried chicken breast, bland steamed broccoli and a container of plain brown rice. You’ve been trying to eat more at home because it’s better for your pocket and your waistline.
Even though you’re ravenous, it...2021-09-0312 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhat To Do When You Feel Like An Inadequate MotherMothers are often hard on themselves and feel like they're not good enough. Here's what to do when you feel like an inadequate parent. Dropping the ball and picking it back up.
Obviously, I know there’s no such thing as a perfect mom
In my home, socks are unmatched. The laundry is dirty. Cheese sandwiches can be dinner. There days that are spent indoors even though the sun begs us to come outside.
I talk about my ongoing recovery as a perfectionist. I write articles about how it’s okay to swear in fr...2021-08-2710 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhy We Need To Stop Viewing Our Parents As Either Good Or EvilParents are not good or evil, heroes or villains. Seeing them as humans let us practice empathy and compassion for others and ourselves.
“Respect your parents! They did so much for you.”
As the author of the book “How To Deal With Asian Parents”, it’s obvious I’ve struggled with the relationship I have with my parents.
With that, folks often send me comments and advice about how I should respect my parents, asking me how I would feel if they died, assuming that I wrote the book as a way to complain and vent...2021-08-2010 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhy Saying “My Wife Won’t Let Me” Stunts Your GrowthDisclaimer: Even though I focused this post on married heterosexual men, it doesn’t mean that other genders don’t use their partners as an excuse. This behaviour transcends gender, culture, relationship status, sexual preference etc. However, in my personal experience, I’ve heard men default to this excuse more often than women.
When a husband says "My wife won't let me", he's actually masking his insecurities. It's time to empower men to own their choices in life. It goes beyond outdated gender expectations.2021-07-1707 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWas he being racist or sexist or am I just being sensitive?Was he racist or sexist? As a woman of colour, I'm often in a tough position. We are vulnerable. How do I stand up for myself enough?
As an Asian, I am vulnerable to a slew of belittlement, from microaggressions, prejudice to blatant racist attacks. As a woman, I have been stereotyped as those who overreact, overly emotional, sensitive, hysterical.
Therefore, as an Asian woman, these are just a few examples of incidences where I felt triggered. And almost always, I will doubt myself,
“Am I just being sensitive?”
I feel helple...2021-06-1906 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow I’m Staying Sane(ish) At HomeSocial distancing. Physical distancing. Stay positive. Test negative. Stop the spread. Stay at home. Keeping sane during the COVID-19 pandemic.
10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1…Happy New Year!
2020 came.
Then a couple of months later, we started to quarantine. A global pandemic took over our lives.
It was called social distancing then it was physical distancing.
Stay positive. Test negative.
Stop the spread. Stay at home.
Enough said.
Have you pulled your hair out?
Picked at your fingers? Your toes? Your face?
Punch the walls...2021-06-1212 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow to write a candid storyWhy keep it real?
Authenticity, candour, real talk 100%…this is what readers value when they consume a story.
They don’t want fluff. They don’t want to be talked down to. They don’t want posers. They’re too smart for that. They know when you’re faking it. They can read between the lines of posturing.
How can you get down to earth through your words so that a stranger feels like they know you without ever meeting you?
If you're trying to be someone else, you're doing it wrong.2021-06-0411 minSum On Sleeve PodcastGetting pregnant wasn’t easy but it taught me compassion for those who are still tryingGetting pregnant wasn't easy for me the second time. But that experience made me more compassionate for those who struggle with infertility.
Just relax! It’s supposed to be fun…eyeroll
Sure…it’s fun in the beginning. It’s exciting to make a baby. And having lots of sex with the person you want to create this life with sounds like an exhilarating adventure.
But those who never had trouble conceiving don’t know how frustrating it is when you’re told to relax. I want to shove a pair of socks (or better yet...2021-05-2818 minSum On Sleeve PodcastThe loneliness of motherhood part 3: social media, texting and online communitiesWorking moms have it tough. Our social life is often at the bottom of our priorities. How can one minimize the loneliness of motherhood?
Some may say since the advent of the Internet, it has made us feel more lonely, more depressed, and have more anxiety than the generation that grew up without it. Specifically, it’s that constant scrolling through social media and getting access to people’s lives who seem to “have it together” that make our lives feel inadequate.
From my experience, I only started to up my social media game when I became...2021-03-2617 minSum On Sleeve PodcastThe loneliness of motherhood Part 2: Mom groups, introvert problems, work-life balanceWorking moms have it tough. Our social life is often at the bottom of our priorities. How can one minimize the loneliness of motherhood?
Working moms have no time to stop
I go back to work and the playdates dwindle down, texting tapers and the chats become infrequent. I’m in the full-blown working mom mode where the guilt rips me apart, trying to make time for myself, my job, my husband and my barely a year-old daughter. Trying to prioritize is a lose-lose battle because one of those things will always suffer; I didn’t wa...2021-03-1920 minSum On Sleeve PodcastThe loneliness of motherhood part 1: reflecting on when my mom was raising meWorking moms have it tough. Our social life is often at the bottom of our priorities. How can one minimize the loneliness of motherhood?
At that moment, I remember feeling sorry for my mom, that she didn’t have people her age to talk to except my dad and a couple of her coworkers. I told myself that I wouldn’t be like that when I had kids, that I would have friends and want friends, that I would have asked for that lady’s number and developed that budding connection into a friendship.2021-03-1209 minSum On Sleeve PodcastReducing Food Waste Part 4: Start a garden and eat mindfully to reduce wasted food in your homeDon’t throw it, re-grow in the garden or compost it
My husband and I started gardening about 4 years ago. I first started regrowing green onions and this piqued my interest.
All I did was cut the ends of the green onions that I bought from the store, put them in a glass with some water, let it grow a bit and then transferred them to our garden. I haven’t bought green onions for years. The next vegetable I want to re-grow is celery. Apparently, it’s the same process.
Eat mindfully then m...2021-03-0519 minSum On Sleeve PodcastReducing Food Waste Part 3: Tips on how to minimize the wasted food in your householdImmigrant parents often told their kids to finish their food; however, in this generation, it goes beyond the plate to reduce food waste.
I’m eternally grateful for the time and place that I live in. I am fortunate I am not in my parents’ position, that they took the brunt of the hardship when they immigrated to Canada so that I can thrive and optimize on the opportunities they didn’t have. I want to preserve my parents’ resourcefulness not because I need to survive but because I want my great-grandchildren to survive.
Identifying and appr...2021-02-2619 minSum On Sleeve PodcastReducing Food Waste Part 2: why we should care about this and our planet's futureImmigrant parents often told their kids to finish their food; however, in this generation, it goes beyond the plate to reduce food waste.
Canadian statistics on wasted food
According to the Second Harvest’s 2019 annual report: Feeding People, Not Landfills, more than half the food that is produced gets thrown out in Canada. This is approximately 35.5 million metric tonnes of food every year. And 11.2 million metric tonnes of it can be avoided.
Why should we care about wasted food? Why should we do our part in reducing it?
I’m going to sta...2021-02-1912 minSum On Sleeve PodcastReducing Food Waste Part 1: Asian immigrant parents taught me to finish my plateImmigrant parents often told their kids to finish their food; however, in this generation, it goes beyond the plate to reduce food waste.
My “waste not, want not” upbringing
Growing up with Asian immigrant parents, my dad’s paycheque went to 2 things: the mortgage and the groceries. My mom’s paycheque went to our clothes and extracurricular activities. And anything extra went to their savings so they could put an additional payment into the mortgage at the end of the year. Survival was the priority; food and shelter were the main concerns as parents. Money was tigh...2021-02-1214 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow my Asian Canadian upbringing shaped my views on elder respect - Part 2: Age hierarchy East vs WestAsian culture and the age hierarchy
Growing up as a Chinese Canadian, I often felt like I was a living and breathing war, caught in an eternal conflict between the Western and Eastern cultures.
Which values do I resonate with?
Which beliefs do I want to own?
How do I want to define my identity? Is this a choice for me to make? Or my parents? Or my teachers? Or society?
In Asian cultures, age is significantly valued in a hierarchical manner. For instance, in Chinese culture, how family mem...2021-02-0528 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow my Asian Canadian upbringing affects my views on elder respect - Part 1: I offend an elderly manAsian cultures value age in a hierarchical manner. I was taught to respect my elders. How has growing up in Canada affected my views?
The East and West battle inside of me
The other day, I was leaving the grocery store when I saw a white man in his late 60’s carrying a bunch of bags also head towards the exit.
I politely asked him,
“Sir, would you like some help?”
He sneered,
“No thanks. I can do just fine. I’m not as old as you think I loo...2021-01-2914 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhy I no longer work out to look good - Part 2: My recovery from overexercisingHow that made me look even better
I’ve written about my past eating disorder, ongoing recovery and how it’s affected me as a mom. So this is about how I’ve changed my mindset around exercise, instead of abusing it, using it to heal from my abuse.
How did I finally figure out a balance that made me happier, healthier and look even better than when I was in my 20s before kids?2021-01-2221 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhy I no longer work-out to look good - Part 1: Getting injured and 15 pounds overweightI’ve written about my past eating disorder, ongoing recovery and how it’s affected me as a mom. So this is about how I’ve changed my mindset around exercise, instead of abusing it, using it to heal from my abuse.
You can do too much of a good thing
It was around Grade 10 when I understood the concept of “calories in versus calories out”. It’s a simple math equation:
The more you eat, the more you need to expend. The less you eat, the less you need to expend.
The more you...2021-01-0817 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhat kind of mother-in-law will I be? Part 1: The science behind the strained relationshipAs the mother of a girl and a boy, I will get a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law. What kind of mother-in-law do I want to be? Hopefully, one that doesn't deserve to be punched in the face.
I have a daughter and a son. They’re both under 5 but assuming they’re both heterosexual and get happily married, I will have a son-in-law and a daughter-in-law. And I get to have the title of a mother-in-law.
Maybe it’s the old traditional mindset that girls will always come back to their parents whereas boys tend to str...2021-01-0114 minSum On Sleeve PodcastMy Asian Mom Didn't Let Me Take Tylenol For Period CrampsGrowing up, my mom discouraged my sisters and me from taking any medication unless prescribed and required by our family doctor. Anything else was unnatural and unnecessary for our bodies. Pain is part of life and riding it out was like a badge of honour for her. Like many Asian moms, she had mastered the art of hiding her emotions.
She will try everything to prevent disease before resorting to medication; hence, she eats incredibly healthy, works out like a beast, hikes, swims, practices yoga and destressing techniques.2020-12-2521 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow I Avoided The Asian Family Drama At My Wedding PART 2: Things I Had Control OverWhat are some things you can do to avoid the Asian family drama that can happen during the planning and at the wedding?
From the guest list, traditions, venue...here's what I did that I had control over to avoid most of the drama.
Ultimately, it’s the memories that we have of our wedding that matter. Drama or no-drama, we made sure it was our moment to remember.2020-12-1818 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow I Avoided The Asian Family Drama At My Wedding PART 1: Things I Had No Control OverIt's me and my husband's day, not anyone else's.
So before I rant about the Asian family drama that happens whenever someone gets engaged and the things you can do to prevent that, let me share with you a few factors that I had absolutely no control over that helped me avoid a lot of that stuff.2020-12-1120 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow to deal with Asian parents when they take care of your kids PART 8 Learn More About YourselfTake time to reminisce and learn more about yourself
When those annoying instances happen, I take the time to dig deep into myself, reflecting on my childhood, values, beliefs and priorities and why that triggered me emotionally.
Then it initiates a self-reflection journey where I write my thoughts down, discover old wounds I need to heal or patch up, build my emotional strength to pass on to my children; this often turns into a blog post, podcast and/or video.
The same self-reflection journey happens when delightful instances happen, like funny things my da...2020-11-2707 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow to deal with Asian parents when they take care of your kids PART 7 Comparing caregiversDon’t compare them to others
Oh, how the tables have turned. Growing up, my parents loved comparing us, apples to oranges to mangoes to kiwis. That history has made me prone to their behaviour.
Who’s making more? Who got the promotion first? Who got better grades? Who got married first? Who has the bigger house? Nicer car? Went to a better school?
Now it’s,
Who is the better caretaker for your kids?
It’s hard not to compare those who take care of your kids. From in-laws, p...2020-11-2006 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow to deal with Asian parents when they take care of your kids PART 6 Be GratefulBe grateful
Before getting pregnant, I already knew that I wanted to raise my kids in the city where I grew up. They have great public schools (I am proud to be a product of that system) and the community is very child-friendly. I’m grateful we can afford to live here and were able to buy a home close to my parents.
I wanted to be close to my parents because I want my kids to have a strong relationship with their grandparents, something I didn’t have growing up because they lived in Hong K...2020-11-1307 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow to deal with Asian parents when they take care of your kids PART 5 Out of Sight, Out of MindOut of sight, out of mind
Ignorance is bliss. I don’t know what I don’t know and sometimes I don’t want to know what I don’t know, you know?
Would I want to put cameras up at my parents’ house so I could monitor exactly what was going on?
What my parents were really feeding her?
How much screen time they were really allowing her?
How much English my dad was really speaking?
Hell no!
This is the reason why I prefer to dro...2020-11-0605 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow To Deal With Asian Parents When They Take Care of Your Kids PART 4: Picking Your BattlesHave a tough conversation (But choose wisely)
Picking my battles with my parents about how to care for my daughter is both an art and a science. If I nag them every time they do something that bothers me, my concerns will eventually fall on deaf ears.
And generally, Asian parents are very sensitive to criticism. Often when feedback is given, they’ll immediately get defensive and/or play the victim, shifting the blame on someone or something else. So it’s a delicate art to bring up when it comes to their caretaking abilities.
2020-10-3015 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow to deal with Asian parents when they take care of your kids PART 3 Focus on Their StrengthsFocus on the positive and their strengths
In the end, my loose reins worked in my favour because my parents naturally did the “right” things. I shifted my focus on their positive traits and started appreciating their strengths.
No caretaker is perfect and it's important to appreciate your parents for what they are good at.2020-10-2308 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow To Deal With Asian Parents When They Take Care of Your Kids PART 2: Lower ExpectationsLower your expectations (more like throw them out the door)
As a recovering perfectionist, I’ve learned (still learning) to curb my need to be a supermom.
FYI: My son is playing in his Jumperoo as I’m typing this sentence and he’s been whining for my attention for the past 15 minutes.
Do I yell at my kids? Yes.
Do I swear in front of them? Yes.
Do I put Paw Patrol on so I can work out? Yes.
Do I feed them ice cream, cookies, chips an...2020-10-1608 minSum On Sleeve PodcastI hated sales until I started selling my booksWhen you have a product that you believe in, it makes it easier.
I'm an author of 3 books. I needed to sell my books, promote them, tell people about them, get them to resonate with my message and story and then, take their precious hard-earned dollars out of their wallets to spend on me.
It’s the right thing to do but I dreaded it. It became one of those things you know you should do but you don’t want to do them.
For instance, household chores, laundry, putting the dishes away, wipin...2020-09-0509 minSum On Sleeve PodcastStaying Authentic with Jane FangIn this PODCAST, Jane and I have a frank conversation from body confidence, married life in quarantine and our thoughts on the racism that has recently surfaced during this unprecedented time. We dive into some tough topics while staying authentic to who we are.
Self-confidence tips
How do you stay confident about our bodies as we go through change? Ageing, pregnancies, the ups and downs of life all contribute to our self-confidence. When maintaining a positive mindset about our physical appearance, it actually goes beyond skin deep.
Married life during the #quarantine
2020-08-281h 16
Jeneric Conversations012: “We don't think about what I want, we think about what we all want.” How To Deal With Asian Parents with Katharine ChanAuthor Katharine Chan shares how she improved her relationship with her parents in her new book titled, How To Deal With Asian Parents. Her mission is to empower individuals to talk about their feelings despite growing up in a culture that hid them.
This conversation will have you thinking about:
How becoming a mother sparked her interest in writing again
How to navigate a relationship with your parents that’s like oil and water
How, why, and if you should continue to work on your relationship with your parents
Connect with Katharine on Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / Pinterest @sumonsleeve. Purchase her bo...2020-08-2800 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow My Past Eating Disorder Has Affected Me As A MomHow do you feel about your body? How do you feel about food?
As someone who has struggled with body confidence her whole life, I've had a love-hate relationship with these 2.
***Warning: there are various descriptive, emotional triggers in the rest of this story. Please be advised**
From disordered eating, laxatives, cleanses, liquid diets, binging then throwing up, caffeine pills and patches, overexercising (I remember running non-stop around the track until welts formed in my armpits and skin peeled off my inner thighs)...to n...2020-08-2128 minSum On Sleeve PodcastDating, relationships, resentment, and ego with Angie Wong: Show Face to Face Live recordingThis was originally a live session hat aired on July 10th, 8 pm PST
In this podcast, Angie Wong and I sat down and had a real and raw conversation about relationships.
We chatted about relationships of all sorts, romantic, non-romantic, family, strangers, diving into the nitty-gritty of human connection and energy.
I spoke about the past lessons from a previous relationship that revealed toxic behaviours such as over-functioning and poor anger management which led to deep-rooted resentment. I go into detail about how I am in relationships is influenced by my childhood growing...2020-08-081h 07Sum On Sleeve PodcastEmpowering new moms series: Losing and regaining your independence as a new momYou will get your independence back
I remember the moment I felt like I “lost my independence.”
I was driving back home from a mom group when I saw that Garden Works was having a sale. I was about to turn in when my daughter started wailing.
I looked at the clock and I said to myself,
“Right, it’s ten o’clock. It’s time to go home for a feed, diaper change and then a nap.
Will I come back and check out the sale?
Nope. Nope...2020-07-3105 minSum On Sleeve PodcastEmpowering new moms series: How to ask for the right helpAsk for helpful help (including support for your partner) and refuse unhelpful help
People love to help. It’s an inherent characteristic of our species. We see someone struggling and we want to do something for them.
So that’s why those World Vision commercials worked so well huh?
However, not all help is created equal and that depends on what you find helpful.
For instance, imagine having your parents or in-laws come over to help “clean” your house. But you have to direct them to where everything is, help them move thi...2020-07-2404 minSum On Sleeve PodcastEmpowering new moms series: How to find your emotional support circleVent, rant, do verbal diarrhea with your trusted emotional support circle (they won’t judge)
Whether it’s your sister, your mom, your besties, your aunt, your cousin, or an online support group, find your tribe.
Your partner will not get it. You’ll want to vent about him to someone because you may resent him and he can only take so much.
During that time when you’re learning how to be a mom, you will experience immense emotional highs and lows. You may experience “baby blues” during the first two weeks where you fe...2020-07-1705 minSum On Sleeve PodcastEmpowering new moms series: Breastfeeding can be an internal battleBreastfeeding may or may not work out and that’s totally okay
Some women have that magical first moment with their newborns, eyes meet, skin-to-skin, tears of joy, a well-fitted latch, not tongue-tide, hefty gulps from colostrum filled breasts.
Some women aren’t physically able to breastfeed.
Some women struggle with breastfeeding at first and choose to keep trying, with lots of ups and downs until it works out.
Some women struggle with breastfeeding at first and decide not to do it anymore.
Some women don’t struggle with breast...2020-07-1004 minSum On Sleeve PodcastEmpowering new moms series: Having visitors at the hospital and at homeYou have a right to request and refuse visitors
From friends, family, coworkers, acquaintances, everyone wants to see the baby. And this can either augment or diminish your experience depending on how you want to recover.
But how do you know how you want to recover if you’ve never given birth?
Think about a time when you’ve gotten sick, had the flu or had surgery. Maybe that time you had your Wisdom teeth taken out or when you broke your foot while hiking?
How did you want to recover?
2020-07-0305 minSum On Sleeve PodcastEmpowering new moms series: How to connect with your newbornIt’s okay if you don’t feel an instant, magical connection with your baby
What you see on TV and movies don’t actually happen. First, those babies look way too big to be newborns. Second, Hollywood has yet to master the “after giving birth” look.
Lastly, the magical connection doesn’t always happen immediately.
I had completely different experiences with my first and second.
Maybe it was being a new mom and not knowing what to expect when she came out but I felt like my daughter was an alien. I did...2020-06-2604 minSum On Sleeve PodcastEmpowering new moms series: How to love your postpartum bodyTreat your body with kindness
Your body just performed a miracle. It grew an entire human, eyeballs, earlobes, brains, fingernails and everything. It needs to heal, replenish and recover. It’s amazing what the body can do and you need to appreciate what it’s been through.
This is not the time to obsess over stretch marks, loose skin, or jiggly thighs. It’s time to love your body even more. Every change that your body went through during pregnancy and delivery is a badge of honour. Wear your skin with pride.
There is no...2020-06-1908 minSum On Sleeve PodcastBefore marriage series: How to talk about secrets, exes and dirty laundry with your partnerYour past
Why it didn’t work out with your exes
Talking about your exes may be considered taboo on a first date.
However, once a couple has reached a point in their relationship where they’re talking about marriage, a lot can be learned about someone when they share what happened in their past relationships and why they ended.
You don’t have to get into the nitty-gritty but reflecting on your past, who you were at the time and how you’ve grown can give your partner insight into why you...2020-06-1203 minSum On Sleeve PodcastBefore marriage series: figure out where to live your life togetherWhere and how to live
It’s hard to maintain a marriage if you’re physically apart. The stress of long-distance relationships, commutes, time-zone differences would drive any couple to the edge.
Where do you want to live together?
Where would you want to raise your kids?
How do you want to live? Are you deadset on living in a specific city or province/state or country? How open are you to a nomadic lifestyle?
Have you always dreamt of living in a different country? Do you have a buck...2020-06-0502 minSum On Sleeve PodcastBefore marriage series: How to talk about money with your partnerMoney is often quoted as one of the top reasons marriages end in divorce. It’s a point of contention even during casual conversations because of its association with power, status, security, freedom, and autonomy, topics that can easily pinch our values.
Money is emotional Money shaped a lot of our childhoods (growing up with humble surroundings versus with privilege), contributing to our values and beliefs as adults. How do you perceive someone who has more or less than you?
How do you want to be perceived? Who earns more? Who earns less? How does that a...2020-05-2910 minSum On Sleeve PodcastBefore marriage series: Why you should talk about kidsKids or no kids? That is the question. Without a doubt, both of you have to see eye to eye on this question because it’s not like you can turn back time or get a refund. If you are on polar ends with your partner… And neither of you are willing to budge, there is no give or take.
Once you decide what to do, it’s almost certain that one of you will resent the other; it creates an unhealthy dynamic in the relationship. It’s a catch 22. If you decide not to have children, the resentme...2020-05-2905 min
Human UpHow To Deal With Asian Parents (ft. Katharine Chan)In this episode, I talk to author, Katharine Chan about her new book, “How To Deal With Asian Parents.” I related to her stories about her parents (along with her research of the many other stories online) who were mostly unknowingly draining her mental and emotional health. Through the generational trauma, cultural gaps, and language barriers, it’s difficult for Asian parents and their children to properly communicate and really address the deeper emotions behind their words, which eventually takes a toll on the children’s wellbeing. If you struggle developing a relationship with your Asian parents, or want to be mi...2020-05-251h 16Sum On Sleeve PodcastIt's been 7 years since I met my husband through online datingWhat solidified that they were "The One"
Brian: You just knew. This one is a secret.
Katharine: He met everything that I needed, wanted and deserved in a life partner. We had many similar values and beliefs around family and money. I was attracted to his confident, ambitious, open-minded, and extroverted personality. He's a dreamer who likes to think big, a natural entrepreneur who pushes boundaries and isn't afraid to try new things. And if this were a romantic comedy, there was an actual moment I knew he was "The One.". We were sharing a croi...2020-05-2219 minSum On Sleeve PodcastIs it just me or are Asians bad with compliments?When someone tells me I'm doing a good job or that I look great, I get uncomfortable. My first instinct is to downplay, then deny and then think of a compliment about the other person, deflecting the attention off of me. And then when I compliment, it's the most insincere thing. It comes across like I'm just saying something good about the other person for the sake of removing their focus on me.
When this happens, I can feel my Western and Eastern upbringings go at it, battling inside of me, trying to convince me to do th...2020-05-1506 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow to rediscover your life's purpose and what you should be doingWhat do you want to do with your life? Isn't that a loaded question?
Self-discovery Exercise: What you’re good at doing versus what you love doing
What are you damn good at? What’s a skill that you have that you always get praised for? What do you love talking about? If you could play God and control a social situation so that people talk about a certain topic, what topic would that be? Find your space in the Venn where those two things eclipse. That's your sweet spot.2020-05-0808 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHow to deeply appreciate the simple things in lifeEver feel like life is going by and you're just sitting there watching it?
You do things to get through the day, check the boxes and complete the tasks. And then one day, it hits you and you're sick and tired of the routine and you feel like a mindless mess that's running on autopilot.
Things need to get done, especially when you have kids and you're running a household. It's a tight ship that needs its Captain to steer. There is little time to dwell, to stop and reflect, to take a break.
I g...2020-05-0105 minSum On Sleeve PodcastA Quick Review of Netflix's TigertailTigertail is a 2020 American drama film written and directed by Alan Yang Here are my two cents about the film.
What were your initial thoughts of the film and first reaction(s) to seeing the trailer?
What attempt does writer/director Alan Yang get “right” in this film that other filmmakers haven’t been able to do for mainstream audiences before?
Did this help you understand your parents better?
If so, how. Any specific scene that stood out? What is the number one thing you wish non-Asians would understand about the Asian immig...2020-04-2411 minSum On Sleeve PodcastI don't ever want to completely know myselfAs we age, we tend to know ourselves better, what gives us pain, what gives us pleasure. But when we know ourselves more, it can also make us narrow-minded, preventing us from trying new things. It can also limit our desire to learn and grow.
How can we balance our increased self-awareness with a decreased desire to learn and grow?
We need to continually challenge ourselves well beyond "old age". By adopting a health mindset, we can remove the cap on self-awareness and take control of our destiny and where life leads us.
W...2020-04-1706 minSum On Sleeve PodcastWhat are your insecurities? Let's dive into themHave insecurities? Scared to be yourself? Worried about what others think of you? Or may think of you if you were to be real with them?
You're not alone which means most people are too busy thinking about themselves to pay attention to you. So be authentic to who you are, let yourself shine because you might just inspire someone else to.
Most people are their own worst critics. Just watch people as they walk by a mirror in a clothing store.
Who do they look...2020-04-1505 minSum On Sleeve PodcastHelp me prove my Asian mom wrongThe other day, I was picking up my daughter from my parents when I get an email from Medium saying that I made a bit of money last month from writing.
Holy shit! The Medium Writers Program pays if your stuff gets read. So, the better writer you are, the more money you get paid. So I had a moment of self-validation. People want to pay for my writing! I was incredibly proud of myself. It wasn't a lot of money but still...I was happy about it.
So when I entered my parents' house, I...2020-04-1304 min