The article, “Are You Sure You Want to Work in the ESG and Sustainability Fields?”, which I wrote in August 2024, received a lot of attention on LinkedIn. I believe many people resonated with my writing, perhaps because they were going through similar experiences. Since then, I have attracted many like-minded individuals, but unfortunately, things are not looking good.

Here’s why: my previous article focused heavily on the problems I faced. Naturally, it attracted people facing the same problems—but no one with solutions. This inspired me to write this article, where I want to share the lessons I have learned during this one-year journey, and the actions I have taken (within my control) to manage problems that were outside of my control.

Change Is Not Easy – It Takes Courage

In the journey of change or self-transformation, there are three crucial steps: self-awareness, self-acceptance, and self-compassion. Courage is a key factor in all these steps and essential for success.

Whenever a similar situation arises, we have two options: to react in the way we are used to (comfortable), or to try new ways (uncomfortable). When deciding whether to take the latter path, you have to ask yourself: “Is it that I can’t, or that I don’t want to?”

Getting out of your comfort zone is never easy because you are dealing with a whole new experience. This new experience may sound exciting or scary—it all depends on how you perceive it. Let me share my story with you.

The Bravest Thing I Did in 2024 – Solo Travelling

This was a challenge I gave myself after realising I had difficulty making decisions for myself and following my heart, rather than doing what others wanted (to impress them or gain their approval). So, I decided to start with an easier step—local travel (I didn’t want to shock my body and mind; they needed time to adapt to new experiences)!

Pulau Pangkor was my first destination. I did a 2-day, 1-night trip and planned the itinerary myself, based entirely on where I wanted to go and what I wanted to eat. Travelling alone in Asia is still quite rare, especially at Pulau Pangkor. The first question locals asked me was, “Are you here alone? Why not come with your family or friends?” To be honest, I felt awkward at first, but I slowly got used to it. I understood the reason behind their curiosity, so their reaction didn’t affect me much. However, if you were to ask me, I hope my next trip to Pulau Pangkor will definitely be with my loved ones!

I still have some social awkwardness; talking to strangers is a new experience for me. I met many people during the trip, but I didn’t engage in meaningful conversations. Now, the question is: “Can’t I, or don’t I want to?” Reflecting back, I think the answer is that I don’t want to. So, no obvious change happened after the trip. No change will happen if someone does not want to change. That’s the first step—self-awareness.

I did not give up. I tried again. My next destination was Vietnam! This time, I decided to go somewhere further, to a foreign land. I changed my planning approach—I saved places I wanted to visit and food I wanted to try, but I didn’t make a strict itinerary. I felt less rigid and more relaxed; I wasn’t tied to a fixed schedule, and the whole trip felt more enjoyable. I talked to strangers more, joined a tour group, stayed at a backpackers’ hostel, and took the initiative to talk to other travellers, exchanging stories about cool places we had visited and delicious food we had tasted. The social interactions made this trip more wholesome! Now I realise that in everything we do, it’s the people who matter most—not the objects.

Have You Started Taking Action?

Some people can spend days and nights talking about their problems, defining whose fault it is, and blaming others for the suffering they are experiencing. I have been one of those people, but I am learning to shift my focus from problems to solutions, one step at a time.

Thank you for reading until the end. I hope this article inspires you to move on to the next phase of your life—finding solutions to your problems. The truth is, there will always be problems in our lives, big or small, but there is a solution to every problem. If you are unhappy with your life right now, let’s be brave enough to change—if you want to.

May all beings be happy!

 

Love,
Jia Xin