Why do people chase the 5Cs in Singapore? I recently watched a movie, Singapore Dreaming, which tells a tale of a lower-middle income family after a death in the family results in rifts and tension because they received an unexpected windfall in the form of inheritance. Most Singaporeans would be able to relate to the movie because the aspirations to a upper class life and their motivations for a better life for their child are similar to what most Singaporeans would have experienced themselves.

The movie also throws the spotlight on the question: What would you cherish or regret on your deathbed?

Cherish:

  • Authentic relationships and life experiences
  • Wholesome activities with lasting well being effect
  • Life Satisfaction at having pursued autotelic goals

Regret:

  • Never regret, but reflect, because the current iteration of you is the existing version of YOU that cannot be reversed. Instead reflect on your choices, which you can do so by keeping a diary and writing down how you can improve.

Rewiring the brain to savour wholesome experiences

Ever binged watched a whole series of TV? What about a week binge watching dramas on Netflix? Or spending a year with no hobbies but playing video games? What did you feel after that? If you are like me, a sense of ennui, meaninglessness. Such content isn’t intrinsicly satisfying, it stimulates you and captures your attention, but it doesn’t build you up as a person nor add knowledge to your mind. Its like empty calories for the soul.

Choose to consume meaningful content

So what are satisfying entertainment choices for your wellbeing that anyone can do? Reading a non-fiction book to learn about something new. Writing a blog, which helps to solidify your knowledge. Debating with others on topics like their opinion on the ideas in books, their opinion on current affairs, their opinion on topics like education, tech, privacy, welfare, UBI, etc.

Great Minds Discuss Ideas. Average Minds Discuss Events. Small Minds Discuss People.

Pursue meaningful flow towards your goal

Martin Seligman talks about signature strengths in his book Flourish. Identifying one’s signature strengths is one step towards finding your hedgehog. The other two are finding what you love to do and figure out how it can earn a living.

Have you ever been so focused on what you were doing at that moment that time seemed to pass by effortlessly and you felt as if you were effortlessly doing a task? You go into a state of flow when you practice your signature strengths that you like and since its something you enjoy doing, you naturally feel pleasure.

What I will celebrate on my deathbed:

  • Achieving flow during the course of my work
  • Having identified some of my signature strengths and starting my passion project

As Socrates said, “The unexamined life is not worth living.”