I recently found Tina during my wanderings in the blogosphere. Her blog posts are mini-books and packed full of information. A few months back I used her post on making profound and lasting changes to help me focus when editing my novel. If you want lots of fantastic information on personal growth, then Think Simple Now is the site to visit.
Who: Tina Su of Think Simple Now
Tina ‘retired’ at an age of 28 and spends her time following her passion around the field of personal happiness and fulfillment.
What variety of Someday Syndrome affected you the most? In what way?
Someday Syndrome unfolded itself in two ways in the past for me:
How did it affect the rest of your life?
My inaction and unfocused state of mind slowed me down. I could have reached my goals much faster had I gained clarity earlier on. Hindsight is 20/20, I’ve learned and am now a wiser person than I was before. Nothing was lost.
How would you describe your happiness level at that time?
I’ve always been a happy person, but more so, I have always been pretty content with my life. However, I did feel that something was missing, because I wasn’t living my ideal life situation. If you are not content with your life situation, adjust the sail, you are in the pilot seat.
Did the other varieties of Someday Syndrome appear in your life as well?
I think we all experience the different varieties of Someday Syndrome in our lives. The key in overcoming them is to become aware that they exist and take immediate action to counter act them. Taking action, like anything else, is just a habit. You get better at it through repetitive doing.
What changed? Was it gradual or did it come as an epiphany? Perhaps a mix the two?
It was a gradual change of building up my confidence and educating myself to better understand human potential. I started taking small steps towards taking control of my life and it became a habit over time. Small changes in lifestyle have a snowball effect that can expand in massive ways. Once we habituate the patterns which contribute towards our wellbeing, there’s no turning back, life can only get better! Start small. Start Now.
What dream are you in the process of realizing?
My current dream is to bring personal happiness and awareness to the lives of others. I’ve since committed myself to doing this fulltime.
How would you describe your happiness level now?
I am living my ideal life, surrounded by love, freedom and purpose. What more could I ask for?
Happiness is tricky to measure. I prefer to say, in this moment, I am completely content with all the blessings in my life. I give gratitude for all of it on a daily basis.
What advice would you give someone in the position you were in before?
Be surrounded by people and books that inspire you. Commit time everyday to learn, and grow. In doing so, you’ll notice a beautiful change within yourself as you are becoming your best self. By realizing your best self, you become a source of inspiration for those around you. Thus, the cycle of empowerment and positive energy continues, starting with you.
Someday Lessons:
20 Responses to “Commitment to Growth: Tina Su Interview”
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Just wanted to say that I love the new look. Great job.
Writer Dad’s last blog post..The Great Equalizer
Hi Alex and Tina,
What a fabulous interview. I love the part where Tina says, “The physical stuff cluttered up my living space and as a result cluttered up my mental space.” If more people learned this “secret”, they would find so much more room for things of the heart and mind. Those, are the real treasures we need to collect.
Barbara Swafford’s last blog post..NBOTW Authors - Where Are You Now
“Physical possessions aren’t just clutter. They can also hold you back from realizing your dreams.” — Alex F.
So very, very true! My mother once said to me: “you know sweetie, how you keep your car is a reflection or how organized your life is.” (She was making a statement at the uncleanliness of the brand new car she had bought me just a year earlier as a graduation present). At the time she said it in a very casual tone (she was just happy to see me as I was visiting home from college). Anyway, later, I realized how true her statement was. It resonated with me and I’ve since worked to remove as much clutter from my home, car and everything else.
I want simplicity because it allows me to be productive. It gives me clarity to work towards my goals…
Ribeezie’s last blog post..Social Networking ROI: is it worth it?
Alex, I love the part where Tina says “Start small. Start Now.” Makes me finally realize that whatever I think is holding me back, the only way to overcome is to start. For the longest time I thought my lack of knowledge, lack of physical build, etc. was an excuse to not begin something. Now I realize that it is the exact reason that I should start. If I don’t start, I won’t put myself into the position to learn. Lack should not be an excuse, it should be a motivation.
By the way, this interview was phenominal Alex, you have really outdone yourself. And the site looks fantastic. Keep it coming.
Sal’s last blog post..TV vs. Movie
Physical possessions. Some of them we need, but not as many as we think.
While reflecting on a move overseas to a new country, I had a look around the house and made a list of what I would absolutely take with me.
I could count the items on my fingers… and everything would fit in a small suitcase. To me, that says I’m mentally ready for the move.
Do it now. Resourcefulness is more important than resources.
-Brett
Brett Legree’s last blog post..viking fridays - the worst sickness.
Thanks for this interview. This is my first time to your blog, and reading Tina’s thoughts are always uplifting.
Looking forward to coming back more often!
Alex,
Beautiful site, brilliant questions, excellent interview. (Other than that, it’s pretty good - lol.)
I was glad to see Tina’s mention of surrounding yourself with inspirational people and BOOKS. At this point in my life, I’d say I’ve been inspired by the beautiful writing in fiction books, rather than some of the blather in “self-help” books. A nice, brief - but full - interview with a person like Tina sums up at least 90% of the “self-help” books I’ve ever wasted my money on!
Thanks, Tina.
Success! Alex.
Rita’s last blog post..How a Hard Hit on the Head Can Help ANY Man
“Small changes in lifestyle have a snowball effect that can expand in massive ways.”
That is so important for folks just starting to look into this stuff. - Thanks Tina
Alex - Wow site looks great,the new focus and energy is oozing out on to my desk, my mouse seems to be stuck in it.
MonkMojo’s last blog post..stick it to the Man
Re: Moving and forcing me to rid myself of the extra stuff in my life was such a liberating exercise….I did exactly this when I moved from my 2200 square foot home to an 800 square foot apartment. Got rid of toxic relationship and a whole whack of physical stuff in the process. It was all part and parcel of freeing myself from my old existence, and moving forward with a brand new one. Liberating indeed!
Excellent interview. Looking forward to the rest of them, and not just because I’m one of them *grin*
Urban Panther’s last blog post..Don’t tell me I can’t
Inspirational interview. Tina’s blog rocks - as you say her posts are mini-books. And I couldn’t agree more with her about possessions holding you back. I always love the lightness of being that comes when all I have is contained in a 20kg backpack.
Thanks for this Alex.
Kelly
Kelly@SHE-POWER’s last blog post..Has Photo Retouching Gone Too Far?
Hi Alex and Tina - What a fab interview. I have been making many of the same mistakes Tina was making, so knowing she was able to overcome them fills me with confidence.
I love the way she explained the snowball effect when we make small changes. And like Tina - I was considering getting rid of most of my material possessions before emigrating. But I was concerned that this was a bit drastic. After reading this interview, I know it is the right thing to do.
Cath Lawson’s last blog post..Frugal or Flashy In Business - Who Wins?
@Writer Dad
Thanks! I’m super happy with the design. It’s really reinvigorated me.
@Barbara
Yes, there is such a strong connection between inner and outer worlds. I know when my emotions are all ajumbled because you can’t see the bedroom floor. Now when that happens, I give the apartment a thorough cleaning and my mind opens right up.
@Ribeezie
“I want simplicity because it allows me to be productive.” Exactly! Even when I have lots of money (notice the “when” not “if”), I’ll surround myself with simplicity. The temptation to buy buy buy when you have money is so easy…
@Sal
Inertia feels really hard to beat, but bit by bit inertia turns to momentum and zoom! Off you go. Glad you like the blog - you’re appearing in it later today.
@Brett:
I have a few things lingering in houses in Canada and in France, but for two reasons only. Canada: family things that I don’t have room for/money to ship (yet). France: furniture from last year that I haven’t gotten around to getting rid of yet. Other than that last year in May I’d gotten down to two suitcases of possessions. It was very liberating but at the same time I felt completely disconnected from community. Things can overload us, but they also provide us roots which are very important.
@Lewis
Welcome and I look forward to reading your contributions to the conversations.
@Rita
I totally agree with you about books - fiction has been so much more inspirational for me. I have, however, on occasion found really good self-help books. One that I can’t praise highly enough is The Comfort Trap by Judith Sills.
@MonkMojo
Thank you so much! When the Men sent me the production link for the new design, I kept going back to it, just to look at over and over. The banner draws me right in and the colours… {happy sigh}
@UP
Freeing yourself of the 200lbs of ex was the best first step in getting rid of the rest of the unnecessary stuff, eh? BTW, your interview will be going up in a week and a half.
@Kelly
See my comment to Brett above - I loved that lightness but couldn’t do it for more than 6 months. I’m a homebody and things around me. That being said, the things themselves don’t really matter. I could change 90% of what we own and would still be happy.
@Cath
Good for you for deciding to get rid of things. Be careful however (Brett - this is for you too) about getting into a purge-frenzy. When I got rid of things I did it in two stages. The things I wasn’t sure about, I stored stuff at my parents’ then when I went back a year later I took another look at it. I was fortunate to have that option, however. (So, who’s the lucky country? Canada, Australia, or New Zealand?)
Alex,
Oh, I hear you - I agree, I have a few things (call them “touchstones”, or whatever) that make the place home. Some favourite books, a pair of shoes, and so forth. Once settled in a place, a nice chair perhaps (but the chair is easy, you can always get another one).
I do consider myself lucky, too - with such a big family, I can go essentially anywhere as long as they are with me. We are mostly self-dependent that way (even if the kids drive us nuts sometimes!)
I agree with you too - once something is gone, it can’t come back, so you have to be careful not to overdo it.
-Brett
Brett Legree’s last blog post..viking fridays - the worst sickness.
There is a French saying that says ‘un elephant se mange à la petite cuillère’. Basically translates to ‘An elephant must be eaten with a small spoon’. We sometimes get discourage because our goals seem unattainable or irrealistic. I totally agree with Tina. Break it down in smaller pieces, start small but start now! Great interview!
Urbane Lion’s last blog post..I’m just a gigolo!
Hi Alex - wow, the new blog just launched and you’re kicking things off with an interview with a top-notch blogger. Awesome!
Great interview with Tina. I can identify with her response regarding the physical and mental clutter. Being nimble and free helps to appreciate the present.
Al at 7P’s last blog post..The Hero with a Thousand Jobs
Great interview, I’m a big fan of Tina’s. Stumbled for you as well
Glen Allsopp’s last blog post..What Message would you Leave before you Die?
[...] wrong in a meeting will most likely make his work life better, not worse. Sal is going to take Tina Su’s advice and take small steps on projects – moving things forward, but not diving [...]
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