Am I in sync, to be free and a song for you

Looking back, every decision I made was guided by this one value.

This week, I had a one-on-one mentoring session with my financial mentor. And something beautiful unfolded during that conversation.

She asked me about what’s going on in my life and how I see it evolving in the long term. Then she said, "Rachna, from everything I’m hearing, your core value is freedom."

Freedom is a broad word, but for me, it means living a life of choice—freelancing while exploring different countries 🌍, having financial independence 💰, not being bound by gender roles, staying true to myself, pursuing my passions and curiosities freely 🎨📚, and leaving room for a little beautiful randomness in life.

But am I truly living in sync with this core value? Not yet.

As our conversation continued, she encouraged me to think about how I could not just live, but flow with this core value. That’s when it hit me: I had been waiting for my finances to reach some vague, undefined “better” state before allowing myself to explore the kind of lifestyle I dream about. But why was I waiting? 🤔

She helped me realize that I already have the funds to start exploring whether this dream life is something I actually want—or if it's just an idea that sounds cool in my head.

So, here’s my quest for the year: to come closer to this life I envision. I’ll be spending at least a month in a new country —just to see if this life truly resonates with me, consciously setting aside time (and money) to pursue passions and explore some new domains- yoga, and psychology.

I’m calling it my exploration fund—a way to follow my curiosities without overthinking where they’ll take me. 🚀✨

Take a Little Pause 🌼

What is one core value you live by? Are you truly in sync with it? What’s holding you back? Who could offer support or guidance? Reach out to them today. Make a 1% effort every day toward living a life that aligns with your core value(s).

And if you feel like sharing, reply here or drop a note in the chat! 😊

Nuggets for Your Soul💫

People say she wants to be free because she doesn’t want responsibilities. She says she wants to be free so she can take full responsibility for her life.

— R

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My Moment of Pause/Calm🌿

Listening to this song :)

Taking an afternoon nap on my sofa with the cozy crochet blanket I made.

What have you heard, seen, or done this week that brought you a moment of calm? I’d love to hear! 💛

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Now?

Sharing what I’m watching, reading, and learning!

📺 Slowly watching: Midnight Diner on Netflix (still sticking to one episode a day).
📖 Happily reading: Flow by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, The Healing Season of Pottery by Yeon Somin & Mastery by Robert Greene (More book recs? Check my list!)
🎨 Doing: Going for a crochet workshop tomorrow :)

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PPS: If you are from India or travelling to, I would suggest you join the Shoonya Festival happening in Rishikesh, Uttarakhand from 14-16th Feb. Enjoy the celebration of nothingness. Go solo :)

PS: If this newsletter brought you a moment of calm or a spark of inspiration, feel free to share it with a friend! You can also tap the ❤️ button so others can discover it on Substack. No pressure—just love and good vibes. 💛