I dont think it’s just weeks but it could be a year, at least, or more. The puzzles are everywhere and being an overly excited person, I kept on adding more and more puzzle pieces too.

Puzzle pieces of things in my life. And today, since few days ago, with the help of Qwen and data from Reclaim, I just got this visualization in my head.

TLDR: click to skip to this part:

The problem

Some people call it “being everywhere”.

Some people asked me to “settle with one” but Steve Jobs, for many years, have been the guru in my head, reminding me that: “If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”

And so, I kept exploring, hypothesizing, testing, and collecting.

I didn’t want to settle for just one piece of the puzzle because life is too complex and beautiful to be confined to a single path. But as the pieces piled up, it became overwhelming.

Hypothesis 1:
If I focus on just one area of my life, I’ll find more clarity and peace.

Testing 1:
I tried dedicating a whole half-year to just one big domain, hoping that singular focus would bring some relief. However, by the end of the process, I felt disconnected from other important aspects of my life, I truly miss doing few things at a time. It was like cutting off a part of myself.

Testing 2:
Next, I experimented with finding partners, on adjacent projects I have. While I made some progress like more strategies, I noticed too many ‘strategies’ in my head, causing stress and guilt.

Findings & Inference 1:
I am someone who can strategize on-the-go, that’s why I normally just launch things and those things (MLStudio videos, TikTok, Durioos) still work till now.

Hypothesis 2:
Maybe the key isn’t to choose one path but to find a way to integrate all the pieces into a cohesive whole.

Testing 1:
I started experimenting with small daily habits that touched on multiple areas of my life. For example, I began morning pages where I’d write about both work challenges and personal reflections. This helped me see how different parts of my life were interconnected.

Testing 2:
I also tried setting aside specific times for each aspect of my life—morning for health and family, afternoon for work, and evening for personal growth. This structured approach allowed me to give each area its due attention without feeling overwhelmed.

Findings & Inference 2:
It’s still tiring to not have some ‘big cohesive’ picture. Curation of things? I felt anxious. I felt so many things are flying around me, buzzing & bugging.

And so, through this casual yet ‘scientific’ process of trial and error, I slowly began to understand that the answer wasn’t in choosing one path but in finding a way to harmonize all the pieces.

That’s what I started to own more—internalizing that we can be more than just single-track people. Some people call this “multitalented” individuals. Others might term it as “multipotentialites” or “slashies,” referring to those who have multiple interests and careers.

But in my journey, I think I just want to understand me. I wanna understand being Shafira. It’s not about fitting into a label or category; it’s about embracing the complexity and richness of who I am.

Quoting Parker Palmer in Let Your Life Speak , “Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am.” This resonated deeply with me. It’s a reminder that self-discovery is an ongoing process—one that requires patience, curiosity, and a willingness to explore different facets of ourselves.

I realized that each piece of puzzles—whether it’s AI safety, website development, my Sijangkang hub, my love of thinking books, my love of teaching, and so many other pieces that include yearning to keep on nurturing my familial relations, my romantic relationship, deep friendship—makes me, me.

And while it may seem daunting at times (and most of the times, you’re not sure the ‘when’ too), trying to integrate these various aspects has been incredibly rewarding. It’s like weaving a rich tapestry, where each thread adds depth and beauty to the whole.

Another problem too

Uncertainty on how to see all these pieces of puzzle affect our decision making.

“Should I apply to more, or should I focus on taking risk here?”

“Should I say yes there or say ‘no’ to more?”

I want to know for things I am doing – there’s a reason to it. Yet I wanna know where to place these all and if I need to ‘throw some away’, I also need a ‘bin’ to place them- perhaps do it later years.

But on what metrics?

Even if I look like someone who pursue things based on passion, truth to be told, I never decide solely based on passion. Passion dont pay the bills (and I’m not some nepo-baby sadly).

So, what are the some initial big puzzles or frames that have helped me, you may ask?

Some mental framing I use

TBA – but first principle & Parker Palmer’s approach – also letting thoughts simmer in the background

Some initial processes

That’s when I realized I needed a better way to organize my thoughts and priorities. Enter Qwen and Reclaim. With their help, I started visualizing my life stack—a way to see all the different aspects of my life and how they fit together.

It wasn’t easy. There were moments of frustration and confusion as I tried to make sense of it all. But slowly, layer by layer, the picture began to emerge.

The result (life curation/ life stacks)

The first layer was about Life Sustainability. This included things like health, family, finance, and my spouse. These are the foundational elements that support everything else. Without them, nothing else can truly thrive.

The second layer was Knowledge Building. This is where my passion for learning and connecting with others comes in. Whether it’s through Jeda or other projects, this layer is all about growing intellectually and spiritually.

The third layer was Soul Growth. This is the eternal aspect of my life—the part that connects me to something greater than myself. It’s about nourishing my faith and finding meaning in everything I do.

And then there were the missions: establishing AI safety, connecting heavy books, and making digital tools friendly. These are the big goals that drive me forward, each building on the layers below.

But here’s the thing: even with this visualization, I know it’s not perfect. It’s a living document, something that will evolve and change as I do. And that’s okay. Because life is a journey, not a destination.

Current conclusion

So, if you’re reading this and feeling overwhelmed by the puzzle pieces in your own life, remember: it’s okay to keep looking. Don’t settle. Keep stacking those layers, one at a time, and trust that eventually, the picture will become clear.

With love,
Shaftira