In a world where external influences like algorithms dictate what we should value and focus on, we rarely spend time listening to our inner selves, working towards a facade end goal that we may find no fulfillment in. People may be inspired to pursue financial independence to retire early, but then feel empty with nothing to do as they still don't know their identity. To get back in touch and [find our purpose](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuHEY7CjjTI), we have no choice but to cut all external senses. Yes, that means experiencing… boredom. Whether it be going on a long hike or practicing mindfulness meditation, do an activity that inspires boredom. Practice mindfulness, acknowledging but letting go of all the external desires and thoughts that may impulsively come up. Once that isn't fed, then your boredom will start to take over and will try to make you really uncomfortable, suggesting you to revisit the ideas you passed by, or your usual tendencies to overcome boredom. After there'll be a new phase in which you get very fast thoughts that gradually slow downnnnn…. …and at the end of that is when you finally find your own intrinsic desires. I personally haven't reached this because my default mode network is always on and am easily persuaded by impulses. Thankfully I've been aware and have been slowly rebuilding my discipline in a similar fashion to the first phase, whenever the feelings do come up. But I'm planning on taking things one step further, to revisit my book notes on [[{ Mindfulness in Plain English]] and practice [[Vipassana Meditation]] in the morning to set the tone for the rest of the day.