Failure hurts. It hurts especially when we have worked so hard to meet expectations, have high hopes for success, but we end up falling short. Despite our inherent drive for perfection, failure remains an unfortunate inevitability of the human condition. It is, in fact, what makes us truly human. But how do we deal with failure and…

Ah, jealousy. One of the most human of emotions that exists in our world – equally, one of the least enjoyable to experience. It’s that feeling of wanting what your friend has, of feeling left behind, of wishing you had somebody else’s life. Not particularly fun. And with so many religions and philosophies encouraging us…

Here’s an idea that’s really intrigued me over the past few months: how are our minds and bodies related to each other? Can thoughts and emotions influence physical health? And what does this even mean? Now, being the scientific and evidence-oriented person I am, I was naturally very skeptical upon hearing that my emotions could…

I’ve recently been reflecting a lot on friendships – how they form, evolve, grow apart. Throughout my two decades of life on this planet, I’ve been blessed to have made some amazing friends, some who’ve since gone their own ways, and some who’ve truly become lifelong companions. Inspired by a conversation with my cousin, I…

It’s 11 am here in KL, and I’m sitting down in a small cafe with a lovely cup of coffee and some soft boiled eggs. I thought this would be a great time to write down a little reflection about life, in a really Dvij-esque post. I’m hoping some of my thoughts here resonate with…

This post was probably the hardest for me to decide writing so far. Although I’ve become much more comfortable and content alone in the last couple of years, by no means am I an expert on always being happy by myself. Make no mistake, I’m no stranger to feeling lonely. That said, this is now…

It’s currently 12:30 AM here in Philadelphia. For me personally, the most profound philosophical thoughts hit in the dead of night, normally as I stare out into the lights of the city. It just so happens that tonight, I was thinking of faith, destiny and the course of my life. So sit back and enjoy…

The next time you find yourself on a plane, train or bus, I dare you to chat with the stranger sitting next to you. I know, I know, weird suggestion. After all, if you’re anything like I am, there’s nothing more inviting than plugging in those headphones and zoning out once you realize that the…

Why I’m writing about this Pretty much anyone who meets me for the first time asks me about this, especially Indonesians, so I thought I’d write a little bit about my thoughts here. Honestly, writing about this feels incredibly pretentious, but I’m hoping this might be helpful for someone thinking about making a similar decision…