Taking a brief break from my brothers and sisters these past couple of days — things have been genuinely busy, so I won’t be writing lengthy articles for now. Consider this a chance to breathe, reset, and step into July with solid footing.
July — the Ren Yin year, Ding Wei month — will bring many remarkably positive changes. We must hold onto them tightly. This matters.
From the perspective of Chinese metaphysics (玄学), the principle of ji qin tai lai — “after the darkest moment comes the dawn” — is the inevitable course of all things under heaven. The July that stands just ahead of us is precisely the first green tip of the lotus breaking the surface of the water. The time has come to slowly begin adjusting our mindset and energy.
Speaking of welcoming new beginnings, I have a few small secrets of my own. I like to rearrange my study and bedroom with Feng Shui as my guiding principle, tailored to what I need in that moment.
At the same time, I thoroughly sort through my clothing, books, and personal belongings — anything I no longer need gets sent away. A clean, decisive danshari (断舍离 — the practice of letting go of what no longer serves you) leaves everything crisp and clear.
I also update my phone wallpaper and profile picture according to my current needs and state of mind. It changes with the seasons, but it is always something that carries good fortune and auspiciousness.
Do these little rituals actually make a noticeable difference, you might ask?
They genuinely do. First, you feel better — it puts you in a mental state of “always moving toward something better.” And more importantly: if we truly respect traditional culture, we might as well see it through in the small details too. It costs us nothing, so why not?
Honestly, I’ve never quite understood certain young people. Deep down they want a bright and promising future — yet they choose profile pictures with dark, gloomy, sorrowful themes. Try this: look at the people whose lives are going smoothly and well. Every single one of them — the moment you see their profile, you can feel the good fortune radiating outward.
My own personal WeChat uses a picture of an adorably chubby little cartoon tiger — full of luck and life. People look at it and immediately sense that I’m a relaxed, approachable friend. Setting aside the Chinese metaphysics angle entirely, the impression alone scores full marks.
So the old saying holds true: “One who seeks good fortune must first present themselves as fortunate.” These words, passed down through generations, carry real wisdom.
Alright — I imagine quite a few of you are already itching to change your profile pictures after reading this.
That’s wonderful. Positive change, big or small, is still change. One step at a time.
Just remember, whatever you choose:
As long as you feel comfortable looking at it, and the people around you feel warmth and closeness from it — that’s the best choice.
If you genuinely can’t decide, drop me a message in the comments. If I have a moment, I’ll take a look at your picture and offer a quick thought or two. Don’t worry — our exchange in the comments won’t be visible to others publicly. Feel free to write freely.