I’ve been in a half-rest mode lately — my shoulder’s been giving me trouble, and writing long pieces genuinely wears me out.
A few of you found out and quietly sent me a message: “Master, why not just write about food for a while? I’d enjoy reading that too.”
Thoughtful suggestions, every one of them — and practical too, since a short piece I can just tap out on my phone.
It means: sleep when you need to sleep. Even sitting upright — close your eyes when the moment calls for it, drop straight into deep sleep, and after fifteen minutes, wake up and get right back to it.
This ability, in everyone I’ve seen who has it, has never once led to an ordinary life. Almost without exception, they’re the top performers in their fields.
Take a close friend of mine — a born genius at high-frequency trading. More than a few times, right in the middle of us chatting and exchanging ideas, he’d suddenly say: “I’m a bit tired, need to recharge. Fifteen minutes and I’m up.”
On the first day of the New Year, let Master Chi make you a promise: if you’re willing to follow my guidance and commit to living this coming year with genuine effort and groundedness — then no matter where you stand right now, by 2027, you will very likely see real progress and rewards.
Because “a full year of practical growth and steady cultivation is an immensely powerful force — more than enough to reverse a downward-spiraling destiny.”
In the beloved series Blossoms Shanghai, there is a line from Uncle that strikes deep: “We are just ordinary people, working jobs and earning a living — so most things aren’t worth losing sleep over. When you’re at work, work well. When you’re off, rest well. Whether people speak well of you or speak ill of you, it makes no difference. Always remind yourself: in other people’s eyes, you are nothing. But that’s alright. In the eyes of your family, you are everything.”
Master Chi remembers it clearly. When he was young, his approach to a meal came down to two simple, non-negotiable standards: it had to be filling, and it had to have meat.
So no matter how fancy the dinner, before the evening wrapped up, he wouldn’t fuss over appearances. He’d wave over the server right there in front of everyone and order two bowls of plain white rice.
Then he’d take all those delicacies that everyone else was too proud to reach for — mixed them into the rice — and eat with pure, unashamed gusto.
The concept of the “American life kill line” has been making the rounds lately, so let me share a few thoughts — and I genuinely hope it serves as a warning to all of you.
Pay special attention to the advice at the end of this article. If you have children studying abroad, or relatives living in North America — please burn these words into your memory.
Alright, let’s first explain what the “kill line” actually is.
When you’re going through a hard time, sitting alone with your thoughts to “reflect and process” is rarely the answer.
The more you try to reflect in isolation, the worse you’ll feel. Slowly, you’ll find yourself drowning in self-reproach and guilt.
The far better approach is to sit down with trustworthy people around you — especially friends who’ve been through business ventures, investments, or personal growth journeys. Listen to their failure stories too. In that moment, your own mental state will ease considerably.
Because the most exhausting thing in this world is being forced, for whatever reason, to spend your energy tangled up with a “low-cognition person.”
This is, without question, the most draining waste of your mental energy, vitality, and spirit.
Because a low-cognition person is, at their core, a combination of stagnant ambition, self-imposed limitations, and thoroughly warped values.
Try to reason with them, and they’ll feel you’re attacking their tiny, brittle ego — then argue with you.
“Uncle, I feel like nothing has been going my way this year — I could even say I’ve accomplished nothing at all. It’s honestly gotten me pretty down.”
A reader sent me this message yesterday in a private note. I sat with it for a while and decided to respond — I hope it helps untangle what’s weighing on your heart.
First, I think we Chinese people share one great strength — and one great weakness.
Never keep turning a bad thing over and over in your mind.
Rest up, let your emotions settle — then deal with it. The way forward will come naturally.
Life is destined to bring small troubles every few days and bigger headaches every few months or so. When they come, they come. Meet them head-on and hit back hard.
If the outcome is good, wonderful — everyone’s happy. If it’s bad, sit with the pain, draw your lessons, and do better next time.