🍁Your Past Has the Answers You’re Looking For

How revisiting your past reveals the blueprint for your future + last week of November Reset.

Hi Burnout BFFs,

As we wrap up November and head into the last month of the year (how does time fly by so fast?), I wanted to share a few reflections. The November Reset exercises nudged me to walk down memory lane as part of my journey to process my experience with burnout. I hoped to understand my younger self better—to piece together clues, patterns, and past experiences that could inform who I am now and who I’m becoming.

So when I went home for Thanksgiving, I dug up the journals I kept from 6th grade through high school. It was interesting to revisit my teenage years through my own writing. A lot of the entries were cringey and dramatic (as expected from an angsty teenager), but I also found a new sense of understanding and compassion for younger Annie.

Clues from my younger self: lots of old writing & art, cringe flyer for my "Asian Entertainment Club", and work style assessment from middle school that still applies 18+ years later

• Navigating identity and adapting to a new culture: The main theme of those years was defined by navigating a brand new world after immigrating from Taiwan—learning a new language, adjusting to a new culture, making friends from scratch, and processing everything through constant self-reflection and writing. I could see the evolution of teenage me through my observations of the world, and I gained a new appreciation for the struggles that younger Annie went through to become who I am today.

• Core passions that never changed: What surprised me most was how little my core has changed. It makes so much sense that I’m doing what I’m doing now. I was always writing, making art, and—even back then—building community. (I forgot I literally founded a high school club dedicated to “Asian Entertainment” because I was obsessed with K-pop and J-pop LOL.) It’s fascinating how often the answers to who we are now can be traced back to the beginning.

• Early clues of burnout and misalignment: I also noticed patterns I didn’t have words for back then—dissociating during family trauma, arguing with my (probably wiser) friend that money = happiness, and my hyper-focus on performing well and being “perfect.”

Going through my old stuff was such a surprisingly revealing exercise, and I now have a deeper understanding of how I got here. If you’re searching for clarity—about your purpose, your passions, or the origins of your current patterns—go through your old journals, notes, and photos. Your past self leaves breadcrumbs.

---

🌙 Week 4: Small Steps, Big Energy

Reflection is powerful—but transformation happens in small, gentle steps.

This week, let’s take what you’ve learned about yourself this month and turn it into something tangible that you can add to your burnout recovery toolkit.

✨ Reflection Prompt

Think back to your answers from Week 2’s manifesting exercise for your dream career.

What’s one small change that could bring you a little closer to that version of life or work?

Then ask yourself:

• What belief, fear, or practical barrier is keeping me from moving toward that version of work?

• What would make that change feel sustainable instead of stressful?

• What support or boundary might would make it possible?

💬 Share your reflection:

Comment with the one change you’re committing to this month—no matter how small. Progress doesn’t have to be loud to be real 🌱

---

🌿 Wrapping up the series

Over the past four weeks, we’ve explored balance, purpose, gratitude, and small steps. I hope this short reset has reminded you to prioritize yourself—even just a little.

If you’ve been following along, I’d love to hear what stood out most or what you’d like more of in future activities focused on burnout recovery or intentional career building. Feel free to comment or reply directly to this email.

I also have a few Burnout BFF projects in the works, and I’m curious what format you prefer for consuming deeper content (like interviews or thought pieces). If you have a second, please vote in the poll below 👇