Journey With Quila

Words are powerful. They can transcend time and space. So use them wisely—use them to encourage and change one person's life at a time.

recent posts

  • The Quiet Return to Fiction

    The Quiet Return to Fiction

    I started my love for reading books when I was a child by reading fairy tales and novels. I remember the giddy feeling I had when going home from school because my favorite novel was waiting for me.

    During my college days, being away from home, reading novels by Nicholas Sparks and Cecelia Ahern saved me from loneliness and distracted me from the high pressure of project deadlines and the demands of passing difficult exams.

    Reading fiction, especially stories with happy endings, gave me comfort and made me feel that everything was going to be alright. Being single during those years also made me hopeful that one day, I would have my own fairytale love story.

    But I guess life happens, and when it does, it forces you to rethink your choices and become someone you think you should be.

    That happened to me in my late 20s, when the pressure of settling down crept in. I was not stable in my career and felt lost in life. While everyone around me seemed to be on the right trajectory, I felt stuck and unsure of where to go. I did not even know who I wanted to become.

    So I tried to reassess everything, including my life goals, career path, and personal choices. At that time, I thought I needed to be more mature, so I believed that part of reinventing myself was reading more self-help books. I wanted to learn from people who had succeeded, understand their path to wealth, and hopefully mirror their mindset so I could find my passion and succeed as well.

    I bought many non-fiction and self-help books, and truthfully, I learned a lot from them. I enjoyed reading The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest, Atomic Habits by James Clear, Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki, The Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill, and many more.

    These books gave me confidence in myself and inspired me to invest in new skills that could help me turn my passion into something profitable.

    However, it often took a lot of time and effort to finish a book, especially older ones with heavy wording. If you are new to self-help books, I highly recommend starting with The Mountain Is You by Brianna Wiest.

    This led me to challenge myself to read 10 pages a day just to stay consistent. Six years into this journey, I have become more cautious about buying non-fiction books and make sure they are something I can finish. Still, despite all of this, I somehow felt lonely inside.

    One day, my partner and I went out to grab coffee and passed by a bookstore. He encouraged me to check it out and even promised to buy any book I liked. Even though I already had many unread books, I gave in.

    I did not have a specific book in mind at that time because I had already purchased most of the self-help books I wanted to read, including The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins, which I still have not read.

    Then I came across Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum. I became curious about it because the cover looked like a Studio Ghibli inspired illustration, and it was about a bookshop owner. Even though I had not read novels in a long time and still had many unread books, I decided to get it out of curiosity.

    And reading it felt like coming home to myself. It was like reliving my childhood memories and rediscovering the excitement of not knowing what would happen next. I could not put it down. The funny thing was, I did not even need to follow my 10 page challenge because I would lose track of time while reading.

    It felt like letting my inner child come out and play again after a long time.

    I then realized that while it is okay to become someone new when life requires it, it is also important not to lose yourself in the process. Being true to yourself, accepting who you are, and embracing what you love can also help you become your best self.

    That is why I hope you never lose the things that make the child in you happy.

    Thank you for taking the time to read this. By the way, I’m curious, what childhood passion are you ready to rediscover or are already making space for in your life again?

  • Reliving My Dreams Project

    Reliving My Dreams Project

    Started a project last week where I commit to doing everyday things that will reignite my childhood dreams.

    I started this after reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin, where she devoted a year of her life to finding true happiness. I think I connected with her book because lately, I’ve felt like I’m just going with the flow of life—not really living it by my own standards.

    During weekdays, my days are filled with work concerns. Sometimes, I even have to work overtime just to finish my 9-to-5 responsibilities. I only have a few hours to cook, read a little, and then sleep. I really try to get at least six hours of sleep so I have enough energy for the next day’s demands.

    Then on weekends, I spend my time resting. My partner and I go out to distract ourselves from work, then come home and sleep without an alarm—something that’s impossible to do during weekdays.

    However, even these activities outside of work still drain me because they don’t bring me true happiness. They don’t fulfill me. I’ve felt like I’m wasting my life away because there’s something in me that wants to do more—but I’m not making time for it.

    That’s when I came across a part in The Happiness Project where Rubin mentioned that one way to find happiness is to do something fun—because when something is fun, it doesn’t feel like a task.

    When I thought about that, I realized I don’t really have any hobbies or interests that make me truly happy nowadays. That’s when I remembered the things I loved as a child—drawing, journaling, and writing.

    I’ve been trying to reconnect with those passions by making time for them, even squeezing them into my chaotic and inconsistent free time. I’ve even bought journaling materials, but I’m still searching for that genuine feeling of happiness when doing them again.

    Then a thought crossed my mind: maybe I need to understand what “fun” looks like in my present life.

    Yes, drawing, writing, and journaling were fun for me as a child—but are they still fun for me now?

    When I really think about it, the answer is yes. I enjoy collecting little trinkets to include in my journal—things that help me commemorate moments and emotions. I love remembering happy experiences. I love the feeling of doing something enjoyable. And I love to have the opportunity of sharing those moments with others, hoping it might encourage them to find their own version of happiness too.

    I guess the “Reliving My Dreams Project” is really about bringing back the enthusiasm and excitement I once had for life.

    With so much going on in the world—and with so many pressures from the internet about how we should define success, happiness, and contentment—I think it’s important to pause, reflect, and rediscover what truly makes us happy on our own terms.

    Just like Taylor Swift once said:
    “I hope you get to nurture your hobby and your passion just between you and that craft. Give yourself time. Give yourself time to make mistakes. Give yourself time to hone your craft. I am a firm believer that anything you feed your mind will internalize. Anything you feed the internet will attempt to kill.”

    So, what are the things that make you truly happy these days?

    I’m genuinely curious. Let’s talk.

  • Sometimes Stepping Away Is Standing Up for Yourself

    Sometimes Stepping Away Is Standing Up for Yourself

    We often think that standing up for ourselves means being loud. Saying the bold thing. Holding your ground. And yes, sometimes it does. But other times, the most powerful thing you can do is quietly walk away.

    Not out of weakness. Not because you gave up. But because you finally realized your peace is worth more than proving a point.

    Stepping away is an act of self-respect. It’s knowing when something no longer serves your growth, your joy, or your values. It’s recognizing that staying, fighting, or forcing isn’t strength if it’s draining the life out of you.

    You can walk away from:

    • Conversations that turn into constant arguments
    • Spaces where you are undervalued
    • Relationships where you are always shrinking
    • Jobs that steal your creativity and joy
    • Expectations that don’t reflect your truth

    When you choose to step away, you are telling the world and yourself that you are not available for what hurts you, confuses you, or makes you feel small. You are making space for better. For peace. For alignment.

    It takes courage to pause and say, “This is not for me anymore.” It takes strength to let go of what’s familiar, even if it’s also what’s unhealthy. But that is a brave kind of growth.

    So the next time you feel torn between staying and leaving, between pleasing others and honoring yourself, remember this:

    Sometimes, stepping away is not retreating. It’s reclaiming.
    Your time. Your worth. Your energy. Your future.

    You are allowed to choose peace over chaos. Clarity over confusion. Yourself over anything that asks you to abandon who you are.

    Because walking away isn’t always walking out. Sometimes, it’s walking home to yourself.

  • Marry Someone Who Celebrates Your Journey, Not Competes With It

    Marry Someone Who Celebrates Your Journey, Not Competes With It

    You’ll get married the day you find someone who truly sees you—not just your smile or your achievements, but the battles you’ve fought to get where you are.

    The late nights. The sacrifices. The silent tears. The strength it took to rise again and again when no one was watching. You’ve worked hard to build yourself. And you deserve someone who doesn’t just love the final result, but who respects every step it took to get here.

    You deserve a partner who stands beside you, not in your shadow or in silent rivalry. Someone who cheers for you in every season—not someone who competes with your light or tries to dim it. Love should feel like support, not comparison. Like peace, not pressure.

    Marry the one who:

    • Celebrates your wins like their own
    • Reminds you of your worth on the hard days
    • Doesn’t feel threatened by your ambition
    • Supports your dreams instead of shrinking them
    • Sees your strength and is proud, not intimidated

    It’s not about finding someone who completes you. You are already whole. It’s about finding someone who recognizes your wholeness and walks beside you, not in front or behind you.

    Too often, people settle for love that looks good but feels empty. Don’t. Wait for the one who honors your journey, values your voice, and respects your dreams as much as their own.

    Because love, real love, should never feel like a race or a sacrifice of your soul. It should feel like home. Like safety. Like someone who wants to see you thrive, not just survive.

    So keep building. Keep rising. Keep dreaming. And one day, love will meet you there—not to compete with your fire, but to protect it and help it grow.

  • You Don’t Have to Burn Out to Succeed

    You Don’t Have to Burn Out to Succeed

    We live in a world that often glorifies hustle. The messages are everywhere. Work harder. Stay later. Push through. If you slow down, someone else will take your place. But here’s the truth no one tells you loudly enough: you don’t have to sacrifice your well-being to succeed.

    Working hard is important. Showing up with dedication and drive matters. But when your life becomes only work, you lose the energy, clarity, and joy that actually help you succeed in the first place.

    Balance is not weakness. It’s wisdom. When you create space for both your career and your personal life, you show up more inspired, focused, and powerful in everything you do. Your rest refuels you. Your time with loved ones keeps you grounded. Your hobbies remind you that you’re more than just your job title.

    Don’t let fear or pressure convince you that nonstop hustle is the only way forward. You are not replaceable just because you protect your peace. You are not falling behind just because you prioritize your health. Success that costs you your happiness is not success at all.

    You have the right to:

    • Take time off without guilt
    • Close your laptop and go for a walk
    • Spend time with family and friends
    • Prioritize your mental and emotional health
    • Say no to burnout culture

    You’re allowed to want a successful career and a fulfilling life outside of it. In fact, that balance is what often fuels true and lasting success.

    So work with heart. Rest with intention. And remember, the most successful version of you is not the most exhausted one. It’s the one who knows when to pause, when to push, and when to protect your peace.

  • Stay Grounded While You Rise

    Stay Grounded While You Rise

    Chasing your dreams is one of the most courageous things you can do. It takes passion, discipline, and a fire that pushes you to keep going even when the road gets hard. But in the middle of all that ambition and momentum, there’s something just as important as the dream itself—remembering what truly matters.

    It’s easy to get caught up in the climb. The late nights, the goals, the next big move. You start running so fast toward the future that you forget to look around at what’s already here. Your family. Your roots. The people who’ve loved you before the world ever knew your name.

    Success means nothing if you lose yourself along the way. And it’s not really a win if you have no one to share it with when you get there.

    Your dreams are valid and worth fighting for. But so are the quiet dinners at home. The phone calls to your mom. The inside jokes with your siblings. The friend who always shows up. These are the things that give your dreams meaning. They keep you grounded. They remind you who you are when the world tries to define you.

    You can rise high and stay humble. You can dream big and stay close to your roots. You can be fiercely ambitious and still have a soft heart.

    Let your success be built on a strong foundation. Let your goals stretch far, but keep your feet firmly planted in what matters most.

    Stay grounded while you rise. That is where the real beauty lives. That is what makes the journey worth it.

  • Tune Out the Noise, Tune In to Yourself

    Tune Out the Noise, Tune In to Yourself

    In today’s world, it’s easy to get overwhelmed. Social media is constantly shouting opinions, comparisons, and curated perfection. Everyone seems to have something to say about how you should live, look, or succeed. But here’s the truth you need to remember: not every voice deserves your attention.

    When you’re chasing your dreams, the loudest distractions are often not your own thoughts. They come from the outside—what people think, what they expect, and what they post. If you’re not careful, that noise can drown out your own voice. The one that knows what you truly want. The one that whispers your purpose when everything else feels uncertain.

    There comes a time when you have to make a choice. You can either keep seeking approval or start seeking progress. You can keep watching others live their lives or start building your own.

    Silencing the noise doesn’t mean you don’t care. It means you care more about your growth than their judgment. It means you are choosing to focus your energy where it matters—on becoming who you’re meant to be.

    So unfollow the pressure. Mute the negativity. Distance yourself from opinions that don’t align with your vision. And then, turn your attention inward.

    Focus on:

    • The habits you’re building.
    • The mindset you’re developing.
    • The goals you’re working toward.
    • The person you are becoming.

    Your dreams were given to you, not to them. That alone makes them valid. And if you keep showing up for yourself, even quietly, even slowly, you’ll start to see the life you’ve imagined take shape.

    Let the world do what it does. You don’t have to shout back. Just keep working, keep growing, and keep believing.

    In time, your results will speak louder than any noise ever could.

  • Trust the Universe, Do Your Best, Let Go of the Rest

    Trust the Universe, Do Your Best, Let Go of the Rest

    There’s a certain kind of peace that comes when you stop trying to control every little detail of your life and instead, you simply trust. Trust in the timing. Trust in the process. Trust in the universe.

    We spend so much energy trying to plan, predict, and perfect every outcome. But the truth is, life rarely goes exactly as we imagined, and maybe that’s the point. The universe has a rhythm, a wisdom, a way of guiding us even when we don’t understand it in the moment.

    That doesn’t mean we sit back and do nothing. It means we do our best, and then release the need to force what’s out of our hands.

    Put your full heart into the work. Show up with honesty. Be kind. Try. Fail. Try again. But after you’ve done what you can, breathe. Let go. Let life unfold as it’s meant to. You’ll find that some of the most beautiful things happen when you stop pushing and start allowing.

    Trusting the universe isn’t weakness. It’s strength. It’s saying, “I believe something greater is working with me, not against me.” It’s believing that delays are not denials, that redirections are protections, that every step, even the messy ones, are leading you exactly where you’re meant to be.

    So wherever you are right now, take a deep breath. Let this be your reminder:

    • Do your best. Always.
    • Release the rest. It’s not yours to carry.
    • Trust the universe. It’s already working behind the scenes in ways you can’t yet see.

    Because life becomes a little lighter, a little more magical, when you stop needing to know how and start trusting that it will.

  • Failure Fuels Dreams: Fall, Feel, Rise, Repeat

    Failure Fuels Dreams: Fall, Feel, Rise, Repeat

    No one likes to fail. It hurts. It shakes your confidence. It makes you question everything—your decisions, your talent, even your worth. But here’s a truth that dreamers often discover the hard way: failure isn’t the end of your story. It’s the fire that forges it.

    Every dream worth chasing comes with roadblocks, missteps, and moments that break you a little. And when failure hits, it’s okay to not be okay. It’s okay to wallow in self-pity for a while. Cry. Vent. Feel the disappointment in full. You’re human—and pretending not to feel it doesn’t make you strong. Processing it does.

    But once the storm settles, you owe it to yourself to get back up. Not to prove anyone wrong, but to prove yourself right.

    Here’s what failure can teach you—if you let it:

    • Where your weaknesses are—and how to turn them into strengths.
    • What doesn’t work—and what just might.
    • That you’re more resilient than you think.
    • That your dream still matters—maybe even more than before.

    Failure forces you to pause and reflect. It gives you clarity. It humbles you, yes—but it also refocuses you. It’s in those low moments that your true grit is revealed.

    So after the tears and doubts, pick yourself back up. Analyze the mistakes. Learn the lessons. Adjust the strategy. And then move forward—not with shame, but with renewed purpose.

    Because every person who’s ever achieved something great has a list of failures behind their success. They didn’t win despite those failures—they won because of them.

    Failure is not the opposite of success. It’s part of it.

    So next time you fall, remember this: You’re not broken. You’re being built. And every time you rise again, you’re one step closer to the life you’re meant to live.

  • Confidence: Your Real Power Move in Life

    Confidence: Your Real Power Move in Life

    “You have to believe in yourself when no one else does. That’s what makes you a winner.” – Venus Williams

    There’s a silent force that opens doors, commands rooms, and sets people apart—not talent, not luck, but confidence. The belief that you belong, that you are enough, that you are capable. Because here’s the truth: if you don’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else?

    Priyanka Chopra once said, “Perception is reality,” and she’s absolutely right. The world often sees you through the lens you hold up to it. If you carry yourself with confidence, people will assume there’s a reason. They’ll listen a little closer. Trust a little quicker. Respect a little deeper. Why? Because you’ve set the tone.

    But confidence isn’t about being perfect or having it all figured out. It’s about showing up anyway. It’s that inner voice that says, “I’ve got this,” even when things are uncertain. It’s courage over fear. Faith over doubt.

    Here’s what confidence does for you:

    • It opens opportunities—because people gravitate toward those who believe in themselves.
    • It builds resilience—you bounce back quicker when you know your worth.
    • It earns trust—when you trust yourself, others do too.
    • It shifts perception—from invisible to influential.

    And the best part? Confidence isn’t something you’re born with. It’s something you build. Every time you speak up, show up, and stand your ground—you grow it. Every time you take a risk or bet on yourself—you strengthen it.

    So don’t wait for the world to validate you. Validate yourself. Show the world who you are, and it will adjust its lens accordingly.

    Believe in your vision. Believe in your voice. Believe in your power. Because once you believe it, the world will follow.