by Nanci Bradley

An Example from My Life

Recently, I came across a video about relationships. I clicked on it casually, expecting to watch for a few moments before moving on. Instead, I found myself completely absorbed.

The creator was discussing an article about dating and relationships, exploring the idea that we can become overly focused on finding our “type.” Yet, when we truly fall in love, we fall in love with a person rather than a checklist of qualities.

The conversation also touched on the importance of authenticity. Being ourselves allows us to discover whether we are genuinely compatible with someone, rather than trying to become what we think another person wants. It also explored how relationships evolve over time and how important it is to keep learning about each other as individuals continue to grow and change.

None of these ideas were entirely new to me. I had heard them before in different forms. Yet something about the way they were presented sparked a deeper reflection.

The next morning, I was still thinking about the video. I found myself considering how these ideas fit into my own worldview and experiences. Some concepts challenged patterns of thinking that I had been carrying for years. Others resonated deeply because they reflected truths I had already begun to recognise in my own life.

For me, this is what conscious consumption looks like. It is remaining open and engaged while reading, listening and watching. It is noticing what captures your attention, what challenges your assumptions, what feels true, and what doesn’t. Most importantly, it is becoming curious about why.

Have I Started?

I have to be honest and admit that, as I write this post, I have not actually started a commonplace journal yet.

Part of me feels slightly overwhelmed by the backlog of books, videos, articles and ideas that I would love to capture. There is so much content that has influenced my thinking over the years, and the thought of trying to document it all feels like a significant undertaking.

That said, I am making preparations. I am exploring different approaches, considering what format might work best for me, and beginning to engage more consciously with the content I consume.

Perhaps in the future I will update this post with reflections on my experience of actually keeping a commonplace journal.

For now, my focus is simply on becoming more aware. More present. More intentional with the information I consume each day. Even in the moments designed to distract us from life, there is still an opportunity to learn something about ourselves and the world around us.