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Not everyone will understand your journey. That’s fine. It’s not their journey to make sense of. It’s yours.

Zero Dean

Author | Photographer | CG Artist | Filmmaker

Zerosophy

Integrity isn’t only for when life is easy

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Remember that time you lost something and didn’t think anyone would return it… But they did.

And you were so grateful for that.

Perhaps it gave you a bit more faith in humanity?

Be that person the next time you find something that isn’t yours and it’s possible to return it to the rightful owner (or to someone who can).

Because if you do take something that isn’t yours and claim it as your own, what you’re essentially saying is that you’re fine with other people taking your stuff when you misplace it.

Integrity isn’t only for when life is easy. It’s for when life is hard. It’s for when you face temptation or your values are challenged.

“A person’s true nature is revealed at times of the greatest adversity.” — Daisaku Ikeda

Integrity doesn’t take advantage of another person’s misfortune for one’s personal benefit. Integrity lends a hand.

What you do and how you act when you are challenged and put to the test says a lot more about you and your true character than what you say or do when life is easy.

Find something that isn’t yours? Maintain your integrity, show your true character, and do the right thing.

“Your decision to think right, choose right, & do right will rarely if ever be the easiest course to follow.” — Thomas S. Monson

Originally published Mar 25, 2015

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Doing Good

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Being a do-gooder does not mean you have to be some lame watered down version of yourself. It doesn’t mean you can’t have an edge or act boldly. And it doesn’t mean you have to do all the same conventional good things as everyone else.

People who want to donate to charity can do that. People who want to volunteer for causes or join groups can do that, too. And there’s nothing wrong with any of these things.

People who do these things are awesome. And the world can always use more people doing them. But there’s also nothing wrong with finding your own unique ways to make a positive difference. Making someone’s day better for having been a part of it, that’s what matters.

Making someone laugh or smile. Giving someone a funny story to tell. Providing encouragement when it’s needed. Appreciation. Gratitude. Friendship. And providing not just a voice to those who need it, but a listening ear as well. These things matter. And are as equally needed in the world.

Being a do-gooder is about having a positive impact on the world around you and making people feel good.

It doesn’t matter how you decide to do it, just do it.

And when you make a positive difference, you won’t just see it, you’ll feel it, too. Because one of the fastest ways to feel good about yourself is to be genuinely good for someone else.

And there’s nothing lame or uncool about that.

So do your good in your own way. You never know when whatever good you offer in whatever way you offer it, is exactly what someone needed.

Originally published on: Jul 20, 2014

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One less idiot

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I’m an optimist. I like to see the best in people. I believe human beings are inherently good. I believe people are capable of achieving far more than they believe. I encourage tolerance, kindness, and open minds.

That said, knowing this one simple fact may prove beneficial in getting through life:

Idiots are everywhere.
(And sometimes we are those idiots.)

That probably won’t change.

But what can change is who we are and how we act when we cross paths with idiots. Because, sadly, we often let other idiots turn us into idiots without thinking.

The more we resist the urge to let others control our emotions and our actions in a negative way, the less likely we are to let idiots turn us into idiots (and the happier and more in control of our lives we will be).

Our attitude and how we handle ourselves is always our responsibility.

We may not always know what to do when we cross paths with idiots, but we can always choose the type of person we want to be.

And if you choose not to let an idiot turn you into an idiot, that’s one less idiot there will be in the world.

Originally published on: Feb 12, 2014

One less idiot.

“Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.” — Mark Twain

“Never wrestle with pigs. You both get dirty and the pig likes it.” — George Bernard Shaw

“Stop attaching so much weight to being right. In the grand scheme of things, being right is insignificant compared to being happy.” — Deepak Chopra

“Be selective in your battles sometimes peace is better than being right.” — Ritu Ghatourey

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Something worth striving for

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Imagine if everywhere you went you felt the love of those who were grateful for your existence. Imagine if, with everything you tried, you felt the support of those who want you to succeed.

Would it change how you act? Would it change what you strive for?

While we can’t control others, we can control ourselves. We can be someone who actively encourages people with love, appreciation, and gratitude. We can help combat the criticism and negative judgments that those who are just trying to live fulfilling lives are frequently forced to face.

While we can’t change the world in an instant, the time it takes to lend our support, encouragement, and positive energy to people who can use it can change not just a person’s day, but their life. And while it’s not always easy to change someone’s life for the better, it’s something worth striving for.

You start at zero and you add one

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You start at zero and you add one.
And then you add another.
This is how it’s done.

Zero steps of a journey you want to take.
Zero miles you want to run.
Zero things you want to make.
Zero things you want to do for fun.

You start at zero and you add one.
And then you add another.
This is how it’s done.

Originally Published on: Oct 1, 2019

One of the least expensive, but most valuable gifts

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One of the least expensive, but most valuable gifts you can give anyone is genuine appreciation.

Always be mindful of opportunities to show appreciation to those you care about. You’ll never know how valuable your sincere appreciation can be until you take the time to express it.

Today is day one.

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Today is day one.

You’ve just been handed your life in its current state.

Your health, your skills, your relationships, your job, your education, everything.

So looking at your life today, what is it you want to change?
What is it you want to get better at?
What bad habits do you want to break?
What good habits do you want to adopt?

Does your current life accurately reflect your values of today or are you filling your schedule with activities you would no longer choose to do if you had the chance to start over?

Has your life become cluttered with possessions you no longer value as much as you once did or no longer use?

Make a note of your answers to these questions and redirect your aim and attention to what you want to improve in your life even if it means changing direction.

Let go of the things that are simply taking up space and time and no longer serve you.

The more that you incorporate things that you truly value into your life — from knowledge to skills to people to activities — the more value you not only bring to your own life, the more value you bring to the people and places you encounter on a daily basis.

Invest in bettering yourself and the future you. Let your future self look back on the changes you make today and be thankful you made them.

Today is always the first day of the rest of your life.

Today is day one.

Originally posted Mar 29, 2015

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In a world of critics…

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It is entirely possible to help people without criticizing them or what they do. It is entirely possible to have a disagreement without being disrespectful. It is entirely possible to teach and guide people without abusing them.

There is no shortage of critics, haters, or people who complain about things that they don’t like. There is, however, a severe shortage of people actively encouraging what they do.

Encouraging what you’d like to see more of is a far more elegant and positive solution than constantly complaining about or criticizing things that you don’t.

If your method of “helping” people often involves making them feel bad, you may want to reconsider what it means to be helpful.

In a world of critics, be an encourager.

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Making life changes manageable

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Feeling inspired to make some healthy changes?

Remember to start small to keep things manageable. The commitment necessary to consistently making the time to do something new can be just as important as what you choose to do with that time.

People often attempt to do too much before they’re capable of sustaining it or before their body or mental state is ready.

If it’s been a while since you’ve done something physical, it’s likely that doing far less of that activity than you can physically do will leave you sorer than you imagine.

Too many people make the mistake of testing their physical limits on day one of their new workout routine and then put themselves out of commission for several days because they’re too sore to continue. If you don’t want to immediately set yourself back, consider doing less than you feel capable of and then ramping up based on how you feel the next day.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a large part of physical health is dependent on a person’s diet.
And while it’s important to consider both physical and dietary changes, the same concept applies — attempting to do too much, too soon can be unsustainable.

Keep this in mind as you move forward with your intentions to make life-altering changes.

And when it comes to your mental and physical health, be sure to consult a paid professional when necessary.

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