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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

Little by little

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Lessons Learned from The Path Less Traveled by Zero Dean

 

A little lie is still a lie.
A little abuse is still abuse.
A little racism is still racism.
A little bullying is still bullying.
A little infidelity is still infidelity.
A little nepotism is still nepotism.
A little negativity is still negativity.
A little immaturity is still immaturity.
A little narcissism is still narcissism.
A little name calling is still name calling.
A little discrimination is still discrimination.
A little sexual assault is still sexual assault.
A little mental instability is still mental instability.
A little disregard for the environment is still disregard for the environment.

Evil doesn’t just show up and announce itself as evil. It might even look like something good at first. And it will certainly try to convince you that it is. But little by little it works in ways that end up having major negative consequences if you continue to turn a blind eye to the damage it’s doing in what it wants you to believe is in your own best interest.

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Be mindful of your time

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Lessons Learned from The Path Less Traveled by Zero Dean

Be mindful of where you invest your time. Try to focus more on things that add value and less on things that simply make moments go by.

Time is one of the few things in life that we can never get more of. Be diligent in determining when it is in your best interest to avoid situations & activities that do nothing but put off things you could be doing that actually make a positive difference in your life (or someone else’s).

Remember, by changing your priorities you change your life. When you prioritize your time to those things that add real value to your career, your education, your relationships and your mental & physical health, your life responds by giving you more of the rewarding things that you seek and less of the negative things that you don’t.

You have exactly one life to live to do everything you ever wanted. Stop wasting it caught up in things that don't matter.

Above image is an excerpt from: my book series

It’s your life and your path — keep going.

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Always remember to keep your eyes on your goals and the steps you can take to achieve them. Focus less on what you don’t have or what you can’t do or what others are doing.

Yes, it can be difficult not noticing what others are up to or how “easy” some people seem to have it or how successful they appear. Just know, perception isn’t always reality. And if you do notice others, then use what you see as motivation to push forward.

Remember, you’re living your life and walking your own path, not someone else’s. Just because someone else is making progress towards their goals is no reason for you to stop making progress towards your own.

Change your strategy if you have to and take time to rest if you must, but don’t stop. Every little step you take towards your goals is progress. Keep going.

there-will-always-be-someone-better-at-something-than-you-are-zero-dean-zerosophy

Above image is an excerpt from: Comparison is the thief of joy — from my book

Achieving personal goals series:

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The future should be something we all look forward to.

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Lessons Learned from The Path Less Traveled by Zero Dean

 

Just because an abuser feels justified being abusive and has a vocal support group doesn’t excuse their actions or make them right.

It can be difficult holding your ground in the shadow of forces that seek to stifle logic, tolerance, honesty, and common sense, but it’s important that you do. This is especially true in a chaotic political climate.

If those who are meant to represent us are not leading us to a better and brighter future, it is important that we elect those who do. The future should be something we all look forward to, not just a select few.

Regardless of our ethnicity, cultural background, political or religious beliefs, or sexual preferences, our leaders should inspire us all to be better people, better to each other, and better for the world.

Lessons Learned from The Path Less Traveled by Zero Dean

On Kindness & Disrespect

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Lessons Learned from The Path Less Traveled by Zero Dean

You can be a kind person and still be the kind of person who yells profanity at the car that cuts you off in traffic. Being kind and not tolerating bullshit are not mutually exclusive. Being a kind person doesn’t mean you can’t verbalize your disapproval for disrespect.

Crossing paths with idiots is never an excuse to act badly and you should always strive to set a good example, but it doesn’t mean you have to stay silent or put up with abuse.

Sometimes the biggest favor you can do someone is to stay calm and speak the truth. And sometimes that truth is, “You’re being an asshole and here’s why…” At other times it may mean not giving your time and attention to someone who doesn’t respect it.

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be a Zen Master. And you certainly don’t have to tolerate bullshit. Just lead with kindness and always do your best. Even when others are not at their own.

Diminishing the effectiveness of negativity

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In a world of negativity, every positive act you perform, no matter how small, not only helps to set a good example, it helps to diminish the effectiveness of those who spew hate and negativity.

If you want to do some good then literally do some good. Make a positive difference in someone’s life. Do the things you wish more people would do.

What you do for people and the moments and memories you help create can literally change a person’s life (including your own).

It’s OK to be concerned, angry, and upset about the state of things. It’s OK to speak out against hate, intolerance, and injustice. It’s OK to stand up for what you believe is morally right. Just be sure that when you do so, you do it in a way that has a positive impact and doesn’t just add to the negative energy that you oppose. Convert your positive (or negative) energy into positive action. Lead by example by performing actions that you can be proud of no matter how you are feeling.

Make sure children and adults alike can see that there is far more to the world than the things that get shown in the news. That there is far more good in the world than hate. And far more people wishing to create something beautiful than those who wish to destroy it.

Some people may be beyond reach, but there are still countless individuals of all ages and all walks of life in the world that could use the guidance of your good example.

Don’t ever let your disapproval for anyone or anything turn you into someone you don’t want to be.

Lessons Learned from The Path Less Traveled by Zero Dean

“That’s just the way things are.”

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Lessons Learned from The Path Less Traveled by Zero Dean

Abuse. Aggression. Disease. Dishonesty. Disrespect. Unrest. Corruption. Cronyism. Loss of freedom and privacy.

The longer we tolerate things that we find unappealing or unacceptable, the more normal they seem and the less those things shock us.

This is how “I can’t believe it.” becomes “That’s just the way things are.”

Making progress usually leaves people feeling better, not worse. By failing to pay attention to the direction life is leading you, you are far more likely end up in a place you don’t want to be.

Just because it sounds good doesn’t make it true

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Lessons Learned from The Path Less Traveled by Zero Dean

Just because it sounds good doesn’t make it true. Always seek the whole truth, not just the version that pleases you.

Remaining closed to factual evidence that contradicts what you believe doesn’t make the truth less truthful, it simply supports a distorted view of life based on limited information, half-truths, or outright lies.

People are often content to believe lies as long those lies fit the narrative they wish to follow.

Always remember that people naturally seek evidence to support what they already believe. It doesn’t make them bad people. It does, however, make them impressionable to those who use this fact against them.

People are happy to root for the bad guy if the bad guy repeatedly reaffirms what they already believe. It doesn’t have to be true. It just has to fit the narrative they already believe.

When seeking the truth, be sure to consider evidence that challenges your beliefs. Otherwise, it isn’t the truth you seek, it’s simply confirmation of what you already believe.

Lessons Learned from The Path Less Traveled by Zero Dean

When compassionate souls sit silent

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Lessons Learned from The Path Less Traveled by Zero Dean

It is a sad day when compassionate souls sit silent and leave unchallenged abuses and acts of aggression out of fear of losing friends that are only their friends as long as they remain silent and hide what they feel.

If someone is going to abandon your friendship because you feel empathy and compassion towards others, believe in human rights, and are against discrimination, lying, and abuses of power, then they really aren’t the kind of friend you want in your life anyway.

A true friend will never insist that you hide who you are and how you feel.

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