Not everyone will understand your journey. That’s fine. It’s not their journey to make sense of. It’s yours.
Author | Photographer | CG Artist | Filmmaker
It’s OK to struggle. Nearly anyone who ever achieves anything great has to overcome obstacles & truly work for what they want. And remember that mistakes are some of the best teachers. Always adapt to what life has to offer & keep pushing forward.
— Zero Dean (@ZeroDean) December 27, 2018
For some people, this is one of the most difficult times of year. Some smile & pretend everything is ok when it’s really not. I’ve been there.
People who are in the darkest places may tell you that they’re good when you ask because that’s the socially appropriate answer to “how are you?”, not, “I’m really struggling.”
Amongst the fake smiles & insincere cheer, if you truly care about people, take the extra moment to express it to those you come in contact with in a meaningful way.
Your time, attention, and a listening ear are some of the best gifts you can give to someone and they cost nothing.
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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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.
Above image is an excerpt from: Comparison is the thief of joy — from my book
Achieving personal goals series:
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People will often go to great lengths to ignore obvious warning signs, red flags, and common sense in order to have what they want to believe fit the narrative they wish to follow.
They will even do so at their own peril.
They believe so strongly that they are right that they are blind to all that is wrong. All the while, their condition worsens and the life they want crumbles.
Addiction. Domestic abuse. Obesity. Stress. Debt. Self-injury. Eating disorders. Political ideologies.
Don’t make excuses for the monsters in your life. Don’t normalize them. And certainly, don’t ignore them. Because sooner or later you’ll see what you’ve been blind to.
Better sooner than later.
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When the state of the world gets you down, remember to focus on what is within your power to change. Don’t forget that you are in control of where you place your attention and what actions you take as a result.
There is always something you can do to improve yourself or the life of another. And if you can’t figure out how to do the former, then focus on the latter. Because when we help make a positive difference in other people’s lives, we also make a positive difference in our own.
In a world where bad examples are prevalent, let how you live your life be a good one. One day at a time.
Seen in a meme:
“Do more of what makes you happy.”
While I agree with the sentiment, I would counter this by saying:
“Do more of what makes you healthy.”
Not everything that makes a person “happy” makes a person healthy. Too much of a good thing can have negative consequences.
Never underestimate the brain body connection. Often, when one falls out of balance, the other follows. How one treats their body is how one treats their brain.
Because at least some degree of happiness stems from feeling good about one’s self, it stands to reason that the better one feels about themselves, their decisions, their life, and their health, the greater their sense of well-being.
Happiness is more likely to manifest itself in one’s life as a result of seeking a healthy mind, healthy body, and healthy spirit than it is by seeking the instant gratification of doing only more of what makes them happy.
Do more of what makes you happy healthy (and happiness will follow).
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How you think affects how you feel.
How you feel affects how you live.
How you live affects your life.
Improve how you think to improve how you live.
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” — Marcus Aurelius
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