Search

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

As one year ends and another begins…

As one year ends and another begins, let us move forward with an open mind, an open heart, and enduring hope for the wondrous possibilities that lie before us.

But let us do so wisely and without blinders on.

Because although the year ahead may be great, it will not be without its challenges. We will be tested in ways we cannot foresee. But with every challenge comes an opportunity for us to demonstrate our strength, patience, tolerance, and resolve.

Every surprise that the coming year has in store for us is an opportunity to show that we’ve grown. That we’re stronger. And that we are ever bridging the gap between the person we are and the person we wish to be.

Let us remember that it is through the process of overcoming challenges that we develop strength. And that every time we face temptation, heartache, friction, or failure it is an opportunity for us to act in ways that we can be proud of.

No matter what life has in store for us, let this be a year of love, encouragement, and forgiveness — of others and ourselves.

Let it see us act bravely, boldly, and taking consistent action towards our goals. Let it see us correct our bad habits and add to our good ones — making us healthier, happier, and more capable of living the kind of life we desire. Let is see us push forward into the new year knowing that we are not only capable of handling every adversity that lies ahead, we can do so in a way that makes us better.

And because we know that life isn’t always easy, let us remember to not just be there for those that we know, but also for those that we don’t.

Happy New Year.

Sincerely,
Zero Dean

Originally published: Dec 29, 2016

Happy New Year.

Prioritizing possessions over experiences

Be very careful when it comes to prioritizing possessions over experiences. A capitalistic society will often encourage the acquisition of more and more stuff without regard to whether it’s truly needed.

Always remember that the cost of owning more stuff not only involves the purchase price, it also involves the resources to store and maintain it.

When your possessions begin to restrict you from doing things that you could easily do if you didn’t own them, the cost of ownership is your freedom.

We often look at what people own as a marker of how successful they are, but a far more accurate measure is whether a person’s lifestyle provides them with the freedom to do what they truly want to do.

Related:

When you truly believe in yourself

When you truly believe in yourself and what you intend to do, it matters far less — if at all — when others don’t.

Remember, you are not here to confine yourself to other people’s expectations. You are here to live life in whatever way that brings meaning & purpose to it.

You and your life are a work-in-progress and will be every second that you exist until your expiration date.

Set goals worth striving for — even if they’re lofty — and begin the journey to accomplish them. Recognize that mistakes are how we learn & failure is simply feedback, it is not the end.

Take what you learn from all life experiences — the “good” & especially the “bad” — and keep pushing forward with a purpose the best that you are able to.

Related:

Telling people what you plan to do

Reminder:

You don’t have to tell people what you plan to do. You can just do it — or not do it. Especially if you have a habit of contradicting yourself.

The same applies to making emotionally triggered ultimatums that may not be adhered to when you’ve calmed down.

Confidence attracts. Insecurity repels.

Confidence attracts. Insecurity repels.

If you believe in yourself & what you do, how is that confidence reflected in your behavior?

If your confidence is dependent on the reception you get rather your belief in what you do, you will always be at the mercy of others.

If you don’t have an unshakeable belief in what you do or what you’re trying to accomplish, you’re gonna have a really hard time getting other people to.

Whether people cheer you or boo you, your confidence in yourself should not be dictated by the reception you get.

While there are markers that society uses to measure success, success is not a standard.

Just because a crowd may consider a person successful (or not) doesn’t mean that person conforms to their standard.

Success is up to the individual to define in whatever way they choose.