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A lot of our spiritual suffering comes from imagination. I hadn’t even really noticed how miserable I drive myself daily, all because I’m thinking about things I don’t have that I think want…

…thinking…thinking…thinking.

Never did I stop just to enjoy everything in front of, and that’s the real failure.

Numb yourself to pain, and you become numb to joy.

I’m learning to open myself to it all, to play, to have fun and live in the moment. In truth, my life is awesome right now. I’ve got so many things going for me, and sure– default brain wants to say, “You need this, that, stacks…” and I do want those things, but I won’t suffer for them.

I’m enjoying my life as I move towards them.

I don’t think you suffering will help you achieve anything. Actually, I liken it to dating… no one is attracted to desperate. If pursue desire with desperation, you’re just that single dude that everyone finds second-hand discomfortable.

Don’t be that guy.

All we have is today, right now.

Enjoy it, the irony is when you learn to do this and let go of bullshit desire– you inevitable gain the life you want.

All progress in my life came as a result from letting go of my ginormous dreams, and just living in the now.

Try it, you have nothing to lose… and everything to gain.

#FoolAround

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Hey Fool.

I can finally say, and confidently, that I know what I want.

For those of you wondering how’s the other side? The answer is awesome. It sucks not having a clue what you want to do with your life, but what sucks even more? Doing what you hate.

It took years of mistaking around to get me here. And a big takeaway for me, from me and to you– DON’T follow others. Not their advice, not their dumbass course, not their book on how to live the dream, none of it.

The only advice I’d give younger me, to have gotten me to this point sooner– FOLLOW yourself.

I ended up discovering my own path only when I quit listening to others. It might seem counterintuitive, and I get the logic. You see a successful individual who has something you want, it makes sense to do what they did, right?

Nope.

Fact is, you’re not them. And before you saw them, did you want that thing? Did you really?

Probably not, or you’d have been chasing it sooner and unprompted by others.

You don’t want to be an entrepreneur, you want what you think it’ll bring you. Status, wealth, financial independence, an exciting life.

When you unplug from the nonstop advertising pushing you to fuck up your life, only then can you get clear on what you want.

I figured out my interests by pulling away from everyone. All those people fight for space in your head– cut them out. You’ll never find it listening to them.

Instead, figure out what you’re interested in, even kind of, even just a tad, and start there.

Be closed to all else.

#Foolaround

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Hey Fools.

Do you ever have those days where you wish you could just disappear? Even just for a day, you could be someone different, somewhere else.

The reason most of us don’t succeed is we’re addicted to failure.

Obviously I don’t mean failure in the sense of poor performance, but there is something to the human condition when it comes to holding onto familiarity.

Failure is familiar.

What makes success so hard is keeping that corny optimistic mindset– it isn’t natural. Maybe it’s just me, but apart of me looks down on it. And yeah, I’m naturally cynical, but I fear naïve. So every time I get close to changing, I stop short because I somehow think this skeptical attitude keeps me safe.

And at one point it did, but today all it does is keep me alone and depressed.

So, I’m changing.

I’m not going to go all law of attraction on you, but it really is attitude. If we’re playful and bold, life resembles and becomes more of an adventure, if we’re lame and depressed, life becomes meta– where you live vicariously through the shows you watch.

We’re here for far too short of a time to live angry and unhappy. I don’t want to be one of those people, I don’t want to hate my life.

This is the best time to be alive and most of us can’t realize it– because we’re stuck in our heads, fighting an unwinnable fight.

My solution?

To change.

It’s cornbread, but the only way to actually be better is to fake it till you make it. Fake optimism, fake playfulness, just embrace the now and act as the person you want to become.

You’ll fake it now, but eventually– you’ll meet the person you want to become.

From one Fool to Another,

#StayFoolish

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I used to think all conversations drained the crap out of me. Even with people I liked, we’d sit there, catch up, shoot the shit, and inevitably part ways.

After leaving, I’d notice I was always exhausted.

It was weird to me. As someone who’s highly energetic, how is it that these short-lived verbal exchanges defeated me so quickly?

Well, I’ve found the answer to that.

Regardless of liking the other speaker or not, the ideas we were talking about shared one pattern- they’re utterly fucking worthless.

Every time I talk to someone, and we start going down the “small-talk-rabbit-hole” I’m mentally wiped out.

You only have so much energy to give, and yeah, it’s selfish but no shit, it’s your life. You’re supposed to be selfish with your time.

That said, I can’t stand conversing about GARBAGE.

People talking about nothing.

Their pets, their drama, their misery, the list goes on.

When you offer a solution, it’s met with yeah but check out this other list of my shitty life.

I get it, your checklist stays unchecked.

You might say, that’s how relationships are– maybe yours. But I’m not accepting that low standard for connection.

See, what’s changed is I started making friends with individuals who share my values… and the curse seemed to be broken.

What magician-ery is this? Not only am I not tired, but I actually have more energy?

Well digital voyeur, it turns out when you’re around like-minded individuals you can walk away from conversations having learned something, having actually walked away better than when you first got in.

I never knew this side of communication.

I didn’t know relationships could be like this.

To me, it looked like most people lived in elevators with how fluent their small talk game was. I know, sounds like I’m judging hard.

But I’m not.

It just isn’t for me.

And I can tell you if you hate the people that only talk about philosophy or whatever the fuck… the point is if you’re drained from the people you’re around- LEAVE.

No one owes anyone anything.

It’s your life.

If you’re sitting there taking that ear-f**k for nothing, maybe you should start to ask why?

Your choice.

#FoolForward

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For the longest time I refused to accept anything other than my idea of success.

All I ever wanted was this vague and stupid idea of a career that magically checked off all the boxes in my life.

This supposed career would fulfill me spiritually, mentally, professionally, and all the other places I felt I had a figurative hole.

Having always felt empty, I assumed this feeling must originate from my desire for success and my lack of it.

I really believed it was spiritual. That this hard to articulate connection to an inner desire for greatness, it must be real.

But every time I chased it, I fell short.

Unhappy. Alone. Paranoid. Depressed.

And you know what’s crazy? Today I live a far more balanced and fulfilling life. I’ve got a good career, a hobby I love deeply, I’m healthy, I’m learning, I’m having fun and even today, even now– I still slip back into it.

Everything good in my life came from me pursuing skills and life experiences, not some bullshit fantasy calling– yet I’ll still have these moments where I make myself miserable thinking about it.

I don’t know how this idea infested my brain, I don’t know when.

But in moments of clarity, I see that it isn’t some magical force that drives me towards greatness, actually- it’s a self-destructive streak that if given into will ruin you.

This little quirk my brain has, this habitual practice of misery, where I imagine the Alexander-the-greatness my future should be and how I don’t have it, all it ever did was keep me depressed and isolated.

It’s such a weird thing to struggle with.

I actually can’t remember not having this. I don’t remember a single time since my youth, where I wasn’t stroking this imagination and entertaining its arguments.

But I’ll tell you this, I’ll never choose it.

I’ll never go the route of this feeling, because it isn’t real.

It’s just grandiosity, and me knowing that, keeps me sober.

I like where I am, I like who I am, and I’m enjoying my life of learning. I’m not going to fuck up everything I’m building because some stupid imaginary demon advises me to.

We’ll always struggle with our voices, but we get better of them by seeing them for what they are.

If you’re driving a shit road, stop and change course.

It’s the superpower of every human being, we can all stop at any moment and reinvent ourselves.

#StayFoolish

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I was never a reader.

I never enjoyed the process of sitting down and wiling away the hours with a “good book.” And what the hell is a good book anyway? Something that slows the passage of time?

That was never a thing for me.

I liked learning what a lot of ignorant people call “street smarts.” Oh yeah, made my mom real proud saying that here. Anyways, it’s true nonetheless. I just wasn’t someone who enjoyed consuming information like that.

And I got away with this. For a long time.

But then adulthood came, and I still wanted childish things… so I held on. Like a lot of us today, fame and fortune looked cool and fun, while work and hustle felt like something reserved for the far less creative.

With that, I made my choice.

Not so surprisingly, I found that even the “fun” careers required hustle, and it turns out–minus the fame and fortune, I wasn’t having the advertised fun.

So, here’s where things started to change.

Rather than take that lesson and go for something I was interested in learning, I chased more fun careers… same ending. Discovered no fun to be had here, and started over.

If you’ve read early posts you know my story, and to keep it simple and short– all this chasing led to my crash.

The millennial falcon has landed, depression station.

What these self help gurus leave out is that the bottom has advantages, obviously no one should stay there. But when you’re low, you have time. If you use that time to reconnect, read, figure yourself out, you’ll rise like a fukin-phoenix!

During that time, I read a lot… a lot of garbage mostly. Books that anyone could have written, and a bunch of nobody’s did. Looks like the barrier of entry to becoming an author is low these days.

Anyways, after I persisted through the shit, I struck gold.

The Laws of Human Nature by Robert Greene.

By far the most detailed, rich, informational, and relevant book I’d ever read…and keep re-reading. While your favorite entrepreneur jerks off his speed reading abilities, and shows you his 1000 book list, I find myself re-reading the laws over and over.

This single book doesn’t tell you who to be or what to do, it gives you a system for connecting to your individuality.

And it works.

After reading this book many times over, I’ve found and begun a career suitable to my nature and deeply connected to my individuality (explained in the laws), found ways to better control my ego, and have become a better human being by leveraging empathy more and the most important chapter, attitude.

I’m living a better life in every way, all because of one book.

I’ve read a lot of shit, so have you, this is the digital age after all.

But I promise you, if you’re looking to change your life this book will do it.

#FoolsLaw

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Hey Fool.

Something I’ve come to better understand as I get older is there isn’t a trophy anyone can give you–

success is defined by you.

I’ve long been against the all-too-common, poisonous advice given by modern culture that we can “DO it all”. Because I don’t think success is something you should pursue for its own sake. Ironically, success isn’t ever the starting point, and trying to “get after it” all the time will only make you a deeply unhappy person… and not a success.

There’s a quote in the movie Fight Club that perfectly summarizes todays problem with culture: Our war is a spiritual war.

The reason we feel empty, unhappy, and disconnected is because we’re not moving around defined.

You don’t know your values, you don’t know your wants, and somehow you figured that internet entrepreneur seems like a good person to copy?

Negative.

There is no short cut for a meaningful life.

The only way to get it is to define it, and then move towards it. Instead of figuring out how to succeed, figure out who you are– and move towards becoming more.

Success is a byproduct.

#FoolsGold

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Hey Fool.

Ever wonder why things don’t change as much as you’d like?

You know you’d like things to be different, but aren’t sure where, how, why? Well, it isn’t spiritual. We don’t really operate on goals.

Everyone says they have them– but they don’t really.

Saying I want to be a millionaire or retire young is not a goal, it’s a hope. So each day, and for some of us– all throughout life, we float.

We’ve got hopes, but never sat down to come up with goals, means to measure them, and finally move towards them.

This is by far the biggest decider of success.

The best place to start?

Try to come up with a detailed answer to this question: What do I want more than anything?

If you don’t know, it’s okay– I didn’t at first. After revisiting the question daily, I came up with “a good life.” I realized that stripped of all the advertising I was sold, there were only really a few key interests.

Start here, and we’ll both swim.

#FoolForward

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Hey Fool.

I’m slowly becoming a practitioner of a new art, and that is optimism. You know those corny quotes, “Whether you think you can or can’t, you’re right”…

they’re lame, but true nonetheless.

For the next 30 days I’m taking on this challenge of thinking relaxed positive thoughts while moving towards my goal. Anytime I start thinking negative, I’ll refocus towards my goal.

I realized how much of my time is spent focusing on what I don’t have, and I’m done with that.

Life is abundant, and if you look for it you’ll find it.

Life SHOULD be an exciting adventure, we should want to get up out of bed in the morning– and that doesn’t happen being some pissed off negative person.

So, for the next 30– I’m playing fully.

Keep you posted

–AnotherFool

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What’s Up Fool.

This might be a corny and pretty short post, but nonetheless I want it on here.

As obvious as it is, only yesterday did I actually catch myself thinking… not the things I’m used to thinking, but the thoughts that dictate my mood (those subtle thoughts).

And I noticed– I’m always looking at what I don’t have.

In one year I came a really long way. I went from in debt to debt free, directionless to gps guided, unemployable to successfully carreer-ing.

In just one year, everything changed for the better.

Yet here I am, thinking about all the things I want and how I don’t have them– it’s gross.

And so I came up with, well, found, a commonsense solution.

Gratitude.

Every single morning.

It’s not new, obviously I’m not the first to discover it, but it works, and along with my coffee– this is how I’m choosing to start my day.

Truth is, I’m beyond Lucky.

I get to play the game– that alone is wealth.

I’m healthy, my family is healthy, I’m in a perfect place to build and take risks, I’m learning, growing, and have everything going for me right now. I honestly don’t care to make myself miserable– that was a weird habit that until yesterday, I didn’t even realize I was practicing.

Anyways, if you’re feeling down– give it a try.

What are you grateful for?

#StayFoolish

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Hey Fool.

“Tell me what you pay attention to, and I’ll tell you who you are.”

When I first read this quote, I didn’t understand it but now I see the truth behind it. I spent time looking for my “passions” but every choice I made throughout the day revealed them.

You are driven by your own individuality in even the smallest ways– from the movies you like, books you choose to read, to the things you talk about each day, pay attention.

IT NEVER CHANGES.

You might think it does, but it doesn’t. We’re all running on the same track, and it becomes easier if you can see it.

The irony is we think we have to search, but really, we just need to pay attention– it’s in front of you.

Your happiness and fulfillment come from you knowing this, it all starts here.

No one can tell you what this is, your truth is your own. For me, it was realizing why I’m drawn to specific books, noticing that my mind craved a rigorous discipline to commit and that was why those books and stories spoke to me.

I always knew I had intense energy, so when I found perfect outlets for it– I knew I was on the right path.

It’s no different for you.

Pay attention to your day, what are you thinking about? Work? It isn’t just work? What? Tasks, Duty, People, Creating?

Look for it.

#StayFoolish

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Hey Fool.

A lot of us forget how easily things can change.

For years I was stuck, unemployed, depressed, angry, and totally empty. I wanted my ambitions but didn’t want to negotiate with life at all, so it was all or nothing– which ended with nothing.

Looking back, I can’t understand why I did it.

But I think I know what starts it.

Withdrawing. We’ve all got our own reasons for pulling away– we feel pain, insecure, want to work on our issues, but the irony is by pulling away and withdrawing, we rot.

It’s when you don’t want to leave the house that you need to.

It’s when you don’t want to work, that you should.

Nothing good comes from isolation.

I have no regrets, because everything I did led me to where I am. That said, if I could change anything looking back– I’d never allow myself to withdraw and pull away. I’d always be working, moving, have hobbies, keep busy.

Some will tell you it’s good to take time, I disagree.

The more you’re there, the harder it becomes to leave.

I became so stuck, feeling so worthless and full of self hate that the only way I could save myself was moving to another state, and doing so when in that mindset was incredibly hard.

I don’t know if I could have done it had I not had my friend with me.

Momentum is real.

That move ended up pulling me right out and gave me a clean slate.

If you’re feeling stuck, hopeless, unsure of yourself– don’t be picky. Don’t “use” this time to find the perfect career, calling, or whatever. It doesn’t work like that.

You don’t have the skills, so looking will just amount to depressing around– till years pass you by and you wonder how the hell you got to where you are.

Work.

Take any job. Momentum is key. If you don’t like it, you can switch, but jobs give you skills and confidence– by overcoming challenges.

Right now, you need to earn an income, get busy, and build yourself up… THIS does not happen through reading or staying at home.

It just doesn’t.

You can reinvent yourself at any moment. The instant I moved, my life changed. The instant we got in that car and started driving, I pulled myself out.

If you want to get out, you don’t need a diagnosis or pills and prescriptions, you need to move.

Depression is disconnection.

Until you have a career, social group, and your own shelter– you shouldn’t be diagnosing.

You haven’t met all your human needs yet.

Focus on movement, and I promise you– it’ll all change for the better.

#FoolForward

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Hey Fool.

As I get older my philosophy towards life becomes much simpler. I choose not to bother myself with the existential troubles of the universe.

I care LESS and LESS about passion, and find myself instead living purposefully…

…which is a choice you can make at any time.

What matters to me is to wear out.

A quote by Teddy Roosevelt, “We must all either wear out or rust out” and my choice is to wear out.

Remember, you can reinvent yourself at any time. The funny thing about reinvention, you’ll become both new, and more yourself. No one ever chooses what they’re not.

Just because life doesn’t currently reflect what you admire, doesn’t mean it isn’t in you.

What you’re interested in and what you’re drawn to, is who you are– on every level.

Pay attention to yourself, what is it you talk about throughout the day? You’ll hear it in everyone… for myself its self-improvement, my sister it’s relationships, my mom it’s duty, and one of my close friends… pleasure.

Don’t pay attention so much to the topics, think about the genre and niche.

You’ll see it in everyone.

We reveal who we are 24/7.

Why is this useful?

We’ve all got expiration tags, if you know what you are– might as well go at it full force!

#FoolForward

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Hey Fool.

Yesterday I was sent a photo of naive high school graduate me– and was instantly reminded of all the VERY different goals I had at the time.

See, that pre-pubescent smooth baby face wanted the world. I wanted everything, and knew it was mine for the taking. Not much changed, other than my naiveté is mostly gone… and I’m not as self-entitled.

But it got me thinking.

Did you make yourself proud? And my answer is still no (we’re getting there), not yet.

Life is largely a balancing act. Younger you was unrealistic, a dreamer, most likely didn’t understand the concept of hard work… but the bold practice of daring to dream was always right.

I feel like we lose that as we age.

We become overly-safe and realistic.

But that photo brought something out of me……… me.

I still want it all.

Sure, now I’m far more practical. I look for realistic methods of execution, and I don’t fall for my ego’s desires.

That said, life is short. It’s way too short, and for the short while I’m here, I want to have fun. The goals, interests, and pursuits I’m chasing… they need to be fun, at least to some level.

If we can’t play the game of life, we already lost.

Choose to play and make yourself proud.

#StayFoolish

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