Month: June 2021

Cheap Questions Poor Results…

Published June 9, 2021 by V

“What do you want out of life?

Oh how this question used to haunt me. And if you answered happiness or magical awesomeness… refer back to the title.

Advertising has confused us.

A lot of the ideas we have about “the good life” and what would make us happy are wrong, and they’re not our own.

The best way I’ve ever heard this re-framed is by author Mark Manson, who offered an alternative to the traditional cheap questions.

“What pain do you want in your life? What are you willing to struggle for?”

Everyone says they want success– either through freedom, entrepreneurship, or financial independence… the answer doesn’t really matter. Most people that say this aren’t willing to LIVE out the sacrifices that come from the building phase.

They don’t want the risk, stress, long nights and early days…. they don’t want the cost, only the reward.

You can’t win if you don’t play.

The problems you enjoy facing are the answer. It’s the bad experiences, the not planned outcomes, the days where you don’t know if you’ll make it– that determines a lot of what is for us.

I used to fantasize about being rich and famous. In this fantasy, I was basically a rockstar… for what? Nothing really, just successful. It sounds stupid, but I went after this for years- full steam ahead.

When this reality never came, because I only loved the end results and not the work itself- I left it cold.

Our struggles determine our successes, so choose wisely.

#FoolMeOnce

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Unattractive Desperation: It’s never mutual

Published June 8, 2021 by V

Hey Fool.

I used to care too much, but then likened my relationship with life to a weirdo socially unintelligent person who never stops chasing people that don’t like them back– and now I’m letting go.

The ability to let go of control when one wants it most, this skill—is one of the most important skills anyone can develop.

Pursuing happiness moves you away from it.

Trying to be less emotional, makes you even more emotional.

The desire for greater freedom is often what causes us to feel trapped. The need to find our passion prevents us from loving and accepting the present.

There seems to be some weird law of nature, but from what I’ve gathered– just like with dating, if you take your desperate ass to life, she’ll laugh at you awkwardly and move away.

You’ve got to be cool, and the only way to do that is to LET GO.

It’s simple, but hard AF.

I’m starting with stoicism.

In acknowledging we are limited and here for a very short time, it becomes easier to relinquish control, not because you feel powerless, but because you are powerful.

Because you decide to let go of things that are beyond your control.

You decide to accept that the only thing you have control over is your mind, everything else is not your problem, worry, or concern.

#FoolMEOnce

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The Disease of Passion

Published June 7, 2021 by V

Hey Fool.

I don’t know about you, but I’m done wasting life looking for something– that may or may not exist.

How did “PASSION” become the ultimate prescription to life?

Bored? Unhappy? Unengaged? Miserable?

That’s because you need to FIND your passion.

I’m not going to sit here and say that when it came to searching, there was no one more committed than me– but you should know, I breathed this advice to the fabric of my soul. I spent years doing absolutely nothing EXCEPT passion hunting. No friends, dating, not even side quests (hobbies)– only the mission. Only passion.

And guess what… that was a shit-ass life.

Needless to say, letting go was incredibly hard but liberating.

Look, it sounds awesome. A calling and purpose that when found- life instantly becomes your favorite movie.

The problem here? As you search, you neglect making the most of what you’ve got.

And each day you’re reminded you don’t have passion, is another day of you feeling angry and disappointed.

There have been studies proving this– even the individuals who started out passionate in their fields (the weirdos, who at 5 years old knew they wanted to be pro basket weavers), eventually returned to the regular earth rotation, where work isn’t always awesome-possum.

What these studies found is autonomy (having freedom to do your work) and competence (improving and progressing in skill) were the key determining factors to enjoying what you do.

That’s the answer to life, equivalent to the supercomputers 42.

Pick a valuable and economically relevant skill, and constantly develop it.

That’ll lead to a fulfilling life.

The whole- “finding your way” “Soul purpose” “Why I incarnated in this life” IS STUPID.

And it’s all a waste of life.

This is practical, proven, and immediate.

Try it.

Let’s do it together. For the next 3 months, only develop ONE skill relevant to this new economy.

#FoolMeOnce

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Your Barbie World: Why We Want Things We Don’t Need…

Published June 6, 2021 by V

What’s up Fool.

Despite the surge in financially unstable bank accounts, America remains steadily purchasing.

It’s what we’re good at.

Work from home? Shop from home.

I’m not going to go all Tyler Durden on you and tell you the things you own, end up owning you. You already know that, hence most people (maybe you) working their asses off to pay off debt.

Life here is a layaway.

Most of us can’t afford our things, but we keep buying and why?

Commercial Conditioning.

The things we buy end up being a part of who we are. “I’m a homeowner.”

It’s subtle, but it’s there.

And whats being a homeowner mean? You buy rugs and go to the home depot on a Sunday, for fun….

The irony. We chase things we don’t need and wouldn’t otherwise want if some commercial didn’t convince us of “success” and “security” coming from bills.

Then with a straight face you claim you’re rational.

We need to reclaim our independence, and you need to start by limiting your exposure to advertising.

I’m guilty of it too.

If I buy a new macbook, it makes sense to buy dual monitors to go with it, and might as well get a larger wireless keyboard.

The dreaded bundle.

It gets us all.

I’m just saying, move away from the constant purchase culture and watch your independence return.

#FoolMeOnce

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Not Interested? But Try.

Published June 5, 2021 by V

Hey Fool.

Feelin’ stuck playing an unwinnable game?

We already knew that any advice pointing you to the traditional paths was unhelpful, but the “fun” advice isn’t great either.

It’s easy to get stuck when you’re looking for/ waiting for, your passion.

You know.

The magic word leaked out of every gurus mouth.

The key to hard work, dedication, and more success than you’ll ever know what to do with.

#OnlyChasingPassion

The thing, that when found, evolves your very soul to unimaginable heights, transforming you into the next who-ever you admire.

Anyways, while you wait for that… you just kinda rot around.

Maybe you find it, most likely you don’t.

I’m not Steve Jobs.

I still love his advice. “Life is short, love every minute of what you do.”

But I’m not chosen like him or Michael Jordan. I’m not one of the successful people who CAN be incredibly impractical and still find unimaginable success.

If I were one of those people, it’d already have worked.

For me, and probably most of us, being PRACTICAL is the only solution. No, it isn’t as fun. But at least you’ll still have a fulfilling life.

So, while certain individuals randomly passion their way into success, the rest of us will have to be more calculating.

Pursue your interests.

You don’t need to be head over heels in love with it.

As long as you’re interested enough, passion will develop. Chase skills. You’ll fall in love with life as you develop.

This change, changed everything for me.

Be interested.

Try it.

#FoolMeOnce

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Brick By Brick

Published June 4, 2021 by V

Hey Fool.

Today is day 4 of my study/practice of stoicism and meditation.

Along with this, I’m leaning into other parts of my life. I want to make the most of where I am and enjoy the process– and funny enough, this decision alone is changing my life.

I think a lot of us are too temporary in our thinking.

Instead of becoming the best at what we do or fully focusing on whats in front of us, we imagine being somewhere else, doing something different, having more.

This always leads to dissatisfaction and ultimately makes you act poorly.

For a long time I couldn’t even see that I did this. I thought my greater goals and my wants to “make it” were spiritual.

If it’s in my head and heart, it must be destiny.

Turns out it was a little narcissism –is all. Nothing spiritual about it.

The irony is when I stopped looking and started improving my life in small areas– my life started to look more and more like the life I wanted.

No, I’m not a rockstar or living exactly what I dreamed.

But I am happy with the road I’m traveling.

I’m enjoying my journey– a first for me.

That’s what I wish for you all. That’s what makes your time here worthwhile.

If you want that, start where you are.

Embrace it all.

#FoolForOnce

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OCD Self, improvement…?

Published June 3, 2021 by V

Our culture is an obsessive one.

Thanks to the internet, and the core need for validation gifted to us by human nature– we’ve got a billion dollar industry showing you why you’re not good enough and how to self-improve.

And for all of you type A personalities, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Routines, Habits, Diets, Etc.

When is it ever enough?

Here’s my morning ritual to become a millionaire……. huh?

I think it’s mostly self-destructive, and before you spin it in a positive way like “yeah bro– you’re destroying the old self” hear me out.

Here’s my routine– I wake up at 4am (if not earlier), go workout, race back home, eat my protein oatmeal, write, meditate, read. Then end the day with Muay Thai (a new edition to my life).

Well, that’s just discipline, whats wrong with it?

No. It isn’t.

See, where its all fucked up is regardless of how I feel, sleep-deprived, sick, whatever- I show TF up.

I notice small changes in my body (can’t lose my six-pack), I obsess over progress, as soon as I start a new habit– anyone who’s not on that shit I judge, and see as detrimental to my life.

“Oh, you don’t study stoicism? Emotional loser.”

It isn’t right. None of this.

The whole point of these habits are to make you healthier, but I think for a lot of us its gone so far, we’re actually making ourselves sick.

I’m not going to kill off my habits.

I’m going to pull back.

I’m still going to train muay thai, but I don’t need to lift weights every single morning. If I miss a day- it’s okay.

You need to relax and listen to your body.

I don’t like this advice either, but I’m tired of being a progress zombie.

#FoolForward

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Overcome Your Design

Published June 2, 2021 by V

Hey Fool.

If it wasn’t made painstakingly obvious from all the repetitive content here, I’ll say it once more.

The only real thing I care about in life is personal evolution.

I’ve gone about getting it in various ways, some work, others don’t. But what I can tell you is what you choose doesn’t matter, as long as it feeds you in some way.

Where I’m at right now, I’m pursuing skills that I’m inclined for, but also ones that would strengthen my character.

I only feel good when I’m disciplined, because it’s this area in life where I struggle. I never had balance, and I struggle with too much indirected energy.

Disciplining myself with routine, skills, and dedicated habits keeps me level.

Where are you out of balance?

What skills would you like to have?

And above all, who do you want to be?

You can overcome your design, but it starts with knowing yourself fully.

#FoolForward

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Why The Wokes Are Broke

Published June 1, 2021 by V

I went through all of it.

All that content that’s flooding the internet today, from tik tok to youtube, I was on that before it was a thing.

I needed answers and I guess those “spiritual explantations” felt easier to digest than the practical advice of introspecting and facing your weaknesses.

Today, you’re no longer on the hook for anything… if you don’t want to be.

If this life sucks, they say “but reincarnation, it’s just one cycle… also Atlantis, equality, spiritually manifesting your creations.”

Name one successful person who talks like this? There isn’t one.

The woker, the weaker.

Sorry. You can hate it all you want, but I only got ahead when I left “manifestation station” and became ultra practical.

The people who succeed in life chose to take full ownership. They choose to make the most of this life and honestly, that feels far better than any dumb belief that the universe loves you and suffering is a karmic debt to be paid.

What in the actual f**k is happening to us?

Whether those ideas are true or not, you’re here on planet earth. Don’t you want to play the game? Or are you really content sitting on the sidelines talking about “this looks bad, luckily, healing crystals on the ready.”

Look, totally your prerogative.

I’m only talking to the ambitious individuals who want to make something of themselves while they’re here.

As I age, I’m far less spiritual– but far more capable.

I spend my time being a practical learner. I’m learning SKILLS. Most recently, I’ve started managing my finances, investing, and building up my business and life has never felt better.

Not because “it’s my time, destiny has chosen me”…. shut the f**k up.

Because you are the people and the ideas you surround yourself with. Input equals output.

I see that now. Watch tik tok all day- and join the anti-establishment wokes. If that’s what you want, have at it.

In my opinion, it’s a supreme waste of the limited time we’ve been given here on earth. So, I’ll spend my time around individuals I’m inspired to be like.

I want to rise to the level of excellence, and there’s actually more than enough to go around.

Do what you want, spend life how you want. But don’t blame anyone except yourself when you woke away your dreams.

#FoolForward

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