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Tag: finding passion

You Are Here, so Be Here.

Published August 31, 2021 by V

I’m two months shy of one year– that’s the length of time for me to finally embrace BEing present. I used to gag every time I heard a successful person give advice like, “whatever your present role, do it all the way.”

..and without making myself throw up here, I’ll tell you it did change everything.

That’s right. You have to be a fool to be a master, and I was a real fool.

A lot of us play side characters in our own movies. Some just go through the motions, blend into the backgrounds, they’re too afraid to take risks or stand out.

Somehow, they’ve forgotten it’s their movie. Each of us stars as the main character in our own play– and I refuse to be cautious and careful in mine.

My goals have definitely shifted since leaning into life. I went from needing a purpose, to writing my own. From looking for passion, to committing to skill.

I left “ideally” and became practical.

It doesn’t matter where you are, that was the realization I desperately needed. It matters who you are, and that’s a choice. You can play the game however you like– you can be so much more than you are.

Taking this serious is pathetic. It’s a waste of life.

Sometimes I fall back into it, but at least now I catch myself and quickly pull out.

Wherever you are, BE there. Be present.

Stop day-and-night dreaming away your life. That’s the real reason we suffer, that’s why a lot of people are miserable.

They hate their roles, in their movies… and they forgot they could rewrite all of it.

Imagine being able to write your own script, but choosing to play as an extra?!!

You need to let go of all of that.

I’m not saying don’t go after goals, far from it. I’m saying upgrade that character first. Become the person, who lives that life you crave and you will naturally achieve it.

So, who is that person?

How do they think, act, and feel? How do they approach life, what do they believe?

Start there— and bring this into the world.

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Time Punishes Stagnation

Published August 29, 2021 by V

Here, make this promise and never break it: I will always stay moving forward.

I don’t know if it’s how we’re raised, but a lot of us fear the wrong things.

Maybe it’s our upbringing that teaches us to dread making a mistake, so we gradually become cautious.

But over-thinking eats up your years.

The easiest way to waste life is to do nothing. Overall, I am a person without regrets– and to be fair, that’s easy to do when you’re still young. That said, if I were to change anything going back, I’d have acted even faster and with even less thinking.

Time punishes stagnation.

When we’re not moving, life moves right past us and the exact thing we fear happens– we miss out.

We miss out on experiences, potentially fulfilling relationships, and the spice of life itself: FORWARD movement.

Rather than focus on developing our stories, we wonder about stupid things that aren’t our business (is this role right for me? Should I move? Is this person the one? etc.).

The funny thing about change is it comes from tiny, seemingly insignificant actions. When I’ve forced all or nothing changes, such as moving to a new state without any plan or safety net– things changed, but not as much as I thought they would.

When I enacted small, routine changes– like writing and posting daily, and switching to muay thai instead of morning weight lifting, then my life changed in every imaginable way.

It’s bizarre, but it works better smaller.

The reason we waste time is we make decisions bigger than they need to be, we magnify the unimportant and dismiss the action steps.

It’s so much simpler than you think.

What tiny thing can you start today?

And start.

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Always Racing No Where

Published August 28, 2021 by V

Do you know what you’re looking for?

…And how can you be sure?

You know you want change, but you haven’t stopped and taken a moment to define what it might look like… and this is where we open the door to suffering.

Right now, there’s tons of opportunity. It’s everywhere, but it’s hard to grasp when you’re racing all over the place.

The reason you feel restless when you’re alone is because you know you’re capable of so much more– so that anxiety isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s actually there to serve as a compass.

But we have to stop.

One thing I’ve learned is running is a habit… if you keep running from thing to thing, you stay in a perpetual state of motion.

Normally, I’d say that’s a great thing– but you need to be able to stop in order to create and the life you want is created.

I think our solution to stress is decompression.

We try to “recover” by forgetting. Sometimes that’s playing video games, watching a movie, hanging out with friends, none of which is a bad thing.

But all too often this becomes our only way of coping… and we never stop running around.

Eventually, you have to commit. You have to go all in on the path before you, this is how progress is made– and it’s also how to create the actual change you’re looking for.

Things become different, when we do.

When I started approaching my role more open and playfully, not only did my skill level develop, but I started gaining more opportunities. The very same role, turned into something better… just by being better.

That’s really the only point of this post: If you want change, start where you are.

Believe me, I don’t love the answer either. But take it from someone who always jumped thing to thing– it’s imaginary. Your escapist thoughts of one day leaving and journeying to an entirely new place aren’t real. What actually happens is you erase all your progress, start over, and now are unhappy… in a different place.

Real change happens in the moment.

So, your challenge is before you. Will you blend into the background of your own life and waste what you have or will you shine and play through it?

It’s your movie, you decide.

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Don’t do what you love… Love what you do

Published August 26, 2021 by V

When is the last time you genuinely enjoyed yourself?

I used to cheat my own life, imagining some distant call to adventure– some fantasy, where a series of unlikely events would scoop me from this reality and throw me into action.

I was always bored, and I thought this was some deep truth of mine. I thought that somehow my internal dissatisfaction came from my connection to a higher calling, my fate, LOL.

Now I can laugh at that.

Never did it occur to me, that I was bored because I didn’t focus on the present or that rather than deep dive into all the things I had going for me, I kept mentally toying with bullshit.

My misery wasn’t a result of my station in life, rather it was a practice I’d unknowingly developed.

Fact is, I wasn’t happy with my life because I wasn’t practicing happiness.

It’s never life, it’s not where you are– it’s just how you decide to approach it all.

I say this like it didn’t take me years to discover, when in reality it did. When you can finally dedicate yourself to enjoying your life, it all starts to feel like pure ecstasy, it starts to feel like your own movie– which it is.

So I started this experiment– sort of a reframe that I could use in every situation. At first it was casual, but I’m getting better at it and having directly felt the positive results, I’m doing it more often.

Anytime I was about to do something, especially if I hated it or didn’t want to do it, rather than disengage and fantasize– I leaned in.

I brought the play.

I’d ask questions, try to get inside the world as deep as possible, connect to each and every individual and of course, I joked around and took everything lightly.

And the result? Pure awesomeness.

Meetings that would have otherwise went nowhere turned into fun group collaborations. People I’d otherwise judge and write off, ended up actually being cool and fun to work with.

By bringing the play, I gained an unusual superpower. Firstly, my life instantly became awesome. I no longer fantasized because I was really enjoying myself in the moment, but by bringing this attitude people responded differently to me.

Everyone connected, not just me. By opening up to them, they opened up to me. I don’t mean sharing your deep secrets, just being engaged and genuinely listening.

Most people fade into the background of their own lives, and this happens because they’re too busy hating all of it. That’s the secret.

Make yourself in awe of every moment, bring the play– joke around, be light, shine. This is your movie, and by doing this, I promise you it will be the most enriching experience you’ll ever have.

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Don’t Abandon Ship: When to see things through

Published August 25, 2021 by V

I don’t know if this advice is mainstream-guru approved, but normally I don’t give a shit to see things through– and I’m not talking about my own goals.

I’m talking about giving it your all in your current role… which, I never did.

This attitude has helped me stay fluid, move about freely and explore– and eventually led to me finding the right role. It also nearly caused me to leave the right role, because the habit of abandoning ship was over-developed.

I never understood this.

Why give it your all in a place that doesn’t give you its all?

And the answer eventually came to me…

…We’re all in a game of momentum. Objects in motion, stay in motion and if you’re always engaged and moving, you’ll eventually progress into something better but the opposite holds true too.

Keep jumping around, and you’ll have nothing to show for it.

In my role as a writer, I was eventually given the opportunity to direct. This came from me over-involving myself in the entire project, and taking a hands on approach.

I’ve since learned something about freedom– it isn’t what you imagine. That fantasy in your mind of all those things you’ll do when you quit all the things you hate, it isn’t real. I’ve left jobs so swiftly in the past and can tell you, unless you’re being abused or bullied by your 9-5, freedom doesn’t come from leaving.

It comes from submitting.

That is the irony.

Those that constantly abandon ship end up in a perpetual state of starting. They then have to find a new ship to board, and thanks to their unconscious philosophy, without fail they’ll jump ship and repeat the entire process over and over again.

By fully engaging in what’s in front of you, you’ll not only level up– you’ll turn your current role into a fulfilling promotion.

Because it’s not the job you’re committing to or the ship, it’s yourself.

-Fool Forward

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Why Do We Lose Perspective?

Published August 23, 2021 by V

Comparison isn’t just the thief of joy, it’s the thief of sight.

As soon as you start thinking about what you want and don’t have– you undermine your own progress and give it up for more desire.

But you should want more– that’s how you pursue and reach your potential.

So, the question is how do we keep perspective while striving towards the ideal? Since your brain is wired to compare, all you have to do is shift its direction.

Only compare yourself to who you were yesterday.

This simple reframe will give you what you need to keep going. Rather than looking at others, when I compare current me to last years version… they might as well be different people.

Not so surprisingly, saying that fills me with gratitude.

You want to get better? Here’s an awesome and helpful realization, personal growth doesn’t come through addition, but rather subtraction.

It’s not about what COULD YOU DO, it’s about WHAT SHOULDN’T YOU DO.

Don’t do things you don’t admire/ value/ like.

The inner conflict you struggle with evaporates as soon as you honor your own values.

Don’t like watching TV and wasting time? Don’t do it anymore. Don’t do it, despite how hard it feels when you’re wiped out and just crave recovery– find a better substitute.

Transformation isn’t all or nothing, it’s compounding.

It’s a day to day, monthly battle.

From now on, I’m committing to the journey and the discovery of pushing my limits. I want to see just who I can become when I embrace and incorporate challenges into my life. This used to mean risk, but now it means doing the task before me FULLY.

Wanna evolve? What can you stop doing that you hate?

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Discovering my story…

Published August 20, 2021 by V

Once you have an idea of what you want, it can be hard to open yourself up to other avenues of success. 

To combat this, I keep my desired end in mind. 

For me, the goal itself is not necessarily the goal, rather the reason behind it. This helps me keep perspective should I need to adapt, it keeps me fluid and loose, and in this way I’m always ready for change. 

How does this all look? 

For starters, don’t pretend you know what the end must be. 

I think the real mistake is we’re constantly being bombarded “to know” how we’re going to spend the rest of our lives, but the question this props up for me is what book has recurring chapters and why should life be any different?  

In my current role, rather than enjoy each part of the learning process I instead, and instantly, began plotting how I’ll pivot and obsessively kept asking myself what’s next? 

Suffering through premature optimization. 

Yet again. 

I don’t think “What’s Next?” matters as much as “Right Now.” I’m learning to focus on enjoying my own discovery, enjoying the unfolding of my own story– rather than constantly wishing for more. 

The irony is, by doing this– you’ll naturally end up where it is you really want to go. 

In truth, everything I have in front of me is more than enough to live an awesome life, I have an awesome life. For the few and short lived moments I’m able to think clearly, I always land on this realization. 

Sure, you want more… but you’re lucky to be able to play this game. 

Play is the key word here. 

For the past few days, I’ve been able to manufacture wisdom through keeping the end of my book in mind– the same ending as for your book and all of us, death. 

Endings are what make us appreciate stories and nothing clears up the mind like knowing and feeling the end. 

I’m done suffering over fantasy. 

I couldn’t care less, the only thing that exists is the story I’m in right now. 

#Foolforward

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What Guides You?

Published August 19, 2021 by V

How do you make a choice when you’re faced with picking between two things you may really like– but can only have one? Do you default to the thing that’s more fun, or what you’re curious to learn?

They’re not always the same.

Some of the activities I deeply enjoy, I have no curiosity to learn. In my work, I really enjoy directing– it’s creative, active, fast paced, and all around a highly engaging task.

That said, I don’t study or practice the skill and I’m not interested in learning more about it. It’s hobby level– love doing it, but can’t see myself going all in on it (mainly because there are major aspects to it that don’t suit my character– compromising with others).

It’s okay to have hobbies.

Not everything has to be a career, or something you go all in on. We’re allowed to have different things in our lives, and this is a lesson I took from my Muay Thai gym.

There are many different types of martial artists, but you can categorize all of them into the following groups: Specialists and Generalists.

Specialists prefer mastering one style, for years and years.

Generalists mix and match, and most likely take the kitchen sink approach.

There isn’t a right or wrong way, it just comes down to what you’re like. They say fighting is the ultimate self expression of the body, so you should choose based on what you value.

Do you have a curiosity for all?

Your work, career, and life is the same.

When it comes to things you want to do and learn– are you a generalist or specialist? Too many entrepreneurs take different stances on this, as if there is a right answer.

There isn’t.

No one can tell you how to do this– it’s simply you expressing yourself.

For me, It’s the specialist route. I can’t stand learning totally different styles, before having mastered one. The same goes for my work, my skills, and career.

I enjoy mastery, I enjoy going deep, not wide.

That’s me.

Whatever you do, let your values guide you.

#Foolon

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Win Before Winning

Published August 18, 2021 by V

You’ve probably heard this corny law of attraction-y advice: Step into it.

Well, regardless of what you worship (the stars, tarot cards, religion, or your badge of lazy atheism) this will only help you.

I didn’t understand this, at least, not fully.

What the hell does it mean to step into success, before seeing/experiencing it?

Try this exercise: think of all the times in your life where you were at your best, the times you were on top, won, felt most alive. How did you feel? How did you act? How did you approach the world?

How is winner-you different from this you? I believe we are who we are when we’re at our best, and our day-to-day defaults are our lowest, socialized, programmed selves.

A strange cheat code to the human experience is learning you can manufacture winning at any time, and by doing so, you create the very same dynamic.

Only now, you don’t depend on external circumstances.

You can and need to– step into winning you.

It sounds stupid, and it’ll make you feel like an imposter at first. But you’re not faking it, rather you’re showing faith by embracing the world– regardless of what life serves you with.

I think this is the greatest achievement we can have. To own every single experience we have and to fully embrace it, that’s true power.

And if that wasn’t enough, doing this will lead to an awesome life.

You’ll play the game without holding back. You’ll play with the fearlessness needed to win, and you’ll win.

Try it.

Win before winning.

–Fool

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Priority Mapping: Learn How To Choose Wisely

Published August 15, 2021 by V

Hey Fool.

Making the “right” choice can be hard, especially when you’re caught between things you love.

For example, with my muay thai training I really loved my first gym– but I prioritize skills, so I left to join a smaller but far more traditional facility. Upon joining, I instantly started to improve through the more personalized and expert training.

Instead of which do I love, the question became, “where will I learn the most?”

And this has already been a far better decision.

Looking at my life, everything improved when I prioritized my values. Every single time I made a decision solely off of emotions of desires, things turned out shitty.

Ruthless practicality has been my greatest tool for advancement.

We often struggle to make choices not because we don’t know what we want, but we don’t know what we value most and your values equal fulfillment.

Once you realize what your true values are and what enriches your life– all decisions become easy.

I value learning, improvement, mastery– and since I know these are top values for me, I choose this path over the path of variety.

The game we’re all playing is one of personal discovery.

You’re taking your character and trying to build an environment where you increase your chances of success.

We all dropped into this world as already-somethings. We didn’t create our uniqueness, we didn’t instill our core values, and yet we imagine we copy others?

Success comes through authenticity, so before making a decision– get clear on your values and choose wisely.

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Chicken or the Egg? It starts with you…

Published August 14, 2021 by V

Hey Fool.

To be completely honest, these posts are becoming increasingly difficult and the reason is– my life is great.

I finally enjoy every bit of what I do, and while a lot of it suits me well the enjoyment came after I incorporated it into my approach.

In my current role, I was given the opportunity to direct videos– which I’ve always felt was the only career for me. Writing scripts and directing them is genuine play, it doesn’t ever feel like work and I’d do it for free all the time.

BUT even this… on an off day isn’t so fun.

A shit attitude, and I might have thrown it away. I mean, I knew years ago that I enjoyed this so why is it that I’m only leaning in now?

That’s the point I want to make.

It all starts with you.

What you want, what you think you want– that doesn’t matter as much as how you approach the game.

If you bring the enjoyment going into something, you’ll get enjoyment back. Input equals output every single time.

This is how I began tricking myself, but the trick also changed my experiences. Suddenly my work became way more fun– even the parts I normally hated, and not so surprisingly, my opportunities grew.

If you want to expand- whether it be a new career, friend group or gain a more adventurous life, you have to become expansive.

You can change everything without DOING anything and do so just through altering your own attitude towards the game.

You are where you are.

You might not like it, and this doesn’t mean you have to stay there– after all, everything in life is temporary.

But if you lean in and bring the play to all you do, there is no way not to gain the fulfillment you’re looking for.

#Giveitatry

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My 1 Thing: Playing The Great Game

Published August 13, 2021 by V

You can’t ‘pick’ what you love, It’s not an intellectual decision.

Here’s the cause of most of our suffering: We want to want. And that has always been my problem– I had all the ideas of what I should do, might enjoy, or get rich off of and I tried to arrange marry myself to each of them, but none of it ever lasted.

It won’t last unless you legitimately love it, which isn’t the things you want to want but the things you can’t not do, or read, or engage with, etc.

And that said, I finally have a goal that’s authentic to who I am, excites me, and it’s my ONLY focus until I accomplish it.

I’m playing the great game.

Let’s start with how the game is defined, the rules, and the objectives.

I define the game as a largely story world, where the main character (you), figures out how to shape their reality and maximize it for their destiny. The main character has to shed skins continually to get to the root of their superpowers, and live from a place of authenticity.

Their lives then reflect who they are, and they become fulfilled by living out their own uniqueness.

So, I want my entire life– from career, hobbies, and interests, to friends and relationships, to reflect who I am as a person.

The career path I’m building out is one that combines not only my interests, but my temperament and my values.

My friends share my core values.

My hobbies and interests are just extensions of who I am.

Right now, I’m playing.

I’ve left the exploratory phase, and now I am just another player– figuring out their own movie.

It’s awesome.

Before a purposeless angsty kid, to now a self-directed and focused individual.

Every single one of you can do this, but you have to realize who you are playing for. There’s only one game to be played, and like it or not– you’re already playing.

Having fun?

If not, you need to change it up because you’re doing it wrong.

#GOallIN

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You Don’t Have The Same Options

Published August 12, 2021 by V

When we’re itching for change and want to throw it all up in the air, it’s easy to peak over at your friends and incorporate some of what they’re doing.

But you don’t have those options.

No matter how similar you are to someone else, whether that be a guru, mentor, friend, or family member– your path is your own.

We’ve lost self-discovery, mostly thanks to social media.

What would otherwise happen in the dark, is now advertised.

You have to learn to love every part of your own journey. Even if it’s not what you prefer, which is the case for a lot of us, it is crucial.

Embracing every moment is what’ll lead you to living an incredible life. You opt out of fulfillment every time you compare yourself to others.

Within you, there is a better self (higher self, soul, whatever you want to call it).

We have the ability to mold our character into more than we are, but that only happens when we get to know who we are.

Learn to see your life for what it is, a movie, played by you. If you don’t like the character ark or the story’s development– change it.

The best realization you can have is that everything, every single thing in your life is in your hands.

Who cares about what you can’t control. Don’t bother thinking about that.

The things you can change are all that matter.

Stay focused on your movie.

Ask yourself: How can I play in a way I admire? What would make this story more interesting?

And then, incorporate a little of that each day into your life.

At any given moment, the story can change.

#Playlife

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Follow Your Genuine Curiosity

Published August 9, 2021 by V

Human beings are all too good at rationalizing, and as we get older– we become even better at it.

This doesn’t make us any more rational, just explaining machines.

The problem with it is we don’t always know why we’re doing the things we do, and we often get caught in our own mind loops– doing this, to get that, to then go here….

….we get stuck chasing/doing things we never really wanted.

When true fulfillment and success come from a different attitude, and it isn’t one of explaining. It’s asking questions, because you’re genuinely curious.

Being a learner is fulfilling. Dedicating yourself to a craft, subject, or field– because you genuinely enjoy it is worth everything.

The human mind thrives on this, and yet most of us shy away from this type of commitment, myself included.

Ironic.

You’re putting off living in hopes of something one day intervening and bringing life into your life… it doesn’t work like that.

You have to bring the fun to everything you do, and with such a fluid approach, you’ll be able to pivot through different interests until you settle on one or few.

To be curious, you’ll have to go back to your childlike approach– where you actually gave a shit to even ask the question. The problem is, when we hit 30 (some even sooner), we default to the attitude of “knowing what we need to.”

It’s a miserable existence to have to be right, to take life seriously, to not play.

There is no wisdom or coolness behind that approach, it’s just a pathetic way of hiding deeply seated fears and insecurities.

That’s coming from the once “cool and aloof” kid.

You’re looking for “that thing” –we all are. A book won’t point you there, a mentor can’t advise you, this is only found through exploration.

Something we were all born to do, but haven’t been conditioned to practice.

Want to fight old age, live longer, happier and healthier, while enjoying every bit of life? Let’s return to our roots, quit trying to be right and be curious.

#play

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Reach Peak Success through Authenticity

Published August 8, 2021 by V

Oftentimes, it’s the overused “timeless” phrases that actually hold the answers you’re looking for.

Unfortunately we’re so familiar with them, that we don’t really consider it– at least not on any meaningful level.

Know Thyself.

We’ve all heard the expression– and when you tell someone this, they immediately nod back and flash a peace sign, “wurd.”

The vast majority seem to think they’re born knowing themselves. They never question why they do what they do, or why they believe the things they do, but somehow– they’re experts in the field of their wiring??

I think people live shit lives because they DON’T know themselves, and they’re too willfully ignorant to uncover more.

Knowing yourself is a developed skill, not a born trait. It takes time, it’s hard, and it should be uncomfortable.

….in truth, you probably suck. Sure, there are things that are awesome too, but all of us suck to some degree.

Everyone wants to be special in their own story.

I guess growth is when you lose that need to maintain your own delusion. Today, I see myself as far less “chosen” and far more just here figuring it out and that doesn’t hurt me.

I’m free of myself, because I know myself. I spent my entire life not knowing– so I chased random ideas, businesses, paths, none of which fit me or my character.

But thanks to my relentless pursuit for truth, I found myself in the end. That led to a life that suited me, and as I continue to strengthen my relationship with who I am, my life continues to improve in every way.

If you want to keep losing at the game of life, then continue taking yourself seriously. Before you can ever succeed, you need the right attitude… which most people can’t even get to this step.

Being afraid to introspect, not being able to laugh at yourself, that’s a super shitty life. When you can accept everything about you– the good and the bad, then you can start to fully live.

Until then, you insecurely chafe against the world and put yourself in depressive experiences because you think it all means more than it does.

Sit for a second, imagine you’ll lose everyone you love… what if you got that call today? Was acting all serious and stuck up worth it?

Did it matter in the end?

We’re all dying and nothing clears the mind like death.

If you want to succeed, which I define as living life in a fulfilling way unique to you, you need to get real…. get real and let go.

#FoolAround

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Compounding Character

Published August 7, 2021 by V

The other day I found myself thinking new for the first time.

No anger, no emotional turmoil, no delusional dreaming— just pure acceptance for everything in my life.

This is different for me, very different.

I used to be someone who wanted to change everything, and all the time. I’d drive myself miserable seeing the worst in people, comparing myself to others, and constantly wishing to be something else.

But lately, I haven’t been thinking like that.

For someone who has always been emotionally intense, yesterday I felt strength for the first time.

The storm came like it always does, but this time it did not move me.

All those years of experimenting, of constantly learning and trying to be more, failing and starting over– none were wasted. It compounded, and that’s what I wanted to pass onto you.

Don’t ever stop. Even if it looks like nothing is helping you, it will in the long run.

Back then, I wondered how I’d use all the useless shit I learned. I read, I practiced new disciplines, but still I’d fall back into my own weak-habits. The difference for me was I never stopped. I never wrote myself off– despite how much I failed, I just kept moving.

One day you’ll see it.

Everything you’re doing will all of a sudden compound, and you’ll be far better for it. You’ll be stronger, composed, wiser, and more fulfilled.

It’s not like I have everything figured out all of a sudden, but this feeling, where I am right now, is worth everything to me.

This isn’t temporary happiness, this isn’t circumstantial.

This is character.

Compounded from trial and failure.

For the first time, I’ve let go of my own prison. All the things that used to have a hold on me– don’t.

Through understanding, we end suffering.

I didn’t until now.

Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, continue no matter what. Push forward, and endure.

You’ll eventually meet your own potential.

#AlwaysForward

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Wanna be Free? Find Where To Submit

Published August 5, 2021 by V

Occasionally I’ll still have days where I relapse into my old mindset– that internal voice that assures me I’m better than my responsibilities.

It took me learning one major lesson to finally understand this, I was never going to find freedom.

What I really wanted was freedom from myself and that comes from surrender, total submission to the path itself.

The more you chase freedom (new experiences, relationships, places, careers, etc.) the less you’ll have it. All chasing does is open more doors, and that’s the irony. Those that constantly start anew, never reach it.

Submitting to a practice, being totally engaged in all before you– this is what frees you. When I stopped chasing ideas, I started building my own life and as a result, became more free.

Free of delusion.

It’s not enough to focus on goals, you’ve got to create a different dynamic with your own life. This is as much of an attitude and approach as it is a philosophy. Just yesterday, when I was feeling complain-y because I was randomly assigned a bunch of shit I didn’t want to do, I stopped and reframed.

If I’ve got to do this, I’m going all out.

I bring the play. It doesn’t come to you.

You’re an amateur at the game of life if fun is selective. You bring the fun. This has been a huge game changer for me.

There’s a bunch of things I don’t want to do, but since I’ve got to– might as well go all the way out and embrace it.

LEAN IN.

Freedom is a mindset, an attitude, and an approach– NOT a destination.

If you want to be free, let go.

It was always right in front of you.

#StayIntheNow

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Mind Map: Keeping a compass when it gets murky

Published August 3, 2021 by V

Hey Fool.

You ever look through old photos of yourself and cringe?

Imagine being able to see the thoughts that went along with youthful cringy you, that’s the exact perk of journaling. If you possess that natural, “I’m the shit” attitude, nothing humble-pies you like journaling.

I’ve now crossed the one year mark of writing and publishing every single day. What started out as something with no expectation, has slowly transformed into the best tool for strengthening my relationship with myself and bettering my own mind.

I believe what we’re all after is a better way to live, but we look for this in all the wrong places. You don’t need a role model, you need a mental model.

Without something to track and guide us, we spend our entire lives chasing our own tails. My journals are all the same with the only distinguisher being dated differently, but the “struggle” is repetitive.

Until now….

Only now am I not after what I longed for my entire life, and why? I got better of it when I realized it was delusion, it was just suffering from my imagination, and best of all: It wasn’t real.

You have this. We all have some form of this.

But only you can know where it is, and to do that you have to track yourself. You need to write. Writing is capturing photos of your thoughts– If you want to get ahead, and unstuck from your own loop– you need THIS compass.

There’s no right way to do it. Just start.

I started with letters to myself, where I’d ask questions, write my own feelings, and give myself a space to be openly curious about myself.

That’s all you’re doing with this– allowing yourself to get to know yourself.

It’s the best thing you’ll ever do for your mind.

#Writeitoff

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Illuminate Your Dark Spots: Don’t Get Swept Up

Published August 2, 2021 by V

It’s hard to give good advice here, since most people don’t have a solid support network.

So regardless of how you do it, the advice is this: Don’t get swept up by your own tendencies. The reason I bring up a support network or friends, is because I regularly use them as an easy cheat code to balance my mind.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF US has blind spots– areas in life where we become aggressive, completely irrational, paranoid, and all around unreasonable.

For whatever reason, this is our own distorted desert– we just aren’t clear when we wonder here.

You see this throughout the pandemic with BOTH sides.

There are those that think the virus is the end of the world and those that think it’s a completely fake disease.

To both of these extreme ends, these feelings and beliefs are real.

This is what I’m talking about. Before I had friends with opposite weaknesses from my own, a little isolation made for a nice paranoid scheming session. If left alone long enough, my critical thinking skills would eat themselves– and I’d start making wild connections that really had nothing to do with anything.

If I didn’t have my journals I wouldn’t believe I did this…. but looking back it’s eye-opening.

And it always makes me wonder what other areas in my life am I so completely delusional in? This isn’t about you being right or wrong– it’s about not suffering from a wildly untamed mind.

See, it’s a double-sided coin.

Through empathy we can experience deep connection with others and the world, but through delusion– we will experience disconnection, dissatisfaction, and the ultimate isolation.

One of my close friends is very clear thinking. He values and practices rationality and ruthless objectivity– and thus, I completely trust him. So when I feel myself participating in my paranoid parade– I meet up with him and we talk about it.

Seeing and hearing rationality is contagious, and I’ve found it to be the ultimate vaccine to my overactive imagination.

Almost instantly, I return to the land of the practical where things make sense.

This is your battle, this is everyones battle. When you get to know someone, you’ll see their dark spots and this is a very real struggle in human nature.

For some, it has to do with their relationships, others it has to do with control or lack of it, but nonetheless we all have them.

Figure out a way to crawl out of these spirals when you get in them.

This will help you level up and it’ll end your constant suffering.

#FoolsGold

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Understanding > Consuming: Why I’m Reading Less

Published July 31, 2021 by V

Hey Fool.

By nature, I’m not a reader.

Sitting alone with nothing but a book to delight me isn’t something I ever wanted to do. But as I got older, I gradually discovered the non-fiction section of the book store.

Suddenly, those once-worthless-paperbacks were now seen as human brain upgrades– the ultimate tool for me to get ahead and strengthen my weaknesses.

Now, I could “hack” my way to success.

And with this seed planted, I became a “reader.” I went through every imaginable self help book, when it comes to approach and niche– none were off limits. It didn’t matter to me if the strategies were proven scientifically– or if they were total spiritual gobbledygook. All I cared about was could I use this immediately to advance towards my goals?

Enter the apprentice phase.

This part of my life is interesting. For years, all I did was consume. Non-stop content on what you should do, how you should think, disciplines to practice, habits to hold, etc.

Reading led to more reading.

It felt like I couldn’t get the information as quickly as needed. But then years passed, and I made very little improvements…. worst of all, I felt disconnected.

YOU DISCOVER YOUR PATH.

There is no book, course, mentor, or whatever that can recommend how to move forward. You need to do it blindly, that’s part of the game and whatever happens, happens.

We’re meant to do it for the first time, to do it on our own. And really, I mean think about– how can someone who isn’t you tell you to live your life?

It doesn’t make sense.

If you can read and apply systems loosely, then it’s worth it. But if you’re struggling like I did with the distance part, and end up intensely worshipping all of it– drop the book.

You can’t read your way there, you need understanding.

Reflecting through journaling will yield more results than just reading one book to the next.

Authenticity is the key to success, which means figuring out yourself and nature and then applying it appropriately.

Input does equal output, so careful what you consume.

#Fool

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