The question of who we esteem, and who we disdain, is something that is almost always taught by example from parents and others in power. What are you teaching, and more importantly, why are you teaching it? If you are still quite young the question is, what are you being taught? Do you believe it?
“The surest way to corrupt a young person is to teach him to esteem more highly those who think alike than those who think differently.” – Frederich Nietzsche
I know it sounds like a cliche from ‘7 habits’, but it is a truth. There is another truth as well that might say you should not settle for trying to figure out what there is to like about a crappy situation but instead have some incentive and energy towards changing your circumstances. In other words, maybe it is that unhappiness that some of us have that actually is the catalyst for change and growth that is needed, individually and in a group.
“The secret of happiness is not in doing what one likes, but in liking what one does.” – James Barrie
It is good to be prepared in case opportunity comes along, that is the well understood maxim. But, it is equally important that you think through how to create opportunities that would not exist otherwise. That might be getting the courage to meet or write those who could help you. It might be seeing a need and filling it in someone’s, or some enterprise’s life. But no matter what direction the opportunity resides in, it takes courage and confidence, above all else, to go in that direction. And courage and confidence do not exist without belief in one’s self and one’s vision and abilities. Do you have that?
“A wise person will make more opportunities than they find.” – Francis Bacon
In honor of the Oscars tomorrow night and the millions of opinions that will be expressed about dresses and decisions I give you this quote. Do you think it is true?
“Public opinion is just what people think other people are thinking.” – Anonymous
This is a tough one. How do we know we are misunderstanding something? What it really comes down to is the actions we take based on that misunderstanding. The recent movie ‘Atonement’ seems to have touched on this idea.
“There is no worse lie than a truth misunderstood” – William James
This napkin obviously had something spill on it at the old lunch table. It says ‘The key to failure is trying to please everybody’.
It seems this is a recurring lesson I must learn again and again every couple years or so. As any practicing artist will tell you, it has to be ok in your mind that some, maybe most, people will not like your work or else you will self-destruct in feelings of failure.
Same is true about one’s personality, character, voice, looks, opinions, and emotions. Not everyone will like you is the bottom line. How do you deal with that?
For those of you who either had a bummer of a ‘Love Day’ or had a great one but now it is back to the grind, may this quote help you sing rather than pout.
