Showing is knowing

Confidence is a two-edged sword. If overconfident, pride will lay you low. However, if one lacks assurance, they lack the drive to succeed.

Belief in oneself must always be honest. Lies cannot stand against the billows of scrutiny. At the slightest breeze, it will all fall down.

Those who lie, inevitably lie to themselves. And they start to believe their own press. Soon, they are ensnared in the web meant for others.

Believe only in that which is demonstrated. Show what you can do, and the naysayers will be silenced. Or their words will fall on deaf ears.

Accept constructive criticism. If someone is trying to tear you down, it will be obvious. They will have nothing good to say.

Once you know your abilities, what they say becomes meaningless. Listen to them anyway. Let it stoke the desire to succeed, and leave them behind still grumbling.

Building a future

The future is born of what we do today. No great invention can make one’s life complete. As wondrous as our technology is, it merely provides us tools with which to enrich our existence.

We have advanced so much in such a short period of time. I remember when computers were used as overpriced calculators and electronic typewriters. Games were simple and phones were used only to make calls.

It is easy to get lost in a time like this. The internet has become a substitute for human contact, bringing people together who cannot so easily meet. It is not the technology, but what we do with it, that is the problem.

As much as I love social networking, I make it a point to spend time with people in person. There is something about just sitting down with friends and talking. To break bread with the ones you love is a gift beyond measure.

We lead hectic lives, so it is important to find time to relax. Conversation is becoming a lost art form. Communication is the cornerstone of civilization, and is essential for the functioning of a healthy society.

The more things change, the more they stay the same. The past is filled with people who were not so different from us. With their hands, they built our present. With ours, we build the future.

Much to do

It is good to stay busy: you get a lot more done. Everyone has the same amount of time, but there are very few who use it wisely. Those who do, tend to be quite productive.

There are so many things I want to do. There are stories to write, and books to read. I love listening to music and making my own. I watch movies and shows, soaking it all in.

When you stay busy, boredom stays away. You have no time for it. Instead, there is a longing to stop and rest.

Breaks are necessary, and they should be included in your plans. Sometimes we just need to relax. Once refreshed, one can charge back in with a great deal of gusto.

However, sloth should be avoided at all costs. A day without accomplishment is one that is wasted. The smallest achievement will counteract this.

No one has unlimited time, for our days are numbered. If we waste our lives, we will have nothing to show. But imagine what great works can be born in the course of a lifetime. The world will wonder where to put it all…

Facing fear

Fear reaches us on a primal level. It can turn the toughest person into a gibbering wretch. It takes courage to stare into the void, knowing that something is staring back.

Those who say they have no fear do not know fear. The precariousness of our existence is not real to them. Or they have deluded themselves into thinking that monsters do not really exist.

Truth is indeed stranger than fiction. Real vampires dress up in suits, sucking the life out of all they touch. Real zombies crave brains, because they have none of their own. Real werewolves are beasts in human form, devouring whatever is in reach.

Beyond the danger of reprobates, are the everyday fears: the loss of one’s livelihood, dread of the powerful, the knowledge that one false move could shatter your fragile dreams. The world is a serious threat to our survival. It is foolish to ignore what you cannot help but see.

Courage is not the absence of fear. It is proceeding forward in spite of it. Bravery is not stupidity. One must survive these perils by using their wits.

These things are too big to be beaten, but they can be overcome. All it takes is courage and caring. And it helps to know you are not alone. There are others waging a silent war against the night.

The little things

Our world has problems, and no one person can solve them. However, there is much we can do to make this a better place. It is easy to get caught up in the big things, and neglect the little ones.

Larger matters are beyond the scope of what an individual can do. That is why people get so wrapped up in them. Nobody expects you to succeed, so a mere concern is enough to get esteem.

You cannot make everyone happy, but one can bring cheer to some. Much is accomplished in not being part of the problem. Make the world better by being better and good things will follow.

Do not get discouraged by the indifference of others. Let them wallow in the shadows, while you shine a light in the night.  People cannot help but be drawn to its radiance.

Refuse to be dragged into the misery that is them. Weather the storms of life. Instead of sinking below, rise above.

Others will see this, and be inspired to do the same. By shining, you encourage them to shine. And that is how one little person can make a big difference. In lighting up the darkness, you chase the shadows away.