Switched-On :: Blog

I feel like the old adage about fear gets constantly thrown around whenever it’s fitting, but oh, so overly convenient. It has its truths, and it pretty motivational, aside from one small shortcoming: fear itself is pretty dang scary. For me at least, the urging to try your best and accept nothing less, has the same shortcoming. What is your best, and why is it that so many people seem to know your own limits better than you do? I know that I’m no one’s worst critic but my own, though it burns when you know for a fact that something you’ve done could have turned out much better and you’re still told, it’s alright, as long as you’ve tried your best. I’m not sure which I dislike more, the dismissive quality of the phrase or the person that’s said it. Friend, parent, either or, the result is the same: someone’s just taken a huge bite out of your self confidence. I know, they’re words of motivation, but I feel that if you haven’t been there to see someone through from beginning to end, save that kind of remark for yourself, as you’ll always know your own limits and tailor your own motivation accordingly. Someone needs to be reassured, it seems as though someone somewhere needs it, though I’m pretty sure it’s not me.
- Eric

What is causing so many people in this world to just not care about the consequences of their actions? One explanation is ignorance. This is acceptable to me when the person has no choice in the matter. The one thing that to me is simply unacceptable is apathy. That is lack of care after knowing the facts. What disturbs me is that this seems desperately close to stupidity. Stupidity is doing what you know is wrong or won’t work even though you know the factors. With apathy, this goes somewhat beyond this because it is lack of care about the subject. I don’t know if my theory is right but I think that apathy comes from trying to avoid pain. Yet in trying to avoid pain, one generally causes it in greater amounts. Apathy is the most dangerous agent in our world in my opinion. That is because if we don’t care about consequences we won’t learn from our mistakes. Without learning and adapting, we cannot survive. In essence apathy is counterproductive to survival. The more we care, the more we will strive to know, the more we know, the better we can survive. Please if you feel apathetic, examine what it is causing this because it could be you are holding yourself back.
- Kevin

How many times I have heard or thought that people are more mature than their years. I have been contemplating this lately and find that it and fallacy. How can one be more mature than their years? I no longer think they can. This is because their years have given them experience. The only type of learning we are capable of is experiential. Therefore, if one seems mature it is because they have gone through things to make it so. If people seem immature then it is because they have not experienced anything that has changed their mind. Therefore, I believe it is an inaccurate judgment to say that someone is wise beyond their years because it is these years that have shaped them. Even with reincarnation, I see this as plausible. That is because these past lives, in this context, are also part of what is past and therefore not beyond our years. I have been in the process of reevaluating my beliefs and always will be so I hope that this helps those of you who are in the same, or similar, process.
- Kevin

Recently I have been feeling rather like the phoenix. I have been burdened with much that has pained me and much that has brought growth from the ashes of old thinking. Long is the road of such conquests. It may be a day, week, month, year, or even a life time. For me, I have experienced many of such moments. My view is that life is but a moment comprised of moment and each and opportunity to rise. I have found new strength in simple places and now I strife to place this same motivation into others. I know it is difficult to be engulfed in the conflagration of pain at times but ash as from volcanic tribulation, fire, or emotional turmoil only serves to provide more fertile growth from which to spring anew. This is the phoenix’s purpose; to burn through its old life and be reborn and gain eternity through this. My view of the universe is that it and every part that comprises it acts similarly to this. All things die or change states and nothing lasts forever but by doing so it gains eternity in rebirth. This has moved me to begin art projects and find new pathways upon which to build enduring strength. My greatest strength is my own inspiration and my greatest wish is to spread that to others in turn. So my question of the day is how will you burn through your past and create your future? How will you be a phoenix today?
- Kevin