Things on My Mind
We are significant and we don’t matter.
This one is a philosophical whopper. The unchecked optimists and hopeless nihilists are a bit too pure on this one. The truth here lies in contradiction. I have the power to make an impact on the world, but it ultimately doesn’t matter if I do or not. I believe life is best lived if we act as if we are significant, with gentle reminders that we also aren’t. Contradictions are confusing and defy logic. That’s tough to sit with but I think it’s an important truth to contemplate.
If death is real, then fear is just noise.
Fear and doubt are really pernicious. Beyond the kind of fear that actually keeps us alive (e.g., not crossing the street when cars are passing by), we need to keep a close eye on fear. Some consequences of acting in spite of fear are: people not liking you or your work, not reaching a goal, or self disappointment. I honestly do not see how any of these are worse than what we already know to be real: death. If we already know we are going to die, why not leave it all on the table?
Creativity is subjecting oneself to a proverbial death (criticism).
When we create and our creation (or self) is not loved as a result, there is a death. TO make oneself vulnerable with creation and not be accepted is painful. There is a compelling argument to be made to just not be vulnerable and avoid the mini death. I think it is a poor argument contrived to encourage safety. A higher floor but much, much lower ceiling. With creation, there is no ceiling. Creation is infinite.
An understanding of what values guide behavior is crucial.
You have a choice. Behave in response to the whims of emotion or based on a set of values that are pre-determined. The former says, “Fuck it, I don’t know what I believe or who I want to be” and the latter says “I am going to hold myself accountable to a thought out code of behavioral ethics.” In a world with much external uncertainty, creating an internal values compass is essential to remaining grounded and confident in behavior.
