Abject denial of what we label as “negativity” or “darkness” will doom us to repeat history.

(Underneath it all, it’s all good stuff anyway.  🙂  )

A garden is meant to be admired…but also weeded.  In the same way, Truth—whether it be “pleasant” or not—must be contemplated and sifted through.  Positive thinking (while essential), is not enough by itself.

But ironically, if you sift far enough, your thinking becomes positive by default.   😉

I’ve known many to be disillusioned with politics and their vote’s lack of power.  But as far as existence is concerned, you are given votes every day/every minute/every second.  Each action that demonstrates discipline/drive/love, that is a vote that transcends politics; that vote will be counted.  

Every day, every minute, every second; whether someone watches you or not.  That action you choose to do or not do—that is your vote.

The notion that you could have done this awesome feat or that dazzling deed—WHO CARES?  I say pick something cool, apply consistent discipline, and use the experience to dissolve your weaknesses and shore up your strength.  In short, use adversity to hone yourself at the deepest levels.  As far as the romanticism of warrior/artist/businessman/spiritualist/etc…they’re just fleeting masks for something deeper.  

Ideally, I believe a trained spirit can put on one mask just as easily as the next (Musashi knows what I’m talking about).

Pick whatever label you want—writer/soldier/artist/cage fighter/Samurai/spiritualist/businessman…there are core values that transfer from one to the other:  Attention to detail, creative problem-solving, DISCIPLINE (can be replaced obsession, but not as sustainable).  The outside flavors (drafting/fighting/painting/training/zen/ritual/entrepreneurship) are just that:  flavors.  

In order to follow Musashi’s advice, dig deeper into that which is transferable…and then?  Dig even deeper.  That way, “If you know the way broadly, you will see it in all things.”

Handling failure is more than just enduring discomfort-that just leads to accumulated damage.  It’s really about setting aside ego and delving deep into the lessons of the wondrous gift that is “failure.”  

The real win, IMHO, is having a spirit so refined/creative/disciplined that it effortlessly turns misfortunes into gains.  

Because of my physical constraints (and my linear movement through time), the effort I put into my work can be measured in geometric fashion.

But by leveraging creativity, I aim for exponential results.

Why do sages speaks in riddles and parables?  IMHO, it’s because verbal communication is an imperfect medium.  

(You gotta twist up words to untwist existence.)

Existence wants me to succeed.  I try to help it along by demonstrating discipline, audacity, and willingness to operate outside my comfort zone.

It’s a good idea to act with urgency and keep in mind that my time here is limited, because when life has to step in and remind me, it usually involves a lot of unnecessary pain.