What’s the point of subscribing to grand theories without validating them through results?  From what I can tell, one can independently arrive at those beautifully worded, age-old assertions if they continually apply themselves and continue to refine their approach with the intent to optimize.  I’ve seen plenty of people fail by trying the opposite—by collecting platitudes and hacks in the vain hope that somehow, the weight of these aphorisms will replace the need for unflagging discipline or the willingness to question their ineffective, oh-so-comfortable beliefs.  

—my interpretation of the saying:  “Faith without works is dead.”

Getting Stuff Done is my favorite way to argue.  When I do it correctly, I don’t waste time in drawn-out debates, and I don’t exhaust myself championing high-handed theories or slickly worded principles.  I just align my convictions with tangible results, and hell, most times I don’t even have to open my mouth.

“Dear Kent:  While you’re alive, maneuver faster than entropy.  Mitigate bad luck and the inevitable decay of your efforts through discipline, aggression, and strategic thinking.  Strive to honestly assess yourself and your environment, so you can increase your chances of perceiving the best way forward.”  

—The part of myself that wants me to succeed.

The ability to regulate the craving for immediate gratification is a powerful tool; it can be used to build discipline and fortitude.  (S)he who has honed their spirit in this way can produce works that require great effort and character.  Or (s)he can be called forth to provide others with comfort and aid, in the event that it’s needed.  

I consider possession of either capability as one of the greatest blessings one could ever have.

How to use your writer’s imagination for some everyday fun:  one of your best friends is visiting, you’re both staring at the ceiling trying to fall asleep, you ask him if he’d ever eat a human, he promptly says no…then you start painting a series of circumstances and conditions which he considers for a bit, and he finally says:  “Yeah…in that case I guess I would.”  

Moo hoo ha ha!  😉 😀

In the long term, I find it preferable to be known as someone who can see things clearly, aim at a goal, and carry through on it.  Such a person will be sought after, because they can be trusted to be on time, do the work, and deliver a result.  Why do I find this preferable? 

The alternative—flaking out, being unreliable, and always shirking responsibility for lack of results—is simply a person I don’t want to be.  That person will be overcome by challenges, for they will be out of harmony with the evidence that life shows them, and they will spend massive amounts of energy rationalizing why they’re not responsible for unfavorable outcomes.

I’ve known many who look for a comfortable cure-all that will work in all circumstances.  Unfortunately, the two approaches that seem to work on a consistent basis are not at all comfortable:  1.  Apply myself consistently, with a full heart and a sharp mind.  2.  Adjust my approach in accordance with the evidence.  Through these actions, all deep lessons seem to manifest themselves in the unfurling of circumstance.  

The other direction—relying on proverbs without seeing how they apply to individual circumstance—doesn’t seem to work.  Everyone I know who’s read flowery prose about “the deep lessons,” but refuses to apply themselves in real life  or adjust their approach in accordance with evidence…they seem to become bitter, powerless, deluded, or all three and it makes perfect sense; they are unwilling to go through the uncomfortable process of turning timeless wisdom into current solutions.

I’ve often been fooled by my own craving or attachment masquerading as my intuition.  So as I navigate the recesses of my behavior and my thoughts, I keep a wary eye out, taking care to make sure my beliefs align with my results.  

Contrary to what some may believe, this doesn’t make for a loveless existence, for I have faith that love is at the root of all things, and I see it as more of a game I play with my limited self.

When I tackle personal problems, I have found that I am not satisfactorily rewarded by assigning blame to So-and-So or The System (no matter how deserving they might be of it).  I am rewarded when I accept the responsibility to navigate through or around every obstacle in my way, and achieving a victory.

I examine ancient wisdom in order to apply it to modern times, which, if done successfully, infuses it with a fresh burst of life.  

Without application, wisdom rots away as poetic-sounding theory.