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The Battleground
It’s easy to bask in the blessings of your life and not worry about the limiting parts. It’s similarly as simple to accept the dark areas and make no effort to address it. The difference for positive change happens in the battleground. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. It is there, where the limitations of your full potential exist for both you and others.
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Bible of BS Case Study
“It’s not what you say it’s how you say it”. As cliche as this phrase is, it’s certainty cannot be overstated. Too often it is believed that as long what you say is correct then it cannot be BS. However, if whatever you communicate is done aggressively, chances are the tone of your voice is more destructive to the well being of the world than their “misbelief.” It doesn’t matter how much more “truthful” your view is than the opposition, yelling or exploding is a violation of several BS Commandments shown below.
It is an attack which is always BS – (Commandment X – Indecent Regard to Others)
Often times the relevance of whatever you’re cursing about is an exaggeration, and does not warrant shouting – (Commandment V – Misrepresentation)
It is rarely the best solution, definitely not long term, and hardly even short. Not only is it ineffective, often times it is counter-productive and worsens the situation – (Commandment 4 – Unresourceful)
The fact you believe it is effective, makes you ignorant – (Commandment 2 – Ignorant)
Yelling and lashing out are common tools to perpetuate toxic environments and cave into personal demons. If that is what your goal is, you’re definitely in the wrong place.
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Top Chef Series 4
Challenge 8: Create a dish using Native American ingredients
Huitlacoche Tamales
Challenge 9: Create a Fish Boil
Fusion Vietnamese and Szechuan Sour Fish Soup on white rice – Swai fillets in a tamarind and pickled mustard broth.
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Workplace Naughty and Nice List
A naughty and nice list I created for my clinic recently. Although this was curtailed specifically for a workplace environment, many of these translate to all aspects of life.
TLDR: Appreciate others and what you have. Be honest and kind. Speak well about others and yourself. This is how you build a world of happiness. Do the opposite, and that’s how you build of a world of toxicity.
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The Invincible Man
Babe and honey. Inspired by real stories and real people. Finding the humor in imperfect situations and even more imperfect characters.
Inspired by all the “invincible” primates in the world, and the trouble their immortality creates for others.
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The Strong Carry the Most
Being strong comes with a responsibility to carry a heavier load for the common good.
Having strength just for just for one’s ego or other selfish reasons is simply a waste.
Be strong for others.
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Bible of BS Case Study
Studies have shown that in a debate the confident are more persuasive than the timid. While this should be a surprise to no one, what is shocking that it still holds true even if the confident person is wrong and the timid person is right. Seemingly, whoever believes their own BS usually wins the argument. Too often this empowers ignorance, and even more unfortunately disempowers the righteous.
Empower yourself against this common power trick. Certainty, in the form of conviction, is hardly certain at all – especially in these days of misinformation, polarization, and extreme views. Absolutes, the ultimate form of conviction, or anything within the vicinity should be taken with a grain of salt.
Know your stuff and just know someone assuming false authority with confidence may just be a ploy. Confidence is perhaps too powerful for its own good. It is a double-edged sword and can be used for both good and evil
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Top Chef Series 3
Challenge 6: Create a dish of “Chaos”
Western Eggs Benedict with Mexican Carnitas on a Chinese Bao Bun
Challenge 7: Highlight Sausage
Pasta with Sausage and Sausage Gravy – Blonde roux with rendered Italian sausage fat, sausage broth, white wine, and creme fraiche. -
Life is a Poker Table
In the game of Poker you can have a small amount of chips, known as the short stack, or have a lot of chips known as the high stack. Optimal play between the two is entirely different. One can think of it as surviving versus thriving. Know in life which situation you are in.
Too often times people come into success from tough upbringings and bring along with them elements of the past poor life. Mistrust, selfishness, small potato thinking and a general scarcity mindset often wear out their welcome when they transition from a survivors situation to a thrivers situation. Playing with a survivors mindset in a thriving situation leads to unnecessary anxiety, pain and limited growth.
However, playing with a thrivers mind set in a survivors situation will surely result in demise. Life will throw a wrench at you from time to time and change you from thriving to surviving. Identify this this properly, be flexible, and learn to switch gears. Survive today, thrive the next. At the end of the day, your stack will thank you.
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Prisoner of “Stupid” Decisions
Babe and honey. Inspired by real stories and real people. Finding the humor in imperfect situations with even more imperfect characters.
Inspired by H 2009. It’s true that people’s “self-made” prisons can be unlocked with “common sense”. However, ones self-glorification of their “journey” is often a delusion that masks a deep pain from a trauma long ago. This cartoon originally created in 2014 admittedly has not aged well. It lacks empathy and compassion for the struggles we all face in one form or another, and ridicules something that should be supported.
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Life is a Song Part III
Life is a song…
Our interaction with ourselves and others is the music of the world.
The first step is to be true to yourself – this is your instrument.
The second step is to find the group of people that bring out the best in you and you in them – this is your band.
And last but not least… Listen to the unfamiliar sounds around you. The beautiful music of the world is not limited to what you and your tribe produce. It surrounds us all and is meant to be enjoyed and even inspirational for your own music. All it takes is a willing ear and an open heart.
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BS Advice
The concept of giving advice at face value seems like a helpful endeavor. However more often than not, it’s often riddled with BS, which ultimately nullifies its effectiveness, even if the advice itself is solid. Such is the nature of humans, that they must feel safe before adopting any changes. This is doubly true for advice received, and any form of BS will mar the safety of that advice. Hate it all you want, but ignoring this facet of people will ultimately hinder your ability to guide and persuade others. And if guiding others to better themselves is not your ultimate intention, then that’s an issue you should be sorting out for yourself (Hint: its probably ego related).
Effective advice is given from a place of kindness, compassion, and understanding. However, too often it is tainted with some form of BS.
Although the ways of BS advice are countless, the most common forms are the following:
Hypocritical Advice – People giving advice they aren’t willing to do themselves.
Unproductive Advice – This can be in the form of cliches (i.e. “try harder”), to the non sensical, or just the flat out wrongUnsolicited Advice – Perhaps one of the most common forms of inappropriate advice, this is advice that is not asked for (and usually not wanted.)
Just those 3 examples alone violate the following commandments.
Commandment II – Ignorant
Commandment III – Inconsistent
Commandment IV- Unresourceful
Commandment VI – Indecent Assumption
Commandment VII – Misrepresenting
Commandment VIII – False Authority
Commandment X – Indecent Regard for OthersBe cautious and compassionate when giving advice. It is often one of the most improperly used and over utilized tools.