Ask Yourself This

Today’s Quote: Mediocrity knows nothing higher than itself, but talent instantly recognizes genius. – Sir Arthur Conan Doyle                    

Today’s Narrative: It is hard to understand the limits of one’s talents. Harder still to take a quick look at another person and understand the limitations of their talents. It doesn’t stop any of us from trying and failing miserably to take a brief summary of others and then insist they live up (or down) to our unwelcome expectations. But we can get lucky. On fortunate occasions, you can honestly pick a winner. You can choose the right person to walk beside you in battle or the right person to share your hopes and dreams with. The skill lies in being about to recognize what their talents are, and how well their talents may work with yours.

Today’s Question: How do you recognize talent in others?      

Today’s Quote: Your art doesn’t have to pay the bills, or even pay for itself. But your art has definite value and worth. – J Cleveland Payne                           

Today’s Narrative: Projects like this count as my art because it doesn’t pay very well. I am not a six-figure guru spouting out to the unwashed masses hoping to catch some of the dust of my sparkle and shine, and I am effectively a part of the unwashed masses. The ultimate goal is to push to my content paying for the glamorous lifestyle I’m trying to sell my family is possible, which starts with the push to get my content to pay for itself. At various points of time, it has. More often, it hasn’t. The art must be made (for my sanity) but not necessarily to pay the bills.

Today’s Question: Are you forcing your ‘art’ to support itself?

Today’s Quote: All men by nature desire knowledge. – Aristotle                 

Today’s Narrative: We know that fortune tellers are performers at best, charlatans at worst. We know that horoscopes are written as gross generalizations for the sheer fact they need to cover a large mass of people to sound like a prophecy. We know that personalities tests have never used exact science to divine how you are meant to interact with the world around you. Yet, we are humans, and we have a weird want to know the unknown future, even if there is very little we can do to change it. But do we need to know these personal spoilers?

Today’s Question: Is there ever an advantage to not knowing an answer?

Today’s Quote: Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip. – Will Rogers                          

Today’s Narrative: We all know the metaphor of people wearing ‘masks’ to embellish particular aspects of themselves and deflect attention from others. There is the positive aspect of taking on a role and playing up the positive aspects of the mask you choose to wear in front of others. And there is a sense of security in having that mask nearby to shield yourself from the cruel world that would not understand the ‘real you’ if it were on display. It is more than okay to keep your mask on when you are forced to face a world that may be a little hostile, and you need an edge to survive. But there should be a safe space and comrades you trust where you are not forced to apply the mask.

Today’s Question: What don’t you want others to know about yourself?

Today’s Quote: Doing a thing well is often a waste of time. – Robert Byrne

Today’s Narrative: Hard work is necessary for success. Nothing worth having will come to you out of nowhere. It will come from intention, knowing what you ultimately want, and finding ways to get closer and closer to that goal. But working hard just for the sake of showing the world you are working hard is futile. Literally a futile effort that is getting you nowhere nearer to that goal and is leading you closer to burning out well before you can. Your life is a marathon and showing off to take off in a sprint at mile 2 is a horrible idea.

Today’s Question: Are you overdoing it with your efforts?

Today’s Quote: You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try. – Beverly Sills

As per Alfred Lord Tennyson, “‘Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.” And just about everyone who had loved and lost in the moment of the loss questions that statement. Maybe it really is better to know the bitterness of losing out. Or perhaps it would be better never to know that feeling as it means you also know the realities of the possible options. Sometimes, what you don’t find out that often makes the real difference in your chances for happiness and fulfillment.

Today’s Question: Is is really better to have ‘loved and lost?’

Today’s Quote: A lot of fellows nowadays have a B.A., M.D., or Ph.D. Unfortunately, they don’t have a J.O.B. – Fats Domino

When the qualifications needed to fill a position are plainly stated, it should be easy to find a proper candidate. When the qualifications are vague, then not so. The real problem comes from knowing your level of qualifications and knowing you are currently in a position that does not meet those qualifications. Assuming you want to progress beyond your current station, it is essential to work hard to show you have the proper capabilities for the passion you want to fill to the people who have the power to put you in that position.

Today’s Question: How hard are you working to be qualified for what you want? 

Today’s Quote: This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

It’s day one of the new year. Traditionally, today is the day for moving forward, and yesterday was for reflection. Today’s quote and question are meant to turn that on its head if only to allow you a better chance of doing better in moving forward this year after an actual session of reflection. And a key to moving forward, or anywhere away from where you are currently, is knowing exactly where you are. Coming to terms with your current circumstances is the only way to move forward effectively. If not, you carry those circumstances with you along to the next place.

Today’s Question: Are you ready to make the best of your circumstances?