There’s the “negative”
It affects you.
It affects you, more or less,
In a sense something is only “negative” IF it affects you, and only as negative as much it affects you
E.g. there’s something horrible happening out there somewhere in the world — but it doesn’t affect you, you’re not aware of it, you don’t even know of it — and therefore you don’t perceive that negativity, you don’t suffer that negativity, and you don’t even call it “negativity” — there’s nothing you think or feel or speak of it
Thus
If something is only then truly negative when it DOES actually negatively affect you…
THEN you can only TRULY OVERCOME something if it does actually negatively affect you
Because if it doesn’t affect you — then it’s not truly negative
Therefore the negativity is not truly real
Therefore there’s no real negativity to overcome
The classic examples are:
-One can only be courageous when they fear
-One can only overcome when there’s resistance
-One can only be tough and strong when things are hard and heavy
-One can only be cool when under pressure
-One can only be confident when challenged
-One can only “not give a fuck” when being criticised and judged
-One can only be modest when they’ve something to boast about
-One can only be perseverant when going gets tough
-One can only be just if they have any power to decide
Can you see?
You can’t be “good” in a vacuum
You can’t be “great” in a vacuum
You can’t be “virtuous” in a vacuum
Can’t be “strong” in a vacuum, can’t be “cool” in a vacuum,
…MORE THAN THAT:
You can’t be good or great of virtuous or strong or any of that — NOT in a vacuum — and NOT when it DOESN’T AFFECT YOU
IF IT DOESN’T AFFECT YOU — then it simply doesn’t affect you
Then you’ve NOTHING to overcome
You’re not courageous, you’re not strong, you’re not “good”, you’re just NOTHING
You’re NO ONE overcoming NOTHING
Confusion of SUCCESS and VIRTUE is pervasive.
And so is confusion of APPEARANCE and SUCCESS
Success is realer than the appearance.
But VIRTUE is realer than the success.
Because “success” can be a result of anything and everything, outside of your control
But VIRTUE is real
For the VIRTUE to materialize: it only takes the challenge, the negative — and then your WILL to DO BETTER, to overcome
You do — and you overcome
The confusion of SUCCESS and VIRTUE is pervasive.
We confuse the fearless with the courageous.
We confuse the easy with the perseverant
We confuse the big with the strong.
We confuse the nice and the pleasant with the good
We confuse the innocuous with the modest
We confuse the flashy with true passion
We confuse the loud with the confident
We confuse mere LUCK with SHEER WILL TO IMPROVE
Ironically the latter often results in the former.
But the former is not the latter. And the appearance is not the thing. And the OUTCOME itself is NOT what LEADS to it.
Now buck up
Arguably you have MORE PROBLEMS than you have “IMPRESSIVE SUCCESSES”, actually
Buck up. That means you can ACTUALLY be virtuous, ACTUALLY be strong, ACTUALLY GROW,
The one who thinks he’s made it, he’s deprived of the most precious gifts one can get:
THE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW
Which, really, is opportunity to LIVE
…
Now,
Does it mean that ONLY STRUGGLE — only genuine overcoming — is how one attains VIRTUE, how one GROWS, and how one ultimately LIVES?
NO
no
actually,
VIRTUE JUST IS
It’s CHALLENGE which REVEALS IT,
It’s only through challenge that you know it’s there. One could argue it’s “not real unless it is revealed”. But…
Is it so terrible to be effortless, fearless, tireless, imperturbable, trouble-less, powerful to the point that everything is a trifle to you?
Of course you want to be powerful, be full of energy, be profoundly deeply contented, cheerful, loving — to the point that WHATEVER is thrown at you — it indeed seems “ineffectual” — you deal with it effortlessly, calmly, effectively, quickly, and with a SMILE and JOY
Of course you want to be that
And if you are this way, truly are this way — then most likely you got there by the way of virtue — by the way of challenging yourself, by the way of OVERCOMING — and doing all of that with an attitude of love, inspiration, positivity
The END RESULT is indeed that life should truly become quite easy to you
But if it was always easy — then perhaps you didn’t challenge yourself enough
And you’re not truly effortless. You’re just sheltered
Just like you’re not truly fearless, not truly strong, not truly confident, etc etc etc
Make no mistake: you can’t fake it
Life gives you enough REAL challenges to overcome — DON’T FAKE CHALLENGES — so that you feel like you’re “OVERCOMING”
It’s best to ASSUME EFFORTLESSNESS, ASSUME POWER,
and THEN, from that place — take on a challenge
Let it afflict you a little. Let it trouble you some,
Just don’t let it trouble you so much so as to take any of the negative fucking attitude. There’s no time to be a sad cunt in this short life. AND it’s not effective. It truly does turn you into this “fake martyr”.
But LET it trouble you. It SHOULD trouble you
You can only solve problems when you HAVE problems. You can only be courageous when you feel fear. You can only be strong when you’re overcoming resistance. You can only be cool when you’re under pressure.
Please take that wonderful chance to BE MORE
Ultimately
Do enjoy when you’re so powerful and elevated so as to live and create effortlessly
DO be grateful when life gives you an opportunity to challenge yourself
Both paradigms are real
In truth it’s only once you understand both those paradigms is when they truly make sense. When they are no longer conflicted and confusing,
Be effortless,
Be virtuous