After a few decades of slow learning (and forgetting and relearning) I am becoming more and more convinced that my number one job is choosing my thoughts.
I don’t mean that I have control over my mind. All sorts of shit thoughts pop up all the fucking time. What I mean is that these thoughts are seen and allowed to leave. Or are replaced with other thoughts.
Current events tell me that external and visible religious devotion is valued more than competence and reality.
Seeing this has a tangible effect on my mentality, for the worse. Condemnation. Anger. Frustration.
Double down on competence. Double down on clarity. Openmindedness.
The carpenter told us “Resist not evil”. In other words (applying that idea to me, today) don’t stew on how stupid “they” are, or how obviously self-destructive an ideology is. Keeping those thoughts alive in my head damaged me. The stupid, self-destructive people are oblivious.
Instead, get the mind and body hard. Get clean. Get focused. live a life constantly congruent with reality. That’s my reminder to myself today.
Be clear on this point: I’m not some fucking genius. There are seven billion plus people. I don’t have it nailed down, and in fact the odds are that I’m wrong. Someone (many, many someones) have the facts nailed down better than me.
Just guard against bullshit thoughts. Bullshit thoughts create bullshit people. Choose what works, instead of what you want to work. Think about that. Do that. And shun bullshit people.
This exhortation to self was inspired by a typed-up quote off the Goggins Video channel on YouTube, posted July 19, 2018:
In everything you do in life, make sure you give everything you have. A lot of people in this world allow the crap of this world to control their inner dialogue. Make sure you live your life the way you want to live it. Follow your heart and give all you have in everything you do. Sometimes you may need to stand alone on your journey. Find the courage to do that.
https://youtu.be/fjuya1xeOMc