A Soul Troubled By Defeat

Darkness consumes you.
 It comes to a point where it surrounds you and you find it so hard to breathe.
But you put one hand in front of the other while you drag your weary body behind you.
Before you know it you have enough strength to get up and you start putting one foot in front of another. Faster and faster you go.
Look at you now, you're running. You run faster and faster.
The faster you run you start to feel like you're flying..
It's incredible.
Look at the view.
Its like the world is yours..
IT IS YOURS!

See the real problem doesn't come from the ability to pick yourself up but it's overcoming what has put you there.

See there's this girl I know. She believes what he last said to her. She thinks she's worthless, undeserving of love. She lets that consume her to the point where she believes it. See, this girl thinks she's unworthy of the great things life has to offer but little does she know that just because someone said it, doesn't make it true.

She wants to run, far away. Perhaps even take her life. Oh, what a troubled soul she is.

She could light up even the darkest of rooms but she only sees the darkness within.. Its the darkness that consumes that light. She forgets to look up and see the sun rising on the East. She's too focused on the West you see..

Consumed by negative comments. Consumed by hateful actions. Consumed by the destroyed world we live in.

I fail to grasp her concept of "Maybe, he's right." I don't understand. I could never see anything wrong with her.. Her soul was beautiful. But no matter what you say to her.. She won't believe it.

When life is being destroyed around you, your reaction to it is the only thing you can control. It's believed that we control 90% of our lives, based on the "90/10 Principle". The other 10% is based on things like the weather and other people's actions.

But how react to it and our thoughts really define majority of our life around us. I won't go into too much detail on the "90/10 Principle" but the thing is this changed my life. A few years ago, I was in the darkest of places and I was so negative. I would drag my feet, frown, not want to do anything with my life. But, when I realised that I had 90% control of my life I started to reanalyse my life.

I found that negative situations weren't so negative the longer time had gone by.. I was learning how to turn negatives into better pictures you see. I looked at my situation and I said ok, what have I learnt?

What are the positives from this?

What more could I learn?

What did I do wrong?

How can I change that and do it right?

See, the one thing I forgot was I needed to breathe and relax. To not react like a chemical reaction when it came to certain situations. Well, I should say all situations. I needed to learn. I needed to sit back and observe my situation. What I really needed to do was look over the variables and analyse the best action plan to execute.

It may be a little too late on certain situations but I've always looked to find the most positive things in even the worst situations. Now, I blog about them. Well kind of anyway. They inspire me to write, to continue to write, in hopes that somebody can learn earlier than I did before it was too late.

There is always a light at the end of the tunnel but your success and happiness is all based on your reaction to the obstacles of life. If you're always positive, you'll never see the darkness. You will only see beauty in the ugliest of storms.

The man who sees the obstacle as an unconquerable wall will only ever get as far as the wall. But the man who sees the obstacle as a hurdle and all you have to do is jump over it.. He will always reach the end. The end being whatever he had set out to do. What his end goal had been from the start, way before he had hit his first hurdle.

He runs, he jumps over one and he runs again. But he doesn't stop when he sees the next hurdle because he already knows what needs to be done. He jumps again, and again, and again until he hits that finish line.

But its the addiction that one may get to overcoming hurdles, he looks for every hurdle. Just to leap over it. To say he had done this that he was indeed a winner.

A winner never quits and a quitter never wins.

Defeat shall never define a man if he sees that defeat as a lesson. For that lesson, will turn even the greatest defeats into the most rewarding accomplishments of ones life. As a winner, you could never settle. For winning does not allow you to settle and relax but requires you to further your knowledge for you may be at the top but it can be taken from under you in an instant. This is if you already believe that you have all the knowledge the world has to give. If you forget that even though you can be a winner that you have negatives or points that you must build upon in order to remain strong.

If you constantly looking to improve, you will never fall behind, For you know that second place can steal your crown. For even the winner who wins the most, may not be the winner who is the best. For his technique may be flawed, his idea may be short lived or perhaps he dies thinking that he was the greatest ever.

For the greatest winners of our time, must be constantly learning in order to stay ahead. In order to tinker with his performance or his ideas. He must be willing to take chances, to learn and build upon his successes. For he could never look at defeat as career ending but career defining.
Why? Because he knew that chances could never be looked at as a defeat but more as a lesson in becoming better. To becoming greater. To stay ahead of his ever closing competition.


But if you were to let any defeat define you. You will never know what you could of truly become.

You must constantly be fearless in order to succeed. To try new things in order to stay ahead of the competition or to give you an edge. For if you stay timid and scared of defeat. You have already been defeated for success requires failure in most cases. For if you quit, you will never be a champion.

See, resting on your competition is telling them that you do not care if they catch you. If they take your spot. Hare and the tortoise is a great example.

For he who believes he can sleep on his competition will be used by the competition as a door mat for their own achievement.

Take control of your life. Give your life complete conviction and constantly strive for greatness through self improvement. For if you let the surroundings define you, you may get lost in the dull world that we live in.. We don't want you to lose your little spark. For it could ignite the biggest fire that could light up this world.



See, my friend. Light is everywhere.

But your too busy standing in your shadow and not looking at the sun.

Keep your head up and look for the sun.

It may be hard but never impossible.

Keep fighting and never give up.

The Undefeated Floyd "Money" Mayweather
Looking to be known as "TBE"
The Best Ever

There will be a similar blog called "Hard Work Beats Talent" which will all be about the trials and tribulations of success and what it requires, which could be up real soon. Keep your eyes peeled.

Anomaly

Anomaly meaning one that is peculiar, irregular, abnormal, or difficult to classify. 

I learnt in the last few years that I was never destined to be like everyone else. That I was unique, that no matter how hard you looked, no matter who you could meet that there is no way that you could find someone like me.

I looked at life in a different way, in a different manner. I looked from the outside of the box looking in… I was never able to put myself in a box and let life pass me by. I just wanted to break free of the chains and just let my soul speak the words in my head.

I cant bare being me at times, simply because id consume myself. I couldn’t just forget things or not think about certain things. I just wanted to find myself, do things that my own heart could relate to. Do something and be someone who I feel I should be. Not what society believes I should be.

I think being different in a way is cool as hell, why? Because to be like everyone else it lacks creativity, it lacks thought, it lacks imagination.  I could never put my thoughts out so that others could understand it.. Its complex. Its so complex that at sometimes I don’t even know how to put my thoughts or feelings onto paper. Or into words. I just know the feelings are right and I guess that’s all that matters.

I question everything, I look for answers to the questions I have or that others have answers. I don’t censor what I want to say I say how I feel.  Honesty in a world where everyone feels like they have to be approved by society is so difficult because being honest means being real. Being real and true to who you are can at sometimes upset those people. Or people will discredit your opinions because they don’t understand it.

I’m talking in general, simply because people can relate to trying to be who you are and you’re afraid of what those around you will say, because you feel opinions do matter.. Well here’s news for you.. F#CK that, f#ck your opinion because this is me. If you feel like other peoples opinions matter, tell me how much your dreams mean to you if you’re going to stop dreams or let people hinder your potential… You got something to give to the world than do it. Don’t let society stop you from following your passions and your dreams. Life’s too short to care about peoples negative comments because nobody wants to see you win. Don’t do this for them, do it for you.

See the thing is people see creativity as a scary thing. Not many people appreciate it. Unless society appreciates it and approves of what somebody who is creative is doing.  Artists, writers, photographers, people who just think differently should be shown appreciation because CREATIVITY is dying, being an individual is dying.  Simply because society’s box is getting smaller which really puts us into a smaller box… Thus, the smaller the box creates the smaller the mind.

Anyone who wishes to follow their dreams and be your own person.. Who cares what society wants from you or wants you to do. I think, breaking down the walls of societies standards is fundamental in moving forward and achieving great things. If you only do what society does, or the people around you do.. You will only get as far as the crowd. But if you are willing to go further and push beyond the limits, the world itself is yours for the taking.

No one has ever done anything great being just like everyone else. They had to do something different to set them apart from the pack. Because your ideas and your own presence isn’t really appreciated if the next person can be you and fill the void you left. Your void, your name, your ideas, your creativity should be missed.

Its okay to be the greatest you, its okay to succeed, its okay to fail, its okay to follow your dreams but don’t let society or your friends or your family control your potential. Because, nobody can be you, if you can be the next Steve Jobs, Michael Jackson, Picasso, Mandela, Mohammed Ali, JFK, Martin Luther King jnr be the next great thing of your generation or of your chosen profession if you don’t try? If you don’t push yourself to your absolute limit, how would we know how far we can get and what we are able to achieve.

We are scared to be embarrassed so we let society control us… Because if we follow the norm, we are “safe” and less likely to look stupid as hell but when we take a leap of faith and do whatever you feel like you want to do, than that’s dope. That is awesome! Because it says that your will to succeed and your will to just push yourself to your limits will allow you to achieve great things.

Who’s opinion really matters to you? Does the opinions of strangers matter? Does the opinion of your friends really matter? The truth is, it doesn’t. Because unless they are helping you and giving you constructive criticism, they don’t really support you and if they don’t support you.. Did they really have your back in the first place? See, that’s the thing. Nobody’s opinion really matters because most people don’t understand what you’re really saying or doing. They have to see it to understand what you’re really talking about. Because if you’re really thinking outside the box, chances are the whole concept is so abstract to them that they don’t really understand you or what you’re doing.

See, people want to really put you inside this box and keep you limited because people are scared of seeing other people succeed. It’s so hard to succeed in a world full of mediocre thoughts because people want to know how to get there. How to do it. See nobody wants to get off their ass and just do some positive actions and move the world forward. 

See the thing is, no one ever notices a Toyota, however people will notice a Ferrari. They will think about it long after its gone and talk about it to others. Why? Because its different. Its unique. Success in business is a lot the same. In order for you to stand out and the only way you can stand out and succeed is to bring something to the market that your competitors can't, but what the customer needs. That's why it pays to be different. Literally. 

You need to bring something to the table to stand out amongst everyone else. Your boss won't notice you if you're doing what everyone else does. So what makes you think you'll get that promotion? Oh, you like someone. What makes you think they'll want to be with you if they feel like they can find another you. You want that job? So does 10 others, what is going to make you stand out so well that you give no other option but to hire you on the spot. Because if they don't.. their competitor will hire them instead. The truth is, you need to stand out in society. You need to go above and beyond in order to get that promotion or start that business. You really can't get all that far when you can't stand out. You have to go out there and find your strengths and play on those strengths and make yourself stand out. You cannot get very far without emerging out of the crowd in some way shape or form to be the number one candidate. People should be looking for ways to sell themselves because if you can't sell yourself. Why would anyone want to hire you, promote you, marry you or take their business to you. Success itself is based on the art of selling, so learn to sell your differences and your strengths because those particular traits will determine what you will be able to achieve. 

My own intentions are just to push the world forward and bring positive attitudes and actions into the world. Where I hope that everyone sees especially the dreamers, see that we need to support each other and work together in order to succeed. But we all have to bring something to the world.. But if we aren’t willing to push the limits and try to create something where it makes a difference. But you really got to be the difference in the first place.

Take the great Michael Jackson. He changed the whole concept of music and performance. He took over the charts and had given the world all this music and all these moves and performances. Where at the time, it was uncommon. I could go on about Michael Jackson but the thing is, no one has ever come close to being Michael Jackson. This will remain forever past, present and future because he was his own unique self. He created dope concepts and pushed the limits and just created. See, creation is only capable in the individual. Me, you and everyone else and unlocking that creativity and just being unique rather than being a sheep and following the rules will allow you to achieve great things.

Its cool to be different. You have the possibility to achieve the greatest of achievements. Go out there and create. Create your own legacy. Your death could just be around the corner, so leave something behind worth remembering.

A Beautiful Chaos

Chaos can evoke emotion, can evoke change, can evoke thought and it can evoke action. Perhaps, your greatest demise will be the chaos you have created. Leaving only destruction for others to deal with as you pass.

Questions to answer but never spoken from your stubborn behaviour while others wonder how twisted somebody can be.. The devil in disguise? I mean, you did bring hell only to allow us another shot of the depths of your own chaos. 

Maybe you should of taken into consideration what you were doing before you did it.. Maybe you could give answers to those who need it to continue their path or perhaps it is the lack of answers that allows us to wonder what if while we walk away from the dangerous chaos we have created... 

A never ending cycle we have caught ourselves in but that cycle has broken like the dreams of a 10 year old boy finding out that Santa no longer exists.. A warrior finally conquering his objective, I have become. 

A beautiful chaos, only to be admired by the faint hearted, is such a pretty picture. I could never ask for something more beautiful to inspire me to want so much, to learn, to change, to be all that I could ever be. Oh, you're like a beautiful sunrise.. We all know the inevitable end is a picture perfect sunset.   

The chaos of my life, you have lead, to unimaginable highs or perhaps difficult lows. I could never truly appreciate the chaos. I guess that's why they name cyclones and hurricanes by people as we can all go through somebody's life and tear their life to pieces. 

Or perhaps, we are not torn apart but lead to a better tomorrow.. You know what they said, the pain of today is the strength of tomorrow. 

Oh, how that could not ring so true right now. 

The pain we had to endure to climb the mountains to one another's souls could never be the greatest chaos we had, but the downfall of the dynasty we tried to create. Maybe, it was me who created such images that were for the fun of my imagination, for I could never believe in a chaos that could with stand our brutal shortcomings that lead to our demise. 

I could never learn to trust somebody who lied so well, because if they could lie to someone else, why not lie to me? Cursed by the past, we could never run from the people we had become. Knowing full well that you were dealing with more than our story, but with very little communication, you made decisions to tell anybody but the one person who rode through it all.

Something I could never fully comprehend. 

Perhaps, one day, the dust may settle, and you can only see the reflection of yourself and who you have become. 

A story I could never fully comprehend. One that I could never understand. 

A fighter, who never knew failure, who did not care for such chaos but the achievement of knowing that he had done his best.. Never knew he had achieved what he had set. 

To find ones soul, to find everything but leaving with nothing but the chaos he knew. He found the answers, in the chaos. Hiding, running. Hoping never to be found. That you can never create a life with another without the effort and attention needed.. 

Bonnie & Clyde eat your heart out. 

Never will it end, for its beauty could make even Mona Lisa look ugly. 

Ah, what a beautiful chaos we had become.

But, your lack of effort and respect had left me no choice. 

This is a chapter of the life I once knew.. But could not continue.

So he left to chase his dreams, knowing that he would never be the same again.

Mona Lisa
The Louvre, Paris

Time is of The Essence

At 19, I feel the pressure of time, not because I’m old but simply because our untimely demise can never be defined and marked on a calendar. You cannot be guaranteed that tomorrow will be a new day but majority of us believe otherwise.  Perhaps tomorrow we can chase our dreams, perhaps tomorrow the ones we love will still be breathing, perhaps next year I can travel the world, perhaps in 10 years I can have a family.  But really, nothing but today is granted to us.  So why is that I see people acting in a way that next week is guaranteed to them or that tomorrow your best friend or your parents will still be on the face of this earth.

Perhaps, we may live until we grow old and have children and we can look back and say “We made it”. Truth is, unless you seize these moments right in front of your eyes and you act in a way that you can look back when it is time for you to leave this earth that you can say “Yeah, I’m proud of everything I’ve done, of who I was and for everything I have been through.” 

When you wake up in the morning, do you wake up and say “Ok, its  time for me to be and do something with my new set of 24 hours” or are you the type of person who says “Do I have to get out of bed today? Do I have to go to work? Do I have to appreciate the people in my life?” If you don’t appreciate your time, you will not value it and if you do not value your time, no one else will.

If you were to die today, would you be proud of the opportunities you took or didn’t take, did you tell the significant people in your life that you appreciate them and everything that they’ve been apart of, did you achieve what you set out to achieve?  What dreams, what ambitions, what words died with you? Did you want to say something but you were too scared because someone might judge you or that you don’t know how the other person feels about you?

I mean really, do we grab ourselves by our balls and just say what it is that we really want to say and do whatever it is we wish to do? We are too scared to feel pain, to be hurt, to be judged, to fail because we don’t want to hurt our pride. We prefer to be in the safe haven of the “easy” life rather than work hard and seize opportunities and make a great life for ourselves.

I happen to go to the Royal Children’s Hospital and that’s when you realize that nothing in our life is ever guaranteed to us, not time and not life. Many children face a battle that they could never win because they are terminally ill but I bet you will never see a child or their family ever give up on the fact that perhaps they will live until tomorrow, even though the doctor may say it will never happen. Those touched by terminally ill family members, know the value of time, but perhaps may never realize that it applies to their own life.

Don’t let the end of anything be filled with regret. You've got one life, make the most of it.

Tomorrow is just a day away, but that day could be the end to a beautiful life.  To mine, to yours and to those you love.



Carpe Diem.