Living a Legendary Life … October 25th, 2020

Sitting 2

A Trio of Trouble

There is a trio of troubled troubadours who raise their ugly heads to sing off-key tunes, causing all of humanity to suffer in the listening.

They tour together. They only believe in each other, and they foster the conditions causing all the pain experienced on Planet Earth.

Pretty dramatic beginning, don’t you think?  Now that I have your attention, let me introduce these dunderheads of defeat.

Insecurity

The mother’s name is insecurity.

She hounds, pecks and nags to bring about her will. That will is very simple:  to establish the need for love rather than a love relationship.  She points out flaws and never forgives them. She discourages all attempts at improvement. She leaves her household barren of basic human confidence.

Superstition

Then she turns to her sister, superstition, to explain the rules of operation. Superstition lays the groundwork for the reasoning behind all the insecurity.  Superstition fosters the notion that there are supernatural reasons for the most natural of events. Superstition warns of dangers which are never realized and promotes prejudices for the alleged protection of all. Superstition promotes ritual over rhyme, practice over discovery and dogma over true belief.

And then, she invites the big brother to come in to seal the deal.

Arrogance

His name is arrogance.

Arrogance has an excuse for everything. Arrogance is clothed in fakery and armed with ignorance. Arrogance flexes its muscle to prove superiority.  Arrogance is the enforcer of all that makes us insecure and all that causes us to revere the superstitious.

The trio rampage through the human fold like a wolf at night, destroying all semblance of innocence and all sensation of protection. They fear no one but continue their mission of mayhem, seemingly unchecked by any mortal force.

Their only weakness is that they don’t seem to be able to function alone. When separated, the true essence of their nature shines through and exposes them.

  • Insecurity is like a jealous child.
  • Superstition resembles a baffled bungler of misinformation.
  • And arrogance is an ignorant brute.

Fortunately for all human beings great and small, there is a threesome that counters the efforts of this diabolical trio.

Acceptance

Standing firmly and strongly in an intelligent profile against Mother Insecurity is acceptance.

Acceptance is the perfect counter against insecurity because it dismisses the notion that there is a foregone conclusion.  Acceptance accepts–first, ourselves for who we are.

Then, with a tremendous boost of confidence, acceptance allows differences in others.

Acceptance brings the productive idea that we don’t have to reinvent ourselves but instead can work with the package provided.

Logic

Logic has been summoned to counteract superstition.

Logic rarely has an opinion, but poses the well-placed question.

Logic wants to know if there is any history to the notion.

Logic desires evidence.

Logic is the element of life that has historically dismissed the errant philosophies that have brought us near the brink of destruction.  Can there be anything more god-like than the probing question that splits the darkness and demands, “Let there be light?”

Logic becomes faith when enacted by people of passion.

Humility

And finally, there is humility, which, for some odd reason, has gained a reputation for being weak. However, humility is always the profile taken by any  intelligent soul who knows there is always more to learn.

Humility feels no need to supersede the will of others, but only wishes to be a part of the whole.

As in the case of insecurity, superstition and arrogance, our three friends–acceptance, logic and humility–gain strength through one another.

Leading a legendary life is a decision to accept who we are and the identities of those around us, while logically requesting an explanation for events and humbly placing ourselves in the flow of humanity instead insisting on an arrogant seat of power above others.

Two Households

The trio of troublers: insecurity, superstition and arrogance.

The trinity of triumph: acceptance, logic and humility.

But you can be certain of this:  you will most certainly belong to one family or another.

Living a Legendary Life … October 11th, 2020

Jonathan wrote the book, “Living a Legendary Life,” several years ago, but I find myself thinking about it a lot of late.

With our very democracy at risk and a worldwide pandemic threatening the globe, perhaps now, more than ever, it is time to set aside foolish dreams of fame and fortune and instead focus on changing the three square feet we can influence, starting with ourselves.

Then, if being our best selves happens to end with us being famous and fortunate, perhaps we will be better equipped to use that state to make the world a better place.   

–J Clazzy, ed.

***

LIVING A LEGENDARY LIFE

Introduction

“Everybody gets fifteen minutes of fame.”

A seemingly clever, harmless phrase, at best encouraging the masses to aspire to greatness and at worst, promoting cynicism.

There’s nothing wrong with buying ten lottery tickets a week, hoping to become the new millionaire. It’s just fine to sign up with Publisher’s Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, dreaming of the knock on the door.  And it’s okay to clip coupons, squirreling away your savings for that trip around the world.

After all, isn’t this part of the American dream—that every boy or girl can grow up to be President of the United States? Anybody can end up wealthy.

What’s the harm?

But consider this one point—while pursuing the dream, it’s easy to lose the value of the waking hours. While stashing money and seeking fame, moments pass. Maybe even days, weeks, months, and years. And what we already possess is underrated and the power in our life is untapped.

Because of course, it’s a farce—the supposition that everybody gets fifteen minutes of fame. Even with the aid of Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.

Most human beings will remain in obscurity, not known by more than two or three thousand people throughout their lifespan.

This is the truth.

There is an old saying that the truth will make you free. But free to do what?  Or perhaps, free to be what?

To lead effective lives, we must free ourselves from lies trapping us in false goals, leading down paths to nowhere.

After all, what is so horrible about obscurity?

What is so wrong with being loved by a few people instead of hearing the screaming adulation of the faceless masses?

Someone needs to sit down and tell every man, woman and child, “Hey!  You’re not going to be famous! But you can be legendary.”

For after all, there are many people throughout history who gained fame, but left nothing of quality behind—no meaningful legacy.

A legendary life.

A decision to take our life and stay alert and practical—as if it were the only life we will ever have.

For after all, it is.

3 Things You Can Do … September 17th, 2020

Jonathots Daily Blog

(4529)

That Win The Admiration of Everybody (Even Your Enemies)

1. Sharing what you can.

It’s actually the Golden Rule. There’s nothing wrong with taking care of your own needs, but there is something wrong with forbidding blessing to others less fortunate.

2. Pursuing what works.

If you know (or even strongly suspect) that something is going to work, chase it down with gusto.

3. Letting everyone know that you can work with what you’ve got.

A true genius is someone who’s given little and finds a way to make it more.

 

1 Thing You Can Do to Guarantee that Fear Will Remain … September 14th, 2020

Jonathots Daily Blog

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Take it seriously before you take it someplace to determine if it’s serious.

The truth is, your mimicry of a problem is stronger than the problem itself.

In other words, your ability to imitate sickness is often much more astute, and even believable, than the reality of the problem itself.

Although there might be a bone-chilling sadness from finding out the truth, trying to keep up the illusion of fear can be exhausting.

You just have to find out.

Fear is what humans use when they hope God will surprise them by letting them know through some backdoor way that their fears are ill-founded—and they really are okay. And of course, it would have to be a back-door way—because fear is so very creative.

Fear loves fooling us.

Every person who is fearful needs to be honest and realize two things:

1. No person has ever died from foolishness.

It’s the realitythe real thingthat gets you. Which means that the majority of the time, when your foolishness is not a reality, you are legitimately safe.

2. Feeling foolish makes you look foolish,

This is not only uncomfortable, but can leave you defensive and ultimately appear ten times worse than necessary.

Go ahead and find out.

That way if you aren’t what you think you are, you’re safe and sound. And if you are what you fear, you can get started with the comfort and healing one week earlier.

 

3 Things … September 10th, 2020

Jonathots Daily Blog

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That Don’t Cost Anything but Are of Extraordinary Value

 

1. A well-thought-out and meticulously-worded personal compliment

 

2. Quietly and joyfully straightening up a room

 

3. Laughing at your obvious mistake to the bewilderment of those around you

Sensitize … September 10th, 2020

SENSITIZE 104

You gotta please yourself. How?

Mourn, meek and mercy

Every morning, Mr. Cring takes a personal moment with his friends

Sensitize … September 8th, 2020

SENSITIZE 102

If you’re a human being, you’re not spiritual.

Cring explains.

Every morning, Mr. Cring takes a personal moment with his friends

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