Who's at Your Lowest & Who's at Your Highest?

Be careful who you assume is there for you. It is not always so obvious. And even what is ‘evident’ could be deceiving.

There’s a common misconception that who’s there at your lowest is a real, ride-or-die friend. And there’s another common misconception that who’s there at your highest is a false, fair-weather friend. And while it is often the case, it isn’t so simple and you might be in for quite the unpleasant surprise.

The friend you should be looking for, or appreciating if you’ve already found them, is the sort that accompanies you at your lowest and celebrates you at your highest. Someone who is there for you in the ups and downs. Not necessarily all through it, or too closely tagging along, but one who allows you either and lends a hand whenever possible. With genuine solidarity, whether or not they expect reciprocity.

It is not so unusual that a person is only capable of being either at one or the other. Someone who is there at your lowest, looking like your tight buddy, only to resent you and even sabotage you if you ever dare to reach and be higher. Likewise, someone who is there at your highest, looking like your hype squad, only to abandon and even deny you when things don’t go in your favor anymore.

People who want you to remain at your lowest do benefit from you being there. You might believe that you are no more than a burden under those circumstances, but that, too, works for them. For starters, you are not a threat to them. They won’t see you as competition. They are superior when they are next to you. They get to be seen as noble and charitable. And if they do help you, then you’ll owe them. Some of them specifically target those who tend to be extra grateful, knowing that what little they do will be multiplied and given back tenfold.

Alternatively, people who want you to remain at your highest benefit more visibly. And unlike the former, they don’t have to put a lot of effort into pretending to be a helper, given that you don’t need so much help. They can just shower you with flattery and applause. Do one or two things here and there to suggest that there’s more substance to them. Lie and promise that there is and will be more to it if suspected or questioned. All the while, basking in all that the proximity to your success grants them. Feigning joy for you and your well-being is easy when they’re genuinely joyful for themselves and the well-being you bring them.

Fabricating scenarios to test others isn’t okay, but you should definitely, when given the chance, pay attention to who is or isn’t there when low or high - and why. Maybe your seemingly ride-or-die friend prefers you in misery. And maybe the seemingly fair-weather friend wished they could be with you at your lowest but legitimately couldn’t (or shouldn’t).

The Vulnerability of Being Exposed

Inhibitions, inhibitions, inhibitions. They’re there for a reason - or several. Should they be kept? Or should they be let go of? That’s something to look closely into.

In a way, they guard us. Behind an inhibition is likely an area that has, in some form, been wounded before. Or perhaps, simply an area that, upon witnessing attacks to the same or similar, we assume (possibly correctly so) they’re at risk as well. More generally, it could be that we know, sense, or worry we’re around or surrendered by the kind of people who would not be so gentle with us. Maybe we grew up in an environment that made it the norm, so it is now a pervasive fear that we can hardly shut off.

There are instances in which it is completely rational to be inhibited and instances in which it is not. If we are vulnerable to being wounded, that’s enough reason to have our guards up. At least for as long as we’re thin-skinned rather than thick-skinned about a matter.

They say that callouses and scar tissue are stronger than regular skin, and there’s truth to that. However, there’s only so much that you can take without willingly becoming a human sacrifice to entertain the vices of others. So if you wish to be reserved, then be. And if you can handle being exposed, not losing much by it or even gaining in return for it, then that’s your choice to make too.

Nevertheless, it is important to know that, oftentimes, what makes us vulnerable and prone to being wounded is no more than our own beliefs and attitudes in regards to something. How you look at it. Would you be agreeing with negative and destructive feelings and thoughts or would you be disagreeing, and dismissive of them? When somebody harshly criticizes you, do you give their views and opinions weight or are they irrelevant or even mistaken as far as you're concerned? Are you accepting enough of yourself that you would instead see them as too narrow-minded and judgmental?

Regardless, it can sting, and it can indeed get under your skin (especially when done repeatedly). When that happens, you may have to go through it and draw out the poison before it spreads and is further internalized. Being patient, caring, and sincere with yourself can be your remedy. Treat it with the tenderness that the other person failed to.

"IYKYK"

Are you in or are you out? The inside jokes, the references, and the (quite unbelievable) lore that makes it possible, with its origins back in who-knows-when. If you know, you know. And if you don’t, do you REALLY want to know? Once you go down the rabbit hole, you might never be the same. It’s all fun and games until it’s not. Not for the faint of heart. Maddening, to say the least. More than a hobby, an obsession.

New Module: Egg Hunt

Last but not least, another new module has been incorporated! It’s been long overdue, but it’s finally here. I know it, you know it, we know it, they know it. Whether it’s easter or not, artists love easter eggs. Both hiding and hunting for them is certainly a thing.

So here it is! On the right side column, just between the special dates and the psyche.

They Show Up Like They're The Best

But they aren’t.

As if absolutely desperate, restlessly so, for your attention, there are people who will jump through hoops, pull insane gymnastics, and attempt to defy the rules of physics to get what they want from you. They could have asked politely, discussed a fair deal, come to an arrangement, and commit to it or back out (and try again elsewhere). But it’s as if they’ve somehow learned that, by constantly scamming and/or actively spamming others, they get their way - and that’s all that matters to them.

These are the type of people who will emulate the most outstanding and desirable traits and qualities that can be found in a person. So much that, because they are eventually found out, these turn into "red flags" to watch out for. The “too good to be true” kind. So not only do they mess with those that they target, they also ruin it for the few that are genuine and come with substance.

Consideration for your wants, your needs, or even your limits is nearly or even completely nonexistent unless it is stitching, patching, and holding up the illusion while they would still bother with it. And that’s usually what ultimately gives them away.

But how to filter them out sooner rather than later? How to figure them out early enough? They change and evolve so, if we’re trying to be precise and accurate rather than overly dismissive (or permissive), we gotta be on the lookout for how they move - whether directly, by observing and probing them, or indirectly, by studying known patterns that are likely to come up. 

If you have trouble wrapping your head around what they do, though, chances are that they're so unrelatable to you that you cannot easily make sense of them. And, albeit a pitfall, that's good news.

New Module: Beware

Yet another new module has been incorporated! It’s the heavy stuff. But oh-so-relevant nonetheless. Matters related to scamming and spamming are sprayed and scattered around on different types of content throughout the site (and will continue to be), but some issues must be addressed intensely in one place. ‘Cause no, you won’t be safe even while staying on your lane. And these can be major setbacks.

So here it is! On the left side column, just before the types of people you will encounter.

I'm One Of You, Queers

I’m here for you, buddies.

I won’t agree and roll with everything that the movement brings, but I’ve been for the cause since the early 90s. And if I’m gonna be judging anything, it’d be the same stuff I’d judge anyone and everyone for. (If you know what I mean.)

Let’s stay bold, sharp, and colorful!

New Module: Queer

And another new module has been incorporated! Just as I am out of the closet, so should this section be. Giving more visibility to my queer-related content now. I’d very much like to show my support as an ally and as one of us.

So here it is! On the left side column, just after everything else.

You Do Require The Time OFF & AWAY

There’s a twisted appeal to keeping people as tired and bored as they can be. This is not merely “hustling” or “hyperfixating”, which can be meaningful work that is stimulating and regenerative; it is literally self-destruction. This is how you lose touch with your humanity, how you stop making important questions and finding correct answers, how the pain signals and alerts shut down, how you become controllable and convenient. And your reward? Wasting your life while believing that you’re making the most of it.

But whether this programming and conditioning is intentional or not, strategically crafted to keep you obedient or simply misguided attempts to push forward, don’t abuse, neglect, and betray yourself like that. Especially if you’re the type of person whose work revolves around coming up with ideas, thinking critically, and examining your feelings, you ought to unplug. Give yourself a REAL break.

This may mean, even if only briefly:
- Turning off notifications.
- Stepping away from stressful and draining areas and devices.
- Giving yourself a change of scenery.
- Allowing yourself not to carry the world on your shoulders.
- Treating yourself to pleasures you had put off.

Even as a workaholic who dreads a lack of productivity, you could find it worthwhile when it resets you to optimal conditions to be your most productive. Both inspiration and motivation could return tenfold.

The higher the quality of your vacation, the quicker it can restore you.
Just know when enough is enough, so it propels rather than deters you.

New Module: Vacations

Another new module has been incorporated! Well, an extension to an already existing module. It’s another category within the Study Room. Because nobody can do without their due vacations. I’ll be filling it up over time like I’ve been doing with the rest.

So here it is! On the left side column, just at the end of the Study Room.

The Year Got Kickstarted For Sure

From the beginning of this year to what I define as the end of spring, I seem to have reached a closing point to give way to a clear slate. It went sort of like this:

ADVENTURES:
• Reconnecting with the person who helped me mend and grow my spine.
• Oddly and amazingly, crossed paths again with my appreciation for kickboxing and its embodiment.
• Novels I heard of long ago were suddenly brought back up and it was magical to read them again. I may despise other novels in the same genre (or forced/rushed reading in general), but these were so diehard.
• After searching the town for a new place, ended up moving to where I wouldn’t have guessed and it turned out for the better (best location for my preferences). As a bonus, the neighbors are lovely!
• Claiming the soft life with all that it implied and entailed, even beyond my own awareness.

MISADVENTURES:
• Couldn’t be the karma (or was I partly somehow? *shrugs*) to a person who terribly wronged me, but they’ve been self-destructing so… I don’t have to be anymore. I guess? It’s getting pitiful.
• Good manners? What are those these days? Can’t count on them existing. Absolutely baffling the lack of decency. I’d feel foolish but I insist that it’s a them problem. ‘Cause WTH. Seriously? SERIOUSLY?!?!
• Stalkers can stalk… for a veeeeeeery long time. I don’t get how they’re not bored. I would be on the 5th day. I do not relate at all and can barely wrap my head around it, but glad I know more of the extent of it.
• Our black cat and the stray brown-ish cat we took in became buddies? Maybe he got pestered into it. IDK. But sure lost the cuddliness thanks to that other cat’s restlessness.
• Tech is getting craaaaaazyyy. And that’s an understatement. It’s concerning but I can’t do anything about it other than watch it all unfold. USA and China seem to be racing to cut edge and dominate, though.

It could have been worse. It could have been a seemingly endless, repetitive and tedious period of lame filler. But… getting better at swiftly escaping those at the early signs. This was a plot advancement concise enough. How did it go for you?

Would You Trade Away The Adventure?

I’m often frustrated by the twists of fate, keeping me from making steady progress, and sending me on adventures (I may or may not have signed up for) that might turn out to be misadventures. But when all is done and I can indeed get and be back on track, I do have to wonder. Would I trade that period for more of this, or was it worth it after all?

Of course, I will never excuse, let alone congratulate, anyone for any intentionally harmful mischief that threw me or others off. And I will not prolong a detrimental situation if it can be helped. However, quite often, I don’t leave empty-handed. As usual, there are lessons. Frequently, there are opportunities. And sometimes, there’s much more.

In any case, I never claimed to be an example to follow. If you know me, my M.O. pretty much consists of going off into the unknown, getting in trouble, figuring the way through, and coming out of trouble (with or without aid, with the same or new allies). I do have regrets. Yet, they’re what keep me ever changing and evolving.

New Module: Adventures & Misadventures

A new module has been incorporated! I’ve had to acknowledge that adventures & misadventures are a recurring theme in my work. At least in terms of outlook and attitude, when going through my day-to-day. And because so much comes out of them, good and bad (and “good” and “bad”), I would like to log some of it.

So here it is! On the right side column, just above the Calendar.

Pride Protects Dignity

Pride is messy to have. Gotta have it in the right amount. For the right reasons. And even then, not let it take over you.

Too much pride has undesirable consequences. It can lead to arrogance, which blinds and deludes. It can also grant you an unmerited sense of superiority over others, placing you in a position of comparison. Furthermore, it might cause an attachment to what you’re basing it on, making you overly dependent on it and desperate without it. Pride, left unchecked, can be a lousy attempt at covering up and compensating for what you are, consciously or not, ashamed of or guilty about. It may be a defense mechanism that doesn’t hold up against truth.

However, pride does have a role to serve. Although, in my opinion, there should be a different word for this. See, when what you refer to as “pride” or as being “proud of” it is simply a recognition and appreciation of a fulfilling accomplishment or valuable quality, accompanied by the awareness that it doesn’t necessarily make you infallible, it is more an earned validation that you can give yourself. And when you can rightfully validate yourself, you can go from insecure to secure in yourself. It’s not just mere ego.

If you are constantly under attack… Insulted, mocked, ridiculed, and overall humiliated, the opposing force that commonly deflects or hits back is pride. You may automatically look for whatever you may have that could show or prove your worth. And often, this is fine - when you can keep your clarity and take all as it is. Rather than have your judgment clouded.

Usually, malicious and vicious people are skilled at spotting what would cause you to crumble. Maybe by a general script, knowing that others are normally uneasy about what makes them different from most, what makes them stand out and not quite fit in. And this is the case unless they’ve done the work to be completely unbothered. But maybe it is by being specifically particular about you and your profile, noticing what could shake you up or have you shaking. It’s horrendous and merciless.

So, yes, allow yourself to see all the ways in which you, instead, deserve respect, and to be treated with dignity. Let your pride be valid points and arguments that you can make in your defense. Or that quietly dismisses any undue offense.

Summer Once More

Summer arrives once more...
Do you know what that means?
It means we can slow down.
Take one or several breaks.
Relax, enjoy, and live a little.

Screw Treating Everyone The Same

Everyone is not the same. It may seem noble, but pretending as though they are is a recipe for disaster. Not only demoralizing, but also dangerous in application.

It isn’t so simple. Being guided by principles doesn’t necessarily require adopting and exercising black & white thinking that doesn’t take into account nuance nor context. Some things must be earned, things like trust and gratitude (for reciprocity). And some things can be forgiven, given that they are justified, excusable, or amended.

If you treat everybody the same, dismissing all that goes on that differentiates them, you fail to be fair. You also fail to be thoughtful, considerate, and ultimately wise. And by doing so, you discourage stellar behavior and encourage lousy behavior. You may lose the best of the best. Because why bother doing anything extra if it is not even going to be acknowledged? All the attention, the effort, and the resources that go into being your best self do not really amount to anything. You’re making it so it’d be ridiculous to be personally invested and care.

Furthermore, for your own sanity and safety, and for the sake of a functioning environment, you must have properly defined where everybody around you stands. So that you can continue to engage in dynamics, foster and maintain bonds, and reduce the chances of harm done to you and/or others. E.g. don’t give a knife to somebody who’s likely to stab you with it and don’t let somebody who’s unqualified perform surgery on you.

Compassion can kick in and make you feel sorry for one person or two. But that’s when you should ask yourself if that compassion is directed where it is merited. Awful people are frequently the loudest criers, seeking sympathy without guilt or shame, so that they don’t have to take accountability or face the consequences of their actions (or inactions). Meanwhile, those affected by them end up having to just endure them, endlessly. Ideally, everybody would be and do well, but as long as that’s not the reality, it can get harsh.

That said, what are some distinctions to make among you?
• Rulemaker
• One who Passed (Yet honored regardless)
• Veteran
• Newbie
• Significant Other
• Best Friend
• Close Friends
• Part of Your Community
• Someone who Donates Money
• Someone who Donates Another Kind of Value
• Someone who Participates in The Fight
• Spiritual Healer
• Psychological/Physiological Healer
• Disabled (temporarily or permanently)
• Children (plenty of growing up left)
• Lecturer
• Sprinkler
• Learner
• Clues & Evidence Spotter
• Under Investigation
• In a Straitjacket
• Behind Bars
• Owing Service
• Expelled

• Potential Opportunity (prone to let down or downright scam)
Etc. You get the idea.

If these could be badges/buttons, which and how many would you rightfully wear?
You may fall into one or more of these categories. Perhaps you can dominantly identify yourself with one, with some vague overlaps with others. Or you can see yourself as multifaceted and fully fit several. You may also be stepping in and out of them, depending…

Once you’ve identified where you and others belong in, be sure to ponder more about what it could imply or entail. Example 1: Veterans have done much work long before the newbies and, whether or not they are disabled, that excuses them from having to do more work in order to be recognized as priceless contributors. Example 2: It is understandable, and deserving of patience, that children aren’t yet mature enough to expect so much of them, but they are nonetheless expected to grow up. Example 3: The Clues & Evidence Spotter may be neutral and “switch sides”, as this ‘title’ and its ‘job description’ don’t inherently create ties.

In my case, the Potential Opportunity brings me mixed feelings every time it appears. I am aware that success though it is not as guaranteed as sticking to my already existing plans and the results they’ll eventually yield. However, because it shows (or pretends at) the possibility of significantly more accomplishment (faster, better, greater) than I would achieve otherwise, I feel obligated to at least check it out (if not just for me, then for those who have helped or currently help me). This has led to both incredible gains and regrettable losses. And since I’ve already had my share of the latter, I’m now forced to be more strict with it (be more transactional, less faithful; a lot of people have no decency these days). I don’t prefer it because I enjoy treating strangers with manners, and as innocent until proven guilty, but I’ll have to weave in firmer boundaries while kindly stating why they’re there.

What is it like for you?

Posting Streak

As things get more and more active, particularly online, please remember to post only as much as you’re fine with.

I can bet that plenty of your readers/viewers love your posts and would like you around every day, getting your valuable input or just having you there, but burning out or taking away too much from your craft in order to be present would be no good. Aim for sustainability (over FOMO).

You can post whenever, even several times in the same day (I avoid excessive posting because I’m with the introspective crowd, though, and care more about substance than chitchat - or worse). But you can also, probably (depending on what you do exactly), post once a day, 2-3 times a week, or once a week - and still be engaging more than enough. You can as well schedule posts that come up regardless of what is going on, that are evergreen or not intended toward any current topic being widely discussed (identifiably so), while you’re off elsewhere if you must keep your account active.

What’s worse than missing you? You getting overwhelmed and/or exhausted and quitting altogether!
Some of us (🙋) will keep being inconsistent and unpredictable except for, maybe, what goes up on its own...

Fruitful Discussions NOT Echo Chambers

If it is not personal, do not take it personally. Skepticism and disagreements shouldn’t be considered insults and there’s only so much tact one can have before it turns counterproductive in an exchange of views and opinions.

Undeniably, there are times when people are malicious or just resentful and they will say painful and/or poisonous things, subtly or obviously so, and it is important to catch (and counter) ill-wills of that sort rather than ignore or even deny them, basically enabling or employing gaslighting. But when it is a matter of a person being clear, direct, or just not going out of their way to soften and sweeten their message or deliver it in the most sophisticated form, it should be given leeway.

This is not to say that being gentle and delicate, accommodating even, is never needed along with wanted. Maybe someone has gone through too much already and could use some safety from anything that could disturb them. Or maybe someone has the potential to listen and realize more but you must get past their triggers and defenses to get to them. In such cases, this kind of sensitivity is not only allowed but sought after.

We do have to check ourselves and our ego at the door. It is comforting to believe that you are always right, that you’ve never made a mistake, and that therefore your word is Law. Everyone should just go with whatever you say, wrong as it may be. And how dare they defy you?

Such arrogance and entitlement will keep you, and possibly those around you, ignorant. When it comes to discussions that are expected to be fruitful, your mindset shouldn’t be about convincing yourself and others of your supposed superiority. Your mindset should be about getting as close to the truth as possible. And if you were mistaken about anything, you’d be fortunate to have been corrected sooner rather than later. The deepest and greatest thinkers will appreciate your ability to admit your mistakes and course-correct.

Likewise, just as others can correct you, you should be able to correct others. And for that, there must be a degree of confidence to share your input. Perhaps you are more than 95% sure of your claims, so you must be “stubborn” and adamant about them. And perhaps you’re not that sure, but must still put it out for consideration. In both cases, you’re adding constructively. The shape and form in which you choose to communicate is for you to tailor, so that it can also have a positive effect on you (as you engage) and in others (as they are engaged).

Echo chambers, where you’re constantly affirming and reinforcing your faulty beliefs, can be addicting. Much easier to handle, too. It is no wonder that so many prefer to be within them. But they stomp on growth and halt progress.

How Advanced are We Really?

It has come to my attention and it has been weighing on my mind just how rapidly and unmitigatedly technology is advancing. And it’s taking me by surprise that even someone like me, who’s always been enthusiastic about technology, and essentially discoveries and innovation that could take us all further, or just keep us from being stuck in the old same, now finds it concerning.

Why? Well, there are a few things to consider beyond the obvious.

• You could keep up with all the latest news and updates about technology and you still wouldn’t know exactly and for sure just how ahead things are. It’s only rational to believe that it’s most likely that only a tiny fraction of what’s been achieved comes out to the public. For various reasons, including and not limited to testing, marketing, finances, war, preferring only a few know of and have it, etc.

• You would assume that progress made within technology keeps up the same pace throughout the years, but that’s not the case at all. When there are breakthroughs, especially significant ones that propel what follows, the pace accelerates, perhaps exponentially. And now with AI feeding itself and evolving with all the available information we have so far, along with who knows what else, you cannot expect it to be a slow dance. Maybe it’ll hit a few short pauses here and there, but it’ll keep rolling.

• You can bet technology can solve most, if not all, problems in the world. And it could. But will it? It depends on whose hands it is and what they are willing to do with it. There’s no denying that instances in which it has been helpful to humanity, even at the cost of what’s not so altruistic, exist. Demolishing what was established and making way for what’s more convenient to the people. But a lot of the time, it’s as though it’s minimal, only enough to ease the unrest. And at this rate, they might not bother as much or at all anymore with that.

• You have knowledge and wisdom accessible like never before, yet we’re getting dumber. And that’s what happens when you indiscriminately mix information with misinformation and disinformation while devising and maintaining systems that incentivize attention-seeking behaviors more than they do thorough research and reflection. Call it what you will, but what we have popularized right now is not fostering a decent education for the majority. It’s not that everyone should be erudite, but at least not get the facts so jumbled up or swept under the radar. (Not to mention, rumors say that we’re more likable when we're dumb.)

• You are very much replaceable. And this is more and more true as robots and machines continue to copy us and outdo us. What I wonder then is… Why keep us after all? What is going to keep us here when all’s accomplished? If only the abusive decide, what happens when they no longer have use for us? It could get quite messed up, covertly or overtly. If I indulge in wishful thinking, though, they wouldn’t be ruling and there’d be a utopia instead - or at least a more pleasant life for all. But then again… *gestures to what we have*

I’m not gonna lie, this is heavy stuff that’s been bothering me and I hate to be the bearer of bad news. But I figure that, nonetheless, it should be considered for the matter is… already here. And as maddening as it can be, taking this (and more) into account can keep you sane.

There’s a defeating powerlessness that comes with it, when you realize that there’s very little that you can do to set and guide the course towards more favorable outcomes, other than making contributions and hoping enough of others do too, and might just have to accept the inevitable. 

However, if it is of any consolation, you still have time to live in the current reality. Go and do the things you’ve always wanted to do; not with reckless abandon, but with the intention to stop postponing them so much. So that when/if drastic changes arrive that render them unattainable, you can embrace them as a new chapter, able to let go of the previous one fulfilled, ready to begin handling what is next in store.

I’m somebody who can often be consumed by intrigue and fascination, so even grim scenarios may be tolerable sometimes, and that’s indeed an asset for survival. But if you can fight to make things objectively better for yourself and those around you, however you’re capable, when it gets rough, then do. Don’t just passively welcome and adapt to anything and everything.

Gemini's Season

♊ GEMINI

As we enter the season of Gemini, it is believed that the universe will be affecting us with energies that will cause us to communicate freely and explore new ideas. We will be more in tune with our curiosity, and abilities to adapt and connect will be enhanced. If you are receptive to them, you might be imbued with flexibility and quick thinking. If you are resistant to them, you might be conflicted with indecision and scattered focus. If you are completely blocked out, you might not notice them at all. And if you don't pay enough attention, you might miss opportunities for intellectual growth.

Motivational Quote: "Be like the wind—ever-changing, ever-present."

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.

Your Tribe to Thrive

Yes, you can be independent and, yes, codependency can be risky and troublesome. However, being able to count on and rely on others can be unmeasurably rewarding, along with coming with countless benefits. You don’t have to force yourself into a group, especially if you don’t seem to fit, but how great is it when you do find (or form) the group where you do belong in?

You get to be more, do more, achieve more, and go further. If you are the kind of person who can quickly and easily solve most, if not all things, by yourself, coming along or going along with others can seem like a burden and, in some cases, actually be. But there are cases in which you’d be limiting yourself if you remain by yourself.

Learning and practicing socialization and all that it entails would be one of the first things that tends to be pointed out in regard to working together. And rightfully so! That’s an indispensable skill that you must have at least to the degree that allows you to fend for yourself and navigate crowds. But there’s a lot more to it.

No, it’s not about conforming and settling for less. You get fuel; in the form of inspiration and motivation. You get confidence; through acceptance, validation, reassurance, and encouragement. You get support; whether via shared resources or personal assistance. You get fortitude; when you move with purpose in cooperation. You get shelter; when others defend you and fight for you. You get meaning; having experiences and making memories is just extra significant when accompanied.

For sure, you require your own space and your own pace. You, as an individual, should also develop yourself separately. And maybe you require more alone time than most - and that’s fine. Nevertheless, if being part of a collective is something that appeals to you, then you may as well be. Watch out for any that aims to strip you of your own personhood or lead you into your worst self, though! *Ahem* Literal cults.

For reach and impact, at a larger scale, there’s going to be a point where you NEED more people around you. Because you simply cannot accomplish it all. They’ll bring their expertise and/or their unique gifts. And most likely, you won’t always smoothly click in place with each other. Yet, undeniably, they are worthwhile and make things better and greater.

Some of us are eternal wanderers who come and go or are not quite ready yet to settle anywhere. Perhaps something like that is your fate. And you are an episode or a season in the lives of others until you part. It is important to recognize if this is your role. So that you can make your contribution and be on your way on good terms. Without betrayal or broken promises, if it can be helped. Then you will be remembered with fondness and gratitude.

Gathering Evidence & Formulating Arguments

Something seems off, but is it? Your intuition and/or your gut may be trying to tell you something - or warn you of something - but can they be trusted? Wouldn’t it be irresponsible to make important decisions based on some inexplicable discomfort?

A lot of the time, the “inexplicable discomfort” is well-founded and, indeed, you could have saved yourself plenty of trouble or worse if you had just taken it as a sign to stay away or at least proceed with caution. But many times, also, this discomfort is no more than the result of prejudice and entitlement, a misguided or twisted belief in your superiority and merit tied with the expectation to be catered to your every whim - and anything outside of that is “wrong” and intolerable. At times, it can also be the result of trauma, keeping you in a state of fear wouldn’t let you anywhere close, not even remotely, to what could again hurt or harm you - as you cannot properly handle any more of it.

Hence, these signs, which on occasion come from the subconscious perception and processing of patterns and details that would inform you of what can potentially happen or is guaranteed to happen, are not always a reliable mechanism. For some people, there are usually above 90% chances to be correct. While for other people, there are usually below 10% chances to be correct. And all that’s in between.

It takes talent, skill, knowledge, wisdom, and fine-tuning to be an optimal detector. And arguably, this becomes more and more of a lost art as we are now bombarded with so much that is false and fake, so we are training this feature in us with artificial information that won’t lead to what’s true and real.

Therefore, we have to make the unconscious conscious. It is an arduous task that is not meant for everyone. Not worthwhile in every situation and under every circumstance, either. But it is something someone has to do. Preferably enough of us.

Getting the abstract to the concrete works wonders in offering you clarity and stability. Noticing one little thing here and another there, how they connect, and what they reveal. Committed to grasping the picture as it is and then conveying it. It could go a number of different ways and still be accurate, addressing parts or layers of it. And if it had been making you restless, weighing on you, it can give you exactly the deliverance and closure that you craved and maybe even yearned for, too.

Subjectivity matters, but here’s where you ought to be more objective. In fact, you should be stripping the objective of what’s subjective, untangling it, separating one from the other whenever you can. Realize when an assumption is an assumption, when there is a misinterpretation, when there’s a projection, and when there’s an agenda, selectively picking and misconstruing reality to serve certain interests rather than the truth. Look for motive and intention. And do not be tricked by facades and cover-ups.

Your arguments, then, to describe and/or explain what is happening should be firmly grounded. There are numerous tactics to make arguments so appealing that they are easily persuasive and convincing, taking advantage of wishful thinking and more. But they won’t pass the test of time, when what is true and real becomes more evident and undeniable, nor the test of the viciously curious minds who’d eagerly cut through any illusion and break apart any lie, intensely unsettled by incoherences and incongruences.

It is easier and quicker to make up and spread lies than it is to find and tell the truth. But if that’s your calling, stick with it and, sooner or later, it’ll get done and it will be better than any lousy fabrication.

When Words Don't Match Actions

I’ve been witnessing and experiencing this more and more lately. Maybe there are places where this is more frequent, more normalized, or maybe culture in general is decaying, and people lack principles and integrity. In any case, when words don’t match actions, it is infuriating for those who mean what they say and expect others to do too.

Regardless, as exasperating as it can be, throwing all of it into a single explanation can leave you in dissonance, for something else might be occurring, and you might need to consider this.

When someone’s words don’t match their actions, it could be that:

A. They were invested and committed, but due to unforeseen events and other complications, they failed to come through. Things aren’t as easy or simple as they look and, though responsible and adept, they now struggle to deliver as they once claimed they would. This is the most appealing explanation, as we’d rather believe the best of a person instead of acknowledging that we’ve been fooled. However, unfortunately, this is rarely the case. IRONIC scenario.

B. They got excited, didn’t quite think things through, and promised more than they could deliver. Indecisiveness and cowardice took over when reality hit, causing a change of mind and what might be endless procrastination and avoidance. They might have meant well, and wished they could have accomplished all that they initially set out to, but they were not cut out for it. This is an explanation that, while not ideal, is not totally detestable either and can be sympathized with to an extent. However, they lost all credibility. DISAPPOINTING scenario.

C. They have such a boundless mindset of abundance that they easily go through life without a real care in anything, bouncing out ideas for the feedback, gaining and losing opportunities like there will always be more, upsetting anyone whenever because they assume that they’ll eventually be forgiven and, if not, there’s always new people to meet. And so on. This is the explanation that usually fits the over-entitled who, for whatever reason and in some form, tends to get passes despite their indifference leaving a trail of damage in their path. However, this also means that they’ll miss out on strong bonds forged by mutual respect and consideration. IRRITATING scenario.

D. They take pleasure in “pranking” people, as if drawn by the sense of power and control it gives them to have others hanging in anticipation, and perhaps also for the twisted gratification they get from playing them. They may even be using it as practice to polish their tactics. It’s as though they never developed emotionally past the age of a 7-year-old spoiled brat who has yet to learn right from wrong and exercise some empathy and compassion, “torturing little animals”. Might also be trying to impress peers that are just as terrible or more, if not even acting with them. This is the explanation that evokes the most disgust, that anyone decent would have trouble wrapping their head around. However, in such a messed-up world, it is more plausible than we’d like to believe. NAUSEATING scenario.

E. It is not about pleasure, it is about business. They’re smarter than they let on and most of what they say and do is coldly calculated. It doesn’t take superpowers to treat the world and everybody in it as a chessboard and think several steps ahead. You might be a case study, or a potential threat, or both - or just relevant in some way. They’ll lie as much as they ought to in order to achieve their ends. This is the explanation that sounds the most villainous and is reserved for those who are excessively obstinate about their ambitions and will not let anything or anyone get in their way. However, if nothing more, at least their cover will be blown. TERRIFYING scenario.

(Might be some sort of mixture, too.)

If words aren’t matching actions, you should give yourself permission to not listen to any of them anymore. It is sad if what’s actually happening is scenario A. And we may cling to that possibility. Even scenario B is forgivable. But the disconnect can take a toll on you, regardless. So, if they’re someone worthy of being considered, they should be understanding that, until they get it together and have more to show than to tell, you won’t be invested.

Standing Your Ground & Speaking Up

It is an inconvenience. Be inconvenient. The people who expect and demand of you that you be quiet and take no space while they loudly spread out are not the people you should be catering to. And these are usually the type of people who will have a ‘problem’ with you claiming your right.

They will try to justify their unfair and unreasonable rules and requests the way a fair and reasonable person would theirs. So that they can seem sensible and as though you are the problem being problematic. Therefore, you must see through and past this. Have and apply your own judgment.

How valid is what they propose? Does it take you and/or others who also matter into account, or only (or mostly) them and who they deem worthy? How do they even measure anyone or anything’s worthiness? Is it downright selfishness and other vices driving them or are they making any valid point at all?

Shame and guilt tend to be the vias through which many will have you cornered and shrinking. Because, again, in other contexts, these are legitimate indicators that something is wrong or could be better. However, when they are merely used to push an agenda, they are no more than manipulation and coercion tactics. And if you pay close attention, you’ll notice how shallow and distorted they are instead of appropriately substantiated and structured to carry some real weight.

Besides knowing this, you ought to be firm about how you and more matters too. Crippling doubts and poor esteem are venues through which anyone can come in and steal from you or dump on you. This is why also, along with using shame and guilt as instruments, people seeking to disregard you will viciously attack your confidence too. And even if it’s not meant with those goals in mind, you must watch out for other jabs that, albeit small by comparison, also chip at it over time and when repeatedly allowed. “You’re being arrogant.” It is sometimes code for: “Humble yourself down so that I can do whatever I want with you or regardless of you.”

Certainly, you should strive to be lucid and not turn into another deluded person who’s more of an affliction than they are an alleviation. Somehow, despite that, under the impression that it makes them more valuable (or desperately trying to convince themselves and others of such). But if you’re sincerely doing your part genuinely for the better, then not only is it a right, but a moral obligation to stand your ground and speak up where and when it counts.

Pure and Beautiful? Nah, it gets Dirty and Ugly

"Don't think bad thoughts!" Can you, really, though? Should you even?

If you are battling conditioning and prejudices, you're bound to run into and ought to run across 'bad thoughts' in order to get to the more objective, fair, and reasonable sort. Trying to avoid bad thoughts completely will only keep you from expanding your awareness and elevating your consciousness.

And especially if you're the type of person who absorbs and juggles other people's thoughts, constantly tuning into and weighing other perspectives and opinions, you will be sifting through many thoughts that aren't necessarily your own in order to compile or arrive at a conclusion or consensus.

Furthermore, thoughts heavily depend on your current state. You may have violent and unkind thoughts that you can later recognize as irrational, out of context, and out of proportion. When you're suffocating, exacerbated, and essentially far from being at peace and level-headed. They don't define you. If you keep them in check and eventually deconstruct them, they don't turn into a serious or even concerning problem. They might give you clues, as emerging symptoms, about issues that ought to be addressed within and/or around you, and be just that.

Let's say there's some darkness that you have and hold on to, too. If that's a part of you, rather than the whole of you, is it bad enough to invalidate you as the person that you are or aspire to become? Are you not still someone worthwhile?

So give yourself some leeway. Anybody who's done enough metacognition should realize and keep in mind that this much is natural and normal.

Establish Improved Communication

Being mysterious and enigmatic is okay, but if you’re aiming to communicate the best you can…
First and foremost comes clarity. How clear is your message? Are you allowing yourself to “state the obvious” for the sake of clarity or are you more concerned with coming across as “interesting”?

As with most things, there’s a place and time for either. And in the case of communicating clearly, there are a few measures to take and sacrifices to make. Besides looking for all the ways in which you can be clear, there is being honest, then there’s also switching points of view.

Honesty plays a big role in how your communication goes, as lies often require mental gymnastics. Things don’t add up, it doesn’t make much sense, or something just doesn’t quite sit right. And this can throw people off. So not only should you be honest with others, you should also be honest with yourself. When you’re honest with yourself, words and sentences come on their own to you (might still have to look up some and reorganize them a little, though). Unless you’re a compulsive liar whose talent is to fabricate fiction on the go, or whimsical fiction is actually your goal, doing some digging and reflection to find the message you will communicate is important in your pursuit of clarity.

For clarity, there are a few things that you can do:
- Determine who, specifically, your message is for and make it evident.
- Check for the different potential interpretations your message could have and reduce the number.
- Add concrete examples or anecdotes.
- Use disclaimers for what you do not intend to mean.
- Have a lengthier, expanded version of what you’re conveying available to access and invite others to it.

Furthermore, because of triggers and other sorts of defensiveness, practice putting yourself in others’ shoes, seeing from their point of view. How do you think your message will be received? What associations would be more automatically and immediately evoked? Which connotations and/or meanings do your words have for them? Should you perhaps “decompress” a message so that it is welcome?

Sometimes it helps to announce and reassure your intentions beforehand. And if there are any limits or shortcomings to be expected, announce those too so that they will be taken into account instead of producing misunderstandings.

Lastly, you must find what works for you. How you best communicate that is true to yourself and that energizes you rather than drain you. Any activity can eventually be draining, but if one does so outstandingly, it may be a sign that you’re going out of your way too much and must have a more natural approach.

Against The Odds

Playing the game of probability is smart, but sometimes we’re not trying to be smart. We are trying to be daring. Making calculations to bet on the most likely outcome, and stick with it, certainly has its merits - and rewards. But also does going at it regardless and giving your all to turn things around, making the improbable probable until it is achievable.

Too often, we subject ourselves to the forces that are greater than ourselves, as if we have little to no say on how the wind blows and where it’ll take us. We give up our ability to effect change or at least contribute to it. We become complacent, and we conform.

There is nothing wrong with conforming, in itself. However, it tends to be the case that what we conform to is basically what we can call the lowest common denominator. So rather than being outstanding and pushing progress forward, we feed into mediocrity. And this, going unchecked, can lead us to devolve rather than evolve.

It usually takes someone spirited, reckless even, to take a leap of faith. You don’t know if your efforts will be futile, how much you will end up sacrificing, and whether or not you will ultimately regret it and find it absurd in hindsight. Nevertheless, you also can’t be quite sure how many others are yearning and craving for the same as you, what is already set into motion that will carry you through, and how much history you will manage to make.

It is no exaggeration that you ought to be at least a bit insane. Because if you’re a purely sober, completely logical and rational person, going against the odds would not make sense. You must have a drive for it that defies reason and makes it so the alternative isn’t appealing to you, maybe even unbearable.

Yet, for how crazy it may all seem, there’s plenty that goes into it. Maybe you’re not relying solely on “luck” and “the universe” having your back. Maybe you’re playing an active, conscious, and intentional (perhaps sly) role in how it all proceeds. And while you may not be omniscient or omnipotent, you might be able to look at much that’s relevant holistically and multitask. This not only requires courage, but also astuteness and dexterity. And since not everything will be within your hands, it would also require adaptability and opportunism. So that you won't get stuck and what can serve you won’t pass you by.

And in some cases, or in certain measures, what you have to gain by far outweighs what you have to lose, so giving it a try isn’t so mad after all.

You Deserve Your Space to Be Unapologetically You

I don't know who needs to hear this, but...

Most people, if not all past a certain age, have at some point:
Bad posture, unflattering angles, repeated outfits, pimples, cellulite, stretch marks, fat rolls, white hair, bald spots, snored, drooled, burped, farted, picked their nose, scratched their butt, let their room get messy, ingested what they probably shouldn't, lied harmlessly or justifiably, ranted or vented about someone they love, watched porn, masturbated, remained in the closet about something, etc, etc, etc.

And while you could say that these things are gross and/or embarrassing, you also can certainly think of what's way worse than simply being human.

The "perfection" people chase or pretend at on social media, or generally in public, is unsustainable as a 24/7 reality. So don't hold yourself to that standard while you're just living.

Enough of us do get it and give you your space. ✌️

Do Not Give In, Do Not Give Up

You can turn around and forget about it, but should you? There are times when we’re on the wrong track and, whether we like it or not, we must face it and pivot. But there are also times when we’re on the right track and it’s seemingly endless, not getting us anywhere.

You may pause and evaluate. After how far you’ve come, how much have you acquired and/or accomplished? Furthermore, how important is it to you to get where you are going, sooner or later? Are you, perhaps, significantly close to your aspirations at last? Are your chances promising and, if they aren’t, are they worth taking anyway?

Have you ever looked back to when you were striving for something but, for one reason or another, you quit and then mourned what could have been had you kept going, regretting not having done so? And for what? What was in place of what would have instead been determined and devoted action toward a mark in the distance? You might not even remember what filled up your days. It might have merely been filler.

When you don’t see results quickly, it can indeed be discouraging. But not more disappointing than looking back to 5 or 10 years that passed without anything of much or any consequence at all. You are not getting that back. You can’t turn back time. So when the road is long, and it gets tiring, boring even, think of the future you and whether or not you’re doing them a solid that they would be grateful for.

Grand feats don’t normally occur overnight. And this is even more the case when it comes to making the “impossible” possible. Your wildest dreams come true. Reaching your highest ideal. Or being an underdog that still dares to look forward to better. You can certainly chase after speedy returns, being pragmatic and “realistic”, but is that all you’d trade your life for?

If there is something that you greatly, profoundly, and strongly care about, something that you’re miserable without pursuing, you should go for it as much as you can afford or to the measure that satisfies you. 

Getting lucky along the way isn’t guaranteed. Getting a ride, finding a shortcut, having fair weather, enjoying a scenic route, being on an open street, or even encountering cute animals around. None of this can be counted on. And while it would be nice, in the instances that they do happen, you must keep going regardless.

If it matters, don’t stop.

Taurus' Season

♉ TAURUS

As we enter the season of Taurus, it is believed that the universe will be affecting us with energies that will cause us to slow down and seek stability. We will be more in tune with our senses, and abilities to build and maintain will be enhanced. If you are receptive to them, you might be imbued with patience and steadfastness. If you are resistant to them, you might be conflicted with stubbornness and overindulgence. If you are completely blocked out, you might not notice them at all. And if you don't pay enough attention, you might miss opportunities to create lasting comfort.

Motivational Quote: "Slow and steady wins the race."

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.

What Is in Your Favor?

Interestingly, what may seem to be going against you might, indirectly, actually be in your favor. And as crazy as that can sound, it happens a lot more often than we realize.

Much in life operates based on requirements, standards, preferences, and priorities. On both conscious and subconscious levels. And is this, precisely, what can keep us from what is not meant for us and ‘redirect’ us to what is. Similarly, there are pulls and pushes in ourselves that can, with or without our consent, sabotage us or take us to success.

Clearly, plenty can get in the way of this magnetism and lead us astray. Fear, conditioning, habits, our own heads and hearts. But the laws remain there, influencing and affecting to at least some extent. So if something just doesn’t seem to ever be right, there’s a chance it’s not for you or it is but it’s not yet the time.  

Opportunities abound and we miss many of them while fixating on what we set ourselves on. Yes, some things are just too good to pass up and trying harder is what you should be doing, but that’s something to discern in each occasion rather than always carrying a scarcity mindset that enslaves you to what isn’t welcoming you.

Do your best, but recognize that great opportunities may be available that don’t require you to struggle so much. And don’t immediately discard them due to the assumption that if it comes easy then it isn’t worthwhile. Perhaps you have earned it already so you don’t have to prove yourself anymore for it. It is thus available to you, yet not to others. And it’d be a loss to turn your back on it.

Furthermore, certain paths are not compatible with others. So, the moment you are no longer on one path, others will become accessible to you. You’ve shown you can’t or, by firm decision, won’t walk that one path, so these other paths might do. What's important is to not get stuck believing there’s nowhere to go when that isn’t the case.

What most resonates and is most aligned with who you are, and where and when you are in life, is waiting for you, ready to make it easier and lighter, now more directly working in your favor, not against you. So stop making things unnecessarily difficult and hard for yourself; find those doors that lead you to more for less. And value it. 

What Is at Your Disposal?

Before you’re overcome with defeatism, look around, and look closely. You are not without resources to be resourceful with. In one way or another, something must be there for you to gain an advantage, keep up, or not fall too far behind.

We often overlook what we have while being distracted by what others have. Maybe what’s theirs is more obvious, more commonly credited and sought after, or maybe you’re just not even paying attention to what’s with you.

Being an artist isn’t only about having the best and the most of whatever is currently being recommended by this or that ‘expert’ source to work with. Being an artist is also about spotting what others wouldn’t and coming up with ideas that others couldn’t. Literally making the most and the best out of what you do have. Then the most unthinkable and unimaginable may come out of it. Which may surprise the audience - and even put you at the lead of a novel technique that others would aim, failing or not, to follow. 

You can look where it seems most unlikely to have something that you could use. Maybe a weakness can be a strength. A shortcoming be a guideline. A flaw be a quality. Maybe if you suspend the judgment you’ve been conditioned to have you can see numerous ways in which something could be handy.

You can look where it is most likely to have something useful too. Your talents, your skills, your knowledge, your expertise, anything you’ve mastered. Don’t take those for granted. They might be exactly what is giving you an edge that cannot be beaten in competition. It’s great to be constantly pushing yourself and developing where you’re lacking, but don’t forget to use what you have already developed.

Take inventory. See, within the concrete and within the abstract, inside and outside of yourself, what you can gather and what you can put together that would serve you toward reaching a goal or through solving a problem. 

Don’t be afraid of having a few silly attempts that prove not to deliver after all. You won’t know for sure until you try. Visualize, simulate, or even put it to the test.

Barren Grounds Vs. Lush Gardens

Don't make grounds barren and then claim lush gardens are mere fiction…

The ongoing debate about being realistic or being idealistic keeps getting on my nerves, so might as well bring it up and offer my point of view.

Too often, people assume they have the most correct and accurate perception of the self, people, life, the world, and/or the universe. What they fail to realize is that they are not accounting for what, with what is, could be. In some cases, they are not even accounting for what, despite what now is, has been. Quite literally, they are being short-sighted. Yes, you can see what’s right in front of you and around you with clarity, perhaps even in precise detail, but there is a lot more that goes beyond that.

It’s no lie that many idealists have given idealism a bad name. And this is because, alternatively although similarly, they also fail to take more into account. They ignore the what is in favor of their whimsical imagination. And that’s fine, outstanding even, if you’re working on a piece of fiction. But when it comes to reality… Well, reality significantly matters.

You shouldn’t be convincing yourself that all would be wonderful, when it wouldn’t, the same way you shouldn’t be convincing yourself that all will always be brutal, when it doesn’t have to be. These are limited and incomplete views that keep you from making the most and the best of what you have and could have. In both cases, you are deluding yourself - either trapping yourself within an alluringly escapist dream or trapping yourself within a barely bearable nightmare. And what’s worse, you are letting or even calling others to join you there.

You have a hand in what happens. You, me, and everyone else. So until there is enough of us believing in and working towards an Ideal Reality, we’ll be settling for an ever-elusive fantasy in a grating dystopia. Don't be a fool.

The Callousness of Stepping Over Others

Is it cruelty? Is it done with malice? Or is it mere carelessness? It can be hard to tell when others can’t even be bothered to watch where they’re going, let alone watch their steps. But the result remains the same: something is destroyed in their path.

Excuses and justifications abound. And trying to reason it out of them can take forever, going in circles or downright hitting a wall. They might be terribly dense or have terribly contorted themselves away from the reality of it. That not always, actually only at times, are you legitimately entitled to steamroll and demolish others.

You can only shout “Survival of the fittest!” so much before you find yourself alone, without what supported you, nourished you, brought wonder and astonishment into your life, or at least spiced it up. And if that’s what you prefer, then maybe moving by yourself to another planet would be the appropriate solution.

Pushing through matters, there’s no denying that. There are instances in which you are blocked or expected to make countless turns, of no relevance, only to get from point A to point B. And there are instances in which your opponents, to serve their own interests, would obstruct you from moving forward. So you must be resolute and not let undue consideration hold you back. 

There’s an art to it because it definitely isn’t simple to determine when it is what, why, and how to best proceed. But that’s exactly what not being careless is about. And it is something that the more callous struggle with. 

A lot of the time, they cannot wrap their heads around all that is implied and all that it entails, nor can they grasp much nuance in between. It frustrates them, which then adds to an anger that they like to mistake as righteous. They refuse to accommodate sophisticated complexity and demand that you accommodate their coarse plainness. Assuming themselves victorious merely for taking the easier route.

However, you can be in touch with your nature and raw about it without becoming primitive - a brute that is upset when asked to use their brain or their heart, even if only a little. Worse when, while failing to do so, expects to be welcome or even to dominate areas that require delicate attentiveness to subsist. Understanding that you don’t have to turn everything around you into a reflection of your shortcomings in order to be comfortable and able to roam.

Advantageous NOT Deleterious

Facing and overcoming adversity builds character, but too much of it, at the wrong time and in the wrong place, can instead break your spirit and beyond.

There are times when we can take on more than we realize, when challenges push us to give more of ourselves and foster abilities we otherwise wouldn’t, times when all it takes is stepping out of a comfort zone and adopting a can-do attitude. And that is indeed important, essential even, if we’re ever to grow past the minimum.

However, it also holds true that having space - yes, a safe space - free of the risks and dangers that could harm us is part of what can keep us going. When you’re too young, when you’re too weak, when you’re wounded or ill, or simply tired… These are not the moments in which you should be enduring and attempting to overcome all that goes against you. These are moments to have patience with yourself and tend to your lacks. So that then you can go out there and stand a chance.  

Harm can come at large, all at once, or as bits, little by little, and still ultimately deter you. The former is the most noticeable and, consequently, tends to be the most validated. However, you shouldn’t overlook the latter, which does and accumulates damage over time. And next thing you know, you’re far from who you used to be and who you could have become.

So if something bothers you, if it stings, or it just doesn’t seem right, it is not an overreaction to ask yourself if that’s something that you’d be okay having more of or if you’d be better off without it. Perhaps it is nothing to worry about and it comes with the day-to-day, as part of the package, and can be remedied or countered with ease - and this would be a solution. But if it is no more than chipping at you for no good reason, and you can’t even make enough out of it to compensate, and it is possible to be without it, then why would you allow it to continue? You could look for ways to create an environment that is without needless harm. ‘Needless’ being a key word here.

Many might find it an inconvenience and possibly accuse you of being too sensitive or problematic, but that’s because they’re thinking more about themselves (or how they’ve been conditioned) than they are about you, specifically, and what it takes for you to be well and reach your greatest form.

If you’re honest with yourself, you can have grit and the sort of toughness that’ll take you through harsh conditions, if that’s something you’re meant for, but also keep watch of what is making you less rather than more. 

Aries' Season

♈ ARIES

As we enter the season of Aries, it is believed that the universe will be affecting us with energies that will cause us to act boldly and embrace challenges. We will be more in tune with our inner drive, and abilities to initiate and take risks will be enhanced. If you are receptive to them, you might be imbued with courage and determination. If you are resistant to them, you might be conflicted with impulsiveness and restlessness. If you are completely blocked out, you might not notice them at all. And if you don't pay enough attention, you might miss opportunities for daring new beginnings.

Motivational Quote: "Fortune favors the brave."

For context and more of relevance, please read about The Zodiac.