Zerosophy.com

  A little lie is still a lie. A little abuse is still abuse. A little racism is still racism. A little bullying is still bullying. A little infidelity is still infidelity. A little nepotism is still nepotism. A little negativity is still negativity. A little immaturity is still immaturity. A little narcissism is still narcissism. A little name calling is still name calling. A little discrimination is still discrimination. A little sexual assault is still sexual assault. A little mental instability is still mental instability. A little disregard for the environment is still disregard for the environment.

Evil doesn’t just show up and announce itself as evil. It might even look like something good at first. And it will certainly try to convince you that it is. But little by little it works in ways that end up having major negative consequences if you continue to turn a blind eye to the damage it’s doing in what it wants you to believe is in your own best interest.

Related:

Don’t make excuses for the monsters in your life

Be mindful of where you invest your time. Try to focus more on things that add value and less on things that simply make moments go by.

Time is one of the few things in life that we can never get more of. Be diligent in determining when it is in your best interest to avoid situations & activities that do nothing but put off things you could be doing that actually make a positive difference in your life (or someone else’s).

Remember, by changing your priorities you change your life. When you prioritize your time to those things that add real value to your career, your education, your relationships and your mental & physical health, your life responds by giving you more of the rewarding things that you seek and less of the negative things that you don’t.

Above image is an excerpt from: my book series

Always remember to keep your eyes on your goals and the steps you can take to achieve them. Focus less on what you don’t have or what you can’t do or what others are doing.

Yes, it can be difficult not noticing what others are up to or how “easy” some people seem to have it or how successful they appear. Just know, perception isn’t always reality. And if you do notice others, then use what you see as motivation to push forward.

Remember, you’re living your life and walking your own path, not someone else’s. Just because someone else is making progress towards their goals is no reason for you to stop making progress towards your own.

Change your strategy if you have to and take time to rest if you must, but don’t stop. Every little step you take towards your goals is progress. Keep going. ~ #ZeroDean @zerodean.official

  Above image is an excerpt from: Comparison is the thief of joy — from my book

Achieving personal goals series:

What I’ve learned about achieving personal goals

Take action

Do it for YOU

Visualize your results

Make a commitment to yourself

Take personal responsibility

Focus on what you CAN do

No excuses!

Work for results

Focus on the positive

Comparison is the thief of joy

Be patient and disciplined

Related:

The most successful people in the world

Success isn’t just about accomplishment

  Just because an abuser feels justified being abusive and has a vocal support group doesn’t excuse their actions or make them right.

It can be difficult holding your ground in the shadow of forces that seek to stifle logic, tolerance, honesty, and common sense, but it’s important that you do. This is especially true in a chaotic political climate.

If those who are meant to represent us are not leading us to a better and brighter future, it is important that we elect those who do. The future should be something we all look forward to, not just a select few.

Regardless of our ethnicity, cultural background, political or religious beliefs, or sexual preferences, our leaders should inspire us all to be better people, better to each other, and better for the world.

You can be a kind person and still be the kind of person who yells profanity at the car that cuts you off in traffic. Being kind and not tolerating bullshit are not mutually exclusive. Being a kind person doesn’t mean you can’t verbalize your disapproval for disrespect.

Crossing paths with idiots is never an excuse to act badly and you should always strive to set a good example, but it doesn’t mean you have to stay silent or put up with abuse.

Sometimes the biggest favor you can do someone is to stay calm and speak the truth. And sometimes that truth is, “You’re being an asshole and here’s why…” At other times it may mean not giving your time and attention to someone who doesn’t respect it.

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be a Zen Master. And you certainly don’t have to tolerate bullshit. Just lead with kindness and always do your best. Even when others are not at their own.

In a world of negativity, every positive act you perform, no matter how small, not only helps to set a good example, it helps to diminish the effectiveness of those who spew hate and negativity.

If you want to do some good then literally do some good. Make a positive difference in someone’s life. Do the things you wish more people would do.

What you do for people and the moments and memories you help create can literally change a person’s life (including your own).

It’s OK to be concerned, angry, and upset about the state of things. It’s OK to speak out against hate, intolerance, and injustice. It’s OK to stand up for what you believe is morally right. Just be sure that when you do so, you do it in a way that has a positive impact and doesn’t just add to the negative energy that you oppose. Convert your positive (or negative) energy into positive action. Lead by example by performing actions that you can be proud of no matter how you are feeling.

Make sure children and adults alike can see that there is far more to the world than the things that get shown in the news. That there is far more good in the world than hate. And far more people wishing to create something beautiful than those who wish to destroy it.

Some people may be beyond reach, but there are still countless individuals of all ages and all walks of life in the world that could use the guidance of your good example.

Don’t ever let your disapproval for anyone or anything turn you into someone you don’t want to be.

Being able to live in harmony with others is largely dependent on being able to effectively communicate with those who choose to live their lives differently than you do.

Spewing negativity and hate doesn’t lead to less hate and negativity. Break the chain. Lead by example.

Bit by bit we create fictitious relationships with people when how we act isn’t congruent with who we truly are. And then if we rely on or grow fond of those relationships, we become conditioned to elicit behaviors that aren’t a reflection of our true selves.

This poses a number of problems. Not least of which is the fact that the bigger the gap becomes between how we act and who we truly are, the more friction we feel. Even if we don’t feel uneasy at the time, living in an incongruent fashion eventually catches up with us and manifests itself as any number of relationship related issues.

Always strive to act as authentically as possible. By aligning how you act with who you truly are, you will not only form far more meaningful and rewarding relationships, you will naturally attract many more of the types of people you actually want in your life.

Abuse. Aggression. Disease. Dishonesty. Disrespect. Unrest. Corruption. Cronyism. Loss of freedom and privacy.

The longer we tolerate things that we find unappealing or unacceptable, the more normal they seem and the less those things shock us.

This is how “I can’t believe it.” becomes “That’s just the way things are.”

Making progress usually leaves people feeling better, not worse. By failing to pay attention to the direction life is leading you, you are far more likely end up in a place you don’t want to be.

Just because it sounds good doesn’t make it true. Always seek the whole truth, not just the version that pleases you.

Remaining closed to factual evidence that contradicts what you believe doesn’t make the truth less truthful, it simply supports a distorted view of life based on limited information, half-truths, or outright lies.

People are often content to believe lies as long those lies fit the narrative they wish to follow.

Always remember that people naturally seek evidence to support what they already believe. It doesn’t make them bad people. It does, however, make them impressionable to those who use this fact against them.

People are happy to root for the bad guy if the bad guy repeatedly reaffirms what they already believe. It doesn’t have to be true. It just has to fit the narrative they already believe.

When seeking the truth, be sure to consider evidence that challenges your beliefs. Otherwise, it isn’t the truth you seek, it’s simply confirmation of what you already believe.

It is a sad day when compassionate souls sit silent and leave unchallenged abuses and acts of aggression out of fear of losing friends that are only their friends as long as they remain silent and hide what they feel.

If someone is going to abandon your friendship because you feel empathy and compassion towards others, believe in human rights, and are against discrimination, lying, and abuses of power, then they really aren’t the kind of friend you want in your life anyway.

A true friend will never insist that you hide who you are and how you feel.

People will often go to great lengths to ignore obvious warning signs, red flags, and common sense in order to have what they want to believe fit the narrative they wish to follow.

They will even do so at their own peril.

They believe so strongly that they are right that they are blind to all that is wrong. All the while, their condition worsens and the life they want crumbles.

Addiction. Domestic abuse. Obesity. Stress. Debt. Self-injury. Eating disorders. Political ideologies.

Don’t make excuses for the monsters in your life. Don’t normalize them. And certainly, don’t ignore them. Because sooner or later you’ll see what you’ve been blind to.

Better sooner than later.

Related:

Little by little

Remember that a dark world is a perfect place to cast your light.

Inspire, encourage, empower, support, and appreciate.

Banish darkness by spreading light.

Be a beacon that others can follow.

Refuse to let the decline of inspiring leadership, integrity, personal responsibility, and rational thinking deter you from setting the best example you can for others to follow. Don’t lower your standards to confront other people on their level. Always be the best version of yourself that you can be.

When the state of the world gets you down, remember to focus on what is within your power to change. Don’t forget that you are in control of where you place your attention and what actions you take as a result.

There is always something you can do to improve yourself or the life of another. And if you can’t figure out how to do the former, then focus on the latter. Because when we help make a positive difference in other people’s lives, we also make a positive difference in our own.

In a world where bad examples are prevalent, let how you live your life be a good one. One day at a time.

Remember this day as a fresh start. A new beginning. A clean slate. An optimistic look forward.

Remember this day as a day of hope. A day of unlimited possibilities. A day of immeasurable potential.

Remember this day as an occasion to learn. A day to improve. A day to get things right.

Remember this day as an opportunity to make a positive difference in someone’s life. A day to have a lasting positive impact on those you come in contact with. A day to lead by example.

Remember this day is a symbol.

Because this day, this moment, and every moment that follows is an opportunity to not only be the type of person you want to be, but the type of person you want to be remembered as.

This day is not just a fresh start that comes but once a year, it comes every day — every moment you exist.

This day is your life. And this day and all the days that follow are your legacy.

No one has more of an impact on this day and every day that follows in your life than you do.

Make it a good one.

Originally published Jan 1, 2015 @ 10:19

Related:

Wishes for the New Year

Dear Self

Dear Universe, (in short, thank you)

If you have the power to change…

Making progress is more important than making excuses

No one can make you get fit.

Your life story

Never underestimate the power of a single act of kindness

As one year ends and another begins, let us move forward with an open mind, an open heart, and enduring hope for the wondrous possibilities that lie before us.

But let us do so wisely and without blinders on.

Because although the year ahead may be great, it will not be without its challenges. We will be tested in ways we cannot foresee. But with every challenge comes an opportunity for us to demonstrate our strength, patience, tolerance, and resolve.

Every surprise that the coming year has in store for us is an opportunity to show that we’ve grown. That we’re stronger. And that we are ever bridging the gap between the person we are and the person we wish to be.

Let us remember that it is through the process of overcoming challenges that we develop strength. And that every time we face temptation, heartache, friction, or failure it is an opportunity for us to act in ways that we can be proud of.

No matter what life has in store for us, let this be a year of love, encouragement, and forgiveness — of others and ourselves.

Let it see us act bravely, boldly, and taking consistent action towards our goals. Let it see us correct our bad habits and add to our good ones — making us healthier, happier, and more capable of living the kind of life we desire. Let is see us push forward into the new year knowing that we are not only capable of handling every adversity that lies ahead, we can do so in a way that makes us better.

And because we know that life isn’t always easy, let us remember to not just be there for those that we know, but also for those that we don’t.

Happy New Year.

Sincerely, Zero Dean