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from the mind of critic: 12/7/18 pm

From the mind of critic: “If gained perspective creates thoughts, but fails to create corresponding actions, is it due to fear, ignorance or conscious societal misdirection? If we choose not to act, even if all objective evidence proves we should, are we purposely attempting to drive positive evolution backward? If positive and collective forward motion is our #1 goal, do we act with wild abandon, or strategize a tactful way to greatly raise our odds of success? Gathering as much information as we can before we act is not only important, but the bed rock reason we need a free press. Now this information once released could include false, deceptive or sinister aspects. It’s our duties to pick through as much as we can, to best form our own thoughts and perspectives. If accomplished this is a huge step, but it’s by no means the end all be all. Once we gain perspective, our first job is to recognize and admit it belongs to us, and we have a right to be heard. Once this happens, self-imposed roadblocks of the past, will not hold us back from doing the right thing. While it’s not a possibility, but a guarantee that life will test our fortitude at some point, we may not accomplish everything we set out to. However, the more frequent we act to create and not destroy when all gained perspective is calling us to, more often than not things will work out, because we didn’t just sit back when an obvious societal need arose. Inaction equals complicity, only if destruction or ignorance is our perspective. Acting isn’t always easy, but neither is evolution. Our actions may never be perfect, but if we don’t ignore our brother but truly listen, they will be aimed in the right direction. Being open, only makes us a doormat if we forget to take everything with a grain of salt.”

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from the mind of critic: 12/7/18 am

From The mind of critic: “When we’re having a great start to the day, and feel like nothing can stop us, do we imagine no more bad days? When we’re having a bad start to the day, and feel like since when it rains it pours, do we imagine never having another good day? Do we feel like whether the day starts good or bad it’ll be what it it’ll be, and since we don’t have control, we better make the best of whatever happens? Do we believe we can control some of the day’s happenings but not all, so although we’ll always make the best of it, we can steer the day in a better or worse direction, by way of the choices we make? Some days will be more amazing than we can imagine, some will be less desirable, and some are completely dependent on our outlook and perspective. Our job is to take everything on a case by case basis, or we will cede control of something we actually have a say in. Then we have to decide whether to act. Now I’m not saying I don’t suffer from procrastination and all or nothing thinking, of course I do, I’m human. All I’m saying is, whenever we think somebody, something or some concept is all one way or all another, proof will always pop up to prove otherwise. Some might consider this life throwing us a curveball, a test to make sure we’re on our toes. Others might see life as one constant curveball, that changes on a whim. Once we realize we can always make a day better or worse, we’ll see we might not have control over the way it starts, but we do have a say in how it ends. Do we want to cede control, or control what we can through our choices? Being human, means doing what we can when we can. However the day starts, gratitude and kindness will drive it in the right direction. Life is a series of moments, opportunities to destroy or create, we just have to what’s better for not only our soul but all of humanity.”

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from the mind of critic: 12/6/18

From the mind of critic: “When our minds say we can do something but our body vehemently disagrees, do we force action? Do we plow forward no matter how much pain we’re in, because it makes our mind healthier, which in turn feeds our soul? Do we hold off and rest, respecting our body so our pain subsides, which in turn makes our mind work better because we’re able to think clearly? Do we listen to our heart and do what we can when we can, because doing something is always better than doing nothing? We’ve all been infused with the advice that if we follow our heart, we’ll be spiritually satisfied. That if we do what we’re truly meant to do, we’ll live a life that’s anything but empty, feeling satisfied and fulfilled by allowing our soul to soar higher than we thought possible. Issues arise, when our body doesn’t allow this natural forward progression to commence. Once we realize progress could be moving so slow, a snails pace would seem like a top fuel dragster, but as long as it’s moving in the right direction that’s all that matters, we’ll see that even if pain levels prevent many things from happening at the speed our mind commands to grow our emotional well-being, we can still do some things; maybe at a painfully slow rate, but it’s always better to get somewhere slow than not at all. I am in a lot of pain personally as I write this, but the knowledge of doing something to feed my soul instead of lying helplessly on my couch, is slowly but surely getting me back to where my mind wants me to be, and where my soul needs me to be. A mind is a terrible thing to waste, but so are opportunities to grow and learn. There is always something to do, we just have to ask our soul what. Some action is always better than no action, just ask MLK. Gratitude for everything we have, even the things we don’t like, will make adversity that much easier to overcome.”

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from the mind of critic: 12/3/18

From the mind of critic: “When we open a food can in order to consume its contents, is it safer to use a opener that leaves smooth edges, so we don’t accidentally cut ourselves? Do we leave safe “edges”, so we can mindlessly handle the empty can? Does this make our life easier, because it’s one less thing we have to think about? Is leaving sharp edges dangerous, because we can cut ourselves without having to think? Does this simple act of thinking scare us so much, that sharp edges attract our mind like a magnet? Does prevention before the fact halt all accidents? Does leaving the sharp edges teach us mindfulness and caution, so we not only avoid being cut, but learn the enormous advantage of being here now? When the organized chaos of our personal microcosm becomes nerve-racking, which most of us call living, it’s only natural to desire deleting future accidents before they happen. When life seems so overwhelming, we want to make it easier on ourselves to quell that uncomfortable feeling. However, making our lives easier by paying attention, is much different than thinking our lives are easier because we have less decisions to make. Bliss itself is subjective, because although we do create our own realities, we also choose what to ignore and what to accept. Once we realize being mindful of dangers is the best way to avoid them, because we aren’t ignoring them, but acknowledging their existence so we’re forced to critically ponder a solution, we’ll see that a pound of prevention might be worth an ounce of cure, but a pound of critical thought can create many cures, specifically because ignorance isn’t viewed as a goal, but an impediment. Sharp cans require sharp minds, because dull cans require ignorance. A fulfilling journey isn’t measured by ease of forward motion, but strength in character in overcoming adversity. Avoiding danger is normal, avoiding decisions is dangerous. We start succeeding, when we refuse to cede control.”

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from the mind of critic: 11/26/18 noon

From the mind of critic: “If we get caught with our hand in the cookie jar, is it because we weren’t given permission? Were we given permission, but didn’t follow guidelines on timing and quantity? Who is tasked with giving permission, are they allowed to partake while we’re not? Was permission never given, because the cookies specifically belonged to somebody else, and getting caught was simply to prevent stealing? As humans, sometimes we want what’s not ours. Kids want to test their limits, which vary depending on environment and upbringing. Some adults grow out of this, because they realize there are things they can’t change, and some they can, but which must be taken on a case by case basis. Some adults never grow out of this, constantly pushing limits of what they can get away with, and then either stop when they get caught, or keep pushing by portraying false information and fake news by the biased reporting party. Since our character greatly magnifies if we’re elected to office, pushing limits isn’t necessarily a bad thing, it’s the root of most righteous revolutions. However, if we push limits to the point that the system breaks down, because those who disagree with us are enemies with a sinister agenda, we’re promoting not only an unstainable future, but one that espouses division as the only way forward, when it actually drives us in the opposite direction. If we want to create and not destroy, we mustn’t view ourselves as infallible. The president doesn’t own or run the cookie jar they caught with their hand in, the people do. Monolithic thinking does lead to a blissful end, an ignorant one. Projection is a real thing, which becomes louder the more we listen.”

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from the mind of critic: 11/20/18 noon

From the mind of critic: “If the devil is in the details, is everything good wrapped up in extraneous information? Are details which make up truth bad, because ignorance is bliss? Is the devil only in the details when they build a false narrative, because portraying pseudo truth pulls us away from actual truth? Are details only viewed as bad because not only can they be difficult to obtain, but may paint a picture we’re uncomfortably unaware or unwilling to accept? Truth only hurts, when we’ve denied its existence so long, that we thoroughly and unequivocally believe its extinct. Truth can slap us in the face like a scorned lover, or can wrap us in an eternally warm blanket of “I got you.” Like an athlete that stretches and works out to prevent injury, so to must we stretch our mind to account for other points of view, and regularly test our critical thinking skills, so we don’t get injured when we realize the world is going to move forward, with or without us. Is the world a scary place filled with darkness and faux light, meant to lull us into a false sense of security and satisfaction, of course. Once we truly internalize this and all it’s consequences and repercussions, we’ll see there’s infinitely more light than dark and always has been, we may just have been unwilling to see it. Ignoring the obvious, makes us obviously ignorant. The devil is only in the details, when we don’t see the gray area where the truth exists. We must only remain one sided, if we desire an eternal teenage mentality. Eternal light is achieved, when we internalize the ultimate truth that we’re all human, and should be treated as such.”

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from the mind of critic: 11/19/18 pm

From the mind of critic: “If we don’t know how to play chess, is it because we never learned, or because we never realized a game was happening? Do we think it’s just a game others’ play, but not us? Is it just as important that the game is happening, as learning what pieces move where, so we can affect the direction of the game, whether we realize it or not? Does it matter whether positive action is conscious or not, so long as it’s positive? Whether masters of war, masters of wooden rooks and knights, or masters of our own domain, we take part in games through every thought and action we take. Acknowledging a game is being played by corporate interests, to keep working class people fighting each other is the first step. However, knowing a game is occurring, but admitting a lack of knowledge as an excuse for inaction, will render that first step useless. Once we realize all the darkness and division we’re currently enduring can be alleviated with peace and humanity, we’ll see we don’t have to fear combating evil, unless we forget how to love others as we love ourselves. If we forget, feel like we can’t or don’t know how to love ourselves, that’s where we should be starting. Playing in a game doesn’t always reveal complicity, failing to drive it in a positive direction does. Learning chess moves doesn’t delete our humanity, believing everything is a chess move does. Positive actions are what matters, but will occur more frequently the more conscious we are of them. The strong only control the weak, when the weak don’t realize they’re strong.”

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from the mind of critic: 11/19/18 noon

From the mind of critic: “When the deck seems stacked against us, is the house cheating, or is our mind playing tricks? Do we believe all sides are cheating, so the only way to win is by cheating better and more forcefully? Do we believe the only way to break a cycle of dishonesty, is by injecting as much honesty as possibly? Do we hold back our best cards, for fear they won’t be good enough? Life throws us curveballs, when it rains it pours, darkness is contagious, however we describe life testing our character, it’s a major part of our journey. Not that we expect everything to be sunshine and rainbows, but we’re constantly reminded of how bad things can appear. That’s the rub, this feeling only describes what appears, and doesn’t accurately portray what’s actually there. We’ve all heard life is what we make it, we all perceive things differently and we create our own reality. They’re All clichés, but that’s because they’re actually true. We can’t always change our situation, but we must remember we can change our reactions, which changes our perceptions, then inherently our situation. When the deck seems stacked against us, do we remember things aren’t always what they seem? Cheating is only an option, if we’ve forgotten how to win. Truth wins the day, when it fuels our soul. Obstacles will only stop us, if we believe they will.”

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from the mind of critic: 11/19/18 am

From the mind of critic: “If we’re supposed to let our spirit take control, when the world seems cold, are we less in control? If we let our spirit and soul drive our thoughts and actions, does our brain’s critical thinking seep out because we’re not using logic? If we let our brains rule the day, does our spirit’s strength greatly ebb because like an unused muscle, it atrophies? Is the secret to finding balance between self-sabotage and critical thought, exactly how we empower our soul? Is the difference between allowing and blindly following, how much we think of ourselves? Winning hearts and minds isn’t just a military goal, but a very human one. We all try to figure out the best way forward with every choice, designed to do us no harm, even if the end result doesn’t correlate. Left brain and right brain, critical and abstract, heart and mind, positive and negative, one can’t survive without the other. Trying to back our side with taking into account the other, is a sure-fire path toward destruction, obliterating our only way to survive the chaos. We must simply remember to love ourselves and be kind. Kindness can’t survive without honesty. Darkness lightens, when our soul brightens. Ignorance wanes when we start loving ourselves, because we’re leading by example. We win other hearts and minds, when we win our own. Love and kindness fill our tanks with joy, which gets us past any obstacle. Giving ourselves a break doesn’t mean we’re taking it easy, we’re just giving ourselves an honest shot.”

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from the mind of critic: 11/16/18 pm

From the mind of critic: “If we know we’re the ones we’ve been looking for, but believe we haven’t found our true selves because we’re too stuck in our head, what are we missing? Do we know ourselves to well if we’re questioning everything to the point, where ignorance is the only way to calm the noise? Are we overwhelmed by the volume of thought, or the lack there of? Thoughts can be like police, always around when you don’t need them, and never when you do. This is when establishing a filter of what’s meant to tear us down, and what’s there to build us up is vitally important. Once we’re able to tell the difference, sifting through the noise to find our true path, will be as easy as listening to our heart, and letting our soul guide us. We’re all searching for something, which we’ll find when self-kindness becomes our lantern. Knowledge brings honesty, while ignorance breeds self-contempt. Taking care of ourselves happens, when we find out why. The noise isn’t actually quieter when we become focused, we’ve just learned how to react for our soul’s advantage.”

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