Hope

The world needs to understand the power and importance of love, music, and what our words can do. When we begin to no longer take these things for granted, and learn how to actually listen to our soul's intentions, we will be at peace not only with each other, but with ourselves.

Credibility and Inspiration

I want to talk about credibility, as well as address some of the people who have criticized some of my statements about the influence certain people can have on you, notably idols in the form of "celebrities". The things I have written here, especially the past few posts, were written with the intent to share some of the ideals I try to live by, hopefully inspiring the (few) people who read this blog to better their own lives, or at least learn a successful way to deal with stress or anger. However, the way I write could be perceived as putting myself on a "high horse", or implying that my way of thinking is right, and what I say should be followed. This is not my intent at all, and i stress that this is understood, because I am in no way trying to promote my way of thinking or living, or tell someone what to do. I am simply writing thoughts that I have, things that may possibly help others, if they choose to read and accept it. I do not want people to read this as a self help column, or a blog that is boasting my own persona. I try to be as modest as I can be, and I realize that true humility and modesty are hard to achieve, especially when talking about yourself. So, in saying that, I would also like to talk about credibility, and the actual affect of what I write.

It is not uncommon to gain inspiration from a celebrity, commonly a musician, actor, or athlete. This is usually only because these people are quoted by the media, and their words and philosophies reach far more people than say, something a teenager says in a class discussion. The question I ask myself is though, do we listen to what the celebrity says because of their credibility versus the ordinary high school student? And if so, how has this credibility been achieved? I know some very intelligent people who's ideals are brilliantly conceived, and certainly as interesting as anything a movie star could say. However, the difference is, that these young people, who are not known by the world, or even by people outside their own town, are unheard voices. And yet their ideas may coincide, or something that the young, unknown person says may outweigh the celebrity's in terms of intelligence or intellectuality. I'm saying that something that a person says that I may find interesting or thought provoking, with good chance others may find it that way too, will often go unheard to people who may very well need those exact words to help them in their own personal struggle.

The idea is, that there is inspiration to be found from anyone around you, celebrity or not. I am not saying to completely disregard what your idols say, and only listen to your friends. However, I think a lot of people go by what their idols say, and only that, while ignoring what may possibly be a more interesting or helpful topic brought up by one of their friends. We need to constantly keep our eyes open for inspiration from any source possible, whether it be a celebrity, or someone who lives next door to us. The question you should ask yourself however, is if you are following this advice because it comes from a celebrity who has achieved social credibility, or from someone who has truly gained your personal respect. Personally, my greatest source of inspiration has come from two people, both celebrities, who have certainly achieved social credibility, for many reasons. I cannot stress enough though, that the reason I am so affected by these people, and am constantly inspired and amazed by them, is not because they have achieved "greatness" in society's view, or because they are portrayed as positive, inspirational people. I have truly been affected by them, and their social status has never once came into play when I have been inspired by something they say or do. And while they have been the most inspirational factors in my life, that is not to say I have not found appreciation and inspiration by people close to me, or things that are in my own life. I have definitely been inspired by people around me, that I know personally, and I find inspiration in many things, not only "celebrities" that I do not know personally. Hopefully this is clear, and it is not perceived that I live in a fantasy world where I only act on the decisions made by my "celebrity" idols. I act on what I personally feel is right, or what I personally feel is what i want to do. The person that I am has been affected by these two people the most, among other things, but ultimately, the way I think and act is because I strive on acting for myself, and not others. I try harder than anything else to be my own person, and not someone who is affected negatively by those around me. And again, I am not trying to promote myself in any way, or imply that I am better or live above than anyone else.

I do not know exactly how people take what I write, or if they agree/disagree with it. I would like to think that is has helped someone, but I simply write to better express myself, because at least knowing my words are out there, gives some satisfaction to knowing I may be helping someone. No one will ever be able to express their true being to someone else through words, but I would like people to know that I have more depth than what is often perceived.

Infinity, and Change

Infinity is one the most complex theories known to me, and most likely mankind. Most of us can somewhat understand the vastness of infinity, and that it can not be measured in any form. However, whichever way we perceive it, there is never any end, and this is at least more comprehensible to us. The idea is, that there is nearly nothing in this world that can withstand the power of time. And time, as we understand it, will go on for infinity. I am not stating that nothing is infinite, because true love, not infatuation, or lust, but love in it's truest form, will never be able to die. It may be forgotten, or ignored, but the love that was made will always exist, even if it is in a form or dimension that people do
not understand. I can not think of another thing that will exist forever, because love comes in so many different forms, if I did think of another infinite concept, it would most likely be a variation of love, and not it's own unique concept. This post is not about love though, because regardless of the amounts of times I have tried to write about it, I have never been able to accurately describe it. Love exists in the 4th dimension, and no words can describe it.

This post is about change, and to better understand the importance of it, as well as appreciate it, the concept of infinity must be clear (In my opinion).

The average human life lasts about 85 to 90 years. And as I already discussed the inconceivable concept of infinity, a period of 85 years is the exact opposite, it is too small to even describe. In theory, our lives are specks of dust on a giant earth, not saying we are unimportant, just that in time, we are insignificant. And so the things that society has told us to be stressful or annoying are even smaller in comparison to our individual lives, which is again in comparison to infinity. It is not bizarre to think of a problem in our lives as compared to the history of the universe, or the future of it. It is simply a way of coping with things that come up in our lives. Of course, when an event happens in our life that bothers us, we are instinctively going to feel emotion towards it, often negatively. And at that moment, it is the most important thing to us, the thing that bothers us the most, and the thing that will continue to bother us until we find
a solution to our so called "problem". I think that sub consciously in every human being, we understand that the event that is the cause for our discomfort of anger at that exact moment, is not actually of the greatest importance. This is not to say that for anything that happens to you, you should automatically just brush it aside and not deal with it. This mindset will undoubtedly cause you even more problems. What I am trying to say is that when you are dealing with whatever has happened to you, take it is stride with the greater picture of tour entire life. I can assure that most things that take place in your life that have caused you anger or jealousy, did not affect your life one month in the future; of even one week.

So, when something does change, take it as a step towards bettering yourself instead of a negative action on someone else. Friends will undoubtedly change amongst you, people will change, you will lose, fail, and feel defeated and alone. Especially through your stage of suffering will things change, and these changes may be the most important of all. Find something to believe in, whether it be music, art, books, someone you admire, any sort of catalyst that will help you become a better person. This is not telling you to copy whatever inspires you, but use your inspiration to learn, grow, and ultimately improve your state of mind. It is so unbelievably unhealthy to walk around with negative thoughts in your head, because pretty soon, you are not only negatively affecting yourself, but those around you. The truest test of maturity, and a strong personal sense of being, is being able to control your own behavior, and that means understanding that there are things that will happen to you that just do not matter to you; or at least should not matter to you. I will never be able to tell you how to live your life, and I do not wish to do that, but if what I write helps someone become less lonely, or discover themselves in a new way, then that is truly an honor.

Truth, The 4th Dimension, and Happiness

I have been wanting to write something here for some time now that would accurately express my views on a number of topics, things that I have never really been able to say in words. I have begun to believe more and more in the 4th dimension, the one that purely exists through energies, and feelings. And the more I begin to understand it and believe in its existence, the more my thoughts are processed in that form. So writing posts has become more and more difficult, as my thoughts can no longer be expressed into words as clearly. But I feel that any effort at all is worth it, because I know some people very close to me that I want to help, and I want them to use these words to benefit their own lives. Ultimately, I want them to believe in the 4th dimension and understand these feelings, because when you do, it is far easier to control your energy for positive outcomes.

I do not really want to drift into a self help column, or a message to the teenagers of America, but I feel that the most important message, which is also the most over used, and stereotypical, is to be as true to yourself as possible. However, even if one completely understands this, and begins to believe that they can change, from being self absorbed (negatively), and so easily influenced by negative "peer pressure", it may be useless. Most of the people I see and interact with on a daily basis are already so lost and confused that staying true to their own selves seems impossible. Why? because they do not know themselves anymore. As soon as you go against your will, or true desire, to satisfy someone else, you lose integrity, and self awareness. It is almost addicting however, because your self control diminishes each time you "give in" to something against your will. From then on, you begin to act differently on a normal basis, in order to be accepted by people who are already troubled. And as your self control and awareness and respect decreases, so does your ability to identify your true being.

So simply telling someone to be true to themselves may no longer be a positive statement, because their true selves may already be lost or hidden. I should not say lost, because you can never lose your true sense of morality, and the instinct to know what is right, or at least feel what is right. it takes a great deal of maturity, self control, and awareness to be able to realize that you are in fact an individual. I have seen countless people claim that they act the way they act because they actually like it, not because they are trying to fit in. I believe that the percentage of people who actually act like this on their own account, with absolutely no pressure at all, is the lowest number in the world. Everyone, by instinct, likes to have fun, and not feel stressed or pressure. However, the way that this "fun" is now achieved almost completely eliminates the meaning of the word. It is now a game of who can be better than the other, instead of respecting each other as human beings. I will admit that truly stepping outside of the society 'circle', while somehow keeping a foot in to observe, is the hardest thing anyone can do. We must back up for some time, in order to see from an outsiders point of view, just how bizarre and confusing our society is. However, we cannot completely isolate from human contact, because we learn solely from watching others make the mistakes we are trying to avoid. So yes, mistakes are unavoidable, but so is the fact that there is always a higher ground, and a better way of life.

I cannot tell you how to become a better person, it is only something that you can learn and discover on your own. Because in reality, becoming a 'better person', means something different for each and every one of us. The purest way to discovering yourself, in my opinion, is that of discovering the 4th dimension. Because it is everywhere, not just in music, as I have gone into detail with before. It is a dimension solely made up if feeling, and energy, and when you are able to understand the very energy that has created you, then you will be able to understand your own self. And when you understand your own self, then you are very easily allowed to excel in life, and truly be happy.

Goals, and Avoiding Constant Lines

One of the ways I view life, and it is certainly only one of many, is that without a solid goal, or at least a higher point that is accessible in some way, your life will undoubtedly be stuck. I wrote about suffering in the last entry, and I expressed with vigor that that it will happen, and must happen. However, the cause of it was not directly said, and I think that ignoring, or failing to establish a goal is the ultimate path to self destruction. The positive thing is that everyone has a had goals before, no matter the size, importance, or outcome. Because anything ever achieved started as a goal, even if it was conceived sub consciously, or seconds before achievement. As small as every inhaled breath began as a goal, because our brains plan out that we will have to take a new breath every second or so to stay alive. We don't think about it, or even worry about it, but every breath, action, and word we speak was born as a goal. When you think about goals this way, in the most minute fashion possible, then the object of succeeding suddenly becomes much closer to grasp. People constantly tell themselves that in order to be successful, they will have to conform to previously set social norms, such as education, income, marriage, children, and an independent lifestyle in which you are able to support yourself financially and sometimes, emotionally. This is not to say that these things are not worth achieving, in many circumstances, they are the ultimate goal for a person. But they should never be considered the only options.

As I am sure I have expressed in many ways before, ever single person is different. And yet, the majority of people believe that they must behave like those around them, in order to present themselves as orderly, or socially acceptable. That being said, we can now see our goals in two ways- (1) as unique to our own personality, and achievable only through actions defined by our true intentions and not influenced by negative surroundings, and (2) that we break down these goals into the most minute ways possible. To spend every day dreaming of being in a different place, or acting in a completely different way, is a waste of time and energy. It is nearly impossible to achieve any life long dream in the course of a day. So why should you feel like a failure at the end of a day if you are still in the same position that you started the day in? It is only common knowledge that you will not become something in a day, and that is precisely why we need to break down our goals into realistic options for ourselves, things that are easily achievable, but also lead to the ultimate point.

The only logical way for me to explain it, and to apply it to every day life, is to think of your life as a single straight line, which begins at a point "A", and ends at a point "B". The point "A" is your birth, and the point "B" is your death, whether that death be one that occurs physically, or in your soul. (This may become confusing depending on your belief in the afterlife. Your physical death is the one when your body fails to work, and you are pronounced medically "deceased". For some, life ends here, for both body and soul, but for others, the soul is thrust into an "afterlife" in which the soul lives eternally. So your line either stops at your physical death, or extends eternally, with your soul.) When you are born, you have no other action other than the instinct to stay alive. Your line is flat, with no accomplishment other than staying alive, which later in life, may actually be the goal for some. As life goes on, and goals begin to develop, the line moves either up or down, depending on your accomplishment or failure of the specific goal. This is what is most natural to a human being; failing and succeeding. And when the line dips below its steady plane, our natural response is sadness, anger, or even depression. However, when your line is lower than usual, or you have failed, or seemingly failed at something, it should not be regarded as a negative thing. This is the best opportunity to succeed. It is only natural that when at the lowest point, of anything, the only way to go is up, or remain the same. So when we fail, there are two ways to approach it- we can see it as an opportunity to only achieve a greater task than before, or we failed because the goal we had in mind was one that was not broken down into realistic parts. The greatest failure of all is to leave your line on a constant plane, with no rise or fall.

The worst thing you can do to yourself is to allow your line to remain at a constant level, with no achievement or failure. When this happens, you have failed, because you no longer have a goal. You may think you have a goal, but you do not, because with a present goal, there are only two options, fail or succeed. The most common trap to fall into is the one in which you believe you do not have a goal in mind, when you really do. You think your line is constant, but you are failing. You have a goal, and chances are, it is too big, inconceivable, or unrealistic to achieve in that present day. So you have failed in that goal, which sets your line down. So when you think you are stuck, on a constant line, you are really only sinking lower because you are ignoring the fact that you must set smaller goals. So you are actually in a good position, opposed to the rut you think you are in. Because despite your line being lower and lower by the day, now, you have no where to go but a higher point. And that alone should inspire you to achieve a small goal, something that leads to the ultimate goal. As soon as you achieve even the smallest of goals, your line suddenly shoots upward, and you are now in an even more positive position.

It is extremely rare for someone to remain on a constant line, without failing or succeeding, because usually, they are failing, but they are unaware. But failing is no longer a negative thing, so you should not be saddened when you realize this. It is an endless cycle, one that is both confusing and intriguing, because it deeply is involved in each and every one of our lives. We cannot be tricked into believing that failure, in any sense, is the end, because in reality, it is the very beginning. We had to of started at the bottom, and failing is now just considered a new beginning.

Suffering and Succeeding

I have begun to learn something about life that I thought might help someone that reads this post, about suffering and succeeding. Life sets traps for us, sometimes small setbacks that may discourage us for a moment, or larger obstacles that may affect our lives for years. However, these obstacles, no matter the magnitude, are absolutely necessary for advancement in life. Every single life story is different, and people are obviously more privileged than others. Some are born into wealth, or talent, or power, while others are born into little or nothing. People may be born into poverty, or a life of violence and hatred, and be thrust into evil at a very early age, against their very will. However, no matter how someone is raised, or how they set up their life to play out, at some point in their lives, they will be forced to suffer. They will experience loneliness, or hate, or anger, or jealousy, or isolation, or be stuck in a trap that constantly pushes them against their creative will. This suffering may be experienced at any time throughout someone's life, and may also last for any period of time. But throughout this period of that person's life, will they discover who they are inside, what their souls are created of, and how they will act for the rest of their lives. It is an incredibly prolific time, but is hidden underneath a cloud of what is seemingly worthless life.

Some people will not understand what is happening to them, while other people will fully understand that they are experiencing a time of self change that is both necessary and life altering. It is inevitable however, that you will suffer at some point in your life, and the outcome of that suffering will be your true character. The isolation that this period often brings is also the most in depth time of personal discovery and thought. Some of the deepest thoughts, desires, ideals, and dreams are developed during the times spent alone, or spent suffering inside yourself. You will undoubtedly develop dreams that will resonate in your head constantly, things that you feel are the only solution to your so called 'problems', and will certainly solve the trouble that surrounds you. This period in anyone's life is the most personal time that they will experience, and if ignored, or forgotten, can be a tragedy. The thoughts that cross your mind during this time are so precious and deep in the sub conscious, that they should be expressed in some way as much as possible, whether that be through music, or art, or writing.

The idea is, that ever single person is meant to suffer, and that when this does happen, it is important to accept it as not just a point in your life that may seem the lowest, but an important step in self discovery that will determine the way you play out your life. It should not be wasted by attempting to battle the forces of destiny, because it is with absolute certainty that you will suffer. The worst thing anyone can do is to fight these forces by trying to change themselves too soon, by attempting to fit in with a certain crowd, or surrendering to negative energy that is sent out by people too worried that they will fail to realize that they are experiencing something unique. You will succeed, because life is not meant to be wasted, it is meant to experienced in full, and that is only possible if someone truly is at one with their mind and soul, and understands themselves to the fullest.

Spiritual Energy

There are millions of songs in the world, and millions of note combinations, chord progressions, and tempos. Every single human being's voice has a different frequency, causing every single person to sound differently when they speak or sing. There are hundreds of different instruments, computer effects, and microphones. These are all factors that create, and change music. For every single note played, sung, or treated, there is an energy released from it. Not an energy in the sense of the common knowledge of the word, but an energy in another form, one that has a spiritual power, not necessarily a physical power. These energies are emitted from the sounds made from the instrument or voice, and stay in existence forever. The trick is recognizing them and changing them into physical energy to use for your own betterment. The spiritual energy released by music can often not be heard, or is ignored by the listener. Many people refuse to accept the invitation to listen to the music at all, or refuse to feel the spiritual energies that come from it. However, any song can affect any one single person, in both positive or negative ways. In the same manner, the same song may have different affects on different people. Someone may receive positive energy from a song, or even portion of a song, while another person may interpret the song as a negative thing and be affected in a bad way.

These energies stay in existence and may be used to infinity, even if the song is not be played. As soon as someone feels the spiritual power of one single note, or a whole album for example, it stays inside them for eternity. They may never know this, or refuse to use it. But this person who heard a note, or a song, or an album that gave them positive spiritual energy, will contain this energy inside them forever. The hardest thing to do is transfer this energy to other people, and change it into physical energy for yourself. One may hear a portion of music, and understand that they now have this wonderful and beautiful spiritual energy inside them, but have no idea how to use it. Ultimately, if that energy is indeed wasted by staying inside someone but never used, the music has not served its purpose for that person. Music is meant to release these energies, and in turn, help people find the strength or inspiration they need to complete a certain task, or reach a certain goal. Some people ignore this catalyst, and go on with their lives, and often struggle to complete their goals, without the help of these powerful energies. One can certainly be successful without using music's spiritual energies, but will suffer a time in which they feel they are missing an important factor in their lives.

It cannot be taught, told, or even shown how to use this energy in one's life to accomplish something. It is purely a feeling, something that can only be felt in one's own mind, and only be expressed through love, or music. Even if one does successfully use this energy to complete something, or fulfill their own lives, the accomplishment alone is not the proof of these energies. It is only something that each individual person knows inside themselves, and is different in each person. The purest form of these energies is the kind in which the artist who has created the music, created the actual song as a result of using the energy from another artist's work. And when one hears this piece of music, they are not only receiving the spiritual energies of the artist who made the song, but those of every person before him or her who inspired them, and everyone who inspired them. This is how everyone in the entire world has the ability to be spiritually connected, through the power of these energies that have been shared, passed, and made into new art. One single note, of one single song, on one single album, in one single artist's entire discography, represents every artist who also released their own spiritual energies, as a result of someone else's.

Think of it as if it was a family tree, in the sense that if you go far enough back, then every single human is related, no matter what you believe. Even if you don't believe in God, or evolution, or whatever other way of how this universe was created, we can all agree that everything had to start , somewhere, somehow, and therefore, we are all ancestors of this first being, regardless of how or when it began. It is the same with music and its spiritual energy. Whether you believe in God, or a higher power or not, we can also all agree that the basic idea of God has existed since the beginning of time. And therefore, the first piece of music had to been as a result of some spiritual energy that this being felt, which caused him or her to express these energies through the most natural way possible- through sound, or music. And so this person's music released an energy, which caused someone else to create music as a result of the feeling of this energy. And on and on for thousands and thousands of years, until eventually, there are millions of people who make music, even in the simplest form every day. Everyone's energies are distantly related, no matter how different or complicated they seem.