Emotions are not Mutually Exclusive

Many of us
do not feel supported.

Yet
we rationalize
that we should be grateful
for whatever we have.

If such rationalization
leads to self judgment,
shame,
and isolation.

May we realize
that gratitude
is not mutually exclusive
with not feeling supported.

The Chinese character for human
are two strokes
in support of one another.

Human beings need
and deserve support,
no matter their circumstance.

Deadline

What I learned in art
is that the work gets done
because there’s an exhibition.

Without an exhibition
the artist can work on their piece
until they’re perfect.

Except
compared to perfection
the work
is never be enough.

The role of an exhibition
is to force us to define
what is “good enough.”

Asking for Advice

Sometimes,
we need to ask for advice
on how to solve
our problems.

Before asking,
it may be worth getting clear on:

  1. What the current situation is,
  2. Where you’re trying to move to,
  3. What you believe are required
    to make such a move,
  4. What you’ve already done
    to fulfill those requirements,
    and having done them,
  5. What you see
    are the remaining problems.

Same vs Different

No two “things”
can ever be
the same.

Especially if we consider
their location
in time
and space.

So when we hear someone say
“it’s the same thing,”
and we disagree,
we have at least
two choices.

We can argue why they’re not
the same.

We can also discover their perspective,
which is focusing on a similarity
between two or more things
that they value enough
to say “it’s the same thing.”

The choice
is ours
and ours only.

May we take responsibility
for our choices.

Smile

“I overreacted today.”
said the CEO.

I waited.

“They think
I’m a bad leader.” he continued.

I waited.

“They think
I’m toxic.” he continued.

“I don’t know
why I cannot control this.”
he lamented.

“How could others support you
so that you won’t overreact?”
I asked
finally.

“I don’t know.”
he replied.

“What do you not
want?”
I asked again.

“I want them
to stop saying why my ideas
are bad.”
he said.

“Do you want them
to say your ideas
are good?”
I asked.

“No,
of course not.”
he said.

“What do you want?”
I asked again.

“I…
I just want them
to listen.”
he said,
finally.