Asa Rodriguez's Blog, page 20

Mediocrity vs Genius

The art of your life

What true art is goes beyond established rules and norms. It’s about creating and pouring your emotions, your personality, the way you think; not about copying how others do it and following the rigid rules of a system. Whatever it is you do then, do not focus on rules and ways of old. The art of your life is unique to you.

Great art

There is art and there is great art. There is mediocrity and there is genius. What’s the difference..?? Mediocrity is doing something and following the established norm just to appeal to the masses and make money–most people do this. If you are this kind of artist, of course, I respect your chosen path.

Genius art is the path that only the brave and unique take, because in this path not many will accept you due to jealousy. Most would like to deviate from the established rules, but they won’t do it because fear of not fitting in will grip them.

But the true visionary does not care, because for us it’s all about expressing ourselves through our art, leading and creating new ways–a sort of rebellion against the rules and norms established by the society of mediocrity. So, to be a true artist, in whatever you do, you must be willing to deviate from the norm, be entirely you, and lose the fear of not fitting in.

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Dealing with loss

Remember the good times

When one loses someone is easy to fall into depression. Depression can lead us to highly negative thoughts, even to self-harm and suicide in many cases. But I think that we must focus on the positive memories instead of in the loss.

Dreams and hopes

Positive memories are uplifting, they remind us of the love and joy, and they’re a source of strength to move on in life. Life is all about moving on, building, forging ourselves to become better human beings with new dreams and hopes.

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Precious time

Choose your people

So many of us spend time with people who do not support us, or who do not inspire us, or who only bring us self-doubt and negativity. But I have learned that it is vital to give your time only to people who help you become better at some level, not people who waste your time with stupidity or people who do not fit the life you want to lead for yourself.

Your time is precious

Now, I understand that sometimes we have to visit family, friends, or be in situations which are not ideal or inspirational. This happens to any of us. But I also understand that my time is precious, so I will use it mostly for what benefits me, for that which makes me feel loved and happy.

So, having in mind this, I will be direct with others. I will tell them exactly how I feel, and what I need. If they do not understand me or support me still, I will just walk away. I won’t leave them entirely, but I will spend less time with them. So, that’s my suggestion to you, and it is to learn to manage your time better, and to truly understand that your time on this earth is precious.

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Greatest knowledge

Knowing yourself

Sounds too spiritual, doesn’t it?? Sounds like some ‘Buddha mysticism’, right?? Well, it’s simpler than that actually. It means to understand the deep roots of your thoughts, feelings, and actions. People all over the world become impulsive, they follow beliefs, try to fit in with others.

Why?? Because they do not find an identity within themselves, and this makes them anxious, disturbed, even violent, and so they feel the need of justifying this by joining others that have no identity like them. So, what happens in this state of mind??

People follow ideas, opinions, philosophies, rules that others set for them. Could be parents telling them this or that. Could be religions introducing beliefs into their minds since young. Could be politics based purely on satisfying one group. Could be little groups of “friends” just “having fun”.

Why knowing yourself…??

Knowing yourself is understanding yourself. There are many benefits, but I will mention the most important ones, at least for me.

1- You realize and build great self-love, which takes you to focus entirely on creating better, healthier, more positive habits daily. This grows your confidence, you begin to appreciate more the time with yourself, and you increase your self-esteem in every aspect of your life.

2- Your understanding of others, of the world, grows massively and gives you so much insight and knowledge, and all this insight and knowledge takes away your frustration, misery, jealousy, violent and revengeful thoughts.

3- You become more wise in your decisions, you start growing a deep insight, some call it Third Eye, into better ways, better ideas, new strategies that help you see other paths as your self-awareness expands. And this expands as well your capacity to be truly happy and to make others around you happy as well.

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True art

Writing characters

All creation becomes true art when it is poured from the heart of the creator. So, for example, in my writing I create my characters with heart, which means I give them life through sharing the way I feel and projecting that into them. In that way, my readers can know me through my characters and their stories; so, in a sense, I am living through my characters, or I am building and leaving my legacy through my characters.

The attraction

And, of course, my characters must create the attraction, the mystery, the reason for the reader to keep on reading. And that is done through the stress, joy, excitement, sadness, and everything else the characters feel and that is described throughout their journey. Description of their mental state, for me at least, is very important if I want to create and strengthen that attraction.

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Where is found…

Worry

I find that most of the time worry, stress, excessive preoccupation, serves no purpose. Most of the time, it just brings us overthinking while creating all these negative scenarios in our heads. So, if I cannot change it, I let it go. ‘I let it go’ means I cut cords with the thought and feeling, or I stop thinking about it, or I became detached from these.

I move on

Becoming detached from overthinking is not that easy, right?? But we do have to move on, start a new activity that keeps us away from the worry and overthinking. I find this very important, especially so I don’t become obsessed with the past or future. Because moving on is found in the present. So, make sure you stay in your present.

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Wolf on the ferry…

A little bit of what I am working on…

This is from “Shadow Ghouls of Nergus”, which is #4 in the epic Dark Fantasy series BENJAMIN JONES.

“He  saw  himself  changing  into  a  wolf,  because  he  was  the  leader  of  the  pack  and  he  already  knew  and  felt  that  very  well.  He  indeed  felt  proud  of  his  change.  Perhaps  he  should’ve  felt  fear  at  such  transformation,  but  he  did  not  because  the  essence  of  the  wolf  lived  already  in  his  mind…

Maybe  it  had  lived  inside  him  ever  since  he  had  been  taken  by  wolves  as  a  baby  (see  series  #1).  But,  as  the  incredible  alteration  took  place,  his  strength  grew  and  grew.  His  mind  merged  with  the  animal’s,  and  then  it  all  became  clearer…

The  wolf  saw  everything.  The  wolf  did  not  overthink  anything.  The  wolf  feared  nothing.  The  wolf  allowed  instinct  to  guide  him.  Benjamin  Jones  was  the  wolf  now,  and  the  journey  into  his  subconscious  was  understood…

“Whoooaaa!”  exclaimed  Shadow,  then  flew  to  him  and  started  touching  him.  “You’re  a  wolf,  Ben!  And  you’re  really  fluffy.  So  fluffy.  Yeah,  so—”…

…The  wolf,  who  was  now  Ben,  growled  softly  and  then  took  off.  There  was  a  pier  or  dock  really  close  to  them,  right  on  the  other  side  of  some  trees  and  bushes.  He  stood  on  the  planks  of  the  pier’s  end  and  became  really  silent.

He stared  straight  into  the  mist  above  the  waters,  waiting  for  something  or  someone  to  arrive.  Wolf  boy’s  soul  and  Shadow  came  to  him  instantly,  then  they  waited  with  him  for  several  seconds.  Nobody  said  anything…

“So…”  Shadow  finally  started.  “Do  you  have  fleas,  Ben??  Do  you??  Do  you??  Because  Kushim  gave  me  a  book,  and  I  read  the  book,  and  the  book  said  some  wolves  have  fleas.  So,  do  you  have  fleas,  Ben??  Do  you??  Do  you??”…

The  wolf  seemed  so  focused  and  alert  that  nothing  disturbed  him.  He  just  remained  still  while  peering  through  the  night  and  haze  above  water…

“Shhh…”  shushed  the  hero’s  soul  while  pointing  at  an  approaching  form  beyond  the  mist.  “Shadow,  look—”…

The  form  pierced  through  the  heavy  mist  and  soon  became  a  welcomed  shape.  The  simple  boat,  more  like  a  big  gondola,  moved  with  ease  over  the  calmed  waters  of  the  lake.  And  they  noticed  that  someone  was  driving  it  with  great  skill,  and  so  he  was  using  a  rowing  oar  to  gracefully  get  to  them… 

The  ferryman  or  creature  soon  appeared  out  of  the  darkness,  and  they  saw  that  he  was  tall  and  shrouded,  and  they  also  saw  that  his  hands  were  not  there  and  that  his  face  was  emptiness  itself.”…

Hope you enjoyed that. I really like to make my characters and situations fun, not only for the reader but for me as the writer.

“The Call of The Shaman”, which is #1 in the epic Dark Fantasy series is available FREE from Amazon (worldwide), from Kobo (worldwide), and from Barnes & Noble. If you are interested in starting the great journey with Ben for FREE then, please, feel free to browse through my website, or just click https://asarodriguez.com/books/ and look for the #1 in the epic series.

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The 2 forces

The positive and the negative. That’s what we are. One split into two, because we are here to learn to balance what we love with what we fear.

The 2 forces

We are not what we think.We are not what we feel.We are indeed what we do.We are our chosen habits.We are beyond thoughts,For we create by action.We are beyond impulses,For we can see consequence.A human being is conscious.A human being must be aware.We must not drown in opposites.We must balance the 2 forces.

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Heroes

Leading yourself

Leading yourself is critical in the life of the adult, because we all have difficulties; however, leading yourself means guiding yourself through it without expecting others to magically fix your problems. Don’t wait for the right politics, or for the right economy.

Don’t wait for the right situations to arrive. Don’t expect people to change their attitude towards you. Don’t wait for your brain to gain focus by itself. Come up with new ideas. Seek new knowledge. Open yourself to new habits and lifestyles. In short, lead yourself through it and become your own hero.

Becoming your own hero

If you follow me here, or in any of my social medias, or even in my author’s blog, then you know that I’m all about becoming your own hero. Even my nonfiction writing aims to this. Because in your life you can choose to be your villain, and so complain and do nothing, maybe blame your problems on somebody else.

Or you can rise up and be your hero, and so lead yourself, maybe commit mistakes but learn and become better in your journey. That’s how the greatest among us lead themselves through a life of success. And, remind yourself, success is Now, in how you feel Now.

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Great ideas

Ideas

Ideas are all around us. What is that mean…?? Well, ideas are thoughts that build, that create, that inspire, that help you connect to yourself and to the world at some level. You can choose to use that idea however you like. But the greatest ideas bring inspiration to create and unite.

A new recipe. A plot twist. Some creative thought to connect more with your loved ones. Some revelation to ease and relax your anxious mind. So, coming to it, they’re all around us because you can get ideas from your own life–from walking outside, from watching a movie, from reading a book, from a conversation with a family member, etc.

Manifesting ideas

As an author, I understand ideas. After all, no human being could function without ideas (thoughts). But, to create great ideas (inspiring ideas), I must nourish them. I nourish them by having good discipline. By thinking positively. By remaining hopeful.

By acting good towards myself, which means by having habits of health daily. And, as I mentioned, by listening, observing, interacting with all that’s around me. I can’t expect to just sit down and become flooded by good and inspiring ideas.

I must go and create them myself, not wait for some miracle or magic event from the heavens. As an author, for example, I know that Writer’s Block only comes to the ones who sit down and just expect great ideas to appear magically. But, to the ones who take everything they experience around them and use it for inspiration, Writer’s Block is a primitive and nonexistent belief. So, create ideas at all times, observe and learn.

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