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We must help ourselves before we can help others.

Part of this principle comes from the Law of Basic Experience: One can only teach what one has done.

Part of this principle comes from basic safety in lifeguard training: Don't become a victim yourself; you can't save a drowning victim if you drown in the process.

Charity and compassion can become distractions from our own problems. They can even become addictions—both helping others and distracting us from our own problems.

Take time to search your own soul. You'll make a far bigger difference when you help others by example.

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The relation between light and darkness relates to "direction". Light travels in all angles and all directions from the source. Shadows, however, are not omni-directional; they only travel away from a light source.

A light that only travels across or down or over or up is not any true light. It may be redirected light, but the source of light shines in all directions. The only shapes like triangles or lines that occur naturally are shadows.

Light does not discriminate, shadow-makers do. Light does not favor directions, shadow-makers do. Don't try to choose and pick so much. Just shine everywhere.

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I'm angry. So, I'm going to throw apples at the hunter. He already hunts me and seeks to eat me. I'm going to annoy him and make it easy for him to find me. I'm going to act-a-fool because I'm mad. I'm going to tell myself that he doesn't treat me fairly so I can sleep at night.

That attitude defines enraged masses who will never be happy unless they can hate being slaves.

Don't join them.

Instead of being angry at a dark world, be the sun that shines on it. Encourage people. Smile. Lift. Destroy darkness with light.

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We never know what we don't know. If someone wants to talk, listen.

Cult-think mentality easily fills our fears with mental constipation: "They want to sell you snake oil," it says. "Don't let him speak. He will cast a spell on all who hear!"

Cult-think never solves problems. If someone wants to talk, listen. There is no good reason not to listen.

They may want to warn, defect, apologize, or even attack again. But, it doesn't matter how evil they are or have proven to always ever be. If someone wants to talk, listen for one reason: You're not telepathic.

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We easily presume that survival requires certain instituted structures and systems to overstay their welcome. But, that is mere nostalgia. Institutions, though necessary, are less necessary than we think. That which is erected by Man will always be outlived by Man.

When society does things in a better way, that better way will always downsize some jobs, but many more work opportunities will spring up in their places. Better and better systems will be invented by the synergistic combination of opportunity and necessity.

In that process, humanity sheds institutions as a snake sheds its skin. Life always finds a way.

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Build patiently. Productive people naturally feel like they have more projects than they can ever accomplish. Everyone feels this way at some point—that life is just not long enough.

Actually, that's a feeling of youth and ambition.

Part of maturity is wanting to accomplish things in the small time life allows. Over-committing and feeling the pressure of our own decades-long "to-do" lists isn't the most mature feeling, however. It's just another step in the process of growing up.

Learn early on to let go of the lists you make—to wait, work, and love—all at the same time.

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What did it feel like when Jericho's walls fell? Either you were the enemy inside, the enemy outside, or the harlot who helped the spies.

Boom! Everything falls, dust everywhere. Is there time to worry about what the guy next to you is doing wrong? Do you still have the luxury of pointing your bloody finger at the hypocrite you chose to live next to?

No.

When the defenses are down, the enemy charges, everyone runs while. All you can do is hold your own. That's recompense. Whoever did whatever wrong, victory goes to whoever minds his own affairs best.

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Love wins. Reconciliation has power to save us from all kinds of evil. Lincoln said, "Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?" Sinatra said, "The best revenge is massive success." Killing, crushing, smearing, destroying, controlling, oppressing—they never silence innocent blood from crying out for justice—they only make the cry louder.

Humans don't hunger for death. We are only satisfied when friends have life and enemies become friends. If we can't shine-out the darkness then there's no point in striving. After all, humans are not the enemy of humans. Our enemy is quite inhuman.

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Opponents are as easy to find as opinions. Neither are worthy commodities since they come in over-abundance. No matter who you are or what you do, however good or bad, someone will always tell you you're right and someone else will always tell you you're wrong.

Knowing which voices to heed and which to ignore comes from proof; harken to people who have done and proven that their ideas actually work.

But, that "proof of competence" test should come earlier. First, choose your destination wisely, then heed the voices who want you to get there. They are your true constituency.

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Opponents are as easy to find as opinions. Neither are worthy commodities since they come in over-abundance. No matter who you are or what you do, however good or bad, someone will always tell you you're right and someone else will always tell you you're wrong.

Knowing which voices to heed and which to ignore comes from proof; harken to people who have done and proven that their ideas actually work.

But, that "proof of competence" test should come earlier. First, choose your destination wisely, then heed the voices who want you to get there. They are your true constituency.

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Anyone can think the sky is falling when the "other" guy wins an election. Friends say what we don't like, we make baseless insults, then we complain about a divided nation.

If you've enjoyed the same old, bland, partisan, well-mannered non-progress for years, then a populist like Obama or Trump comes along to rub you the wrong way—well, anyone can go loopy. Some of us grow thick skin before others.

Post-election conniptions are normal. Don't blame for people having them, don't join them either. Spread some love. Focus on the problems in the bathroom mirror—not the rear-view mirror.

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Perseverance, endurance, persistence, and just not giving up are more than wheel-spinning "motivationals". There are specific reasons why some things only happen if we keep going, burning calories to name one.

Sexy muscle tone, athletic reflexes, instinctive self-defense, and merely good posture are acquired through repetition. The same is true of music, dance, art, programming, carving wood, pottery, knitting, cooking, and even friendship, leadership, and, most importantly of all, servanthood. Almost anything you are trying to get done includes "continue" somewhere in the instructions.

They say, "Time heals many wounds." And, that's true as long as your body keeps going.

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Don't overreach. Don't overdo it.

It's easy to think that "high standards" always help. High standards can help, but not if they become entry-level requirements.

Allow people to grow. Allow yourself to grow. Allow "on ramps" everywhere in your life.

High standards are not about expecting every rookie to start out as a seasoned pro. We don't only want to "set" high standards; we want to reach them.

Search for potential. Allow for the best. Teach and encourage even the worst. When people excel, get out of the way. Above all, look for passion. Anyone can learn anything when fascinated.

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Name-calling never got anyone anywhere.

Don't confuse name-calling with "nick-naming". Nick names are descriptive terms for friends and enemies, terms like "Rocket Man", "W" AKA "the Shrub", "President Hair Do", and "Slick Willy". But, name-calling isn't objective, can't be endearing, and only serves to vent frustration from people who can't bring the change they want.

Don't call people "moron", "brain-damaged", "stupid", or "buffoon". Don't imply it. Don't talk like it. In fact, say so when other people do.

Calling names is one's own surrender. It's the loser throwing rocks at the tanks entering his city. Don't ever be that guy.

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