Frustration and angst fester where there is no explanation of a conundrum. One important role of the Supreme Court is to provide judicial opinions—both for the majority ruling and the dissenting. The opinion is almost as important as the ruling itself, perhaps even more. By knowing why the right and wrong things are right and wrong, we codify a precedent to carry out the decision before us and to navigate conundrums in the future.

When you’re frustrated, you might decide to look for a simple opinion. Knowing what to do might only follow knowing what to think about it.  · · · →

As a general rule, don’t banter with ponies. Horses are glad to take directions and work, as long as they don’t get spooked. So, just work, focus on work, encourage, and stay focused on work.

It can be quite a shock, seeing how many troubles we create and avoid, all depending on where we focus. Get the job done and you’ll be amazed at the disappearance of so many problems that seemed big at the time, but no longer matter when we’re finally finished.

Ponies are there to help, not pontificate. Do the work, stay encouraging, don’t spook, and finish.  · · · →

Generally, the public doesn’t like to hear bad news. Then again, in the news business, bad news sells. The public wants to hear something uplifting, but good news never gets watched.

There is a magical balance to strike, and it takes a kind of experienced perfection few ever reach: to deliver the truth in a way people would hear it. Much of the time the message is ignored comes due to much of the public not wanting to hear it.

The days of truth are a magical moment in history, when a messenger speaks perfectly and the people actually listen.  · · · →

Injustice leads to more injustice in two of many ways: injustice by silence and injustice by whining too much. The only way past the injustice of the past is to level the charge, but don’t wait for the world to agree.

We can’t stop a problem we know nothing about. So, by all means, let the world know your pain. At the same time, don’t yield more power to an apathetic world. Your life needs you on the scene, working and building, even before your enemies make right their wrong. You’re not going to get justice from them after all.  · · · →

The unwritten implication about blaming people for your problems is that you have problems. Everyone does, but we shouldn’t publicize problems until they are overcome. That’s different from exposing a public need or coaching willing athletes, but don’t think you’re a coach when you’re not.

The dirty little secret about problems is that the world won’t listen to our warnings while we still suffer from the world’s problems. We must overcome problems from the world, only after inform the world about its need to grow up. That’s a loss for the world, but it’s a win for you. Overcome first.  · · · →

Strength is never bestowed, it must be attained by ourselves. You will never get yourself to anyplace you want by blaming or excusing. Your results belong only to you and they can be earned only by you.

Moving along isn’t easy. When we get stronger and better, we enter a new territory. If we’re always improving, we’re always in new territory. Comfort doesn’t find a place there. A life of ongoing growth means a life lived outside the comfort zone—always.

So, don’t just stand there when you see something you want. Gauge your opportunity, then move in full tilt.  · · · →

Decisions are simple if we bear in mind two things: Be direct, be real.

It’s no good taking detours without need when you’re in a hurry. The problem is that we like to justify detours, without considering their costs. If we don’t arrive on time, whatever we’re doing won’t get done. Equally, it’s no good going somewhere you don’t want to go. Taking the direct rout over a cliff won’t take you to anyplace other than regret. The problem is that we like to justify being in a hurry, without considering the risk of failure.

Win. Be real. Be direct.  · · · →

If life kicks hard, it seems unfair. But, no one grows without pain of some sort, sooner or later. It’s never fair, then again it’s always fair. The way pain happens is never right, but the fact that it happens gives us the blessing of growth. So, the unfairness of hardship is the only way life can treat us fairly.

Are you ungrateful for the blessings in your life? People who can’t thank helpful pain can’t be thankful for anything. They will find a way to complain even about the nicest and best benevolences life has to offer. Be thankful.  · · · →

It gets under our skin, insanity. When the attacks come, they start manipulative, shaming, pushing guilt, placing blame, and making you think you’re the crazy one who needs help. It only grow bigger and bigger, especially when you go along with it. Insanity, after all, is a distorted perspective of the world. If you let your crazy abusers think they are stronger than they are, their craziness will grow, along with their unfettered willingness to throw a dangerous fit when finally confronted.

The best way out is to call it out, the sooner the better. Call crazy what it is.  · · · →

Crazy is a monster of the mind that drives us to harm. It usually drives someone to harm others, but on occasion it has been known to only harm oneself. Still, crazy drives us to harm.

As it harms, it zooms in on one victim—obsessing over only one person or group, usually under the self-delusion that it can somehow help. And, to everyone else, the victim is a liar.

When crazy comes after you, everyone will tell you you’re wrong, you need counseling, or you see ghosts. Take heed; it’s only a matter of time before crazy moves on.  · · · →

Patience requires that we don’t do injury beyond the villain’s. So, someone did it to you. It was wrong. You’re right. They deserve something. You deserve something else to have happened. But, if you respond at a higher level of cruelty, you become the new villain.

This is a constraint that both requires and cultivates patience. Consider the kung fu master who doesn’t need to land a single strike in order to win a fight. He’s so good that he dodges every attack, wears out his assailant to a point of error, then declares victory with a single, gentle hold.  · · · →

It seems second-priority and a healthy body only makes for a healthy corpse in the end. We can’t take any of it with us, not even the body we trudge around in for nearly a century. But, health has its advantages.

A healthy body makes for a healthy mind, which makes for healthy decisions and quality work. Whether in art, labor, or study, the same blood flows through your feet as that three-bound inspiration blob between your ears.

Don’t make it about vanity nor indulgence. Make a habit of pushing past thresholds of pain. Health wants a challenge to overcome.  · · · →

The turning point comes when we cease worrying. It’s never easy. Sometimes we must worry ourselves out in order to stop the worry. Sometimes we need enough worry time proven wasteful before we decide it’s just a waste. However you get there, once you cut with the worry, everything starts to turn around.

Turning for the better doesn’t mean the battle’s over. It might not even start. But, many battles are decided before they start—especially if the worry stops before the worried battle actually starts. And, there’s the thing: We often worry because we expect results from the start.  · · · →

As one pushes forward, troubles come up. Incompetence, careless mistakes, no-brainers—things like these get in the way for most people and are all to common in most organizations. When you face an uphill battle, scaling someone else’s pile of disaster, there’s one easy, win-all solution: Overcome by being evermore awesome.

Whatever disadvantage you were handed by someone else being a fool won’t affect you as long as you rise and grow. Work, prepare, produce. Those who manufacture problems for others will end up keeping them for themselves if you don’t buy. Then, they’re at the disadvantage, and you’re not.  · · · →