Comments on: challenge everything

By: Nate

Nate — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 15:22:50 +0000

@ Randall – Thanks for a great comment. You just summed up my exact thoughts! I like how you brought up the word Wisdom. That word isn’t one that I usually think about in this situation, but it’s a great fit. Thanks again!

By: Randall

Randall — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 04:52:46 +0000

It is definitely time to start thinking for ourselves! Very timley post! From religion to politics to everyday life we run into pre-conceived notions handed down from someone else that everybody follows blindly! One of my favorite lines that I use is that “Conventional Wisdom is an Oxymoron!” There is nothing conventional about wisdom! Wisdom is learning from life and not relying on someones version of the truth! Reality is the best teacher. Challenging everything does not mean that you have to be confrontational all the time. We still must be tolerant of other’s opinions but we don’t have to succumb to them either.. Thanks for the great post!

By: Nate

Nate — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 17:39:16 +0000

@ Ash – I can appreciate your school dilemma, although on a MUCH smaller scale. I went to a local community college for one reason, to play college basketball. They have a great basketball program and it was a good fit for me. I played for 3 years, and with 1 class left before getting my degree I left. Who knows if I will ever finish? I don’t feel I really need to. I’ve given myself some time to see what I can do without it, and build an income online. I KNOW I can do it. Thanks for such a great comment, your enthusiasm is the best!

By: Ash

Ash — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:26:30 +0000

I’m so glad I’m not alone – right now I’m entering into my last-ish semester of my master’s degree, and this entire year I’ve been going through a “What the *@&# am I doing?!?!?!?! (?!?!?!)” I selected MA TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) explicitly for its ability to allow me to work in university settings internationally…never stopping to think whether or not I like teaching. Turns out, I like philosophizing about the human mind and how language works and all of the fluff courses we had, but when it came time to be practical…I ended up hating it, and now find myself questioning it all. The social conditioning in me says, “You only have one semester left, you might as well finish so you have the master’s degree.” That whole finish what you start mentality. And the person who I am says, “It’s stupid to waste any time at all doing anything you aren’t completely inspired by, even if it’s only a semester. Don’t waste your time & energy on stupid things.”

That said, I do think that we can only become the people we ARE (whether we’re consciously aware of who it is we are, or not) by first questioning assumptions, and thinking critically about each, and then reconstructing our lives based on selective integration-what we deem to be important based on OUR wants…not what someone else tells you you should want. Sounds like you already kicked ass in this department. Rock, on rockstar!!!!!!!

By: Nate

Nate — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:09:44 +0000

@ Nate – I’ve been seeing you commenting on other posts and wondering, “Who’s this other Nate?” Haha, thanks for leaving a comment here and saying hi. It sounds like we’ve had similar experiences with trying to let go of things that aren’t worth worrying about. Driving was a good example for me, and you as well apparently. Thanks again!

By: Nate

Nate — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 17:05:53 +0000

What’s up Nate? Nice name by the way :)

I totally loved the road rage example. I used to have issues with that and then one day I said to myself ‘what’s the point of being so stressed out when I drive?’ It was really about letting things go that I can’t control. I have since expanded that kind of thinking to other areas of my life.

By: Nate

Nate — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:15:41 +0000

@ Syuxx – Great quote you shared here. I’m really glad that you stumbled across my blog, and even more glad that you enjoyed this post! Thanks for the comment.

By: Syuxx

Syuxx — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 12:13:17 +0000

My first time here :)

I really inspired with this post. Sometimes, we just have to be ourselves, and stand by our opinions.

I love this quote from Adidas ads:

“Some people listen to themselves, rather then listen to what other say. These people don’t come along very often. But when they do, they remind us. That once you set up in a path, even though critics may doubt you. Its okay to belive, that there is no can’t, won’t or impossible. They remind us, it’s okay to believe. IMPOSSIBLE IS NOTHING!”

Lets challenge everything :)

By: Nate

Nate — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:37:52 +0000

@ Veron – Hey! Glad you found the blog and left a comment. Just checked out your site, very good stuff. Thanks for the book suggestions, I will definitely be checking them out. I’ve also found that blogging has opened up my mind a lot. There are so many great people out there to talk to and get opinions from (you for example).

@ Alan – Thank you!

By: Alan

Alan — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 20:44:19 +0000

Nate – quality thoughts here. I find your posts more and more influential, especially this one!