Questioning Life, Success, and Fulfillment

“I promise you that the same stuff galaxies are made of, you are. The same energy that swings planets around stars makes electrons dance in your heart. It is in you, outside you, you are it. It is beautiful. Trust in this. And your life will be grand.”

-- Kamal Ravikant

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Note to my readers:  I woke up to read this remark concerning the answers I've written to people with questions:  "Congratulations, your content crossed 500,000 views!"  

I would be impressed, but I have to keep this in the context of time.  This is the total readership, since August 2019.  That still means that my answers garner almost 250,000 views per year.  I suppose that is respectable.  Woohoo?  I remain, always, your humble servant.

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Your decision is your destiny.  Please, how true is this saying?

It is very true. Our life is all about the choices and decisions we make, and those choices and decisions determine our ultimate destiny in life. If we choose to give up our right to make our own choices and decisions, this is, also, our choice.

What can I do with my life if I don’t work or go to school (I have a husband and no kids)?

Get a job or volunteer. Keep busy. I always loved the old adage, “Idle hands are the devil's workshop.” Don’t be idle. Fill your life with people, and tasks you love to do. Hell, for that matter, go back to school!

What small habits should one have to be more likely to achieve long-term success?

There are no “small” habits. This is a term people use who would rather not admit to having any habits. But, there are good habits, and any success, especially “long-term” success, demands several of these.

Strive to be happy at all times during life and the process to reach your desired goal. Study what it takes to reach the desired goal. Develop a plan to reach the goal. Work hard at the plan, you develop. Understand that any failure is yours to own, and failure is nothing more than an opportunity to learn and overcome. And, finally, be willing to persevere in the face of any failure.

But, before all this takes place, you should develop a good moral sense of ethics you will always stand by. Whatever you do, when you reach your goal you must arrive knowing you have done everything ethically, without crushing those who helped you along the way. In this way, you can move forward knowing you have earned your success with many thanks to those who supported and helped you. 

“Your beliefs become your thoughts,

Your thoughts become your words,

Your words become your actions,

Your actions become your habits,

Your habits become your values,

Your values become your destiny.”

-- Gandhi

Why is failure necessary for success?

Success without failure is a recipe for disaster. Failure is the best way to learn, and you should want to learn as much as you can about the goal you strive to reach. If you reach a goal without failure, I would go back and build in issues that might create a failure, so I could learn how and why the failure occurred and be prepared to mitigate such failure in the future.  Good luck is not as important as knowledge.

Why isn’t everything as it appears? What are some reasons behind this?

We love to take everything a “face value” because it requires so much less from us. People are basically lazy. We look but, most of the time, we don’t see. We hear but, most times, we don’t listen. We rely too much on what we think we know about what we look at and hear. If we considered everything around us more critically, magicians would be viewed as what they are, entertainers that take advantage of our inability to perceive.

Sometimes, all we have is a picture to work with, and what we “see” is not necessarily what we get. I was enamored with a particular lingerie model before I saw her on a television special and she opened her mouth to speak. Out of this beautiful, tanned, woman with classic Mediterranean features, came the voice of Betty Boop. Well, as much as I try not to judge, I had to laugh… at myself. Bless her heart, she is probably a beautiful soul, but here I was judging the book by the cover. Ever since, though, I think she’s even more beautiful because, now, I view her as, also, human.

Do you find "life" particularly or even excruciatingly hard to come to terms with like I do?

Probably not. I learned long ago that life is what we make of it, hard or easy. I also learned to accept that it is what it is until it isn’t, and what we perceive life as is usually up to us, a choice or decision we make or have made. What life is, depends on what we want life to be. If life is hard, maybe you should consider making better choices and decisions.

Start by owning your life, since that’s what it is - your life. Everything you do, you choose to do. If you let someone ruin your life, you chose to allow it. Our freedom of choice is a precious thing. It determines, not only our destiny but, who we are to those around us. Do not ever surrender your freedom of choice, and strive to be happy always.

“Struggle to achieve your dreams! Live a hard and an honest Life. Never give up the struggle.”

-- Avijeet Das

Is our success in life completely based on our own biological luck?

No, it is based on your own "biological" desire to reach goals. It is based on your ability to learn, work hard, and persevere in the face of adversity. There is no such thing as “biological” luck. It’s just luck. Luck is one hell of a gamble to base even thinking of reaching a goal on.

I've wasted all my life until age 24. I've achieved literally nothing. No education, no job skills, and no job experience. Am I doomed to be miserable for the rest of my life?

Life is what you make of it. If your desire is to be miserable for the rest of it, you’re already there. If your desire is to change your circumstances, now is a perfect time to begin. You can achieve starting your new journey by taking the first step - desire to be more. Now, take the second step, and become more than you are. Life isn’t as difficult as we choose to make it.

Should I do what I know how to do or I should be doing what I don't know?

You should be doing what makes you happy. Strive to be happy at all times!

“If we think about it... There is no reason for hate in this World if everyone had the most selfish attitude of doing what they love.”

-- Rodolfo Peon

What are you willing to sacrifice in exchange for your future?

Nothing. My future is not written, so, exactly what am I exchanging for?

How best can one fulfill their potential?

As best as they can. 

Your potential is what you define it as, and reaching that potential is dependent on how hard you are willing to work in order to achieve that goal. Start by learning to be happy always, and then learn that failure is simply another opportunity to learn and move forward. 

When, no matter what you do, or how hard you try, you simply cannot move any farther. You have reached your current potential… for the moment. The future might bring more knowledge your way and, with it, another chance to redefine your potential. Change is, after all, the only true constant in the universe. Be patient. 

Is there a formula for success and fulfillment?

Discover how to be happy at all times. You will be successful and fulfilled!

“The formula for success is 2% talent, 8% luck, and 90% of showing up every day.”

-- Jeffrey Fry

What would you do if you knew you couldn't go wrong?

Relax on my yacht, invest heavily in the stock market, and continue to be truly happy always.

I would be the leader of the Free World, but just because I “couldn’t go wrong” doesn’t mean some radical revolutionary wouldn’t assassinate me. Kinda put a damper on true happiness.

What is your perception of legitimate success?

Legitimate happiness. If you’re truly happy, you are successful. But, in order for happiness to be true, it must also be legitimate. Anything else leaves happiness wanting.

If you know that you're living a bad life and you don't change it, is it because you don't know it's a bad life, or you're fine with it? Is it because you think it's out of your control or you can't do anything about it? Is it resignation?

If I’m living a bad life and I don’t change it, it’s because I don’t care. If I cared, I would do all I could to change my life. Life is all about choices and decisions. When someone says they have no choice, they are already resigning themselves to being what they are, which is also their choice.

"The only thing permanent in life is that everything is temporary."

-- Unknown

Editor's Note

(Re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card)

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so. This is also why, occasionally, I will present an "opinion" just to stir an emotional pot. Where it may sound like I agree with the statements made, I'm more interested in getting others to consider an alternate viewpoint. 

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and while engaging in peaceful and constructive discussion, in an arena of mutual respect, concerning those opinions put forth. After over twenty years with military intelligence, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we learn from the experience, and what we do afterward.

Pastor Tony spent 22 years with the United States Air Force Intelligence as a planner, analyst, briefer, instructor, and senior manager. He spent 17 years, following his service career, working with the premier, world-renowned, Institutional Review Board helping to protect the rights of human subjects involved in pharmaceutical research. Ordained 1n 2013 as an "interfaith" minister, he founded the Congregation for Religious Tolerance in response to intolerance shown by Christians toward peaceful Islam. As the weapon for his war on intolerance he chose the pen, and wages his "battle" in the guise of the Congregation's official online blog, The Path, of which he is both author and editor. "The Path" offers a vehicle for commentary and guidance concerning one's own personal, spiritual, path toward peace and the final destination for us all. He currently resides in Pass Christian, Mississippi, where he volunteered as a chaplain at the regional medical center.

Feel free to contact Pastor Tony:  tolerantpastor@gmail.com