MeowRoar!

A cute, widely-known picture shows a kitten who looks at himself in the mirror and sees a lion. A perfect example of a person with self-confidence. The flip side of the coin could be a lion who looks at himself in the mirror and sees a kitten. Here is the perfect example of a person with no self-confidence whatsoever. Are these similitudes too extreme? Certainly. A person-kitten may see themselves as  a larger size cat, and a person-lion may perceive themselves as a smaller lion, but the fact is that they both see something different from what actually "is" in the mirror. Their perception makes them interpret only partially the essence of their true nature. To increase self- confidence and self-esteem it's enough to become more aware of one's own innate abilities and learn to appreciate and value who one really is. It can be done! 

Three Worlds

Picture two different worlds: one is 'full', the other is 'empty'. The first world is full of people, things, thoughts, ideas, stories, words. The second world isn't. If you live in world number 1, everything  is there, available, at your disposal. So there is no need for you to think, to learn, to create, to transform. Now picture yourself living in world number 2, where there is absolutely no-thing. You are by yourself, free to reflect, to use your skills and do things your way. You start using your imagination, create new stories. Original ideas flow into your mind, you become once again curious, willing to explore various possibilities, find brand-new solutions, but there is no-one to share them with. Which world would you choose? Probably neither. And you would be right. Extremes are always dangerous. Wouldn't a world number 3 be more desirable - where learning and inter-communication are possible, but also stimuli to think, to be 'original', are still thriving?  Mankind has the capability to create such a world, and many may believe it has. Has it really?

Express It!

When you don't have something that you really want and you finally get it, you usually feel grateful for having had your ardent desire fulfilled. But...for how long do you feel grateful? Till your next wish is granted? What about the numberless gifts you receive every day, every instant, such as breath, sunlight, water, family, friends ...i.e."life"? The fact is that most of the indispensable things human beings receive are overlooked, even ignored. They are taken for granted because they are always there, at one's disposal, and nobody feels 'lacking'. Only when this 'lack' becomes evident, and you start suffering because of it, do you realize how important-actually vital-it is. Gratitude is a word whose importance will never be stressed enough. Let us all keep it always alive in our awareness, and let us share it with others. There is probably nothing more meaningful! 

Wonder Is Gone!

One aspect of taking everything for granted can be seen in the almost complete disappearance of wonder. Nothing surprises people anymore. Everything is there, all the time, for everybody to experience in many different ways. Things happen and are shared at 'high velocity'. Therefore, it seems that there is nothing else to 'witness' directly. Technology puts you in continuous, instantaneous contact with people, places, happenings, beautiful sights, so it is possible that there is nothing more for you to look forward to. Any specific thing you want to see, hear, know is always there at the click of a button. Such availability is certainly useful, because it helps you to become better acquainted with the world and increase your knowledge in a faster and easier way. Nevertheless, the consequent loss of wonder is sad!

Sloth or Busy Bee?

For many human beings it's much easier to believe what they hear others say, or to accept what others tell them to be the truth. Belief is a very interesting characteristic of our species. Other living creatures only 'know' what they perceive with their senses. They are not bothered about what they don't 'feel', so they instinctively deal with any happening without complications or worries. For people the situation is different because they need a reason to accept as true something that is not self-evident. Therefore they have two possible ways: either use their own minds, or follow someone else's. Which one is easier? Clearly the second option is more enticing, because it does not require any effort on their part. (You affirm that this is the truth? Thanks, I happily buy it!) The first option, on the other hand, compels you to ponder, weigh up, reflect, compare...In one word, you have to put on your thinking cap and work it out for yourself. It's team sloths vs team busy bees!

Wrappings

If someone asks you, Who are you?, you might feel like answering, I am "I", because this is who "you" are. But this answer would not satisfy your interlocutor, who wants specific details. So you may say, I am X.Y., but that would be just your name. So you may say, "I am a government employee-or a farmer", but that would just be your occupation. You may also answer, I am an American, or an Italian-but that would be your nationality. None of these definitions say anything about "who" you actually are. They are the wrapping, not the substance. Is there a precise way to answer that question? Not really. Besides, no-one would in fact want to know the actual 'components' of your inner self. The visible outside world of images is not too interested in the invisible inner world of intrinsic nature. Appearance seems to be more attractive than substance.

The Voice of a Tree

Remember the puzzling question, 'Does a tree falling in a forest make a sound if there is no-one to hear it?'. Although science would say 'yes' because vibrations in the air are produced, yet you feel that this answer is not satisfactory. If a person, standing alone in a room, speaks aloud, their voice would be perceived by no-one (except themselves). Picture now yourself speaking to an interlocutor who is totally distracted and doesn't pay attention to what you are saying. Is your voice heard? Not really. It can't be heard until the person you are talking to actually listens. Such a situation is highly revealing, and two may be its causes. One: your interlocutor is absorbed in watching what is happening all around. Two: they are so absorbed in themselves, or in what they are planning to say next, that they can't pay attention to what "you" are saying. A quite common occurrence. Annoying? Possibly. 

Is There A Reason?

Sometimes things happen in a totally unexpected way, and you can't understand why. Most human beings like to plan, they are proud of being well organized, they believe they have taken all the precautions to avoid problems or accidents. Yet... Is there a hidden wisdom, something to be learned from tragic occurrences taking place? It's very hard to even try to find an answer to such question. Some may believe that there is a reason for anything that manifests in this world, it's just human beings who can't understand it. Others have a different opinion: they see reality as something that just unfolds randomly, with no deeper reason or meaning. Two opposite points of view, both worth pondering upon. If the former is right, reality is worthwhile experiencing. If the latter is right....  

Are You 'Useful'?

"Am I a useful human being?", some may ask. The obvious answer is, "Yes, of course." Everybody is useful, in one way or another. In whatever profession you are in, you carry out your duty as well as you can. Whatever your family and social position, you perform your role in the best possible way. Therefore, you "are" useful. What about your usefulness on a larger scale? You may wonder. What meaningful contribution are you giving the whole world? Individuals who do exceptional things-inventors, artists, scientists, humanitarians etc.- come to your mind. "What about me?", you then ask, and feel that your contribution to the world's welfare is not so great, after all. Well, think again! Every contribution has its weight, its importance. In a large puzzle, if even the smallest piece is missing, the picture is not complete. Everybody has their own personal mission, no matter the 'size'. I have mine, you have yours!

'Manipulation' Is The Word!

One of the words that define today's world is "manipulation". The verb 'manipulate' means to control or influence in a clever, yet unscrupulous way. You can easily see this everywhere. Think of when you greatly appreciated a movie, a really great work, and then you read the devastatingly negative comments by "critics"; or when you were disappointed by a production, totally lacking any artistic value, hailed as a masterpiece. "They" are trying to convince you of what is convenient...to them! Manipulators are on the media and in your life. Any time someone tries to convince you that their "product" is better than any other, they attempt to influence you - always to their benefit. When a friend exalts a philosophical, political, or religious conviction, it can be just a matter of sharing. But when they do that in order to get a personal advantage (typically financial gain, or control)... beware! You are being manipulated!

Dangerous Messages

The "uplifting" message given to girls by a famous fashion brand and its famous testimonial, in a perfume commercial, is: It's good to be bad. And it's not the only one with similar content. How can anybody be shocked by some behaviors of young people, when they are continuously presented with slogans like this (often even worse)? You know that no society is perfect, that dreadful things happen at the hand of both the younger and the older generations. It is a sad reality of this human life. But shouldn't we at least try to encourage our children to aspire to a healthy, principled life? Messages like the above, along with violent games and brutal stories are available everywhere. Not only; they are practically imposed upon everybody's attention (especially teenagers') by the many ways the media use to reach (and lure) huge audiences. The title of the old movie "It's A Mad, Mad...World" could be changed today into "It's A Sad, Sad...World".

Lost Chance

Picture this scenario: you never watched a certain TV program although you knew it was broadcast regularly. One day you decide to watch it, but you discover that it's not available anymore. You think, "What a coincidence, the moment I want to see it, it's gone." Then, another thought materializes in your mind, "Is there a lesson for me to learn?" Yes, there is. Whenever you postpone doing something, you must be aware of possibly losing your chance. Whenever you say, "I'll do it tomorrow, next week, another day...", you can't be sure that you will actually be able to do it. If it's something as trivial as watching a program on TV, no big deal. When the matter is much more serious, it "is" a big deal. Worth reflecting upon, isn't it?

Paper Cuts

German-Swiss author Herman Hesse, in one of his novels presents two ideas worth reflecting upon. The first says that a person cannot really understand an occurrence if they have not experienced it themselves. You might have felt this when you shared something very personal and, although your interlocutor showed empathy, yet you felt that they "hadn't really got it". The fact that no-one can totally "get it" is only natural, because they are not you (as you-for that matter-are not them!). The second idea is that sometimes you have an experience whose actual meaning you, yourself, don't understand right away. At first, in fact, you think that what happened was something totally negligible. Only later do you 'get it'. It's something similar to a paper cut: you don't immediately feel pain or see blood. But, after a little while, you feel the former and see the latter. Again, it's a human thing. So? Well, it may just be interesting to give it a thought. It may help you to better understand yourself.  

It's Over!

Someone said to someone else: "Forget where you've been. Think of where you are now." Forget where you have been: isn't this what many people don't do, when they keep delving in the past, on the 'good old days'? Those 'good old days' have gone forever, so you will never experience them again. Besides, is it true that those days were really that good, compared to the kind of days you are experiencing right now? A common tendency is to make comparisons, and surround memories with a halo of semi-perfection, while choosing to view the present in a less than flattering way. If you, too, have the inclination towards this kind of attitude, you'd better realize that such perception is not correct. Every moment is exactly the way it needs to be. And every moment is "now".