Take a look around you.
What do you see?
What do you hear?
What do you feel?
This might not be easy to understand, but your surroundings are being created by the thoughts you are having on a regular basis.
You might find that upsetting.
It could be inspiring.
Or, you might even not really know what I mean as I am saying this.
Most likely, you are wondering how you ended up here, and yet you are intrigued and curious about the potential for finding...
Something new…
Something unknown…
Something wonderful.
As new things are presented to us every day, we often lose track of our ability to effectively take care of ourselves.
This usually starts from within.
It might be a simple idea.
Or, it could just as easily be a complex one...
As conscious beings, ideas are the most powerful thing we will ever interact with, but it is also not easy to maintain which ideas are actually hurting us, or helping.
More often than not, simply being exposed to the “wrong” ideas at the “wrong” times can lead us to hellish new worlds, that do not obey our consciousness, sometimes even despite our best efforts...
...Don’t let these kinds of thought patterns take over.
It’s up to you to maintain order in your life…
It’s up to you to find meaning and purpose…
It’s up to you to create love in this world.
Hello, my name is Aaron, and it’s great to be with you today. I am an artist, voice actor, musician, coffee lover, vision coach, and creative caster.
I have a message for you, that you might not be ready for... Or maybe you are prepared, but you have just been searching for so long, and are so tired...
...Maybe it is time to re-evaluate the things that you have found.
The bottom line is that there is not any time to waste, and the quicker we can get down to making this happen, the better it will be for you, and everyone else as well.
We will do this in four main stages:
First, by examining what our core beliefs are.
Then, by evaluating our perception about what those beliefs actually mean.
Next, we will clarify the granular implications of these first two discoveries and their effects.
Finally, the concluding thoughts of the exercise will also indicate any possible solutions to help take us through the doorway of opportunity and into a better and brighter world.
Furthermore, we will then be able to take this into every aspect of our lives, and build better and better outcomes every day, leading to every day being better than the one before.
And, even in the face of great adversity, we can make a difference somehow and always find our contribution that will truly help one another.
This is how your vision can be unlocked, and the thoughts and dreams that you have can become a reality.
We have a long journey ahead of us, but we have to start somewhere, so let’s get started... Here we go!
Our first part begins within our foundation.
What is it made out of?
What does it look like?
What does it benefit?
You may be wondering why all of these quotations are focused on “what” is helping to form these foundations.
For now, though, let’s build on our knowledge of “what” is, and we will get to “why” soon enough.
We can practice identifying the “what” clearly.
In my experience, there are many ways to do this, but we will try using a series of statements.
These statements are going to be repeated several times so you can hear them more than once, which will increase your ability to recognize your responses to them.
Your inner responses…
Your foundational responses, and thoughts...
Your core beliefs.
During this type of exercise, I find that I got the most benefit when I was first going through this was by really trying to see things from another vantage point.
Perhaps seeing things from a friend or family member’s perspective.
Even trying to imagine what a total stranger to you might think from their perspective.
Most intriguing though, is what would a different version of you think from their perspective?
These questions will stir up some sort of emotions for you, and it is your task to notice what those emotions are, without engaging in them.
Let’s begin by finding a quiet place… closing our eyes... taking 3 deep breaths in rhythm…
Now, ask yourself…
What you do that makes you feel good, can also make others feel good as well.
What you learn from doing what makes you feel good can also be learned by others.
What you benefit from doing what makes you feel good can also benefit others.
What you do that makes you feel bad, can also make others feel bad as well.
What you learn from doing what makes you feel bad can also be learned by others.
What you lose from doing what makes you feel bad can also be lost by others.
Take a look around you.
What do you see?
What do you hear?
What do you feel?
This might not be easy to understand, but your surroundings are being created by the thoughts you are having on a regular basis.
As we explore this, and other concepts related to self-empowerment, let’s all take time to remember how amazing, and powerful each of us truly are.
And...
...Remember to be kind to one another, and take care.
About the Creator
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The Hustle Trap: How Chasing Success Is Quietly Stealing Your Happiness
For an entire generation, success has been rebranded as a lifestyle. Social media feeds are filled with early mornings, late nights, motivational quotes, and captions that glorify exhaustion as a badge of honor. The message is clear and constant: if you are not grinding, you are falling behind. This idea, often called “hustle culture,” has become one of the most powerful and persuasive narratives of modern life. At first glance, it sounds inspiring. Work hard. Push yourself. Don’t settle for average. These are not harmful ideas on their own. The problem begins when effort becomes an identity and rest becomes something to feel guilty about. Many people now measure their worth by how busy they are. The signs of the hustle trap often appear quietly. Skipped meals become normal. Sleep becomes optional. Weekends turn into “catch-up days.” Time with family and friends starts to feel like a distraction instead of a joy. The line between dedication and self-neglect slowly disappears. Psychologists warn that chronic overwork doesn’t just drain energy — it changes how the brain responds to stress. When the body stays in a constant state of pressure, it begins to treat even small challenges as threats. This can lead to anxiety, irritability, and a feeling of being permanently on edge. Ironically, this state of mind often makes people less productive, not more. Creativity declines. Decision-making becomes rushed. Focus becomes scattered. The very success people are chasing starts to move further away. One of the most dangerous myths of hustle culture is the idea that “you can rest after you make it.” The problem is that “making it” is a moving target. There is always another goal, another level, another comparison. Without realizing it, people can spend their entire lives chasing a future moment of peace that never arrives. But a quiet shift is beginning. More professionals, entrepreneurs, and creators are starting to question the grind. They are redefining success not just by income or status, but by quality of life. They are asking different questions: Do I have time for the people I care about? Do I enjoy my daily routine? Do I feel present in my own life? Some companies are experimenting with four-day workweeks. Others are encouraging employees to fully disconnect after hours. Individuals are setting boundaries around their time and attention, even when it feels uncomfortable at first. This doesn’t mean ambition is disappearing. It means it’s being reshaped. There is a growing understanding that sustainable success is built like a marathon, not a sprint. It requires pacing, recovery, and self-awareness. Just as athletes schedule rest days to avoid injury, high performers are learning to schedule mental and emotional recovery to avoid burnout. Another powerful realization is that identity should not be tied to productivity alone. People are more than what they produce. They are friends, partners, parents, learners, and community members. When work becomes the only source of meaning, everything else can start to feel empty by comparison. Small changes can begin to loosen the grip of the hustle trap. Turning off notifications in the evening. Taking a real lunch break. Saying no to commitments that don’t align with personal values. These acts may seem minor, but they send a powerful message to the mind: my life is not a machine. In a world that constantly pushes for more, choosing “enough” can feel like an act of rebellion. But it is often in that space — between ambition and acceptance — that people rediscover something they didn’t even realize they were losing. Joy.
By Hazrat Usman Usman6 days ago in Motivation
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