00:00:00.000Greetings, my esteemed audience. I am checking in from the Forest of Enlightenment with my yearly birthday video.
00:00:17.000Nine years in a row now. Good stuff, good stuff indeed.
00:00:22.000Now, I thought to share some insights from my past year. This is actually the first time in many years that I actually am somewhat excited to turn a year older.
00:00:35.000And that is because I haven't had the best of years. But it's actually a good year, a good productive year either way.
00:02:28.000That you have to put your wins and losses against each other and make sure that your wins, that they weigh heavier than your losses.
00:02:38.000Now, there is a popular inspirational quote, which I sort of like myself, but I would like to caution against it as well.
00:02:45.000So, it's from one of the Rocky films, and I do like the Rocky films.
00:02:50.000I found them very inspirational in my youth when I watched them.
00:02:55.000So basically, Rocky says something along the lines of, it is not how hard you can hit, it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.
00:03:05.000And, of course, this, it's a boxing film, so he's talking also about boxing, the sport of boxing, but it's a metaphor for life, how many hardships you can just push through.
00:03:18.000So it's a good attitude to have, but it's not enough, because you also need to punch out, you also need to be able to dish out some damage in a fight.
00:03:28.000If we are talking about actual martial arts, of course, you have to be able to deal some damage as well.
00:03:34.000You can't only focus on your defense, and when it comes to life, you can't only weather the storm.
00:03:41.000You also have to make things happen, even though you are getting hammered with bad news.
00:03:46.000And if you can withstand the storm, so to speak, or is the drizzle of rain pouring down upon you, and you can be productive at the same time, it will yield a win.
00:03:57.000So what you don't want to do is, you don't want to put yourself in a state where you are constantly on the defensive.
00:04:05.000You also have to go on the offensive, and the metaphor. We are talking about life here, we are not talking about martial arts.
00:04:13.000But the two are often quite similar, life and martial arts. So you can view yourself as fighting against life itself.
00:04:20.000And, of course, you love life. It's a complicated relationship to have with life.
00:04:26.000Either way, you have to go on the offensive as well. Otherwise, yeah, you won't...
00:04:34.000When you balance the losses and wins, if you don't stack up some great Ws in the win column, then yeah, then things will not be good.
00:04:45.000So you have to work continuously. And if you do feel demoralized when bad things are happening, you can at least think to yourself that if I keep working towards my goals,
00:04:58.000because the achievement of those goals, those wins, will far outweigh the bad stuff.
00:05:05.000So that's a good way for you to cope, actually. It's a coping mechanism, in a way, to work hard. It's a coping mechanism.
00:05:15.000So a good way for you to cope with hardships and problems and setbacks is to work towards your goals,
00:05:21.000because then you know that at least if I continue along this course of action, even though it might not be a pleasant time,
00:05:28.000but if I do continue to push forward to my goals, then when I reach those goals, the bad energies of the problems,
00:05:37.000they will be mugged, so to speak, by the positive energies of the wins.
00:05:43.000So those were my thoughts for this yearly birthday video. I hope it makes sense.
00:05:49.000At least I am happy, and I'm happy for many things, so these other problems, they get mugged by the good stuff.
00:05:57.000So I work hard to achieve my goals, and my goals, they mug the problems that are constantly being thrown my way.
00:06:06.000So I am happy and optimistic, regardless. So yeah, to conclude, do work towards your goals, and if you feel a bit demotivated from time to time,
00:06:14.000just keep that in mind, that once you reach your goals, that will heal your tormented spirit if you have been under stress and stuff like that.
00:06:24.000So yeah, something to keep in mind. Now I will eat some cake. I believe this is the only reasonable course of action.
00:06:32.000Do check out all the links in the description box below. Do read Dauntless if you haven't already.
00:06:40.000You can read it before you read Demigod Mentality, which will be out in, yeah, as I said, in a few weeks.
00:06:46.000I will make a video on it when it's out. And make sure to subscribe to The Greatest Podcast.
00:06:52.000I release two episodes a month now. I have some more time since I'm done with the book.
00:06:57.000Good stuff. Good stuff indeed. Now, thank you for watching and thank you for your continued support.