Why I Decided to Go Find Myself
Now I haven't even been through two semesters of college yet. But I can tell you why this one has been the worst out of the two.
It started with winter break. Two days in, I started hanging out with a girl who until then I only knew as an acquaintance, basically. I liked her, we became close, it made my month off of school a good one. I got back to school and that relationship just kinda stayed in the background, but we talked a few times a week at least. I started talking a philosophy class on wisdom, reality, and the human condition (I believe that's what the class is called). Then I started thinking about who I was. And both the lady friend and external stimulus from that class factored into my going down this path.
For one thing, I wanted it to work with this girl. But I had noticed near the end that it wasn't really going where I wanted it to go because of how I was acting. I started playing it safe near the end and that made it boring for the both of us--something I know shouldn't have happened. So I grew the desire to know not only the reason I acted that way, but also how I could make the things I wanted happen. Then during my class (the only I've yet to miss once) I saw that other people had been working on these sort of things. They opened me up to some new ideas different from my own.
But then I started obsessing over this whole idea--not because I needed it so bad, but because new questions were coming in faster than I was receiving answers. I simply ran out of solutions to the problems I was having. I knew what I wanted; I knew a lot of the things that I wanted to improve with myself. But I couldn't find the cause to all of them so easily anymore (this was after about a week of finding answers). After resetting myself by taking a deep breath and basically forgetting my problems multiple times (after the surplus of problems had overcome me), I decided to not worry so much. I wrote about this before. But I've realized that this is the way I should be living. I only have so much that I can do by myself.
It's been working. Even though it might be coincidental that just last Friday I met and talked with someone about all these things (which helped) and many more good things have started to happen for me, I think that it's been easier for me to acknowledge and take advantage of those situations when I come across them, now that I'm "taking it easy." For one thing, I've been in a better mood and that's made me much more sociable so that I'm more encouraged to open up earlier when I meet someone new (like I've been aiming to do).
So right now, hell, things are working out. And even though I would like to know now, I have my whole life to figure myself out. And, ironically, it seems much easier to do that when I'm not looking so hard.
Just a Thought: Happiness
Ever have those times you're sitting outside, maybe having a cigarette or just taking a minute to yourself? I did this a lot when I smoked, but now I only do when I go for a drive and park somewhere for a bit. It's usually during these times that I think about what's going on in my life or what I have to be happy about.
But today I was outside, and had nothing in particular to think about and make me happy. However, if you put me around some friends or people in general or even by myself, I'm happy right now. I'm just happy in general at the moment.
So I thought: what's the difference between those things that I can think about in my alone time to put a smile on my face and those that are making me happy regularly? It could be a difference in the solidity of each of the different "happiness causers." When I'm thinking about something that makes me happy, it's generally the fact that I'm making money doing something I love to do or a lady friend that I like and the feeling is mutual. But when I'm happy in general, it's because I feel good about myself or I have control over everything I need in my life.
Now the latter reasons are internal, they're the feelings I have which are more consistent for one thing because they're in my head and I know (in this case) everything there is to know about those thoughts. However, the former reasons that I can be happy are ones out of my control and I don't know everything there is to know about my lady friend's thoughts, for example, and therefore can only be happy about her when she's part of my life. You could look it as: thoughts like these are more on the surface. But your "true" happiness we'll call it is much more at the base of you, and can not only hold up better when tested, but also exists even during those times when you aren't outside having some reflection time to yourself. There's a lot to be said about that kind of happiness.
Modesty
There's something to be said about being modest. With my latest internal struggles, it's been about becoming a better "me." One of the things I've been trying to improve is my confidence because I know how much I like confident people, and would like to be one all-around.
So I'm playing pool tonight against a friend. I won against another friend two games in a row, but congratulating him on nice shots he made and the like (but not in an asshole-way). I like to joke around by being cocky because it's really just my way of poking fun at those who truly find a need to be cocky all the time. So I do this against my second friend who now wants to play, and as soon as he breaks and gets a ball in, he makes a smart-ass remark. I don't mind, and brush off the statement for this reason and to make a point about his obvious need-to-be-macho attitude and it's futility when it comes to me.
The point here is that it's good to be modest. I see so many people (this one friend in particular) who find it so necessary to make sure that they feel validated. And that's why I hate truly cocky people-- especially in girls. It just screams insecurity. And it's okay for guys (we have to constantly worry about our dick size or whatever anyways) but in the long run, it still doesn't make the person an enjoyable one to be around.
And unfortunately, their issues go much deeper than a simple sit-down heart-to-heart, so I won't be concerning myself with that. Besides, without people like them, well life just wouldn't be as interesting.
Dilemma
I don't want to do a serious blog here. I've divvied up all my stuff so that I could specialize but I really don't know what to use this site for. I like writing a bit of my philosophy and other writings. But I also like providing a little bit more on me and what I'm doing.
I was thinking I should put what is at http://matt.flashstuf.com/ on this domain name, and create a subdirectory for this blog. Branch out a bit. But even that site has a tiny blog on it-- it would just be confusing.
And then I have a blog for my professional stuff and internet business. I have a few subscribers there, too, which is pretty nifty. Ah, what to do. I'll figure it out. And I'll live with whatever I decide to post here. Screw it, just don't sweat it! Duh, what am I thinking.
Smoking and Its Effect On Me
I've smoked for a year and a half. A month ago I decided to fully quit, did for a day, and now I'm trying again. My reason for quitting wasn't the normal "health" or "money" issues. It was because it was controlling my life. It controlled my thoughts and motivations, my actions and behaviors.
A month ago, I simply snapped. Everything came together in one second when everything had built up too much for me to handle anymore and I took a deep breath and cleared my mind for one second--long enough for me to have this epiphany, along with others. In those following seconds I decided to quit smoking. Done. I decided how to go about finishing work that needed to be done. I did some push-ups that I was previously unmotivated to do. Done.
Then today, I realized that on that day, I had discovered part of what was controlling not only my habits (like going out for a smoke every half hour), but my entire life. I was in my philosophy class, talking about how we really don't have free-will because our actions are actually controlled by subconscious motivations (which were created by, basically, the shitty things that have happened to us in the past)--according to Freud. And then I saw that I had realized one of my "subconscious motivations" a month ago. I realized that they, more obvious to me than anything else in my life, controlled me--I was a slave to myself. I saw it, I just didn't have the words for it. And it's interesting how simply hearing the idea in words makes it click much more.
So I've decided. I'm going to go to therapy this summer. I've seen that my own constant self-analysis is the wrong way to go about finding out who I am. And for the rest of the semester, I just won't sweat it. I'm gonna do what I need to do for the next six weeks and then, once again, I can continue my search. But until then, it's just easy-going.
“Jesus Take the Wheel”
Lady, this isn't going to happen. The only way "Jesus" works is if you take the initiative with your life. Deal with it, and if you believe in Jesus, cool; we all need something to motivate us and he is a good way to do that. But don't expect him to simply grab ahold of your life and put you where you want to be. You should be a big girl. And I'm sorry, but this is why people like you need religion. It's not your fault; you just don't know your options. And there's nothing wrong with that-- I'm not criticizing.
I just heard the song on the radio. It kinda threw me on this tangent.
Updated
I've decided to write more about my experiences and journeys that I go through. I have a seemingly endless list of things to talk about because of the amount of emotions, thoughts, and contradictions that I encounter in my daily life and I like to share. Check the About page, I go a little more in-depth there.
