18 Dec – Shaped By Our Thoughts

Buddha said, “We are shaped by our thoughts; we become what we think. When the mind is pure, joy follows like a shadow that never leaves.” Do you believe this is true?

I’ve always been surrounded by people who share this concept, and for some people it rings true, however, for others, like myself, I’m not entirely certain…

Mar 14: Together or Alone?

Is it easier for you to work together with other people or to work alone?

 
I have no problem working with other people, providing those other people aren’t completely fucking stupid.

There’s nothing worse than being partnered up with other people who are just so mind-blowingly dumb. OR, have the complete opposite views / suggestions / opinions to mine and refuse to budge from it.

I’ve been in group situations where you need to work as a team, and I’ve encountered the rest of the group all having their own strong personalities and strong opinions – resulting in nothing being achieved.

I’ve encountered group situations where you need to work as team and everybody else in the group doesn’t want to take ownership of the situation, or be in charge – again, resulting in nothing being achieved.

But at the same time I’ve also worked in groups where everybody is on the same page of what needs to happen, everybody has been able to contribute ideas, and everybody has been able to discuss suggestions with each other, and take out all the best bits, in order to create a great result.

The latter, however, is something I’ve found to be quite rare. And I think that because it’s been such a rare occurrence in my life, when it actually does happen, I really thrive because it’s such an encouraging environment.

As a result, I actually really loathe group work, and avoid it as much as I possibly can, instead, I’d rather work on my own – at least then I’m the only person responsible for either getting something right, or completely fucking it up, and I’m much more okay with that. Groups can just be complete torture, and I’ve found that most groups waste far too much time discussing who’s going to be responsible for doing what, and discussing the process they’ll use, instead of JUST GETTING ON WITH IT!!

Even as much as I like to work on my own, I find that I’m always seeing group / team work around me. Scavenger hunts in the city, team challenges on my favourite cooking shows… there’s team challenges everywhere. There’s even shows dedicated to them – The Amazing Race, The Apprentice etc… all they are is team challenges. And of course, there’s inevitably one person, or one couple that completely fucks it up for the rest of the group. And why do they fuck it up, because they make poor decisions, and they make poor decisions because they don’t think things through properly.

If you can’t think things through properly, I don’t want you on my team!

Daily Prompt: Never Surrender

Are you stubborn as a grass stain or as easy going as a light breeze on a warm day? Tell us about the ways in which you’re stubborn — which issues make you dig your heels in and refuse to budge?

I’m a Scorpio… being stubborn is just part of who I am.

Ironically, it’s a trait that I really cannot stand in other people.

When I find myself in that kind of head-space where I’m being stubborn, it’s usually for a reason. Unfortunately, however, there are also moments when I’m being stubborn because I’m behaving like a child, and refuse to budge on whatever the situation is.

Somehow I have a tendency to find things that make me draw a line in the sand, and refuse to budge from my side, regardless of whether the person on the other side is making a convincing and compelling case otherwise.

As I’ve become a bit older, my stubbornness and refusal to budge is becoming more social / political.

For example, take our current government in Australia. It’s being run by the Liberal party, and lead by Tony Abbott. Tony has done nothing but completely tear this nation apart piece by piece, and as somebody who voted for The Greens in the last election (I usually vote Labour, but the previous election was just ridiculous, and I didn’t even have a vote of confidence for the Labour Party, hence why I voted Greens), I find that I simply cannot even talk to people who admit that they voted Liberal. I just cannot do it. I don’t understand how these people could WILLINGLY
vote in this government, and somehow be okay with Abbott being hell-bent on total destruction. I would love nothing more than to see him overthrown. But for those out there who actually VOTED him into office. I cannot respect you. It’s because of you that this clown is in power. It’s because of you that he is now ruining this country. It is because of you that I am embarrassed to call myself as Australian.

But it’s not all about politics and social justice issues… it can be ridiculously minor things.

If I decide that I don’t want to do something… I can guarantee you, you won’t be able to change my mind. Alternatively, if there’s something that I want to do, then you can be damn sure that I’m going to go out of my way to make sure that it’ll happen. If it comes at the cost of neglecting other people, then that’s just unfortunate. And if you’re going to try and prevent me from doing something that I want to do, then you can be damn sure that I’m going to make sure that I do everything in my power to ensure that I make it happen. Even if it means upsetting other people around me.

When it comes to Hulk and I… well… it can be tough. Hulk is perhaps the most stubborn person I have ever met. Generally speaking, everything is black and white – shades of grey simply don’t exist. If you’re not Hulk’s friend, then you must be Hulk’s enemy. If you’re not with Hulk, then you’re against Hulk.. etc etc.

However, there have been countless times when Hulk has been wrong, but refuses to accept it or acknowledge it. Hulk’s arrogance can sometimes be astounding, to the point where I simply cannot believe that he reaches some of the conclusions / decisions he does, and I most certainly don’t understand them. I still haven’t quite worked him out yet… and sometimes I wonder if I ever will. He’s a hard nut to crack, that one!

In saying that though, so am I. I can be just as equally stubborn, however, although Hulk may think that in certain situations I’m behaving like him, I don’t see it – regardless of whether I actually am or not. Sometimes I know wholeheartedly that I’m behaving like a dick, and that I’m doing so intentionally… but let’s face it, it’s merely just a new way to describe childish behaviour.

In my life there are certain people, and certain situations that really push. my. buttons. When this happens, I tend to shut down and go into my own different space… whether it’s out of frustration, or anger… a pissed off Scorpio is certainly not somebody you want to be around, let alone on the wrong side of. I have a tendency to completely flip my emotional state 180-degrees in a heartbeat. Most of the time I can be nice, and sweet, and generous and caring… however, if you push my buttons, that part of me flies right out the window.

So if you ever experience me saying “don’t poke the bear”… that’s usually your cue to walk away — coworkers of mine – take note!!

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