​To be inspiring, you must first be inspired...

Life makes a full circle...

​I've always liked puzzles, and board games whether it was Sudoku, a crossword puzzle, or chess. But I was never able to figure out the Rubik’s cube. In fact, when I was younger, I broke mine out of frustration. Not just taking the stickers off, I literally tore out each block so that I could see the inside. Now that I'm older, I know there's an algorithm to figure it out, but where's the fun in that? You know what's always peaked my interest? Jigsaw puzzles. Not the little ones either, I'm talking about the ones with 5000+ pieces. The ones that after you complete, you frame and put on display for everyone to see. No tricks, no gimmicks, no life lines, just you and the pieces. And that's when I realized life is like that. I ask myself "where would I begin?" Finding the correct 2 pieces to put together is like finding a needle in a haystack. So instead, I ask myself, "well, what is the bigger picture supposed to look like?" And then I look at the box as a point of reference, for guidance, just like I visualize the direction I want my life to take. And then I group the pieces together according to the image on the box, probably starting at the corners or the edges, which are more defined, and work my way in continuously until I reach the center, and before you know it, you have a complete, fully realized work of art. Although it technically never gets easier, it does become less difficult as you progress, not only because you have less pieces to place, but also because your vision becomes more refined in time.

I think about the style I've developed, my brand as a whole. When I first started writing at 14, I wasn't concerned with my style or becoming the best at what I do, and I didn't even know what a brand was. I just knew what I wanted to do, and my love and passion for what I do guided me to the point of my career in which I'm in today. But it all started with that first piece.

Sometimes we either get so caught up in what the final product is supposed to look like, that in our frustration we never start, or conversely, we get so caught up in the moment whether because of complacency, by putting things together piece by piece, focusing on one section longer than necessary, or making sure things are perfect before we move on, that we lose sight of the bigger picture, thus leading to complacency. There's no such thing as the perfect picture, but there is a such thing as excellence, and if you are to paint an excellent picture of your future, you must realize that there's a balance between the two extremes that must be maintained. It's also helpful to have a vision, or a mission statement. A little persistence and patience go a long way. Because how do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.

How is value established?

Currency, money, music, people, etc.

Is it based on human standards?
Is validation done on the individual basis, or by mass appeal/approval?

Sales =/= quality

If one invention/idea/piece of art effects someone so profoundly that it changes their life forever, but another invention/idea/piece of art changes millions of lives but in a small way, nowhere near the same scale as the other invention/idea/piece of art, which has the greater value?

I don't have the answer to any of these questions, but I like to think I know how to add value to your own life.

It's all about how you perceive yourself. Are you a person of importance, and unique, or are you just like everybody else? Originals are always more valuable than copies, everyone knows that. That's standard across the board.

Many of you know by now that I'm a fan of the Matrix. There's a theory that Agent Smith is "The One", and not Neo, but in either case, the indisputable truth is that "The One" is more valuable than any other character depicted in the movie. But what makes Neo or Agent Smith "The One"? Neither of them explicitly say. They only accepted their roles because they were convinced that had to be that way. If Neo died in the alley, someone would have had to assume his position, or their destruction would be inevitable. He didn't start off flying and dodging bullets, it was learned because he believed he could. And the same thing is true with us. The expert at anything was once a beginner at something. You decide your level of involvement, and how deep the rabbit hole goes...

Lately I've been thinking a lot about spirit animals...

After much thought and careful consideration, I have come to the conclusion that my spirit animal is the elephant; 

Generally, elephants are kind, playful, empathetic creatures, but can also have a wild side. In many cultures, elephants are often portrayed as wise, majestic, mystical beings, as there is still much to be discovered of them, among these discoveries, their ability to communicate effectively with other elephants. Elephant's big ears, eyes, and prehensile trunk grant them ease of access to their various senses (i.e. hearing, listening, and seeing) indicative of their self awareness in comprehending the unseen.

The physical appearance of the elephant is unlike any other animal  on the face of the earth, and because of this, it finds itself an outcast among the rest of the animal kingdom, and often the victim of poaching due to its coveted ivory tusks.

Despite these hardships, the stature of the elephant enables it to stand relentlessly, firm in its convictions, and determined towards its goals. Once an elephant is in motion, there is little that can obstruct its path, as they are able to withstand criticism, insults, and compliments without letting any of the above go to its head as a pachyderm.

The negative side to this however, is that the stubbornness and big-headed nature of the elephant can potentially lead to its downfall. In overestimating its power, the omnipotence of the elephant renders itself virtually useless in its misconceived, far fetched notions of itself. The key to the elephant's survival is humility.

When a dying elephant is no longer of any value to the herd, it wanders the jungle in search of its burial ground...like a Ronin Samurai...

In addition to these parallels I share with the elephant, I also like snacks (candy, peanuts, etc.), and the summer heat, being a June baby :P

What's your spirit animal?

As Elevated Mindz, our very aura says something about who we are as individuals – whether you are introspective, kind-natured, fun to be around, wealthy, ambitious, high-spirited etc.

What does yours say about you?

This doesn’t have to be a serious exercise, feel free to answer with jokes, or quirky responses, as long as they’re truthful! I’m just curious to know what people say about you!