The Problem with Perfection

It's been just under a year since my last post. This is for no apparent good reason. Essentially it has been quite a year. Frankly, there's no more time for perfection so this post is being written as I think. Kinda like in Finding Forrester (for those of you who appreciate or know that movie)

In our hunt for the perfect state of something, we frequently end up not only falling short, but not doing anything at all. This is what leads me to believe that it's a natural part of the human experience not only to choose our dreams, but more appropriately, to simultaneously be constantly choosing all the things we are willing to sacrifice. It's the one thing in our lives to which we remain true and on which we don't compromise while all else is traded in for it.

This is where my struggle continues to lie. It has been suggested to me by one of my most trusted advisors that this calls for commitment. The act of consolidating a variety of possibilities into ONE probable state of action. This is also known as sacrificing all the perfection that is to be had from doing everything in exchange for one solid outcome.

This is where my struggle must continue

Fooling One's Self

It's interesting to note how we fool ourselves. This is particularly true when faced with temptation. It's amazing how easy it is for us to convince ourselves we are capable of handling the responsibility of a big job when faced with the temptation of the power, money and status that comes with the position.

Others have the opposite problem, when faced with temptation, they find the reasons why they are not equipped to handle the responsibility.

One is not preferred over the other... I guess that it depends on the nature of the temptation and the price tag for indulging.

What distinguishes people that we respect from people that we don't is that one of them stands for what they believe in and lets the world respond however it will to this. The other redefines what they believe in each moment to suit their situation. Most people live between these two extremes.

I almost forgot a key ingredient for fooling people... fooling others. One of the best ways to delude yourself is to start by trying to get others to believe what you want about you. This could be that you're a good son/daughter, loyal & dedicated husband/wife, trustworthy business partner, a chaste/virgin woman.... the list goes on. This is what many of us spend most of efforts on.

The bottom line is that the more we fool others, the more we start believing the BS that we spread. Over time we start losing touch with reality and all we have left is a feeling of fear and insecurity.

A Reflection on Muddy Waters

If humanity was a pool of water, it seems to get muggier and muddier as time goes on:

• People are less transparent (and take active measures to conceal more)
• Ethically, our race seems to create more 'gray' areas than ever before
• Each generation loses some of the key principles that their parents have tried to impart on them

Today was particularly interesting to this regard, multiple independent mood swings took place over the most insignificant of business matters.  People should be ashamed when they look back at their day.

What's depressing is not the fact that they get uptight (though I have yet to hear a very good reason FOR it), but it's the reason that they get uptight.  People are losing it over not getting invited to everyone's party (even though they'd never go), jumping to shouting matches over being asked to add in minute details to their documentation, and worried about how they will report on small fragments of overtime (ie.a few minutes).  I MEAN REALLY PEOPLE! If this is worth getting upset about, wait until you find out that your son died in a car accident, or wait until you realize that you have a few months to live, or wait until you lose your job, credibility and all your wealth.

Wait until all the things that you take for granted are taken from you, then see how you feel.  It is in these moments that we define the ceiling of our value as human beings.

The hardest thing to do is stop and clean the water.  The challenge is that it requires us to get new water and get rid of the old water.

Good luck and best wishes to all those of you who maintain peace in their heart in the face of adversity.

Oblivion...a description of people who never grow

What is it with obliviousness?  Why are the people who are the most paranoid, also the most insensitive and oblivious yet the most demanding and require others to handle them with the greatest care?  Those with the capacity the care for such individuals have very little incentive save one saving grace that makes it all worth while.  This situation, however, I believe to be rare.

There is a quality that almost makes any person no matter how paranoid bearable and worth while to deal with… and that’s an ability to listen.  Those who can listen absorb what’s going on around them and react accordingly.  This enables the most insensitive human being to become a warm hearted individual with strong faith and inner peace.

Alienation

The ironic thing about alienation is how you’ll always be a subject to it and you’ll always subject others to it. But rarely, will we see it for what it is. We only speak of alienation when we’re not happy about it. We will speak of it less frequently when we are the object of alienation.
Times when we alienate others are the same times that we typically or not concerned with alienation or when we don’t feel alienated by others. And vice versa.
It really starts to get interesting when we are alienated and we alienate others. Why would we do this? What is it that we believe in so strongly to ostracize ourselves from the people around us?
In my case, it is my future. I believe that by sacrificing more of myself ahead of time to learn more, to achieve more, that I can accomplish much more sooner and grow wiser and closer to God because of it. I didn’t expect to have to struggle against those closest to me to achieve it. Why do I perceive those that are closest to me to be the biggest threat to my accomplishments.
Sometimes it feels like I could’ve been slacking off for the last number of months, years, etc. and I would’ve received the same treatment. It frequently comes back to that… you’re still a punk kid who thinks he knows everything. This goes against so much for which I’ve struggled for so long to achieve. Now the people in my way are the same people who have taught me and instilled these values in me. Why would they do that?
Do they intend to get in my way? Are they just too preoccupied with their own problems now to remember what they’ve taught me? Do they believe they’re helping me by doing this?
        

A World of Opportunity but None for You

Have you felt as though you’ve been surrounded by opportunity but you feel powerless to take advantage of them? If so, you’re not alone. Millions of young Canadians are full of potential, see many opportunities but feel incapable of doing what is necessary to do any of them.
This is due to a number of reasons: don’t know how, don’t know if you have the energy or the will to do it, can’t decide on what to pursue, don’t have the money.
Why is it that we stick to those things that don’t bring us any closer to our dreams or what we think are our dreams.
Here’s the thing…
WE FEEL SAFE WHEN THINGS STAY THE SAME. We probably hate the fact that we’re too afraid to sacrifice our comfort for what we proclaim to care about. This just means that we care for the status quo more than whatever dream we may have conjured up.
So what’s the solution? Is it a blind move after what we think we want? Is it giving up what we have in some attempt to let go of our comforts?
I say we team up to help each other out. It’s easier for us to do something if we feel accountable to someone else to make it happen.
IF THIS RINGS TRUE FOR YOU, THEN PLEASE EMAIL AND SHARE YOUR STORY.
Mustapha
    

Relaxed and ready to compete

Relaxed and ready to compete
Originally uploaded by Stapha.

This is a picture taken in February 2005 at Simon Fraser University right before I represented the University of Calgary at the CaseIT competition 2005. We got THIRD!

Mediocrity Runs Rampant

Ever wonder why mediocrity runs rampant? I believe it has something to do with the laziness, hedonism, and the lack of accountability of people.

By default, people will unconsciously screw you at every opportunity to make their lives easier. This occurs in many different ways, many of which are welcomed: they're seen to be polite.

Try this situation...

"Smith, you're doing such a great job for the company! You're results speak for themselves. You're the best guy I have for the job. That's why I'm putting you in charge of the most difficult project faced yet. It will be much harder than typical projects of this nature but we'll pay you the same... bacause you're THAT good! Keep up the good work!"

After a few moments of feeling very good about being the best in the company, Smith will soon realize that his job will get tougher. Acheiving the same success will become harder and therefore, it's more like receiving a pay cut.

There are many Smiths out there who never realize what's hapening to them.

Be careful out there. Don't be a Smith!