Tough week ...

Pain is relative. There must be a contrasting hope based on thoughts and/or past experience for one to coherently gauge pain. There must be a cognizant understanding of experience with less pain. If one is paying attention, there is always some pain.

I have previously stated that with pain comes the potential for growth. Solitude exacerbates pain and (I believe) expands the potential for growth. In solitude one has no benchmark for contrast and comparison. Solitude... There are times when one has no choice; there are other times when one may 'feel' they have no choice; and there are times when one may feel they have made the wrong choice.

No regrets. Learn from the past and act now with an eye to the future. 'Easier said than done'.

Other Relevant Thoughts from this Week:

• Don't confuse solitude with ostracism; (in most cases it is self-imposed solitude).
• Lead by example; not by force.
• I should periodically re-evaluate my perception of what I think I should be.
• Scale back the intensity ... (maybe).
• When ego destruction occurs it is best to rebuild from scratch as opposed to putting the fallen pieces back together. It was reduced to rubble once ... Move on.
• I should re-evaluate what I think I need in terms of earthly resources; I might be surprised at what I can live without.
• Do not over-feed the monster within; (especially as payback or retribution).
• Use reason and logic to dismantle or reduce the power that is held over me by things of, from, or for this world. I should begin by dismantling the need for other's approval and learn to be satisfied with (or okay with) myself, for myself.
• Correlate belief with feeling; then correlate belief and feeling with action.
• Act with compassion
• Continue to search, study, and learn; don't neglect experience / history in this process - be my own teacher, with high standards intact.
• Put emphasis on intuitive action; don't wallow and don't be discouraged by (what I perceive as) other's lack of confidence/trust in me.
• Project positive, constructive confidence; (even when it is not felt?); maybe not as that would work against uninhibited truthfulness.
• Share thoughts and feelings, but don't whine or make excuses.
• Listen to music.