Y.S. Stephen - Reader | Casual Observer: September 2016

Wednesday, 28 September 2016

There Is No Breaking Free From "Fate", Even If You Hate The Word

The word "destiny" or "fate" has become dirty and regressive. you might as well substitute it for "inhibition" or "stagnation". when we don't like the options we are presented with, we often say, "i will chart my own course." or "i will determine my own fate." however, if we agree that we do not know what the future holds, what our fate is, how exactly can we break free from it? what exactly are we breaking free from? in order words, when we say we are breaking free from fate, all we might be doing is just being proactive and determined in the face of adversity. fate or destiny is not too separate from the ingredients that make up who we are. a man or woman with the ingredients that reflects the love of human physical bodies and health would do well to strive after aligning themselves to that destiny. that is what fate is.... cooking with the ingredients you have been given and seeing how sweet a dish you can make for the world to partake of. there is no breaking free from who we are - no breaking free from fate. trying to do that is like working against our own interest while sabotaging our joy and self-fulfilment.

Labels: Idea Mining, Illustration, Webcomics

Monday, 26 September 2016

The Reason Why We Often Get Scammed

Like most adults, I only tend to try something new if the chances of success are over 98%. the urge to mitigate risk is high on my list of priorities. Why? Because the risk of failure is so high - family to feed, bills to pay, etc. And therein lies the problem. It is the reason why we get scammed often, because as long as someone figures out how to convince us that something is DEFINITELY going to work, we get hooked. And when it doesn't work, we become bitter. This experience, when repeated often, is the number one cause of adult scepticism. It is one of the reasons why we get suspicious of everything. It is also why we quit when something seems too much of a hassle.

Labels: Idea Mining, Illustration, Webcomics

Sunday, 25 September 2016

No Manual

Labels: Idea Mining, Illustration, Webcomics

Friday, 23 September 2016

Finding Yourself - The Wonders of the Enneagram

Many thanks to InterVarsity Press for review copy.

Labels: Christian, Illustration, Webcomics

Thursday, 22 September 2016

Appearances can Be Deceiving

A washed-out comedian giving tips on the finer aspects of making people laugh would struggle to find an audience. So would a broke investor teaching fund diversification. This is one of the reasons we lie to get people to listen to us. Some call it "marketing". It is no wonder that this is one of the most prosperous period in history for shape-shifters - if you can convince most people you are some kind of guru, internet life-coach, or yoga master with secrets to living life to the full (whatever that means) you will bathe in great riches.

Labels: Idea Mining, Illustration, Webcomics

Wednesday, 21 September 2016

#BookQuotes - Rebecca Scritchfield On Body Kindness

Body kindness is the means by which we listen to our bodies and take more than weight-loss into account when thinking about our health.

Labels: Illustration, Webcomics

Tuesday, 20 September 2016

The Demonic Bible School For Demons - Lesson XII

The Demonic Bible School For Demons - Slipping Standards

Labels: Christian, Demonic Bible School, God, Illustration, Webcomics

Monday, 19 September 2016

#BookQuotes - Rebecca Scritchfield On The Myth Of Physical Appearance As Evidence Of Good Health

Most people mistakenly focus on their appearance as evidence of good health (or lack thereof), but looks have very little to do with it. You can be healthy and have cellulite, thick thighs, junk-in-the-trunk, or virtually any body shape. health is not measured physically. emotional health is an equal part of the equation. what people mean when they say they wan "health and happiness" is they want to be well. the secret to being well is treating yourself well and establishing healthful habits you can feel good about.

Labels: Illustration, Webcomics

Sunday, 18 September 2016

#BookQuotes - Rebecca Scritchfield On Dieting

a diet is any plan that promises weight loss as an outcome, usually by attempting to exert control over behaviors through cutting calories and restricting foods. would you take medicine that was proven ineffective 95% of the time? that's the failure rate of most traditional diets. diets are like bad boyfriends. they say, 'i love ya, baby!' promising you the world and leaving you broken-hearted.

Labels: Illustration, Webcomics

Friday, 16 September 2016

Powers And Limits

there are times i marvel at what i've done, what i have achieved. and there are times when i get mad at events spiralling out of my control, leaving me helpless. and yet there are times where situation i have never worked for nor laboured over aligned themselves, like a fully completed crossword puzzle, yielding beautiful gains for me. these human experiences are what makes me strive and not leave anything to chance or fate; they are what pushes me to work harder and enjoy the fruits of all i strive for while i still breathe. these same human experiences have also made me realise there are circumstances i cannot change, no matter how hard i toil. this is the reason why i believe in god (no matter how unfashionable that might seem today). when my world turns upside down, as it sometimes does for all of us, it is the reality and understanding of my powers and limits that keeps me sane as well as hopeful.

Labels: Idea Mining, Illustration, Philosophy, Webcomics

Thursday, 15 September 2016

Online Anonymity

the difference between my behaviour when people annoy me to my face and when it is done online is different. it is fascinating to observe, really. online hostility and meanness isn't reserved just for trolls. respectable people also do it, depending on which of their wires are crossed. these days, before i type off any angry words that will go online, i am trying my best to ask (whenever i remember to do so) if i am hiding behind anything. for all we know, the so-called online anonymity might cease to exist in the near future as internet surveillance catches up to us with terrifying speed. however, for today, whatever agenda we wield, no matter how angry we are, let us constantly remind ourselves that the person on the other side of our screen is a human too.

Labels: Idea Mining, Illustration, Webcomics

Wednesday, 14 September 2016

Rebecca Scritchfield On The Downsides of Dieting And Similar Weight-Loss Techniques

Body Kindness by Rebecca Scritchfield

Dieting have a low-success rate,yet people indulge in it.

Dieting promotes false assumptions like - being slim is good for your health; yet appearance is not an evidence of good health.

Body Kindness by Rebecca Scritchfield

Body Kindness by Rebecca Scritchfield

Many thanks to Workman Publishing Company for review copy.

Labels: Book Recommendation, Book Summary, Idea Mining, Webcomics

Tuesday, 13 September 2016

The Demonic Bible School For Demons - Lesson XI

A proud person is easily subject to manipulations and promptings.

Labels: Demonic Bible School, Illustration, Spirituality, Webcomics

Monday, 12 September 2016

Gratitude

Labels: Idea Mining, Illustration, Spirituality, Webcomics

Sunday, 11 September 2016

Well Thought Out Plans

of late, i am starting to question why i become so upset when the day don't go according to my well-thought-out plans. i mean, if there is a guarantee that whatever scheme i devise would work, i would probably own all the islands on the pacific right now. but the inability of anyone to guarantee their lives is a sign that no one really owns nor control anything in this world. even the people we thought to be untouchable exist in a brittle shell called "power" - a shell that looks strong but can't withstand much when shit hits the fan. i am presently trying take my cue from the ants down the road, who get their tunnels matched in many times by unwary humans, but persist in shifting locations until they get it right. if my plans today do not work, i'll shift my perspective and try another method. or i might persist with the same method, but change my approach. life is too short to kick against the pricks.

Labels: Idea Mining, Illustration, Spirituality, Webcomics

Saturday, 10 September 2016

Stock-Taking

there is a lot to be said about looking forward and pressing on. however for that to be possible, there has to be some kind of reflection - a stock-taking of what you have, what you have lost, and what can be regained.

Labels: Idea Mining, Illustration, Webcomics

Friday, 9 September 2016

Be Happy With The Lucky, And Try Not To Blame The Unfortunate

Refusing rejoice when others are rejoicing won't turn your fortunes around.

Labels: Happiness, Idea Mining, Illustration, Webcomics

Thursday, 8 September 2016

Aha Moments

Follow your epiphanies with a little bit of striving

Labels: Idea Mining, Illustration

Wednesday, 7 September 2016

First Impressions

Whatever masks I wear now are the ones most natural to me.

Labels: Idea Mining, Illustration, Webcomics

Tuesday, 6 September 2016

Are You Happy Or Sad?

Are you hapy or sad?

Labels: Idea Mining, Illustration

Monday, 5 September 2016

The Right Attitude

It is a challenge determining the right attitude to take in certain situations

Being angry doesn't really help that much.

People who doesn't understand your situations tend to make cryptic comments.

What matters is what you think and do.

Labels: Illustration, Webcomics