The Traits of a Successful Man.

The Traits of a Successful Man.

It is unfortunate to say that nobody in this world is perfect, no matter how successful, no matter the achievements of that individual, nobody can be described as perfect. But at the very least, the things that separate the average from the above average is no luck, but their traits and characteristics.

It is not my intention to hold myself in high regard, but despite this, I can say with conviction that I can view some of those around me and say that I hold a superior position in society than them. I see a more promising future than they can hope to achieve in their later years. But at the same time, as any food chain presents, that there are of course others above me that hold a more promising future than mine. In light of this, not only do I see the flaws in those around me, but I also see the traits and characteristics that hold value in the individuals I envy. I lack the conviction, motivation, and values that some of these people hold.

The traits of a successful man. Do I embody the traits necessary to walk the path that I intend? Success to me is not a lack of failure, but rather to learn from failure, and to consistently fight for the things I believe in, and to be unwavering to continue to follow the path of success I dream that I will walk. It is my belief that there will always be a hierarchy of  society, whether it be the difference between the lower and middle class, or the difference between the grade point average of the students of any educational facility, I believe that there is a hierarchy that cannot be denied no matter how much anybody says otherwise.

I wish I could follow the path I intend to take. To consistently better myself, and be a fulfilled individual. Whether it be power, or money, or a happy family, there is a path to success, and I do intent to follow it as much as I can. 

All men are judged on their successes and failures. To continue to progress and continue to better one's self is not part of fate or luck, but rather a choice of the individual. I believe that it is the threshold of pressure one can withstand which determines the probability of their success. Without an adequate threshold of pressure and stress, one can succumb to the thought of falling into addictions, falling into a sedentary lifestyle, falling into the illusion that procrastination is needed in order to function.

These things are not a necessity, but for some people they are. I am indeed one of these people. I fall into the ideals of relaxation, procrastination, I succumb to the need of endorphins flowing through my body at the expense of my goals in life. Whether it be my motivation to keep my body healthy through the consistency of exercise, whether it be the ability to grind through the studies needed in order to keep my grades in check, I always end up failing to do the things necessary in order to succeed.

It is indeed a matter of choice, but I'm afraid I am not a strong enough human being to follow through with the necessary steps in order to be truly successful.

I have failed myself, and lack the conviction to be better than my current self. I deceive myself by thinking that I'm doing my best, trying the hardest I can, being the best that I can be. But in the end, we all know these are lies, we all know that there is no such thing as functioning at our highest capacity. We can always be better, do better, live better. 

We just choose not to.

Well, at least I choose not to.

We like to think that we go with the flow, that we follow the path that our lives will take us. But those who are truly successful make their own path. They do not let life dictate the place they will be in 5, 10, 20 years. Those who are truly successful do not rely on luck, they make their own.

It is the people who exhibit this kind of mentality, this kind of drive, that I truly admire.

Andre Liu.

Life: Self Destruction

Self Destruction.

Ever since I hit a stage of maturity, I've lived by the concept of self improvement. From what we know, we live once. Our lives are whatever we make them to be. When we move forward in time, we cannot turn back. For this reason, as time moves forward, should we not as humans move forward as well? As the generations continue, humanity improves, as we should all as individuals. If time is wasted, life is wasted.

But we are not machines, that can constantly work towards one goal. We are humans, full of emotion, relationships, likes, dislikes, and our humanity. Logic is the correct solution to most problems, but for some reason the paths we take are misguided  directed by our emotions.

I believe that self improvement is the meaning of life, our ultimate goal. To better ourselves, and our generations. But we cannot function in this manner constantly. Our lives are filled with fluctuations of good times and bad, and for every step of self improvement, it is only human nature to want to feel that sense of self destruction.

Sometimes, we just want it. We know it's a detriment to ourselves, yet we still want that feeling of self destruction. Ironically, self destruction can feel surprisingly satisfying.  This self destruction relieves us from the pressures of our lives and the factors surrounding it. It's our bliss, our forbidden escape.

I live by my own philosophies, but there are always exceptions. There is always hypocrisy.

I believe in self improvement.

But love the feeling of detriment.

I believe we are selfish beings, only seeking to benefit ourselves.

Yet, I care for others more than myself.

I believe the only relationship that is definitive, is the relationship between our consciousness and how it ceases when we die. Ultimately, we only have ourselves. People always leave. But you will always have yourself.

Though, ironically.. I hate myself.

The bullshit we go through in our lives, why should we love ourselves. We put ourselves through such torture, for this imaginary goal of seeking happiness. But we are selfish creatures, nothing will ever be enough. We will never be truly happy. We instead just constantly strive for the unachievable.

I guess I'm a dark person.

Does it really matter though?

Nobody even reads this anyway.

Not a single care in the world.

Fuck it.

Andre Liu.

Life: Selfishness

Selfishness

The most instinctive human act is the act of selfishness. It is human nature to priorities yourself, above others. Even acts of selflessness, are justified by the logic that it benefit's the individual. Whether mother's instinct, or charitable acts, these acts of "selflessness" benefit the individual who preformed this act. To prioritise yourself is only natural, only human. There are no true martyrs. If you martyr yourself for a cause you support, it is still selfish, because in turn it will benefit that cause, which benefits you.

Priorities should always be yourself above others, and we all should accept that fact. The more you know, the more you understand, the more you can use that knowledge to your benefit. To act in selfish benefit is the smartest, most logical choice of all. We as humans should all strive for self improvement, self benefit. As selfish as that sounds, it is only human.

We are not bred to serve others. Yes, our acts do also benefit society, friends, or family. But, our acts benefit ourselves the most. Our lives are our lives, all we have is time. Without time, we have nothing, for we have died.

What is the point of this post, you may ask? It is due to the hype going around about the new year. Yet again the world has circled the sun, congratulations. Why should this be an excuse to better yourself.

 New year, new me.

This above statement is incorrect. A new year, does not mean a new individual. We all carry our past, our lives, our experiences, our regrets. Every experience is vital to furthering our goals, our ideals, our lives.  Why should the turn of a new year, be the stimulus to a change in our lives? Incorrect. Our own motivation, our own strive for greatness should be the stimulus for everything we do to benefit ourselves. Every single experience in our lives can be used to our benefit. We learn, we experience, we lose our naivety. 

Become who you want to become. Make every second count, not just every year. Look back, only to see how the future can be better. Look forward, only to see what to do now, to make that future true. Hold no regrets, hold no ties to the past. The past is over.

The future has yet to come.

But yesterday was once the future.

Today is tomorrow's past.

Tomorrow will soon be today.

Andre Liu.

Life: Paths

Paths.

As we live life, there are parallel universes that run along side our current universe. I'm not talking about a physical universe, but a hypothetical universe, and everybody explores these universes in their minds by asking "what if" or saying "I should have".

Life takes us places, which are all defined by our choices, lifestyles, and our situations. What if I had done better or worse in high school? I could have been on my way to being a lawyer, or.. I could be at QUT, or Griffith, which would have changed so much. The people I wouldn't have met, the friends I wouldn't have made, the experiences I wouldn't have gone through. But instead, they would have been replaced with different people, different experiences, and a different life.

This exploration of different universes can not only be explored through past decisions, but current and future decisions that must be made. Our world, our life, is determined by the path we choose to take. You can always decide what you want, but you cannot decide outcomes. We can only choose the path that leads to our desired outcome, but not the outcome itself.

Sometimes, if you want something you have to fight for it. But the difficulty lies in both choosing and following the path. Following a path can be confusing, but ultimately you must evaluate whether it is worth it to stay on the path you took, or if it is the smarter, or more efficient choice, to take a new path.

We don't always get what we want, we cannot control outcomes, but we always stay in control of our own choices, and which path to walk. This is the way I choose to live my life.

I live my life whilst considering a multitude of factors.

• What do I desire
• Which path leads to that desire
• When is it acceptable or worth it to deviate from this path
• Will I regret the path I chose

I always try to live my life with no regrets, that is one of the most values I hold dear to myself. It is my life's goal. I cannot achieve this goal, but I can constantly strive for it.

This is how I see life.
This is how I live life.

Andre Liu.

Life: Memories

Memories.

Over time, we forget, we move on, we create new memories, and we live life. But it takes the smallest things to bring the past back to life, to remember that which we forgot. A simple song, smell, emotion, or familiar sight, can bring everything back.

Your memories are not photographs, they do not stay exactly as you remember, they do not capture that exact moment, they are not indisputable. Memories allow you to explore what happened, how you felt, allow you to relive a moment. Linked with strong emotions, memories can bring smiles, or tears to your face.

To relive a memory is to allow yourself to feel the same way you did in the past. A hatred, or a love, an annoyance, or an enjoyment, memories can truly make us feel as if the past is truly coming back to life. A true memory, a worthy memory of contemplation, is rarely ever lost in your mind, unless intentionally buried. A past love, a past friend, a past life, a different life. We not only relive memories, but also bury them. We bury these because they are too strong, too emotive, too influential. A memory which feels so real, a true experience, which reminds your present self that this is no longer reality, and no longer in existence. 

Although it indeed is such a powerful memory, these memories are reminders of things that no longer exist, this in turn brings not only the relived memories and emotions, but also new emotions of regret, pain, suffering, and shame.

A memory that takes years to bury, can be revived within a second by the right stimulus. Suddenly, everything you tried to forget, the past memory too good to keep, suddenly relived within a second. A sudden surge of emotions, both good and bad, running through your mind. Whole experiences which add up to years, can be relived in a minute.

To cherish a memory, or to bury one, memories are our experiences, our life. If the past was only a wish away, we would all live in the past. The new is exciting, but scary. Whilst the old, is familiar, and expected. If I were to be completely honest, I would wish for the past, to live in the past, it was the glory days, the best days of my life. But this is not the case, it is no longer a reality, I cannot return to that of which is no longer in existence, but can only reflect on the memories of the past.

I wish I could be there, a year ago. I wish things didn't change, I wish I didn't have to deal with the pressure of constant change, constant self-improvement. But alas, I have no choice but to soldier on. It is the only option.

The past I can longer have.

The past is only relived through memories.

These moments are relived with both the good, and the bad.

We can only hope to adapt, change, and further our lives in our greatest capability. With new days, unexpected futures, and our knowledge of the past.

We must move on.

Andreeliu.

Life: Progress

Progress

We are all human beings, our lives go on, and continue, through trials and tribulations. Life has it's ups and downs, but life is what we make it. There are times where life feels like it's low, or perhaps even an all time low. But if life is at it's lowest, what else is there but to progress higher, to make life livable, or even good.

Such formalities in conversation: "Hey, how are you?", but naively we say these words, ask this question way too easily, as a formality, without the contemplation of what this question truly means. We simply reply "good" again, as a formality, but we all know that we're not all that "good".

Progressing through life, for however many years, feels so monotonous, but at the same time, time itself feels painful. We get so low to the point of self-destruction, whilst knowing in our minds that it isn't the true answer. The only path is self improvement, not self destruction. Though, unfortunately, we all seem to realise that the path of self destruction is all too easy, we destroy, we lead the path or wrongness, all because it's easier than the true path of improvement.

This is how we get stuck in difficult situations, because ironically, the difficult times are the easiest of them all. Taking that step, making that choice to change, to improve, is all too hard. Despite our knowledge of death, life and time is all we have. We have an unlimited resource of life, of time, despite death. This is because after death, there it is all just an eternity of nothingness.

Friends, family, relationships, school, jobs, life. Of all these important factors, in the end all we have is ourselves. When we lose ourselves, we wont even know the consequences of our own deaths. Simply because, we are.. dead.

It is for this reason, we should make the most of what we have, especially our lives. To seize the moment, to live our lives to the fullest, rather than self destruction, we must opt for self improvement. I personally can say that life isnt good, it has been harsh, perhaps even somewhat cruel. But we must make the most of it.

Life is ourselves, but conversely is reliant and subjected to everything that surrounds us. On the path of self-destruction, or even isolation, despite the cares and sympathies of those around you, their lives move on, with our without you.

When I reminisce about the past, who I was, who I used to be, what life used to be, what choices I made. These things cannot change, but I do see the progress I have made.  There was a time I was worried whether or not I could even get to uni, if i'll ever have any real friends, if i'll be ugly forever. But i'm now surrounded by friends who I care about, and who care for me. I'm in the University of Queensland, studying what I've always wanted to do. I've taken the path of self improvement to stop my unhealthy life, and am continuing on the path of self improvement.

But after all the progress I have made, I still do not see myself as living my life at the fullest. I still have problems in my life, I still have issues I'm not happy about. I have plenty of things that I see myself needing improvement on.

My life could have taken a turn for the worst in the past. Where I was at a crossroad as to what to do with my life, or even to end it. In hindsight, it was a stupid matter to even contemplate the end of my own life, but at the time I know the issue was very, very real.

If I chose the wrong path, I could have ended up with no education, even more unhealthy and fatter than I am now, in isolation, with no friends, a disappointed family, and a meek future. But that doesn't mean I could not progress any more, even if I had taken that path.

No matter how bad life gets, no matter how dark situations appear, there is always a way, a path, a light. There is always a way to change our lives, to take a turn for the better, to make the most of our situations.

No matter what, we must progress, we must improve, we must strive for greatness. Whatever our goals, our wants, our needs, our ideal path, we must strive to get there. Even if we never achieve those goals, even if we don't get what we want, at least we tried.

It is the path that matters, not the destination.
It is better to jump for the stars, and only hit the sky, than to have never jumped at all.

Life's a bitch.
But life will always progress.

Andre Liu.

Life: Change

Change.

Life goes on, does it not? We all live on, every step, every breath, every second, is our lives. Time may seem to go so slow, but in reality it goes so fast. It only seems yesterday I was at highschool. Yet at the same time, it feels like such a long time ago.

But things change, people change, you learn, you live. I was talking to Myky today, about the past, and the present. It honestly only seemed like yesterday that I was at school, talking to her, hanging out. Now I barely get to see her. But things have changed, things are different.

Whether we realise it or not, whether it's intentional, or not, we all change, some how. We all, live on.

I remember having a conversation with Rica. We were a couple at the time, talking about life, talking about the future, we would always say "dont change, I love you the way you are". Now we all know that didn't pan out, we're obviously no longer together. But we did change, yes indeed. We travel such different paths, and we're such different people. Well, at least I am.

Change is not always bad, change is a part of us, it is who we are. But at the same time, change is brought upon by our past.

I hate my past. I was just, so terrible. But my past experiences are what made me who I am today. 

My past consists of being an outcast, a social reject, being teased. I've always felt this feeling of isolation, just wanting to fit in. I was jealous of those who had it better than me, those who were popular, or attractive. But it made me who I am today. I made a choice to become a better person, to prove those people who picked on me wrong. I was fat, I was helpless, I was picked on, even at church of all places.

But I guess, it's those things that made me want to prove people wrong, and change. But I didn't do it for them, I did it for myself.

Sometimes change is intentional, sometimes change just happens.  But just remember, that no matter what changes, or what stays the same, it's who you are. Maybe you're not happy with yourself.. but if not, do something about it? The important thing is to be content with yourself, and be your own person. Friends come and go, relationships come and go, but in the end, you want people to like you, or love you, for who you are. Not for the person you're pretending to be.

Don't expect everything to stay the same, change is inevitable, even if you try to stop it. We all grow from experiences, we all grow more mature. We learn, we adapt, we change.

Change isn't bad, nor is it good. Change just exists.

Andre Liu.

Life: Choices

Choices.

Everyday we make choices, we make decisions. Through these things, we pave our path in life. Every decision, every choice, leads to different parallel universe, in stems from another, and another.

But pondering on these parallel universes do not matter, as they cannot ever intersect with our current present. The truly important thing is how exactly we make our choices, how we pave our paths, how we choose to lead our lives. Our decisions define us, they show who we are. Our choices, our decisions, they reflect who we are, as individuals.

Choosing a path is easy. Sometimes, knowing the right path, is very easy. The hard part is committing to a path, and sticking to it, no matter what the consequence. I'm not saying that sometimes compromise isn't necessary, it very well could be. But for the use of a very cliche line: Knowing the path is not the same as walking the path. 

I've been told many times that I should be a psychiatrist, because I give very good advice. People tell me their problems, I see the path they should take, I tell them about it. Its not as hard as people think, really.. But knowing their path the easy part, they need to be able to take the appropriate steps to improve themselves, or the situation. An outsider perspective allows situations to be seen a lot better, provided they have the correct information. 

I often come to situations in life where I think what the fuck am I supposed to do now. I can give good advice, sure. But do I follow my own advice? yeah I wish buddy. Maybe I see the path I should take, but choose not to. This situation is what many people come across when it comes to dilemmas, or when its time to make a decision.

For example, I can tell you exactly how to get a 7 in all your subjects. Easy bro, you ready? Study every night, 3 hours a night minimum, until your exams. Its true, it'll get you a 7. Will you do it? I doubt it.

So, how do you lose weight, how do you get fit? Very simple. Run every day, stop eating shit, go to a gym. I could go on, with all these situations.

Sometimes deep down we all know the situation, we all know how to improve ourselves, how to solve a situation, how to get out of a situation. Sometimes deep down, we ask for guidance, because we don't want to admit the facts to ourselves. We're scared of the truth, or maybe we don't have the balls to face reality, and do what needs to be done.

But, there are situations when we honestly do not know what to do, which path to take. Ask for advice, ask for opinions, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! But remember one thing:

 Knowledge is power

You can ask for opinions, advice, but in the end, you know more about the situation than most. You know more than anybody else about whatever problem is going on with your life, so trust yourself to do whats best for you.

When you choose a path, make sure to stick to it. make sure you can commit to making things better, don't relapse. I mean, if compromise and change is necessary, then do it, so long as it's the right thing to do.

These are your choices.

These are my contemplations.

Andre Liu