Navigating Life's Challenges: The Subtle Art of Choosing Your Narrative

Introduction: Facing Life's Challenges

 Given the overarching theme of our forthcoming, in-class essay, it is of critical import to interrogate the elements (potential causes found in the readings: subtle art…Unf…F.A download. pdf) that could obfuscate the true-self residing within: (there's plenty of stuff out there that confuses us, questions who we are and what we should become). Indeed, tech is a boon to society, but it could possibly create an existential crisis... No denying, these are complicated times with an excess of information, sources, and influencers. It’s a challenge to filter, vet, and determine what, in the end, is worthy of our time and investment: what information should be taken beyond a grain-of-salt, that which creates the bedrock of our foundation (it's so hard not to be influenced by the outside world, especially with social medial where people get "liked." Crazier still, how can we not allow it to influence us: allow "them" to determine what one should place as a priority, worthy of our attention and time. With so little time and so many influences, rarely do we consider how these powerful external forces shape us—our untenable truth---in conscious (plainly aware) and unconscious ways (hidden reasons of motivation, why we act in a “mysterious” ways beyond our conscious reasoning ?); thus, some of us are at the whim, going with the “tide” of what appears to be “right” as a form of social convenience, a false sense of comfort. Unfortunately, this may create some internal discord, yet we hold up a decorum to appear that one is “well-adjusted,” believing the DREAM, giving too many F’s about the F-less F’s. (theres' a reason why plenty of us feel some degree of unease, restless in the pursuit of...more?) When one dares to question thyself, one’s place within it, the narrative of your history is rife for literary inquiry, for you are unabashedly human—imperfect, a-work-in-progress-, hopeful, optimistic, a role model, untapped potential. Yes, you are nothing more than a micro-narrative in this collective volume of competing stories, experiences, outcomes; you are worthy of being the “one” should you put in the beautiful work of choosing what to think, what to worship, always remembering, day-in and day-out, this is water.... Thus, please respond to the following essay prompt: 1) How could the readings help you become a “better” version of your “previous” self, helping you navigate life’s uncertain challenges? The notion of better is based on personal/physical obstacles that may impede your progress. (NOTE: The Four Agreements, This Is Water, The Subtle Art...). Guidelines: 1) Provide a story introduction when you felt like you were at your lowest point in life (we've all been there; all of us). The story must be intentional, with a hint of what the paper shall be about, and a solid clear foreshadowing at the end. 2) Provide a standard views introduction, stating the conflict and issue of today: with so much external influencer and pressure to be like everyone else, what can one do to not succumb to these forces? Of course, many people believe that this is the best time to believe alive with so much convenience...(that's what they say)....we can all agree that each generation has its share of problems. The desire to find yourself has never been harder (controversy, shift)...the thesis will be the texts, forthcoming that helped you. For your body paragraphs, 4 total, you must use the following texts: "This Is Water," The Subtle Art of Not..., The Four Agreements, and, optional, Principles. You must use any two of the terms from the books, articles listed above: Blind Worshiping, Blind Certainty/What If We're Wrong, Feedback Loop from Hell, Law of Avoidance, Tyranny of Exceptionalism, This video shows how they overlap.... (Links to an external site.) For those of you who need a visual aid, here it is, but notice how this is "the work" of an essayist, finding the categorical similarities. 3)The body paragraphs will be comparing and contrasting, which is why the essay prompt is framed as such, before and after. Hence, your topic sentences shall look like this, which promises that they shall be a cluster paragraph... i. Although I am forced to (what has held you back form being "you," emotion, situation, (internal or external), using the concept of(any of the above) can assist me by (synonym of progress, the opposite of what's holding you back). ii. Here, write about a time that you have suffered by not being you. In other words, it's a personal example of how you have held yourself back; we all do it. We are wired for the path of least resistance. iii. Make sure that you end this paragraph by imparting a "lesson" of what you learned from the past, that ONE event. (even though this paragraph doesn't have a quote, the topic sentence suggests that another part lies ahead! Here's the quote sandwich, the "AFTER" reading the text, and how it can have the capacity to "transform" you. iii. Topic sentence for the next cluster paragraph... 4) Despite the event, (above, the same, but repeated differently) understanding the concept has provided some insight to better tackle a similar situation in the future. In the book or article, addressed the concept of. "The True You Explain why this has the capacity to potentially solve the problem of your old self, allowing you to overcome the issue in the future. In this case, it's the solution to the problem, but you must explain how and why! This is the quote sandwich! Repeat with a different reading, using the same form, outline! 5) Add an inspiring conclusion, envisioning yourself in a future, practicing the skills and how your life can/shall be different!