So.. is feeling successful almost as important as being successful (by verifiable, or personal, standards)?

I do suggest that the solutions of people who are quite different will never truly satisfy the psyche, or “feel like” success, whereas even gentle pointers by people with a similar mentality and similar life goals can give us the needed kick to go for what we want.

I liked your writing.

I evaluate writers and teachers not by their persuasive power (since anyone can tell you anything and sell some kind of angle, if they are sufficiently eloquent and charismatic), though persuasive power can be entertaining — to us who like words; but I read into the subtext of their talk, what their values are, what they truly want, what motivates them, and I search for signs of actual alignment with their own truth… I also ask myself whether the information helps me make better decisions, get wiser, sharper, better at something, clearer, more capable, more aware, even happier… In short, I examine whether I am absorbing information from those whose life — or skills — I don’t want or do want.

At times I find myself a bit “too” dissecting of what I am absorbing. On the other hand, I accept that we are being influenced by everything we hear, read and watch, and I want to be mindful in my choices of what I let into my mind.

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I have to admit that a lot of big talkers don’t pass my criteria for true, useful, and worthy of emulating. I just let them brag… Ha ha.

It is okay for people to have fun with words — but are those words helping me evolve, are those people evolving themselves, are they in a position to teach? Or are they just offering perspectives they will alter, and subvert, again in a few years? Are they perhaps dissatisfied fools who convinced themselves that what they need is an audience instead of an improvement of their habits…