New Year Transcendence

There is no sure way to truly measure the powers of a single human being despite efforts to quantify it through various tasks and challenges, whether physical, mental, or creative in nature. Nonetheless, it has been taken as purpose of many individuals to try to at least have a tentative measure of the amount which a person is capable of contributing to an endeavor, thus the creation of various tests like I.Q. tests, personality tests, E.Q. assessments, and the abundance of critics in all areas of expertise.

It is perhaps the self that is truly the most stubborn pursuant of a tell of one’s worth. It is not uncommon for people to claim that they are their own worst critic. This is key to self-improvement. The need to glimpse one’s worth and try to transcend it is part of the process of the evolution of an individual, as well as the human race.  

However, in the endeavor to know, many find it too easy to see flaws in their works in magnified and grotesque versions that other viewers may simply find overpowered by the sheer brilliance of the creations.

Ironically, from the human nature that desires the verification of the self, the vindication of flaws in the face of genius, sprouts that which dampens desire into lukewarm acceptance of the present condition. The overt misappropriation of attention toward criticism and appreciation, with the former taking more mental space than the latter, leads to doubt and a lessened desire to practice one’s craft, ending in stagnancy, not only of talent, but also of self-development.

As in all things, balance is key to self-improvement. While awareness of one’s weaknesses is essential to better ourselves as people and as artists, knowledge of our own streak of genius is needed for the optimization of our best qualities and to provide the proper motivation to strive towards excellence. We need to realize that we have the raw materials--- the blocks, the mortar, the physical power to do the work to create the pillars of our testament to a good and well-lived life in which we have contributed to the world as much as, or even more than, it has contributed to our happiness and contentment.

I am a writer, and I myself have experienced, and in fact is still experiencing, the crippling self-doubt as I have discussed. I have been aware of this for quite a while, but have found myself without the will power to break my easy non-participation in my craft. However, while the symbolism is cliché, it is the New Year, and I find myself wanting to acknowledge the build-up of disbelief in my abilities in an attempt to become what I wish I could be, thus can possibly be.

I have never lacked the desire to be an accomplished writer, but while there is the overflowing of dreams, the determination to go outside the boundaries of comfort did not come in abundance.

This is me spearheading the process to overcome myself in order to transcend my perceived best.

This blog is not about the Victorian Era. This blog is about Victoria sharing her discussions and stories about life and all that catches her fancy. I wish to have these discussions with you, share this experience and thoughts with you, and create and gain inspiration with you to help us through the everyday goings-on of a world that could be kinder but is capable of giving in to those that truly try.

Happy New Year!

Victoria (Viel) Elma