My thought:
I don’t have the “free will” to “will” myself to be positive and optimistic; it is simply who I am and how I feel.
But how did I become so positive and optimistic? My reflections:
Physiology
![yellow black selfie](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/P1426658-selfie-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C802&ssl=1)
First of all, I think I am so positive and optimistic because I am in excellent and hyper-health. Everyday, I actually feel I am becoming MORE HEALTHY. Why? Because everyday I exercise my muscles to the max (I go to the gym at least once or twice a day), and I eat a lot of meat at night. As a consequence, I can see and witness my body becoming stronger (in terms of increased muscular growth, and strength gains in the gym for my ‘one rep max’ in powerlifting — deadlift/squat/benchpress).
My mind
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/selfie-0.jpeg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
I am also focusing on self-developing my mind to the max. Years of studying Stoicism has helped me insanely, as well as studying Taoist-Zen philosophy. As of late, reading lots of Nietzsche has increased my ‘will to power’, and these ideas and thoughts have empowered me.
Dynamic range of life experiences
![Me and my mom at my apartment in Berkeley, 2015](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/R0001114eric-and-mom.jpg?resize=1200%2C795&ssl=1)
What is the best blessing you can give a child? Give them absolute freedom, and grow up in a situation in which the child must become self-reliant. This is what happened to me growing up — my mom was poor, and thus I knew in my breast:
Everything I want in life I must fight for it myself.
This gave me the entrepreneurial spirit and fire which elevated me to where I am today.
![eric and mom child kid](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/eric-and-mom.jpg?resize=1200%2C697&ssl=1)
Also, growing up poor and experiencing “trauma” was good for me. It toughened me. It made me realize the difference between petty shit and real shit. And the pain and trauma I experienced actually made me stronger (post-traumatic growth).
I cannot be 100% certain why I am so positive and optimistic
![selfie](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/P1426816-selfie-hallway-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C800&ssl=1)
This is the tricky thing:
Is being positive and optimistic a ‘good’ thing?
Well, let us think the opposite question:
Is it good to be pessimistic and negative?
It depends. I think it comes down to this:
Does your personality motivate you to ACT and do shit, or does your personality DISCOURAGE you from doing anything? (‘learned helplessness/nihilism’)
The goal:
To be maximally active, powerful, and to strive for more.
ERIC
Philosophy by KIM
![](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/zenofericcover.jpg?resize=1200%2C1940)
Dictate your meaning and purpose in your life with ZEN OF ERIC:
Philosophical Essays
- EFFORT IS ENJOYMENT
- Never Stop Gaining
- TRUST YOURSELF
- A Life of Maximal Personal Independence
- What Do You Desire to Become?
- What Do I Want from Technology?
- Stratified Society
- Do You Love or Hate Reality?
- On the Brian, Body and Mind
- I’m Maximally Happy, Now What?
- Care over Fame
- ACTIVE NIHILISM
- Never Stop Subtracting
- How to Live a Happier and More Epic Life
- A Risker Life is a Better Life
- Only Work on Things You Can Imagine Doing for Eternity
- How to Maximize Your Happiness
- Influence
- The Gladiator Makes His Plans once He Enters the Ring
- Meditations on Meaning in Life
- There is Nothing More Interesting than Human Beings
- Is Hope a Vice?
- EGO
- Why Be Unique?
- Happiness is Metabolism Health and Strength
- You’re the Hero
- Is Productivity a Virtue or Vice?
- Why Do We Prize the Rare?
- The Joy of Uncertainty
- How Should I Best Use My Time and Life?
- A Life Without Pain or Suffering Isn’t a Life Worth Living
- Free or Unfree?
- What Do You Really Care For in Life?
- Anti-Satisfaction in Life
- Why Think?
- The Eternal Return
- Only Do What is Best for You!
- Truthiness
- Why Be Happy?
- Permissionless Living
- In Praise of Unconventional Wisdom
- Become the Change Which You Wish to See in the World
- Happiness
- Beyond Freedom
- Idolize People, Not Stuff
- What Makes You Stronger? What Makes You Weaker?
- Why Hate?
- The Secret of Happiness
- You’re Constantly in a State of Becoming
- Life is about Choices, Not Obligations
- Anti-Nihilism
- First, Do What is Best for You.
- Live Dynamic
- How to Prosper
- Is the Point of Life to Be Satisfied?
- SUPREME EFFORT OF WILL.
- How to Become more Idealistic
- Thrivival 101
- Create Yourself
- Non-Small
- Inspiration
- How to Live a Heroic Life: Dare the Heights!
- Human Augmentation
- Prune
- Happiness: Do What You Want to Do (And Don’t Do What You Don’t Want to Do)
- Avoid Vain (Empty) Pursuits in Life
- Modern Slavery
- Kill the Leeches
- Wisdom Augmentation
- Why We Need Friction in Life
- Straight Line Philosophy
- What’s Your End-Game in Life?
- Create Your Own Happiness Today
- Desire Both Pain and Pleasure in Life
- Try the Impossible
- SELF-RESPECT
- Anti-Social Extrovert
- Never Blame Anybody But Yourself
- Human Flourishing
- Simpler, Not Better.
- How to be Free
- Embrace the Extremes
- Cultivate Your Own Culture
- COURAGE.
- Thrivival
- Inner Power
- How to Live a Purposeful Life
- My Definition of Happiness
- Why Change is Good
- Why Work?
- How to Live the Happiest Possible Life
- The Two-Pronged Approach to Maximize Joy in Your Life
- You Always Have Another Option!
- INFINITISM
- Never Stop!
- What is Your Self-Directed Purpose in Life?
- Live Today Like it Were Your Last
- Do You Photograph to Live, or Live to Photograph?
- ARTIST-PHILOSOPHER
- Live Life to the Fullest!
- In Praise of Selfishness
- Why You Must Be a YAY-SAYER to Succeed in Entrepreneurship and Life
- Why I Love Walking
- Live Life Like a Video Game!
- Simple Luxuries in Life
- Treat Your Life Like a Fun Experiment!
- Only Prove it to Yourself
- You Don’t Always Need to Feel Joyful to Live a Fulfilling and Meaningful Life
- Life is Too Short to Be Bored!
- Money Cannot Destroy Boredom
- How to Find Inspiration in Life
- Why You Must Ignore Haters to Succeed and Win in Life
- An Active Life is a Happy Life
- My Simple Joys in Life
- Never Stop Striving
- How to Motivate Yourself in Life
- How to Be Optimistic in Life
- How to Dictate Your Purpose in Life
- In Praise of a Dynamic Life
- PURPOSE.
- How to Enjoy Life
- Photography Therapy
- How to Conquer Regret
- Take Your Play Very Seriously.
- How to Prosper
- Memento Vivere
- Destroy in Order to CREATE
- Trust Your Body More Than Your Mind
- Make Photos to Make Meaning in Your Life
- Seek Knowledge, Not Information
- The Purpose of Human Life
- How to Overcome Impedence
- Why I Love Death
- How to Be Centered in the Eternal Now
- How to Be Happy
- Why Do You Care What Others Think of You?
- Why I’m Happy
- Why?
- Why I’m So Prolific
- How to Reduce LAG in Life
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