{"id":218774,"date":"2020-03-27T04:35:29","date_gmt":"2020-03-27T11:35:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/?p=218774"},"modified":"2020-03-27T06:06:29","modified_gmt":"2020-03-27T13:06:29","slug":"black-swan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/27\/black-swan\/","title":{"rendered":"BLACK SWAN"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>A concept I learned from <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/24\/3-lessons-nassim-taleb-has-taught-me-about-philosophy-and-living-life\/\">Nassim Taleb<\/a> I find very practical in thinking about life:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>There will always be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153freak accidents\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (black swans, things that come out of nowhere) in reality. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The benefit of studying the past \u00e2\u20ac\u201d realizing that so many people in the past are generally caught with their pants down before a crisis or calamity happens. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-videopress\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"VideoPress Video Player\" aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='500' height='281' src='https:\/\/videopress.com\/embed\/VCdQ173p?autoPlay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;muted=1&amp;persistVolume=0&amp;preloadContent=metadata&amp;hd=0&amp;cover=1' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen allow='clipboard-write'><\/iframe><script src='https:\/\/v0.wordpress.com\/js\/next\/videopress-iframe.js?m=1674852142'><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"BLACK SWAN\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xeOVdHT7JQU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/anchor.fm\/erickim\/embed\/episodes\/Black-Swan-ec0qkv\" height=\"102px\" width=\"400px\" frameborder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1449539-BLACK-SWAN.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why should we think about black swans?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" data-attachment-id=\"126391\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/cindy-swan\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/cindy-swan-scaled.jpg?fit=5184%2C3456&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"5184,3456\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;3.5&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;DC-G9&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1536543621&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;12&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;200&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.00125&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"cindy swan\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/cindy-swan-scaled.jpg?fit=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/cindy-swan.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"White swan \" class=\"wp-image-126391\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/cindy-swan-scaled.jpg?resize=2000%2C1333&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/cindy-swan-scaled.jpg?resize=1000%2C667&amp;ssl=1 1000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/cindy-swan-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C512&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/cindy-swan-scaled.jpg?resize=690%2C460&amp;ssl=1 690w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/01\/cindy-swan.jpg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>It essentially means this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>We cannot predict the future, regardless of how much data we got from the past. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The real world is 100000000000&#215;10000000000 more complicated, complex, chaotic, random, and insane than we think it is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why plan?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1668\" height=\"2224\" data-attachment-id=\"74347\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/20\/10-lessons-matisse-can-teach-you-about-art-and-life\/8a8655c9-a190-4333-8d4b-c593313d0e16\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/8A8655C9-A190-4333-8D4B-C593313D0E16.jpeg?fit=1668%2C2224&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1668,2224\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"8A8655C9-A190-4333-8D4B-C593313D0E16\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;Black swan abstract by ERIC KIM x Matisse&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/8A8655C9-A190-4333-8D4B-C593313D0E16.jpeg?fit=1668%2C2224&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/8A8655C9-A190-4333-8D4B-C593313D0E16.jpeg?resize=1668%2C2224&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Black swan abstract by ERIC KIM x Matisse\" class=\"wp-image-74347\"\/><figcaption>Black swan abstract by ERIC KIM x Matisse<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Which brings us to the question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Why is the discipline of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153planning\u00e2\u20ac\u009d so crammed down our throats?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>I think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s about fear-mitigation. This means that we try to prevent scary and uncertain things from happening in the future by \u00e2\u20ac\u0153planning\u00e2\u20ac\u009d better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Limits of planning <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1710\" data-attachment-id=\"216855\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/216855\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1448301-FALSIFY-YOU-ARE-THE-BLACK-SWAN-AND-OUTLIER-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1710&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1710\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1448301-FALSIFY-YOU-ARE-THE-BLACK-SWAN-AND-OUTLIER-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1710&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1448301-FALSIFY-YOU-ARE-THE-BLACK-SWAN-AND-OUTLIER-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?resize=2560%2C1710&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-216855\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1448301-FALSIFY-YOU-ARE-THE-BLACK-SWAN-AND-OUTLIER-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1448301-FALSIFY-YOU-ARE-THE-BLACK-SWAN-AND-OUTLIER-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C513&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1448301-FALSIFY-YOU-ARE-THE-BLACK-SWAN-AND-OUTLIER-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1026&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1448301-FALSIFY-YOU-ARE-THE-BLACK-SWAN-AND-OUTLIER-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1368&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1448301-FALSIFY-YOU-ARE-THE-BLACK-SWAN-AND-OUTLIER-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?resize=720%2C481&amp;ssl=1 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Let us give a real case \u00e2\u20ac\u201d Corona Virus. Could anyone in a trillion years have predicted this would have happened? No. Why not? There\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s no precedence for this! Nothing quite like this has happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>How can we predict something which hasn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t ever happened?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1325\" data-attachment-id=\"67479\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/17\/roots\/03f16a76-8d99-4236-9dc5-fa9cc03793ab\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/03F16A76-8D99-4236-9DC5-FA9CC03793AB-scaled.jpeg?fit=3936%2C2608&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"3936,2608\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;5.6&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;GR II&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1483540257&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;ERIC KIM STREET PHOTOGRAPHY&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;18.3&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;1600&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.008&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Swans. Kyoto, 2016\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/03F16A76-8D99-4236-9DC5-FA9CC03793AB-scaled.jpeg?fit=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/03F16A76-8D99-4236-9DC5-FA9CC03793AB-2000x1325.jpeg?resize=2000%2C1325&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"Swans. Kyoto, 2016\" class=\"wp-image-67479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/03F16A76-8D99-4236-9DC5-FA9CC03793AB-scaled.jpeg?resize=2000%2C1325&amp;ssl=1 2000w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/03F16A76-8D99-4236-9DC5-FA9CC03793AB-scaled.jpeg?resize=800%2C530&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/03F16A76-8D99-4236-9DC5-FA9CC03793AB-scaled.jpeg?resize=768%2C509&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/03F16A76-8D99-4236-9DC5-FA9CC03793AB.jpeg?w=3000&amp;ssl=1 3000w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This means from a practical perspective \u00e2\u20ac\u201d don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t plan your life too much. Better to be flexible, nimble, and able to adapt. Which organisms survive and thrive on earth \u00e2\u20ac\u201d an environment fraught with extreme chaos and uncertainty? The animals which can actually BENEFIT and THRIVE from the chaos and insanity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Expect worse than worse <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-video wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-videopress\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe title=\"VideoPress Video Player\" aria-label='VideoPress Video Player' width='500' height='281' src='https:\/\/videopress.com\/embed\/qpV5chnJ?autoPlay=1&amp;loop=1&amp;muted=1&amp;persistVolume=0&amp;preloadContent=metadata&amp;hd=0&amp;cover=1' frameborder='0' allowfullscreen allow='clipboard-write'><\/iframe><script src='https:\/\/v0.wordpress.com\/js\/next\/videopress-iframe.js?m=1674852142'><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>First step seems to become a <a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/25\/why-im-so-optimistic-rational-optimism-stoicism\/\">stoic<\/a>. Stoicism as giving the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153fuck you\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to fate. To become more indifferent towards life, death, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1710\" data-attachment-id=\"218786\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/218786\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1449539-BLACK-SWAN-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1710&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1710\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1449539-BLACK-SWAN-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?fit=2560%2C1710&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1449539-BLACK-SWAN-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?resize=2560%2C1710&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"ERIC kim selfie tree\" class=\"wp-image-218786\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1449539-BLACK-SWAN-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1449539-BLACK-SWAN-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C513&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1449539-BLACK-SWAN-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1026&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1449539-BLACK-SWAN-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?resize=2048%2C1368&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/P1449539-BLACK-SWAN-mp3-image-scaled.jpg?resize=720%2C481&amp;ssl=1 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What did Alexander the Great read?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2192\" height=\"1024\" data-attachment-id=\"218782\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/battle_of_issus-alexander-the-great-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Battle_of_Issus-alexander-the-great.jpg?fit=2192%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2192,1024\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;7.1&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;NIKON D800&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1349273796&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;105&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;500&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0.066666666666667&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Battle_of_Issus alexander the great\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Battle_of_Issus-alexander-the-great.jpg?fit=2192%2C1024&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Battle_of_Issus-alexander-the-great.jpg?resize=2192%2C1024&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-218782\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Battle_of_Issus-alexander-the-great.jpg?w=2192&amp;ssl=1 2192w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Battle_of_Issus-alexander-the-great.jpg?resize=768%2C359&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Battle_of_Issus-alexander-the-great.jpg?resize=1536%2C718&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Battle_of_Issus-alexander-the-great.jpg?resize=2048%2C957&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Battle_of_Issus-alexander-the-great.jpg?resize=720%2C336&amp;ssl=1 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Allegedly Alexander the Great has a copy of the Iliad by his bedside. He strove to emulate the courage of Achilles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-large\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1536\" data-attachment-id=\"218781\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/mosaic-of-alexander-the-great-2\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg?fit=2560%2C1536&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"2560,1536\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;Photograph: DEA \/ G. NIMATALLAH\/&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;De Agostini\/Getty Images&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Mosaic of Alexander the Great&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Mosaic of Alexander the Great\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg?fit=2560%2C1536&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg?resize=2560%2C1536&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-218781\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg?w=2560&amp;ssl=1 2560w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg?resize=768%2C461&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg?resize=1536%2C922&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg?resize=2048%2C1229&amp;ssl=1 2048w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/Alexander_the_Great_mosaic.jpg?resize=720%2C432&amp;ssl=1 720w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Ultimately what is reality? Risk taking, courage, and exposure to embodied reality. All else is false.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">PHILOSOPHY by KIM<\/h2>\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/product\/zen-of-eric\/\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"101686\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/08\/youre-successful-once-people-start-hating-on-you\/zenofericcover\/\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/zenofericcover.jpg?fit=1275%2C2061&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"1275,2061\" data-comments-opened=\"0\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;1&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"zenofericcover\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/zenofericcover.jpg?fit=1237%2C2000&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-101686 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/zenofericcover.jpg?resize=1275%2C2061\" alt=\"\" width=\"1275\" height=\"2061\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/zenofericcover.jpg?w=1275&amp;ssl=1 1275w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/zenofericcover.jpg?resize=768%2C1241&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/zenofericcover.jpg?resize=1237%2C2000&amp;ssl=1 1237w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/zenofericcover.jpg?resize=830%2C1342&amp;ssl=1 830w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Dictate your meaning and purpose in your life with <a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/product\/zen-of-eric\/\">ZEN OF ERIC<\/a>:<\/p>\n<hr>\n<h2>Ethics<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/23\/tolerance\/\">Tolerance<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/10\/07\/art-is-above-morals-and-ethics\/\">Art is Above Morals and Ethics<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/16\/aesthetics-are-ethics\/\">Aesthetics are Ethics<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/06\/morality-and-ethics\/\">Morality and Ethics<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr>\n<h2>Philosophical Essays<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/24\/things-will-never-go-back-to-the-way-they-used-to-be\/\">THINGS WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THE WAY THEY USED TO BE<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/21\/what-are-you-really-afraid-of\/\">What are you *really* afraid of?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/21\/happiness-isnt-the-goal\/\">HAPPINESS ISN&#8217;T THE GOAL<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/21\/philosophy-is-king\/\">Philosophy is King<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/19\/why-is-selfish-evil\/\">Why is Selfish Evil?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/12\/youre-constantly-in-a-state-of-becoming-2\/\">YOU&#8217;RE CONSTANTLY IN A STATE OF BECOMING<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/09\/entitlement-2\/\">ENTITLEMENT A SIN?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/09\/narcissism\/\">NARCISSISM<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/08\/be-brutally-honest-with-yourself\/\">BE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH YOURSELF<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/07\/why-free-will\/\">WHY FREE WILL?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/07\/obey-your-opinion\/\">OBEY YOUR OPINION<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/05\/ego-is-good\/\">EGO IS GOOD.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/03\/05\/why-it-is-good-to-be-into-yourself\/\">WHY IT IS GOOD TO BE INTO YOURSELF<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/20\/seek-the-good-pain\/\">Seek the Good Pain<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/20\/anti-perfection\/\">Anti-Perfection in Photography, Art, and Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/19\/can-you-become-an-end-into-yourself\/\">Can You Become an End into Yourself?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/18\/why-i-live\/\">WHY I LIVE<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/14\/why-i-hate-decline\/\">Why I Hate Decline<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/14\/why-i-eat\/\">Why I Eat<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/06\/why-am-i-so-positive-and-optimistic\/\">Why am I So Positive and Optimistic?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/02\/effort-is-enjoyment\/\">EFFORT IS ENJOYMENT<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/28\/never-stop-gaining\/\">Never Stop Gaining<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/27\/trust-yourself-2\/\">TRUST YOURSELF<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/23\/a-life-of-maximal-personal-independence\/\">A Life of Maximal Personal Independence<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/22\/what-do-you-desire-to-become-2\/\">What Do You Desire to Become?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/21\/what-do-i-want-from-technology\/\">What Do I Want from Technology?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/20\/stratified-society\/\">Stratified Society<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/19\/do-you-love-or-hate-reality\/\">Do You Love or Hate Reality?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/14\/on-the-brian-body-and-mind\/\">On the Brian, Body and Mind<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/14\/im-maximally-happy-now-what\/\">I&#8217;m Maximally Happy, Now What?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/12\/care-over-fame\/\">Care over Fame<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/10\/active-nihilism\/\">ACTIVE NIHILISM<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2020\/01\/01\/never-stop-subtracting\/\">Never Stop Subtracting<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/28\/how-to-live-a-happier-and-more-epic-life\/\">How to Live a Happier and More Epic Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/24\/a-risker-life-is-a-better-life\/\">A Risker Life is a Better Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/22\/only-work-on-things-you-can-imagine-doing-for-eternity\/\">Only Work on Things You Can Imagine Doing for Eternity<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/21\/how-to-maximize-your-happiness\/\">How to Maximize Your Happiness<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/21\/influence\/\">Influence<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/20\/the-gladiator-makes-his-plans-once-he-enters-the-ring\/\">The Gladiator Makes His Plans once He Enters the Ring<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/15\/meditations-on-meaning-in-life\/\">Meditations on Meaning in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/10\/there-is-nothing-more-interesting-than-human-beings\/\">There is Nothing More Interesting than Human Beings<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/10\/is-hope-a-vice\/\">Is Hope a Vice?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/04\/why-ego-is-essential\/\">EGO<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/12\/03\/why-be-unique\/\">Why Be Unique?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/22\/happiness-is-metabolism-health-and-strength\/\">Happiness is Metabolism Health and Strength<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/11\/05\/youre-the-hero\/\">You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re the Hero<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/27\/is-productivity-a-virtue-or-vice\/\">Is Productivity a Virtue or Vice?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/26\/why-do-we-prize-the-rare\/\">Why Do We Prize the Rare?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/09\/20\/the-joy-of-uncertainty\/\">The Joy of Uncertainty<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/29\/how-should-i-best-use-my-time-and-life\/\">How Should I Best Use My Time and Life?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/26\/the-point-isnt-to-eliminate-all-forms-of-pain-and-suffering\/\">A Life Without Pain or Suffering Isn&#8217;t a Life Worth Living<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/25\/free-or-unfree\/\">Free or Unfree?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/05\/what-do-you-really-care-for\/\">What Do You Really Care For in Life?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/02\/how-to-never-become-satisfied-in-life\/\">Anti-Satisfaction in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/08\/01\/why-think-2\/\">Why Think?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/26\/the-eternal-return\/\">The Eternal Return<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/26\/only-do-what-is-best-for-you\/\">Only Do What is Best for You!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/21\/truthiness\/\">Truthiness<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/16\/why-be-happy-2\/\">Why Be Happy?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/15\/permissionless-living\/\">Permissionless Living<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/11\/in-praise-of-unconventional-wisdom\/\">In Praise of Unconventional Wisdom<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/11\/become-the-change-which-you-wish-to-see-in-the-world\/\">Become the Change Which You Wish to See in the World<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/06\/15\/happiness-2\/\">Happiness<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/07\/beyond-freedom\/\">Beyond Freedom<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/05\/04\/idolize-people-not-stuff\/\">Idolize People, Not Stuff<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/16\/what-makes-you-stronger-what-makes-you-weaker\/\">What Makes You Stronger? What Makes You Weaker?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/15\/why-hate\/\">Why Hate?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/12\/the-secret-of-happiness-2\/\">The Secret of Happiness<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/09\/youre-constantly-in-a-state-of-becoming\/\">You&#8217;re Constantly in a State of Becoming<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/07\/life-is-about-choices-not-obligations\/\">Life is about Choices, Not Obligations<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2019\/01\/03\/anti-nihilism\/\">Anti-Nihilism<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/22\/first-do-what-is-best-for-you\/\">First, Do What is Best for You.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/21\/live-dynamic\/\">Live Dynamic<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/12\/how-to-prosper-2\/\">How to Prosper<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/12\/01\/is-the-point-of-life-to-be-satisfied\/\">Is the Point of Life to Be Satisfied?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/27\/supreme-effort-of-will\/\">SUPREME EFFORT OF WILL.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/25\/how-to-become-more-idealistic\/\">How to Become more Idealistic<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/15\/thrivival-101-philosophy\/\">Thrivival 101<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/11\/02\/create-yourself\/\">Create Yourself<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/28\/non-small-philosophy\/\">Non-Small<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/25\/inspiration-philosophy\/\">Inspiration<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/24\/how-to-live-a-heroic-life-dare-the-heights-philosophy\/\">How to Live a Heroic Life: Dare the Heights!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/12\/human-augmentation\/\">Human Augmentation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/10\/prune\/\">Prune<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/09\/happiness-do-what-you-want-to-do-and-dont-do-what-you-dont-want-to-do\/\">Happiness: Do What You Want to Do (And Don&#8217;t Do What You Don&#8217;t Want to Do)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/05\/avoid-vain-empty-pursuits-in-life\/\">Avoid Vain (Empty) Pursuits in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/10\/04\/modern-slavery\/\">Modern Slavery<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/20\/kill-the-leeches\/\">Kill the Leeches<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/17\/wisdom-augmentation\/\">Wisdom Augmentation<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/11\/why-we-need-friction-in-life\/\">Why We Need Friction in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/10\/straight-line-philosophy\/\">Straight Line Philosophy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/05\/whats-your-end-game-in-life\/\">What&#8217;s Your End-Game in Life?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/09\/02\/create-your-own-happiness-today\/\">Create Your Own Happiness Today<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/30\/desire-both-pleasure-and-pain-in-life\/\">Desire Both Pain and Pleasure in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/27\/try-the-impossible\/\">Try the Impossible<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/19\/self-respect\/\">SELF-RESPECT<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/17\/anti-social-extrovert\/\">Anti-Social Extrovert<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/16\/never-blame-anybody-but-yourself\/\">Never Blame Anybody But Yourself<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/08\/human-flourishing\/\">Human Flourishing<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/02\/simpler-not-better\/\">Simpler, Not Better.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/08\/01\/how-to-be-free\/\">How to be Free<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/24\/embrace-the-extremes-philosophy\/\">Embrace the Extremes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/13\/cultivate-your-own-culture\/\">Cultivate Your Own Culture<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/12\/courage\/\">COURAGE.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/11\/thrivival\/\">Thrivival<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/03\/inner-power\/\">Inner Power<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/07\/01\/how-to-live-a-purposeful-life\/\">How to Live a Purposeful Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/29\/my-definition-of-happiness\/\">My Definition of Happiness<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/26\/change-is-good-philosophy\/\">Why Change is Good<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/Why-work\/\">Why Work?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/19\/96663\/\">How to Live the Happiest Possible Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/16\/the-two-pronged-approach-to-maximize-joy-in-your-life\/\">The Two-Pronged Approach to Maximize Joy in Your Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/13\/you-always-have-another-option\/\">You Always Have Another Option!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/11\/infinitism\/\">INFINITISM<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/11\/never-stop\/\">Never Stop!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/09\/what-is-your-self-directed-purpose-in-life\/\">What is Your Self-Directed Purpose in Life?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/06\/live-today-like-it-were-your-last\/\">Live Today Like it Were Your Last<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/06\/04\/do-you-photograph-to-live-or-live-to-photograph\/\">Do You Photograph to Live, or Live to Photograph?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/05\/18\/artist-philosopher\/\">ARTIST-PHILOSOPHER<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/27\/live-life-to-the-fullest\/\">Live Life to the Fullest!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/16\/in-praise-of-selfishness\/\">In Praise of Selfishness<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/15\/why-you-must-be-a-yay-sayer-to-succeed-in-entrepreneurship-and-life\/\">Why You Must Be a YAY-SAYER to Succeed in Entrepreneurship and Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/12\/why-i-love-walking\/\">Why I Love Walking<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/11\/live-life-like-a-video-game\/\">Live Life Like a Video Game!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/08\/simple-luxuries-in-life\/\">Simple Luxuries in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/04\/treat-your-life-like-a-fun-experiment\/\">Treat Your Life Like a Fun Experiment!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/04\/02\/only-prove-it-to-yourself\/\">Only Prove it to Yourself<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/23\/you-dont-always-need-to-feel-joyful-to-live-a-fulfilling-and-meaningful-life\/\">You Don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t Always Need to Feel Joyful to Live a Fulfilling and Meaningful Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/21\/life-is-too-short-to-be-bored\/\">Life is Too Short to Be Bored!<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/15\/money-cannot-destroy-boredom\/\">Money Cannot Destroy Boredom<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/11\/how-to-find-inspiration-in-life\/\">How to Find Inspiration in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/07\/why-you-must-ignore-haters-to-succeed-and-win-in-life\/\">Why You Must Ignore Haters to Succeed and Win in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/05\/an-active-life-is-a-happy-life\/\">An Active Life is a Happy Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/23\/my-simple-joys-in-life\/\">My Simple Joys in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/18\/never-stop-striving\/\">Never Stop Striving<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/11\/how-to-motivate-yourself-in-life\/\">How to Motivate Yourself in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/08\/how-to-be-optimistic-in-life\/\">How to Be Optimistic in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/02\/07\/how-to-dictate-your-purpose-in-life\/\">How to Dictate Your Purpose in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/06\/in-praise-of-a-dynamic-life\/\">In Praise of a Dynamic Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/27\/purpose\/\">PURPOSE.<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/16\/how-to-enjoy-life\/\">How to Enjoy Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/12\/12\/photography-therapy\/\">Photography Therapy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/28\/how-to-conquer-regret\/\">How to Conquer Regret<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/10\/03\/take-your-play-very-seriously\/\">Take Your Play Very Seriously.<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/28\/how-to-prosper\/\">How to Prosper<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/09\/26\/memento-vivere\/\">Memento Vivere<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/08\/destroy-in-order-to-create\/\">Destroy in Order to CREATE<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/08\/trust-your-body-more-than-your-mind\/\">Trust Your Body More Than Your Mind<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/06\/make-photos-to-make-meaning-in-your-life\/\">Make Photos to Make Meaning in Your Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/06\/seek-knowledge-not-information\/\">Seek Knowledge, Not Information<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/08\/03\/the-purpose-of-human-life\/\">The Purpose of Human Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/30\/how-to-overcome-impedence\/\">How to Overcome Impedence<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/25\/why-i-love-death\/\">Why I Love Death<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/23\/how-to-stay-centered-in-the-eternal-now\/\">How to Be Centered in the Eternal Now<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/07\/14\/how-to-be-happy\/\">How to Be Happy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/13\/why-do-you-care-what-others-think-of-you\/\">Why Do You Care What Others Think of You?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/11\/why-im-happy\/\">Why I&#8217;m Happy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/10\/why\/\">Why?<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/06\/05\/why-im-so-prolific\/\">Why I&#8217;m So Prolific<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2017\/05\/12\/how-to-reduce-lag-in-life\/\">How to Reduce LAG in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/masters-of-philosophy\/\">Masters of Philosophy&nbsp;\u00c2\u00bb<\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/seneca\/\">Seneca<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/marcus-aurelius\/\">Marcus Aurelius<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/publilius-syrus\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Publilius Syrus<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/personal-philosophy\/\">Personal Philosophy&nbsp;\u00c2\u00bb<\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/you-are-the-light-of-the-world\/\">You Are the Light of the World<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/your-soul-is-a-diamond-in-the-rough\/\">Your Soul is a Diamond in the Rough<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/why-live\/\">Why Live?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/stoicism\/\">Stoicism&nbsp;\u00c2\u00bb<\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/stoic-street-photographer\/\">How to Be a Stoic Street Photographer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/how-to-use-photography-as-self-therapy\/\">How to Use Photography as Self-Therapy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/free-soul-disturbance\/\">How to Free Your Soul From Disturbance<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/zen\/\">Zen Philosophy \u00c2\u00bb<\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/zen-street-photographer\/\">How to Be a Zen Street Photographer<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2015\/06\/10\/free-e-book-zen-in-the-art-of-street-photography\/\">Zen in the Art of Street Photography<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/2016\/07\/27\/how-to-find-tranquility-in-your-photography\/\">How to Find Tranquility in Your Photography<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/life\/\">Life Lessons&nbsp;\u00c2\u00bb<\/a><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/how-to-conquer-your-fears-in-life\/\">How to Conquer Your Fears in Life<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/conquer-yourself\/\">Conquer Yourself<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/focus\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to Focus<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Learn more: <a href=\"http:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/start-here\/\"><strong>Start Here &gt;<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A concept I learned from Nassim Taleb I find very practical in thinking about life: There will always be \u00e2\u20ac\u0153freak accidents\u00e2\u20ac\u009d (black swans, things that come out of nowhere) in reality. The benefit of studying the past \u00e2\u20ac\u201d realizing that so many people in the past are generally caught with their pants down before a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":74347,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-218774","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-posts"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/12\/8A8655C9-A190-4333-8D4B-C593313D0E16.jpeg?fit=1668%2C2224&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218774","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=218774"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218774\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":218803,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/218774\/revisions\/218803"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/74347"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=218774"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=218774"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/erickimphotography.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=218774"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}