Life - Cole's Chronicle

Cole's Chronicle

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Life

A collection of 14 posts

The Silver Lining

The Silver Lining

Is a phenomenon we are surprisingly keenly aware of. The prospect of the sun is always more enticing than the reality of the storm. This selective attention has served humans well over time, encouraging perseverance in the face of adversity. But how useful is self-deception when we are solving for

Stories

Peer deep enough into the present and you’ll find there’s nothing solid to grasp. Like an endless pinch to zoom, “now” expands or contracts without ever resolving into a final unit–asymptotically approaching definition, but never quite intersecting. However ineffable moments are, our lives are made up of

Foreigner

To notice the particular shade of green of the oak leaves, the length of the silence between bird chirps, the uneven sensations of gravel beneath your feet–this is what it's like to be a foreigner: taking in all things as they would be totally new. To traverse

Thought

Every conscious action in history has one common thread: the prerequisite of thought. Every event–triumph or defeat, development or regression–was preceded by someone’s thought: “I would like to live here.” “What would happen if I put these together?” “This is uncomfortable.” Such thoughts lifted humans to the

Want

Here’s a universal problem: wanting something you haven’t yet acquired. We all carry unmet needs, unfulfilled desires. But are we ever truly unable to obtain them? Sure, we can’t fly, breathe underwater, or see through walls. But these are outside the realm of human possibility–we have

Being

The hum of life. The empty room, the open sky, the busy street. The compressed air filtering in, then back out of your nostrils. The weight of the bed, the chair, the ground, pushing back against yours. The steady throb of your body, blood pulsing through your veins. The buzz

Craft

Is the intentional elevation of the work at hand. It is deep, focused attention–total immersion in the task. Great products come from great craft, but great craft doesn’t come from great products. Craft is care for the process, not the result. It’s not skill, expertise, or talent.

Desire

That which propels us to succeed is also the obstacle. It is the fuel of life, the enemy of bliss–the spark of action, the thief of peace. The more we desire, the sharper our purpose, the deeper our discontent. There is no desire to manufacture or eliminate, nor should

Authenticity

Behind every windshield, pair of sunglasses, and social media profile there is, usually, a human being—someone who eats, sleeps, and poops just like you and I. They long for meaning and connection, but often lose sight of it. They say things they don't mean, and do things

Creativity is Overrated

Creativity is Overrated

Most “creatives” are dissatisfied people. They view the world through a critical lens, detecting problems where others see none. Recognizing flaws is their talent, but it often overshadows beauty. They are cynical of the moment, reserving hope only for a hypothetical future—a future of their own making. But even

Intention

We have very little control over our lives. The past has been written and the future is uncertain—The present is the only place where we have any jurisdiction. We have agency, but only in this moment. Presence, therefore, is the relinquishment of false control. It is the “serenity to

Attention

Throughout our days and lives, we cast our attention from one place to the next. We can be easily seduced by shiny objects, creating shallow, fleeting focus. But we can also find depth in meaningful relationships and work. Nonetheless, what we pay attention to becomes a reflection of who we

Omens

We are bombarded with information in our daily lives—a relentless flood of sights, sounds, and sensations. Yet the majority gets filtered out by our cognitive processes, leaving only what is deemed essential. But we shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the details. Dialing back our filters and paying

Routine

Life is unpredictable. Markets shift, technology advances, and people change. Unpredictability is part of life’s thrill, but too much can cause unnecessary stress. Routine can help alleviate this. Routine reduces variability and introduces consistency, but contrary to common thought, it is not inherently mundane. It can be a repetitive