How to be Awesome

First a description on what Awesomeness is and what it is not…

Awesomeness is NOT related to things you own or how you look or how much money you have or how many things you did.
Awesomeness is ENTIRELY composed of your behavior, attitude, and the effect you have on your surroundings.

1- DON’T TAKE ANY LEVEL OF YOURSELF TOO SERIOUSLY
None of it. That means: don’t be a pious jerk about your accomplishments or good deeds, and don’t be a brooding emo twit about your problems. Understand both for what they are: Good things you should be doing regardless of circumstances, and bad things that happen and/or bad feelings you have outside of your control. Don’t glorify either end of the spectrum.

He who is a drama queen, is not he who is awesome…
You can’t be awesome without a sense of levity in this cruel and serious world.

Remember Solomans ring… King Soloman wants to always be on his game so he goes to his wise men and assigns them with forging him a magic ring that will lift him up when he is down and ground him when he gets arrogant. The wise men inscribe on a totally-not-magical loop of metal with the following totally-kindov-magical words: “this too shall pass”. Remembering those words is a prerequisite to awesomeness. If you think your good fortune makes you superior – bear in mind that it is temporary. If you think your troubles are fathomless and life is hopeless – remember that it is temporary. Good things will happen. Bad things will happen. Do not place false longevity on either one. BE

2- BE SELFLESS
Yes, it might sound odd at first coming from King Richard of Richardland, but remember that that title is a manifestation of Rule #1… The satire within my Richardland persona, even if it was a display of how I really think about myself and the world (in reality it’s a method of “illustrating absurdity by being absurd”) would still not be an example of anti-selflessness. Be as self absorbed as you want – just keep it within your own realm. Proclaim you’re great at the things you’re great at, don’t bother with the nonsense of false humility, and value your worth reasonably and positively – but remain selfless in terms of your actions and attitude.

That means making sure everyone has gotten more than their fill before ganking the last slice of pizza, spotting those in emotional distress and helping them out of their ruts, and generally approaching situations without a “me first” attitude based on your own desires and goals. They are to be considered, but not given automatic dog-like preference or superiority over others.

3- DO THINGS
No one can be awesome simply by thinking it. Thou must affect the world around them. Specifically: Other human beings… Help them. Pay forward the help you receive. Fight the forces of evil not just in theory, but in practice. Self control is a minimum standard… Restrain yourself from the negative impulses our reptilian brains constantly tempt us toward. Beyond that: go the next few steps. Sometimes you’ll be burned. Know the risk and risk anyway. Remember the mantra from Mother Theresa to “do it anyway” and awesomeness is yours…

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway.

The last part is most important, even if like me you are not religious. If you believe in a divine Creator then strive every day to make them proud. If you believe we’re unintelligently designed collections of carbon mass then appeal to your higher-primate intellect and make your damn-self proud. Win the game.

Be awesome not in service to anyone else’s approval or acceptance.
Be awesome so that when you are shunned, cheated, short-changed, bested, and generally kicked-in-the-nuts by life – you can sleep soundly with the resolve that you did the right thing and you did your best.

That’s all it takes to be awesome.