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M o n d a y M o r n i n g M o t i v a t i o n W i t h M i k e #53
(yeah, I know it’s not the morning anymore, appreciate your patience, this one is important and it took me awhile)

“The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane.”
– Marcus Aurelius

In a world increasingly shaped by fear-mongering and sensationalism, it has become all too easy to be swept away by the tide of extremists. The loudest voices—whether in the media, on social platforms, or within political movements— often succeed not because they offer substance or truth, but because they masterfully manipulate emotions.

Let me remind you of an old saying that also happens to be a favorite of mine,
“The loudest one in the room is usually the weakest one in the room”

Just a quick heads up, today is gonna get hot and heavy. But before I potentially piss you off, can I ask for a quick and easy favor from you beautiful people😬😂😘?

Each year, since my brother from another mother Brandon’s passing, his family and close friends have gone out and laid wreaths at Fort Sam Cemetery in San Antonio, where he is buried, collaborating with Wreaths Across America. We need your donated dollars to help our cause, click the picture to check out our worthy cause and purchase some wreaths, please! Sincere and genuine gratitude in advance, really appreciate you.

It’s easy to follow the crowd. It’s comfortable to conform, to agree with the loudest voices, and to seek validation through the majority’s approval.

It’s tempting to go along with it all, to avoid the discomfort of questioning what everyone else seems to just blindly accept.

We see people enthusiastically supporting various causes and figures, sometimes to the point of fanaticism—so much so that their critical thinking gets lost in the noise. There’s a difference between making a considered choice and mindlessly cheering for a side.

There's a difference between posting proudly about political candidates or movements and blindly supporting them without ever questioning or understanding their full implications.

We live in a time where passionate support for causes, figures, or ideologies is often more about identity than substance. Too many of us feel pressure to post our allegiance but for what and why?

Are we genuinely that proud of our candidates? Because I see little to nothing to be PROUD of. And no, I’m not referring to those of us who will just silently vote for who we see as the lesser of the two evils.

The way I see it…

Those of us wearing the obnoxious hats on our heads, waving the ridiculous flags from our vehicles, posting the unnecessary signs in our yards **about these two candidates**, and shouting on social media, you either:

• A.) Have fallen victim to the fear-mongering, sensationalist media pumping you full of nonsense, fanning the flames of your own biases that are fueled by your own insecurities causing you to react rather than reflect.

  Not your fault, it happens to the best of us. We all have our own insecurities and biases, the key is to not let the media take advantage of them and allow it to fog our clarity and blind us from our principles and values. This takes genuine, concerted effort on our end to be fully self-aware, or you will fall victim to it.

• B.) Are lacking serious intelligence.

  This is your fault, we have way too much information readily available to us at the tip of our fingers, you just have to take initiative, do your own research, study it all with an open mind, and ensure it’s been gathered from a neutral, unbiased source/site(FOX and MSNBC are NOT those).

  OR

• C.) Are so immature that you want to just stir the pot and rile up the other side for whatever weird ass reason.

  I have no additional words for you…

Listen, I know some of that may be a bit harsh but I'm tired, y'all.

Let me be clear though, if you’ve fallen into category “A.)”, I don’t blame you. It’s hard to escape the panic-inducing, over-dramatization media outlets that seem to invade every corner of our lives.

In such an environment, it’s not difficult to find yourself cheering for causes or figures simply because they speak to your fears or affirm your biases.

Especially if we just want to feel safe and belong.

Understand this though, that is their target audience.

The left and the right may appear to be in constant opposition, but both sides use similar tactics to manipulate emotions, rally support, and drown out opposing viewpoints. If we aren’t careful, we can be bamboozled into believing that the only choices are with the extremists, when in reality, the most profound truths often lie in the spaces that connect us rather than divide us.

Choosing to think independently doesn’t mean standing against everyone else just for the sake of it. It’s about seeking clarity over consensus, substance over spectacle, and wisdom along with authenticity over applause.

Let me say that again for the people in the back:

“It’s about seeking clarity over consensus, substance over spectacle, and wisdom along with authenticity over applause”

It doesn’t mean you won’t still experience fear. It’s about moving forward in the face of fear. In spite of it.

Its about standing up and speaking out no matter how bad your knees may tremble or how bad your voice may shake.

It comes down to this, are you making your own decisions, or are you just a pawn in someone else’s game?

The world needs more leaders who are willing to carve their own path and fewer followers who simply echo what they’ve been told, or sold.

The real challenge—and perhaps the real freedom—lies in the middle, independent of either side, where clarity and critical thinking reside.

Dare to be different. Choose your own way. Live life on your own terms

It’s time to make free thinking cool again, and to operate with purpose.

Purpose and principle over popularity, please.

Thanks for reading, y’all, hopefully I didn’t ruffle too many feathers. Really appreciate you! If this resonated with you, please feel free to SHARE it to with your friends and family!

And please never forget:

The success of your life and the overall health of your mind, body and soul have nothing to do with what goes on OR who is in the White House. Nothing. It has everything to do with what goes on in YOUR house. Wake up stronger each and every day and lead your family.

Much love, mi gente!

- Mike O’Hara

PS

Please don’t forget to purchase some wreaths for the cemetery so we can help cover every headstone, honoring our veterans and providing some comfort for their loved ones during the holiday season!

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