Chapter XX: Internal Monologue

He asked, "Do you see the Big Picture?"

No, hard times have impaired your vision and enfeebled your defenses, haven't they?

You can't see beyond this dump of self-inflicted sadness?
I think you're in love.

With? With that state of unhappiness.

You've fallen for this idea of morons.
Why in the good lord's name?

Own up!
Quit this masochism.
Stop looking for excuses to be unhappy.

Just give me a reason.

Did you mess up?

Perhaps that's why you pull this droopy face.

Is that why the drained spirits?

Petty little man, you!

Why do you think you're the only one?

Don't.

What are you going to do? Whine?

Nobody's coming to sew your pieces back and put it all up together.

Understand that the chips are down.

Face it. Accept.

Don't whine!

Forget your mistakes.

Learn from them and then bury them under that willow.

You have to let go of them.

They shouldn't keep weighing you down forever.

You can't stay afloat with iron balls tied to your ankles.

No flight if you're caged, no soaring if shackled.

You built those walls, didn't you? Wreck them.

Let go.

Stop dwelling on how it's all slipping out of your grip.

Control what you can.

Be responsive, not reactive.

Unclog your mind. Empty that space occupied by thoughts that hold you back.

Move them out, throw them away.

Let go of the past.

Make new space.

Let the universe enter your mind.

Surrender. To its vastness. To this freshness. To the newness.

Feel light. Like gravity's gone.

Don't forget the Big Picture.

Even that dark cloud raining over you has a silver lining.

Think about it.

Think good, if not grand. Many tiny positive thoughts.

Cultivate them. Breed new patterns.

Don't live so constrained.

You'll miss out on all the fun.

What bothers you? Failure?

Face your fears.

Don't let them in up there.

You know who Failure's best friend is?

Self-doubt. Don't let it in either.

Shut it out.

Because if you don't, just know that it feeds on self-loathing.

Don't give it a chance.

Love yourself.

Be grateful. Be great.

Why let their machinations bother you?

Hunt them down. Block them out.

Do you know what really bothers Fear?

Hope. Yes, Hope.

That's the one thing Fear is fearful of.

Hold it close to your heart.

Never lose it.

It will repair your marred vision and strengthen your defenses.

You just have to let it fix you. 
Let it in and you'll see. 

It will dissolve those dark clouds of bewilderment.

It will make you believe in the Big Picture again.

You can count on it.