Life is hard, and, at times, it can be VERY hard!
What do these times look like, and how do we cope with them?
I am friends with some really REALLY cool people in data science. Some of them have HUGE followings - they are VERY popular AND very good at what they do!
However, there are things that they and I all have in common.
All face emotional battles that you might not imagine.
This post is intended to help ALL of you feel less alone with regard to the emotional and physical and social pains that we ALL feel often times.
All of these friends struggle with:
1) Feeling "Looked Over",
2) Being scorned for trying to help,
3) Being insulted by some troll,
4) Being insulted by an entire group,
5) Not getting their due when their material is truly great, ...
I could go on, and none of that was perfectly worded.
I can say that the absolute hardest thing can be when you are NOT appreciated by those you care about the most.
There's only one ULTIMATE way that I have been able to cope with the pains of life and career. KNOW WHAT YOU LIVE FOR!
* If you do NOT know what you should live for, seek to discover it.
* If you are living for yourself, I can assure you that won't last long if you are honest with yourself.
* Even if you START with SOME purpose, it's OK to refine or change it as you gather more evidence from life to find a better purpose.
* Even if ^2 your FIRST PURPOSE choice isn't the best, you can use that to at least motivate you to continue to learn and grow.
You will learn what to do, according to that purpose, and grow by trying what you've learned - the feedback from seeking that purpose will teach you how to refine OR better understand your PURPOSE.
One VERY successful friend that I have calls this "Your North Star".
If you remember the movie "City Slickers", you'll remember Curly calling it "The One Thing".
Find your "One Thing" - Your Purpose, and keep learning and growing to better seek that ONE PURPOSE of yours.
There is NOTHING better to help you cope with the pains and trials and defeated feelings in life.
Do take breaks, but once you're recovered, CONTINUE to pursue that "One Thing" or at least refine it first and then continue.
Until next time, Thom