I often doubt the people who claim they have the answers. Call me a hipster. Call me a contrarian. Call me, Shirley. You should doubt what I have to say too. What the hell do I know? I'm just a guy who grapples, draws, writes and throws rocks on the beach. So, what truths have I obtained? I believe I've gained a little wisdom in my 32 years. Everyone has their own conception of reality. Where does one get truth?
I once had an art professor in college who claimed he had nothing to teach. He said he merely professed to know things. I don't completely understand what this gallery owner and professor meant. I think he meant that his classroom was a place for him to help guide us. It wasn't a place to go into, and believe everything. It was a place to question things, work through ideas and experiment.
I have a few voices I respect above all others. Jordan Peterson is one of them. I'm currently reading his latest book, "12 Rules for Life: an Antidote to Chaos". If you haven't read it then do yourself a favor, and do it. I look to people from many different disciplines for guidance. Everybody has something to offer. There's gold out there in the minds of all.
There's also shit out there in the minds of all. It is important to acknowledge this, and throw it away in a doggy bag.
Here is a list of things people do that should help you to discern they're full of shit...
1. They talk about their past incessantly.
2. They talk about how great they are.
3. They always have excuses for why things aren't going their way.
4. They live in a state of chaos.
5. They want to bring you down to their level.
These are things that I notice about people. We have both gold and shit in us. It's the great cosmic balance of life. So when you go out there, and go digging for knowledge be aware. The brick in your hand may be beautiful bullion or it may be a turd!