Scanlon Blogs

     If we got along with everybody, our lives would be much easier, and the world would be a different place.   Unfortunately, it is a fact of life that you neither are liked by everybody nor like everyone yourself.   Most people have at least one person in their lives that they can only tolerate, whether it be a family member, acquaintance, or co-worker.   Most of the time, this disliking stems from disagreeing with a particular aspect of the person; personality, actions, speech, etc.   Whatever the case, you may have experienced a moment where lashing out at the person seemed like a good idea.   It would certainly release some bottled emotions but is it worth it in the long term?      In my opinion, getting angry with someone you dislike does nothing to solve the problem.   In fact, the situation gets worse because the person then realizes how you feel.   This can create tension and an awkward environment, espe...

     Failure does not always determine whether or not an outcome is successful.  If we fail to reach a goal, it does not mean the fight is over.  We only fail if we choose to give up.  In most cases, it is not about the destination but the journey.  Throughout the journey, we learn and experience.  We retain the knowledge gained despite the outcome.  This, in my opinion, is a success in and of itself because it can lead to other successful ventures.      Quitting is what determines true failure.  Change is how we prosper in life.  By quitting, we are avoiding change that could potentially lead to success.  We neither learn from our mistakes nor experience new things.  More so, we become accustomed to the idea that quitting is okay.  This, in turn, can create difficulties later in life as you will continuously give up.      Success in life is not measured by the amount of wins a pers...

     A common trend among those who are single is the fear of being forever alone.  Societal pressures to be in a relationship, married and well-established by a certain age are at an all-time high.  People will often see their friends and family members go through this process and begin to worry.  What usually happens is they try to analyze why they are alone by nitpicking every 'imperfection' they have.  This is not only counterproductive but also damaging, both mentally and emotionally.  We lose confidence when we choose to tear ourselves down.  Self-love diminishes, and we are left saddened, disheartened, and fearful.  Rather than looking for solutions, we wallow in our own self-pity and desperately search for someone to fill in the void.  Fortunately, there is a solution, self-love.  Searching for love only gets you so far and provides few results when self-love is low.      How can you expect love t...

     We need to be reminded of the good life has to offer from time to time.  Stress can lead to resenting the gift of life.  We often forget the positives when focused on daily responsibilities or when going through tough times.  Life is a roller coaster of highs and lows.  It is important to cherish the good times and not let the bad times ruin your optimism.  The grass is always greener on the other side no matter what life throws your way.      It is the little things in life that bring us joy.  Think about something that makes you happy.  Maybe it is having dinner with your family, spending time with your significant other, or a hobby.  These simple pleasures are much more important than we make them out to be.  Often times, they are what help us unwind from a long day's work, relieve stress, or wash away our anxiety.  They give us something to look forward to, providing comfort in the process. ...

     Success comes in many forms and is relative to the individual.  We are all trying to make it through life as best we can and are fighting battles every day.  Our success is measured by our perseverance.  We push towards making a difference to benefit our well-being.  Take drug addicts and alcoholics, for example, who go through a rehabilitation program to get their lives back in order.  To them, this is a success, because they are better off than they were previously.  People on the outside may see this as a success as well.  Others may judge them and say their success is just fixing the mistakes they made in life.  Whatever side of the spectrum you might lean on, both opinions lead to the same conclusion.  These people are doing something to change their lives which will most likely lead to living a happier life.      People tend to compare their success in life with that of someone else’s.  The rea...

     The worst decision a person can make is to give up on a dream, goal, or achievement.  We are capable of success, but it can come at a cost.  Whether it be loss of free time, sleep, or putting one's social life on the back burner, chances are one will be affected.  So, why do people lose their drive to succeed?  In my opinion, there are two reasons, comfort, and responsibility.      When people are comfortable, they may question why they would want to spend extra energy working towards a goal.  Now, I am not saying that comfortable people do not reach for the stars.  I am, however, saying this type of thinking can be present in the back of their minds, making it difficult to work towards a goal.  subconsciously, they believe their lives are good enough.  They do not need to put themselves through something strenuous unless they choose to do so.  Some allow these thoughts to hold them back, preventing ...

     Throughout my life, I have noticed people are often quick to follow someone else's lead.  The older I became, the more I realized this behavior was linked to comfort.  Of course, there is nothing wrong with wanting to be comfortable, but it is often used as an incentive to benefit those who seek power, opportunity, and control.  When someone or something provides comfort to others, the people who "benefit" will defend the source.  They believe they are better off as a result of this source, and as such, they will do whatever they need to do to maintain it.  Sometimes, this can mean suppressing one's own thoughts, opinions, and beliefs.  Some are afraid to discuss their views as a result of violence, hatred, and propaganda.  Speaking up could run the risk of being ridiculed, judged, being subject to violence, and most noticeably, losing a structured, comfortable livelihood.      Basic human rights dictate people h...