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Matt Hogan's Blog Posts

Utilizing The Self In Self-Worth

Published on July 11, 2022

Self-worth isn’t something you find in another person.

Self-worth is something you find in your-self.

You might find borrowed validation, temporary belonging, and fleeting feelings of encouragement from others.

But, once that fades or situations change, you’ll be left feeling unworthy and craving those external sources all over again—they become a crutch.

This isn’t to say that external sources of validation, encouragement, and belonging aren’t useful. They most certainly are—especially at the earliest stages of our development when we’re trying to figure out who we are and how to act.

But, there needs to be a point where we move from being dependent on them, to being independent and able to create our own feelings of validation, encouragement, and belonging.

And everlasting, self-sustaining sources of self-worth come from a careful, deliberate, internal watering of the seeds of our identity. It comes from the inner work where we confront the question of who we are (or who we are not) and all of the associated questions that piggyback with it.

And with the help of others, inner work, and enough time—our roots will eventually entrench themselves deep enough into our mind’s soil so that the trunk and branches of our identity will be able to reach freely towards the heavens without any need of crutches or support from anything else.

But, without the inner work—without the work we do our-self—we will be forever tied to the crutches that were only there for temporary support and those external sources of strength will become one of our biggest sources of inner weakness.

Character Confessions

Published on July 10, 2022

A person’s highlight reel, them in a good mood, how they act on a date or in a business environment, etc. all give off superficial impressions.

Want to really get to know somebody?

Watch closely to how they:

  • Act when they’re angry
  • Handle genuine mistakes
  • Respond to losing an argument
  • Treat people less fortunate than them
  • Talk about people who aren’t there

These are the real confessions of their character.

The Real Leaders

Published on July 9, 2022

Those who know how to renew love in spite of it all—

…even after hate

…even after tragedy

…even after heartbreak

—are the real leaders (and gems) of our society.

Obsessed [Poem]

Published on July 7, 2022 
Obsessed with it all
That’s why I won’t settle

Not until every nook
And every cranny
Of every day

Is composed of moments
I can’t wait to recall

The Catch-22 of Likability

Published on July 6, 2022

The more time you spend thinking about how you can get other people to like you…

The less time you’ll be able to spend thinking about how you can become someone you like.

And here’s the catch-22.

The more time you spend becoming someone YOU like… the more likely other people will like you.

And the more time you spend trying to be someone who is liked… the less other people will end up liking you.

Less For Less Anxiety

Published on July 5, 2022

Wanna know why you feel anxious?

Too many open processes.

You’re doing too much; thinking too much; taking on too much.

What you need is a healthy dose of less.

Less obligation. Less running around. Less distraction.

So that you can focus more on closing what’s already open.