Just because we hear something -- over and over and over, in varying forms and in numerous venues -- does not mean it is true.

Indeed, propaganda's most powerful resource is repetition. Until we get to the point of asking ourselves, "How do I know this? Who told me this is so?" we are in danger of believing anything, simply because we hear it all the time.

One of these false messages is a bulwark of American society: keep trying, keep at it, work harder and smarter until you succeed, because nobody likes a quitter! ("Just keep swimming! Just keep swimming!") If you start reading a book, finish it.

Now while this sounds true -- perseverance is an excellent quality -- this particular twist on the truth (and that's what good lies are -- twists on the truth), gives the message that ultimately, it's all up to us. If we don't make it, it's because we didn't work hard enough. If we fall short of the goal, it's because we stopped running. If we failed, it's because . . . we are failures.

But we are not failures: we are human beings, and by virtue of being human beings, we are not gods. We do not exert complete and absolute control over our circumstances, the weather, and the actions of other people (this latter attitude aptly described as "manipulation"). Some days, despite the size of our truck and the skill of our hands on the wheel, we cannot drive from Point A to Point B, for the simple reason that the roads are icy, and navigating them -- no matter how positive our attitude -- is . . .  stupid.

Fighting with a tsunami generally results in the tsumani winning. Wrestling with a grizzly bear -- even if we feel supremely confident and refuse to give up, no matter what -- is unwise. No matter how amazing, how hard working, how "smart," how incredible we are or see ourselves as being (or insist that we must be), we at some point in our journey reach the limit to what we can physically do.

This is where wisdom steps in: when we recognize that though we cannot do everything we set our minds upon to do (for no other reason than that we set our minds upon doing it) we do keep walking forward. We just may find ourselves in a different locale than where we thought we would be, but this isn't necessarily bad. Indeed, the very circumstances we deny because they do not fit into our plans, may very well be the means of our getting, ultimately, where we really want to go.

The image above is Steve's painting, Opalescent Sea. It embodies this idea that all is not in our control, because the sea itself is a mighty force that we cannot contain, dominate, and bend to our wills.  We can mess around with it and give ourselves the illusion that we rule, but eventually, the ocean wins. It's encouraging, actually, knowing that we don't have to do it all. This gives us the ability to direct our precious energy in an appropriate and worthy direction, fully using our capabilities, because we're not demanding that those capabilities exceed reality.

Opalescent Sea is available as an original oil painting, as well as a print at Amazon, Walmart, Great Big Canvas, Wayfair, and Art.com.

Find a generous selection of Steve's licensed prints at these online retailer sites: