The 13 Things mentally strong people avoid

kushandwizdom:

1. Waste Time Feeling Sorry for Themselves. You don’t see mentally strong people feeling sorry for their circumstances or dwelling on the way they’ve been mistreated. They have learned to take responsibility for their actions and outcomes, and they have an inherent understanding of the fact that frequently life is not fair. They are able to emerge from trying circumstances with self-awareness and gratitude for the lessons learned. When a situation turns out badly, they respond with phrases such as “Oh, well.” Or perhaps simply, “Next!”

2. Give Away Their Power. Mentally strong people avoid giving others the power to make them feel inferior or bad. They understand they are in control of their actions and emotions. They know their strength is in their ability to manage the way they respond.

3.    Shy Away from Change. Mentally strong people embrace change and they welcome challenge. Their biggest “fear,” if they have one, is not of the unknown, but of becoming complacent and stagnant. An environment of change and even uncertainty can energize a mentally strong person and bring out their best.

4. Waste Energy on Things They Can’t Control. Mentally strong people don’t complain (much) about bad traffic, lost luggage, or especially about other people, as they recognize that all of these factors are generally beyond their control. In a bad situation, they recognize that the one thing they can always control is their own response and attitude, and they use these attributes well.

5. Worry About Pleasing Others. Know any people pleasers? Or, conversely, people who go out of their way to dis-please others as a way of reinforcing an image of strength? Neither position is a good one. A mentally strong person strives to be kind and fair and to please others where appropriate, but is unafraid to speak up. They are able to withstand the possibility that someone will get upset and will navigate the situation, wherever possible, with grace. It takes much practice to hone mental strength

6. Fear Taking Calculated Risks. A mentally strong person is willing to take calculated risks. This is a different thing entirely than jumping headlong into foolish risks. But with mental strength, an individual can weigh the risks and benefits thoroughly, and will fully assess the potential downsides and even the worst-case scenarios before they take action.

7. Dwell on the Past. There is strength in acknowledging the past and especially in acknowledging the things learned from past experiences—but a mentally strong person is able to avoid miring their mental energy in past disappointments or in fantasies of the “glory days” gone by. They invest the majority of their energy in creating an optimal present and future.

8. Make the Same Mistakes Over and Over. We all know the definition of insanity, right? It’s when we take the same actions again and again while hoping for a different and better outcome than we’ve gotten before. A mentally strong person accepts full responsibility for past behavior and is willing to learn from mistakes. Research shows that the ability to be self-reflective in an accurate and productive way is one of the greatest strengths of spectacularly successful executives and entrepreneurs.

9. Resent Other People’s Success. It takes strength of character to feel genuine joy and excitement for other people’s success. Mentally strong people have this ability. They don’t become jealous or resentful when others succeed (although they may take close notes on what the individual did well). They are willing to work hard for their own chances at success, without relying on shortcuts.

10. Give Up After Failure. Every failure is a chance to improve. Even the greatest entrepreneurs are willing to admit that their early efforts invariably brought many failures. Mentally strong people are willing to fail again and again, if necessary, as long as the learning experience from every “failure” can bring them closer to their ultimate goals.

11. Fear Alone Time. Mentally strong people enjoy and even treasure the time they spend alone. They use their downtime to reflect, to plan, and to be productive. Most importantly, they don’t depend on others to shore up their happiness and moods. They can be happy with others, and they can also be happy alone.

12. Feel the World Owes Them Anything. Particularly in the current economy, executives and employees at every level are gaining the realization that the world does not owe them a salary, a benefits package and a comfortable life, regardless of their preparation and schooling. Mentally strong people enter the world prepared to work and succeed on their merits, at every stage of the game.

13. Expect Immediate Results. Whether it’s a workout plan, a nutritional regimen, or starting a business, mentally strong people are “in it for the long haul”. They know better than to expect immediate results. They apply their energy and time in measured doses and they celebrate each milestone and increment of success on the way. They have “staying power.” And they understand that genuine changes take time. Do you have mental strength? Are there elements on this list you need more of? With thanks to Amy Morin, I would like to reinforce my own abilities further in each of these areas today. How about you?

Source

(via kushandwizdom)

elffyspictures:

First Roll · Yashica-D
Published 6.24.18

  • Yashica-D
  • Yashikor 80mm 3.5
  • HP5 (fresh)

Acquisition
This was sort of an impulse buy, I was researching Yashica-D colors on e-Bay.  I saw this one pop up that was purchased at an estate sale, and the dude didn’t know if it worked so he had it listed at about ½ what they normally go for.  Since he couldn’t state if it was in working condition, I low-balled, and much to my surprise he took that crazy low-ball offer, I was obligated to pay. That statement ‘I was obligated to pay’ is a shitty way of saying I shouldn’t really have bought this in the first place.  It’s grey though … shit how could I pass it up.  ‘I was obligated to pay’.

History and Features
Yashima Seiki Seisakusho the company was opened in 1945 in Nagano.  They took the first four letters of the company name Yashima, and the first two letters of the word camera to come up with their product brand name Yashica.  Looks like the Yashica-D was made between 1958-1971.  Based on the serial number this example dates to 1959.

The Yashica-D is a TLR camera that shoots 120 film in 6x6 format.  The camera features a knob winding film advance a shutter from B to 500, aperture from 3.5 to 22, a proper film counter, a PC sync terminal with M or X sync, a self timer, and tripod bush.

Appearance
This Yashica-D is quite a looker.  They also come in a variety of colors, with a  variety of leatherette coverings.  This one is painted black on all of the exposed metal edges, and the covering is light grey.  On top of the waist level finder is the Y logo in some blocked serif font.  Overall the Yashica-D is like a smartly dressed Japanese salary man from the late fifties.

The layout of the controls on the Yashica-D are similar to many TLRs using a knob advance.  Starting on the right side, are the film advance knob, and the focus knob.  On the front standard you can find all of the exposure controls.  The Yaschia-D uses attractive black painted knobs for the shutter and aperture control.  The knobs also have small brown metal covers over the set screws, inset with a silver circle. On the top of the lens standard is a small window to look down into to see the values for the shutter and aperture.  The values are labeled with white paint on either side of the window.  Also on the lens standard are a cocking lever, MX switch, and self timer levers.  The shutter cock, m/x switch, and self timer are color coded with tiny dots of paint Green, Yellow, and Red respectively.  Finally in the upper right hand corner is the PC sync terminal, and in the lower left corner is the shutter button.

The left side of the camera has a cold shoe, and the knobs to hold the takeup and film supply.  The bottom has the back lock, and tripod bush.  There is nothing on the back it’s a plain sheet of grey leatherette.

Usage
Flip up the top of the camera to reveal the ground glass, push on the front of the hood by the Y logo to push out the focusing loupe.  Look through the loupe for critical focus, or flip it back to look down on the ground glass.  The loupe on the Yashica-D creates a little barrel distortion, I don’t see this barrel distortion on the resulting photos though.  So I think it’s just the loupe.  Using a TLR is one of the best experiences ever.  I highly recommend it.  At first it is weird and the mirror can be slightly frustrating but using Ground Glass (http://elffyspictures.tumblr.com/post/142244501151/groundglass) is the best!  

Handling the Yashica-D is pretty straightforward.  Film loading is pretty standard for a TLR, film supply on the bottom, and take up on the top, line up the arrows and close the back.  Once loaded the film advance knob has a catch button on the center, you have to press the button to allow the film advance knob to turn.  Once the knob starts turning you can release the button, and the knob will *click* into place when you reach the next frame.

Setting the aperture and shutter are accomplished by turning the dials on the front and looking in the window at the top of the front standard.  Inside the windows are two dials that show the shutter speed, and chosen aperture.  The shutter scale uses the old school shutter numbers B, 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 250, 500.

The Yashica-D does not have double-exposure protection, you can click the shutter over and over again on the same frame.  This is because the film advance and shutter cocking are not coupled.  This gives the camera a little extra workflow to go through.  Taking a picture comes with a few steps.  1) Make you aperture and shutter settings. (black dials)  2) Cock the shutter. (the lever with the green paint, above the shutter button) 3) Compose/Focus. (knob on the right side of the camera) 4) hit the shutter! 5) Advance the film.  To make a double-exposure skip step 5 and repeat 1-5.

This workflow is very similar on many cameras that don’t have a coupled advance/cock.  It can be off putting for SLR users who are used to a simple throw of the lever to do both operations.  There are dozens/hundreds of old cameras that operate this way, getting this workflow down will open up all of those possibilities for you.

Yashica-D was available to with two different lens sets; Yashikor, and Yashinon both 80mm 3.5.  My model looks to be early so it has the Yashikor set, it seems only the newest models with very late serial numbers have the Yashinon set.  With that said, I’ve seen a lot about the discussion on the lens sets claiming the Yashinons as superior.  Fuck all that.  If I were given two prints I wouldn’t be able to identify which lens made it.  You may not be able to either.  Which i’m bringing to a point.  The hero of the Yashica TLR line is the Yashicamat 124-G.  Most people would abandon the model D for the 124-G.  The model D is a great unsung hero in this regard, and also a great value.  As people value it less, they let them go for much cheaper prices than the 124-G.

The resulting photos from the Yashica-D are nice.  Similar to a Rolleicord 3 or 5.  At the 3.5 (wide open) aperture you get a little vignetting in the extreme corners.  Vignetting may be visible at 4 or 5.6, (I didn’t shoot any photos at 4 or 5.6) but is completely gone at 8.  The overall photos seem acceptably sharp edge to edge.  I’m happy with my Yashica-D purchase, it’s a great TLR.

PROS

  • Produces high quality photos
  • Ground glass experience
  • Great build and appearance

CONS

  • The critical focusing loupe is a little whack
  • old school shutter scale - (in fairness though this is an older model) I’ve seen newer models with the new school scale

reynabiddy:

“don’t be afraid to distance yourself from everyone + everything and recoup. sort out your thoughts. listen to your heart. breathe. read a book. write about how much your life has sucked - then write about how much you can’t wait to see the positive changes. relearn yourself. accept all the hurt you’ve been through. forgive anyone and everyone who’s hurt you. even if that means doing it within, and never physically or verbally reaching out. let go. & rejuvenate. take a step away from the chaos, and find peace. within.”

— Reyna Biddy

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g1988:

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