Blind Can You Can

Author: rchen168

  • Trust Yourself in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

    Trust Yourself in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

    Artificial intelligence is making research faster, easier, and more convenient than ever. At times, it feels like AI is more capable than we are. But no matter how advanced technology becomes, there’s something it can never replace—our inner compass. Deep down, we often already know what’s right and what’s wrong. The real challenge is slowing down and listening to that voice within.

    Too often, we blindly follow advice from others. We punch our destination into a GPS and simply obey the directions without thinking twice. Somewhere along the way, we’ve stopped trusting ourselves and started letting technology tell us what to do.

    I’ll admit it—I’m guilty of this too. First, it was Google guiding my decisions. Now it’s ChatGPT helping me plan my next move. And it doesn’t stop with technology. I catch myself listening to other people’s advice just because I don’t want to be impolite, or because I don’t fully trust my own ideas. Sometimes I follow trends, go with whatever’s popular, or let social media opinions shape my decisions.

    The problem is, when we live like this, we lose sight of what truly matters. We drown in the noise and chaos until we can no longer see clearly. That’s when we need to turn on our fog lights—not literally, but mentally. We need to filter out the distractions, slow down, and focus on the road ahead. If that means pulling over to the side of the road to pause, reflect, and regain control, then so be it.

    What we shouldn’t do is blindly power through with other people’s ideas, beliefs, or shortcuts. Instead, we need to be true to ourselves. Deep down, each of us has an instinct—a survival instinct we were born with. It’s always there, waiting for us to tune back in. We’ve simply grown lazy, relying on technology and random influencers to tell us how to live.

    It’s time to flip that switch back on. Turn on your survival mode. Trust your instincts. Let them guide you where you truly need to be, because no amount of artificial intelligence, viral trends, or outside voices can replace your inner wisdom.

  • Finding Ambition: Moving Forward with Courage and Faith

    Finding Ambition: Moving Forward with Courage and Faith

    Sometimes you have to find that ambition—the assertive, “I know what I’m doing” attitude. Too often, we second-guess ourselves because we’re stuck processing all the “what if” scenarios in our minds.

    Think back to Avengers: Infinity War. Dr. Strange used his power to explore millions of possible futures, but he saw only one where they came out on top. He never told Tony Stark what it was, because if he did, it might not have happened. In Endgame, he finally revealed that crucial piece of truth at the moment it mattered most.

    In life, we want the same thing. We want to know the plan—the exact steps from point A to point B. While GPS works beautifully for driving, a life GPS isn’t always so helpful. Life is full of twists, turns, road closures, and accidents you could never predict. If you only depend on that “life GPS,” you’ll always be rerouting, loading, waiting—stuck in place.

    Instead, we need confidence that life itself is guiding us where we need to be. For those who are religious, that confidence may come from God’s presence and direction. For others, it may come from faith in themselves and the belief that persistence pays off. Whatever you call it—ambition, courage, confidence, or persistence—the point is simple: take the step forward.

    What’s the worst-case scenario? Rejection? Someone saying “no”? Missing out on what you wanted? That pain is temporary. What lasts much longer is the regret of never trying, of always wondering “what if?”

    As long as you move forward with the right mindset, right intentions, and right beliefs, things will fall into place. Iron Man didn’t know exactly how to defeat Thanos, but he continued on in good faith, driven by conviction and courage. In the end, he ended up where he needed to be.

    I walk that same path. I don’t always know the exact next step. I feel nervous and uncertain, just like anyone else. But I believe God is with me, guiding me to where I need to be. And that belief pushes me forward.

    So I encourage you: find your source of faith, guidance, and strength—whether it’s God, purpose, or self-belief. Let it fuel your ambition and give you the courage to step into uncharted waters. Move forward boldly. That is where growth begins.

  •  Breaking Free from the Trap of Comparison

     Breaking Free from the Trap of Comparison

    It is not easy to look at others and resist comparing ourselves. Social media has amplified this temptation beyond measure. With just a scroll, we are invited into curated glimpses of other people’s lives—glamorous vacations, sparkling new cars, dream homes, promotions, perfect family portraits, and endless celebrations. From the outside looking in, it feels as if everyone else is living a better life, as if they have figured out something we have not. The illusion is powerful, and it feeds into an unhealthy cycle of comparison and self-doubt.

    But for many of us, this comparison did not begin with social media—it started much earlier. I know because I grew up in an Asian household within a tight-knit Asian community. Comparison wasn’t just common; it was a way of life. Long before Facebook and Instagram existed, Asian moms had already created their own network of constant updates. They didn’t need an app; word of mouth spread quickly. Who bought the nicer car? Who moved into the better neighborhood? Who wore the more expensive outfit? These updates would pass through the grapevine like wildfire.

    It didn’t stop with material things. The real competition came with children. Whose kid got the highest grades? Whose kid got accepted into the better school? Whose child was more talented at piano, violin, or math competitions? The measuring stick was endless, and no matter how hard you tried, it always felt like someone else was one step ahead. It was exhausting. And when you grow up in that environment, you internalize it. The habit of comparison becomes second nature, shaping how you view yourself and your worth.

    As adults, this mindset doesn’t just go away. We carry it into our careers, our relationships, and our personal goals. If we are not careful, it becomes the lens through which we see everything. If we succeed, we downplay it because someone else has more. If we fail, we magnify it because it feels like proof that we are falling behind. And over time, this cycle doesn’t motivate us—it drains us.

    What I have learned, especially after becoming disabled, is that comparison is not only harmful, it is also meaningless. The gap between what I could once do and what others can do now feels enormous if I measure it by their achievements. If I looked at life that way, I would constantly feel like a failure. But here is the truth: envy is a sin, and comparison is a trap. The people we are comparing ourselves to are not thinking about us. They are not measuring themselves against us. They are too busy living their own lives. So why should we give them so much power over our own happiness?

    The only person worth comparing yourself to is yourself. Who were you yesterday, and who are you today? Did you grow, even in a small way? Did you take one step forward in your mindset, your habits, your patience, your kindness, your faith? These are the real markers of success. Improvement is not always about external accomplishments—it can be about becoming more resilient, more compassionate, or more grounded.

    This shift in perspective is not easy. It took me years to understand it, and it is still something I remind myself of daily. But once you break out of the cycle of comparison, you find freedom. You start to see that life is not a race and that your worth is not tied to how you measure up to others. You begin to appreciate your own path, no matter how different it looks from someone else’s.

    So here is the reminder: you are good enough. You do not need to prove your value by outshining someone else. Their story is not your story. Their timeline is not your timeline. As long as you keep improving, learning, and growing—even if only in small steps—you are moving in the right direction. And in that, you are already a winner.

  • When Life Reminds You Who’s Really in Control

    When Life Reminds You Who’s Really in Control

    It’s funny how some things in life feel like coincidences. Or maybe they’re not coincidences at all. Maybe life has a way of showing us exactly what we need to see, hear, or feel—right when we need it most.

    We see it in movies all the time. That magical incident that suddenly points someone to their true calling. And in real life, don’t we often ask for the same thing?
    “God, please give me a sign. Show me what I need to do, what I need to say, who I should marry.”

    And the crazy thing? The universe delivers. God delivers.

    This past Sunday, I walked into church carrying the heavy weight of my financial struggles—feeling like I had nowhere to run or hide. And wouldn’t you know it? The sermon was about living without control. About surrendering to God’s guidance because only He knows the path. Not a path free of pain, suffering, or hardship—but a path that leads us exactly where we’re meant to be.

    Maybe you’re not religious. That’s okay. Call it God, the universe, or just life—it still delivers signs. The question is: are you willing to listen?

    The answers we get aren’t always what we want. Often, the resistance we feel is because the truth runs directly against our desires. And yet, the lesson is the same: we don’t always get what we want in life.

    I teach this to my son all the time. No matter what social media influencers try to sell you or what the latest “manifest your destiny” book promises—you won’t get everything you want. Nobody does.

    Life has its balance. There will be pain, but there will also be joy. There will be suffering, but also freedom. God provides it all—the highs and the lows—because together, they shape us.

    So maybe the best move isn’t to fight for control but to let go. Let God, let the universe, let life take the driver’s seat. Because that’s how we eventually end up where we truly need to be.

  • When the Overwhelm Is Real: When You Need to Tap Out and Start Again

    When the Overwhelm Is Real: When You Need to Tap Out and Start Again

    What do you do when that overwhelming feeling isn’t just “I said yes to too many things” — it’s a full-on life crisis?

    Maybe you bought a house with a mortgage you can no longer afford because your job changed. Maybe you doubled down on a business or an investment and it went sideways — badly. Now the light at the end of the tunnel feels like a mirage. You can’t even take “one step at a time” because the path looks like a loose LEGO set with half the pieces missing.

    When the options really feel closed, sometimes the hardest and most practical choice is acceptance. Acceptance that something didn’t work out. Acceptance that you might need to take a loss. That could mean letting down a friend, disappointing your kids, or admitting to your church family that you’re struggling. Honesty in those moments is painful but also the best path forward — people usually respect the truth more than they respect perfection.

    There are situations where failure is on a bigger scale: a business that can’t be saved, a rental property that’s bleeding you dry, or a personal setback that feels insurmountable. I’m writing this while facing a couple of those exact realities. I know how paralyzing it is to stare at the paperwork and the what-ifs. I know the late nights and the churn of anxiety in your chest.

    Sometimes the most courageous move is to “tap out.” In jiu-jitsu, tapping means you accept the position and stop the fight so you can live to fight another day. It’s not surrender to weakness — it’s an intelligent decision to preserve your capacity for future battles.

    So what does “tapping out” look like in life?

    • It might mean closing a business and thinking through bankruptcy instead of sinking further.
    • It might mean selling a house at a loss to stop the monthly hemorrhage.
    • It might mean apologizing to people you’ve let down and explaining, honestly, what happened.

    There is no shame in choosing to stop the bleed. You’ll feel grief, disappointment, even failure — and you should. Those feelings are real and deserve space. But grief doesn’t have to be permanent. After the tap, you can rest, rebuild, and show up again.

    Ask yourself: do I want to go down with the ship, or do I want to survive and rebuild? Pride makes us want the heroic narrative where we push through and win against all odds. Reality sometimes says the heroic narrative is to cut losses, learn the lesson, and come back wiser.

    Remember: life isn’t fully under your control. There are storms, shifts, and forces beyond your plans. Letting go is not a moral failure — it’s often a strategic survival move. If this is your season to let go, do it with honesty, humility, and the intention to learn. Tap out. Breathe. And prepare to fight again — smarter, leaner, and stronger.