The Art of Self

By Joshua Evans

This is a book of basic principles designed to bring to light the truer passions/gifts dormant within us all, and be a guide into flourishing said passions/gifts. Deep down we all want to achieve our dreams.... But training self isn't a formula to master...

It's an art form.

School is for a lot of people... but not everybody.

9-5 jobs are for a lot of people... but not everybody.

Deferring dreams has become acceptable to a lot of people... but not everybody.

This book is for YOU. The resilient dreamers. The ones who have made strides to bring their passions/gifts to fruition, but have met seemingly unconquerable obstacles not so much externally, but from within. Society has drilled into us that there is some mysterious formula of living out there somewhere that will help us be better at being us...

Not so, my friend, not so...

Humans are not such boring creatures as that.

Life is art.

WE are art.

And mastering self in order to manifest dreams is the highest art form.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Joshua Evans
• Release date: Feb 9, 2012
• ISBN: 9781466192287

Joshua Evans

Joshua M. Evans was born in Northridge, CA January 3rd, 1990 and raised in Pasadena, California. He began writing at the age of 8 years old in the form of short fiction stories, and spell checking his parents’ emails. At the age of fourteen he wrote a short story that was published in a nationwide magazine produced by Focus on the Family. At age fifteen he was introduced to poetry writing, during special training from an English professor, at an after school program he volunteered for in Pasadena. Joshua honed his writing skill over the years, and in the year 2008 performed a written piece for Mother’s Day at Hopes House Christian Church. His mastery over the English language, and creative use of metaphors was reflected in the emotional response of the congregation - every woman including his own mother was crying from pure joy by the time he finished, and he was asked for an encore performance for the following service. Joshua transferred to California State University, Northridge from Pasadena City College in the Fall of 2008, and by Fall of 2009 had changed his major from Public Relations to English with a Creative Writing emphasis. In Spring of 2010, Joshua continued to hone his writing while he attended a 6 month course at Youth With A Mission, which culminated in a missions trip to Haiti for two months. Upon his return, he promptly re-enrolled in school with a burning desire to use his overseas experience coalescing with his writing ability and influence with words to begin to change the world around him for the better. From the start of 2011, Joshua has been engaging in spoken word performances all around San Fernando Valley, including the LA hotspot "My First Fridays" (myfirstfridays.net). He was also a core cast member in a poetry play entitled "Poetry At The Cross" put on by TCJ Ministries, that returned for an encore performance due to popular demand. More recently he has been gracing stages at various open mics in the LA area, and joined forces with an up and coming power house, weekly open mic entitled "Lyrical Rhythms." Joshua has identified a common thread among people in modern society - particularly applicable to those pursuing their dreams and passions - they don’t know how to verbalize what their heart is trying to say. Joshua has seen how many people struggle representing themselves on paper, or clearly expressing their ideas and desires in a productive fashion. Joshua firmly believes in the inherent wordsmith in every individual soul, and is determined to aid people in letting it out in order to create a better society by positively transforming people. After being contracted for a few different jobs utilizing his verbal skills and language mastery, Joshua pursued his own dreams of merging business with pleasure, and his publicist skill with his writing skills and formed “The Lion Effect.” After that, the floodgates opened, and Joshua formed "InceptionPLUS" and began the process of penning comic books, inspirational books, and children's tales as well as recording his poetry for the masses to enjoy. Something is either being produced, or going through the process of production so be sure to stay plugged in! You never know what Joshua, The Wordsmith, is going to do next. “Use what you were given, for what you were given to do." ~The Wordsmith

Book preview

The Art of Self

By Joshua Evans

Copyright 2012 Joshua Evans

Smashwords Edition

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Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold

or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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Introduction

This is not a book full of explications on some new-aged, new fangled philosophy on life.

This is not an instructional booklet on how to live.

This is not a book of complexity...

What this book is, is a book of basic principles. That's it. The concepts and explanations may appear lofty due to their contrary and revolutionary nature, but in and of themselves they are the simplest of creatures.

I hope you are able to take away as much from reading this book, as I took learning them in my own life.

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Table of Contents

You Are (poem)

Dreams and Inspiration

Yin and Yang

Starting at 100

Inception

The Can't

Stay Hype

The Art of Self

About the Author

Sneak Peak (excerpt from upcoming book)

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You Are

I am power unrealized

I am dreams deferred

I am the idle wishes of the night

I am cries of passion unheard

I am you.

I am all capable

I can touch the ground with the sky

I have the innate ability to change the world

I've got more force than a Jedi

I am also you.

I ran the race well

I conquered my fears through belief

I was constantly made new

I can be stopped by no thing

I can be you.

Two mighty paths

Who is the catalyst for either?

Who gave birth to these dreams

Who is the father?

You are.

One path is fulfillment

The other is simply filling

Destiny is not elusive

But who is the only one who can bring her to life?

You are.

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Dreams and Inspiration

Basic Principle: Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember; you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world. ~Harriet Tubman

Dreams. Inspiration.

There is no mightier pair of forces that humanity has been gifted with. They are a part of each other. They constantly flow in and out of one another, reinforcing every aspect of the other and ushering along the tide of creativity and progression in the earth.

Dreams

The elaborate, somewhat magical script inscribed on your heart in a language that only you fully understand and can translate to the world.

A dream is always greater than one's present reality. Always. Elsewise, it would