Lately, I’ve found myself to be under a lot of pressure. To the majority of the people that know me, I’m one pretty talented guy. But with that honor, comes a tremendous amount pressure. Meeting the expectations of others can get difficult at times, not even beginning to factor in those that you have for yourself. No. It’s a struggle being talented with potential in a self-centered society. However, Pressure when applied correctly, can be a beautiful thing. So, I had a talk with the big man up top, because I had questions about all this pressure I was under, and diamonds is where he took me. Yep, Diamonds. I know, I know…”Where are you going with this Tone?” lol. Well…
A diamond, as defined by Webster’s, is a native crystalline carbon that is the hardest known mineral, that is usually nearly colorless, that when transparent and free from flaws is highly valued as a precious stone, and that is used industrially especially as an abrasive. It is so hard, that it is used as an industry abrasive! . It has to go through four stages to before it is created into diamonds we purchase from the store. Here’s how the process goes….roughly:
Float with me on this.
Step one is the burying process; the “struggle” as we like to call it. But this is the most crucial part of the process. I mean, it’s the beginning of the entire process. Materials that already contain carbon dioxide provide the carbon source needed to create the diamond. “Everything you need, you already have”. Whenever He decides it’s time for you to start transforming from a “carbon containing material” into a diamond, the process begins. He has already planted the dream, the passion, the talent...it’s already been put into you. But in order to pull it out, you must first be buried. Pulled away from any and everything that could cause any impurities to the showroom diamond. No, this is not going to be a pretty or comfortable process. No friends to call. No family to continue to dig you out. Finding yourself alone, scared and broke, you’re over 90 miles of the surface...now comes the heat.
They say that if you can’t stand the heat, than you need to get out of the kitchen. Perfect example! Typically with heat comes discomfort. And being heated to over 2000 degrees, I don’t think that there is a HVAC company in the world, to help get you comfortable. Usually frustration, irritability, and attitude come along for the uncomfortable ride. After being buried down so deep, you just want to get back to the surface for a breath of fresh air! So you do whatever you have to do. Now the heat is on, so you’re rushing to get out- by any means necessary. But not so quick, because there’s a reason for the heat. The heat signifies change. Simply means that you’re being made vulnerable; pliable. The heat is preparing you to be molded into form. Which takes me to step 3….Pressure.
In order for any natural diamond to be made, an incredible amount of heat and pressure must first be applied. See, the heat makes it soft and formidable, then, the pressure comes and forms it into shape. It takes a combination of both heat and pressure to form a diamond, which is no different from life itself. After you’ve been sweating from the heat, you start to feel the pressure to get out. When you find yourself starving with only $2 in your bank account, the pressure to find a means to eat hits you. Knowing that the kids need clothes and shoes that you may not be able to afford...the bills are due but they aren’t allowing any late payments from you anymore….pressure. But it’s through these “character building” moments that build, shape, and mold us into the people that we are. It’s the lessons we learn while we’re uncomfortable and under pressure - how to survive, provide, and decide better life choices - that we hold closest to our hearts. But life has a funny way of placing us in certain “Pressure Pits” that, sadly, some of us never get out of. Most of us get so caught up and focused on the heat, that we never really know where the pressure is coming from or how to stop it. And then when we do get it seemingly under control, all hell breaks loose! That’s just a sign that you’re about to blow up!!
It’s through volcanic eruptions that diamonds are brought to the surface, which would explain why all hell is breaking loose! If you’ve ever heard or seen a volcano erupting, then you know how powerfully it affects the surrounding environment. Hot lava flowing, debris flying everywhere, smoke, the vibration it sends over the ground. It’s not like riding in your grandmother's 85’ Cadillac. No. This is a ground shaking, hard hat area only, type of situation. Why does it seem like once you’ve gotten everything going the way that you want it to go, something happens and EVERYTHING starts to change? From sugar to ____, just that quick. Simple. It’s time to move on. You’ve reached the final step of the process. A lot of us get comfortable being able to “manage” our pressure, we forget that there was a reason for it. If the goal in the beginning was to get out of the hole, why do we get so comfortable staying there instead of getting all the way out? I’m still guilty of this myself at times. I typically tend to stay in my place of heat, fanning the off the heatwaves and applying more pressure to myself, rather than taking what I was supposed to learn from the situation and moving. Letting the pressure continue to build around me, simply because I had gotten comfortable in being able to control it. Which is never a good thing.
Now, upon doing some deeper research, I found out that human body is made up of six elements: Oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, and…….CARBON! We all have a little diamond in us! Just like no 2 diamonds are the same, neither are humans. We all deal with the struggles of life, some being more difficult than others. Each one of us will have to face our own pressure points at some time or another. The question however is:
Shine bright like a diamond folks.
-theComfyMisfit
A diamond, as defined by Webster’s, is a native crystalline carbon that is the hardest known mineral, that is usually nearly colorless, that when transparent and free from flaws is highly valued as a precious stone, and that is used industrially especially as an abrasive. It is so hard, that it is used as an industry abrasive! . It has to go through four stages to before it is created into diamonds we purchase from the store. Here’s how the process goes….roughly:
- Carbon dioxide must be buried deep into the Earth - 90 miles below the surface.
- The CO2 is then heated to over 2000 degrees Fahrenheit
- Then squeezed under 725,000lbs per square inch of PRESSURE
- Quickly rushed to the surface to cool
Float with me on this.
Step one is the burying process; the “struggle” as we like to call it. But this is the most crucial part of the process. I mean, it’s the beginning of the entire process. Materials that already contain carbon dioxide provide the carbon source needed to create the diamond. “Everything you need, you already have”. Whenever He decides it’s time for you to start transforming from a “carbon containing material” into a diamond, the process begins. He has already planted the dream, the passion, the talent...it’s already been put into you. But in order to pull it out, you must first be buried. Pulled away from any and everything that could cause any impurities to the showroom diamond. No, this is not going to be a pretty or comfortable process. No friends to call. No family to continue to dig you out. Finding yourself alone, scared and broke, you’re over 90 miles of the surface...now comes the heat.
They say that if you can’t stand the heat, than you need to get out of the kitchen. Perfect example! Typically with heat comes discomfort. And being heated to over 2000 degrees, I don’t think that there is a HVAC company in the world, to help get you comfortable. Usually frustration, irritability, and attitude come along for the uncomfortable ride. After being buried down so deep, you just want to get back to the surface for a breath of fresh air! So you do whatever you have to do. Now the heat is on, so you’re rushing to get out- by any means necessary. But not so quick, because there’s a reason for the heat. The heat signifies change. Simply means that you’re being made vulnerable; pliable. The heat is preparing you to be molded into form. Which takes me to step 3….Pressure.
In order for any natural diamond to be made, an incredible amount of heat and pressure must first be applied. See, the heat makes it soft and formidable, then, the pressure comes and forms it into shape. It takes a combination of both heat and pressure to form a diamond, which is no different from life itself. After you’ve been sweating from the heat, you start to feel the pressure to get out. When you find yourself starving with only $2 in your bank account, the pressure to find a means to eat hits you. Knowing that the kids need clothes and shoes that you may not be able to afford...the bills are due but they aren’t allowing any late payments from you anymore….pressure. But it’s through these “character building” moments that build, shape, and mold us into the people that we are. It’s the lessons we learn while we’re uncomfortable and under pressure - how to survive, provide, and decide better life choices - that we hold closest to our hearts. But life has a funny way of placing us in certain “Pressure Pits” that, sadly, some of us never get out of. Most of us get so caught up and focused on the heat, that we never really know where the pressure is coming from or how to stop it. And then when we do get it seemingly under control, all hell breaks loose! That’s just a sign that you’re about to blow up!!
It’s through volcanic eruptions that diamonds are brought to the surface, which would explain why all hell is breaking loose! If you’ve ever heard or seen a volcano erupting, then you know how powerfully it affects the surrounding environment. Hot lava flowing, debris flying everywhere, smoke, the vibration it sends over the ground. It’s not like riding in your grandmother's 85’ Cadillac. No. This is a ground shaking, hard hat area only, type of situation. Why does it seem like once you’ve gotten everything going the way that you want it to go, something happens and EVERYTHING starts to change? From sugar to ____, just that quick. Simple. It’s time to move on. You’ve reached the final step of the process. A lot of us get comfortable being able to “manage” our pressure, we forget that there was a reason for it. If the goal in the beginning was to get out of the hole, why do we get so comfortable staying there instead of getting all the way out? I’m still guilty of this myself at times. I typically tend to stay in my place of heat, fanning the off the heatwaves and applying more pressure to myself, rather than taking what I was supposed to learn from the situation and moving. Letting the pressure continue to build around me, simply because I had gotten comfortable in being able to control it. Which is never a good thing.
Now, upon doing some deeper research, I found out that human body is made up of six elements: Oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, calcium, phosphorus, and…….CARBON! We all have a little diamond in us! Just like no 2 diamonds are the same, neither are humans. We all deal with the struggles of life, some being more difficult than others. Each one of us will have to face our own pressure points at some time or another. The question however is:
Will you let the pressure bust your pipe, or turn you into a diamond?
Shine bright like a diamond folks.
-theComfyMisfit
This was great! Your thinking is on another level!
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