We’re looking forward to introducing you to Jason Thomas. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Jason, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
I don’t know if this is the way I’m supposed to answer this question, but I think that they are equally important. While these 3 might not always be equally present at all times in all people, I think that a person could develop the other 2 qualities with the careful use of whichever quality they use most or feel most comfortable with(i.e. using energy to develop intelligence and integrity). I would say that in my personal experience, the determinant factor is the person, their deepest intention, and how they cultivate/demonstrate these attributes. The meanings of “integrity”, “energy” and “intelligence” can change depending on who you ask, and with that, their level of perceived significance changes as well. As an example, a criminally minded individual who operated as a successful bank robber might argue that it takes intelligence to plan and set up a successful robbery in a way that allows them get away with it. They might also argue that it requires a lot of energy to actually carry it out, and that a certain minimal level of integrity must be maintained among the group committing the robbery such that everyone involved is trusting the others to follow a certain code, which is commonly stated as “honor amongst thieves”. Further, there are often serious consequences among the group if this “integrity” is broken or betrayed. Whereas in contrast, someone who takes a peaceful approach to life and makes decisions based on good will would likely see the entire bank robbery event as not very intelligent, a complete waste of energy, and totally lacking in any sort of integrity. I feel that intelligence, energy, and integrity are motifs of the human experience who’s definitions change and grow(hopefully) as we make our way through life and try to figure things out.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! My name is Jason and I started an original rock band called LastTimeDown. We have one album out now and another one on the way. We play in St. Louis, Illinois, and any other state that will have us! I like to write music about things that I know or have lived personally. Music is so incredible because it lets you feel how connected we all are. It’s fun to find the universal idea in my own specific experience and then find a cool way to write around that and flesh it out in a way that others can feel it too without ever having even met me. To me, it shows that the specific is an aspect of the universal and that we’re all part of it.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
As counter-intuitive as it may seem, a part of myself that I found myself wanting to move beyond is a feeling of almost aggressive competitiveness. I felt like I always had to be the best at whatever I was doing and that I was in direct competition with other people in my field or doing the same things as me. Nowadays, I find more satisfaction in just simply doing the best that I can do for myself, without comparing to myself to others. In a very unexpected turn of events, the less I find myself competing with people, the more I can not only appreciate and enjoy what other people are doing much more, but also draw inspiration from them and see how I can incorporate that in a way that is consistent with who I am.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
Oddly enough, it was my view on failure that ended up changing. After a few “failures” I started to realize that failure didn’t need to be so final. In fact, it was really only as final as I allowed it to be. I started to see that I could actually learn more from my failures than my successes, or at the very least, learn as much from my perceived failures as from my successes. I won’t say that nothing in life goes according to plan, but I do believe it’s a pretty safe bet that most times, something unexpected will happen in the midst of carrying out a goal that can seem catastrophic and unfixable. Times like times can be really hard and shake a person down to their core, but they can also serve as excellent points of self-reflection and provide huge opportunities to glean personal insight. Struggles can be truly character building because they have an amazing tendency to point out character flaws or defects that can be worked on. They also provide opportunities for someone to live out their convictions in the face of adversity. It’s one thing to keep to keep the faith when everything is going your way. It’s something else entirely when things start falling apart or working against you.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
Well since I don’t articulate it often I find myself struggling to explain it! LOL
Socrates believed that “virtue is knowledge” and that all wrongdoing is a product of ignorance. A person only pursues a course of action because they believe it will bring them some form of good. If a person commits an evil act, it is because their judgment is flawed and they mistakenly believe the evil act is good for them. No one errs willingly. In addition to this, I believe that there is a true Good that lies beyond our ideas of what good is. As human beings we have such an amazing opportunity to search for the Truth and experience the Good in our own lives every single day, although we often forget and overlook this fact. Life and reality are so much grander than our wants, dreams, opinions or beliefs as human beings but since it’s what we are most familiar with, we seem to value those above almost anything else. While those things certainly have their place, often times I think we as humans can be misguided in our efforts. I don’t think that we do this on purpose though. Of course, everyones’ life is their own and we can live it as we see fit. I just believe that we have been given a great and rare gift to live as human beings. As people we have the potential to truly understand and embrace Life to the absolute fullest and I just think that not spending at least a little time doing that is a waste.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you laid down your name, role, and possessions—what would remain?
The answer to this question is: Self. Possessions and name are both a part of the self-reifying “role” or narrative about ourselves we believe to be true, but more often than not are just self-constructed fictions based on our own understanding and value systems. Many people believe the role they play is actually who they are. If that were the case, everyone would see them exactly the way that person sees themself and change would be functionally and literally impossible. We are more than just a role that we play, even if we don’t always realize it. So long as we have life, we can choose to grow and evolve beyond our current understanding, and hopefully find our way to real happiness. A name, role, or possessions can certainly provide comfort and pleasure, but it doesn’t necessarily provide happiness. On the other hand, I believe true happiness, which can seem more elusive, is far simpler and doesn’t require any of those things. The experiential gift of inner happiness is the right of every being who chooses it and isn’t needful of material possessions, or specific conditionality.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lasttimedown.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/LastTimeDownBand
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/LastTimeDownMusic
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LastTimeDownBand/videos
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/user-940620287
Image Credits
Nick Heger
