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My problem is I like to get excited. I know it has it's drawbacks, but if we resort back to the principles of Stoicism we are all eventually food for the worms, so does it really matter?
Don't get me wrong, theres some good stuff about fearing the thought of failure more than the actual event and to expose yourself to some uncomfortable situations on a regular basis just to show how ridiculous your fear is . But I would be careful about "rationalizing away emmotion". Instinct carries alot of information that may not be readily apparent at the time but upon further reflection you can gain insight from uncensored impulses.
I think the most inspiring thing about you is how relevant you make yourself. This is a perfect demonstration of coming from a centered-logical-engaged place in life.
Tomorrow will be a better day, appreciating myself more, giving less quarter to my demons, chasing comfort less, giving a quiet and even eye to the next steps of my creation. All things I am perfectly capable of.
Enjoy purpose,
Suzanna Stinnett
Thanks again,
Phil
Marcus Aurelius (Roman emperor, best known for his Meditations on Stoic philosophy, AD 121-180)
The two lines I liked best in Ryan's piece were: "helping overcome destructive emotions and act on what can be acted upon" and "the source of our dissatisfaction lies in our impulsive dependency on our reflexive senses rather than logic."
This to me goes straight to the heart of the matter: how do we manage emotional reactivity and channel that tremendous energy to create productive behaviour by tapping into our natural gifts?
BRAIN FUNCTION AND BEHAVIOUR
I think Stoicism's practicality lies its ability to express in words the complex nature of brain function and how it affects emotional reactions and behaviour.
Tony Landreth has already made lots of really helpful connections to neuroscience and positive psychology, as well as the observation: Neuroscientists and philosophers aren't in the business of offering practical advice and applicable tools.
So in the spirit of finding tools that we can use to become better entrepreneurs, better friends and better people, I'd like to share some useful (brain) theory and (business) practice from the work that I do.
(BRAIN) THEORY
Interestingly, in common usage the word "stoic" typically refers to someone "indifferent to pain, pleasure, grief, or joy" and "a person who represses feelings or endures patiently". This to me suggests either disconnecting from emotions entirely or suggesting they have an on/off switch; I think neither metaphor is accurate or helpful.
Here's why.
Put simply: we have two brain systems, a fast emotional limbic brain that is concerned primarily with our survival (it's the oldest part of our brains) and the slower, rational neocortex that does the mental heavy-lifting (which evolved later and gives us the thinking-power that distinguishes us from other animals).
The limbic brain's basic mode is: act first, consider later (which can produce knee-jerk reactions) while the neocortex gathers information and weighs options: consider first, act later (like asking yourself: "what's the smart move here...?").
We cannot disconnect from our emotions or simply switch them off - the survival-drive of the limbic brain ensures that we will always have an emotional reaction to the outside world. In other words, you cannot NOT have a reaction to things...but you CAN (and should!) learn how to manage that reaction and usefully apply the energy that it produces.
The two comments above by Starfruitman are I think a clear example of this difference. Feeling a bit crappy and frazzled at 8.15AM he indulges in some emotionally reactive commentary, then just under 12 hours later he looks at his behaviour with some detachment and rational objectivity and posts a chagrined retraction. Classic example of fast-emotional brain reaction followed by (somewhat ashamed) rational-brain effort to fix the damage and correct the issue.
This emotionally-reactive state is where "haters" live 24/7, and never get beyond their tantrums, screeds and bullying behaviour - so well done, Starfruitman for realizing the effects of your early-morning behaviour and seeking a remedy.
BUSINESS PRACTICE
In her comment above Alison (13/04 5.25PM) asks about "markers" to keep track of (as I read it) emotional and mood swings that we all experience in the course of an average day - some pleasurable, some prone to knock us off track.
Rather than make my long comment here longer still, I'd offer her some ideas and invite interested readers to click on my name in the sidebar to go to a blog post I've written about "Understanding resistance to change" that offers some practical applications of these theories (and philosophies!).
Thanks again Tim and Ryan, great stuff.
TM
Gives a very refreshing perspective on philosophy. A lot more practical than what we were teached in high school.
Shows that positive thinking is nothing new and has very old roots.
Thanks for the insight
Tim - I just sent Amy an email about my options this summer - I would love if you could take a look!
-Mike
Thank you
Gotta' tell you, you really have the most efficient and incredible assistant with Amy. . .she is a total ROCK STAR!
Just thought I'd share that with you. . .her professionalism is nothing short of stellar.
Cheers,
Doc
Their argument that misfortune/loss is largely a matter of viewpoint seems quite inadequate when you're on the rack being tortured. You *don't* have control to turn that into a positive. Not if they go far enough to destroy "you" by sufficient abuse. Now, given that, where is the dividing line where you *do* have control by how you change your perception? What, no magic line? An indistinguishable shading from no control to full control?
Perhaps, as I like to say, you don't have *control* but you do have *input*. Sometimes more, sometimes less.
Keep it simple,
Simpletom
I think this quotation is worth it's weight in gold. When you are pursuing something big - as an entrepreneur does - it seems like every bump in the road and every barrier or setback bears your ultimate doom. In retrospect, most of these perceived disasters either turn out to be little more than annoyances or even opportunities. I've often found it helpful, when in the thick of it, to think about "how bad can it really be?" By playing out the worst case scenario, it's possible to diffuse the fear of the situation and concentrate on the opportunity.
Thanks for a great post. I've been reading Tim mention Seneca for some time now. Perhaps now is the time to pick up some of his writing.
Cheers,
Adam
I appreciate your write-up and how you connect this philosophy with modern life, yet I'm also glad that few of my friends are full-blooded Stoics.
I'm not religious. I don't follow a creed or doctrine. But the Stoic philosophy appeals greatly.
Great post. Brilliant information.
Thx Ryan and Tim.
I took your advice and brought Seneca with me on a mini retirement to Greece. It was life changing. Our society seems to have shifted into books like the Secret that just don't seem to posses the depth and practical applications that these principals do. Great work.
Rob
"It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live." - Marcus Aurelius
"'Any man', he says, 'who does not think that what he has is more than ample, is an unhappy man, even if he is the master of the whole world.'"
-Alex
Thanks Tim and Ryan for putting an entrepreneurial spin on Stoicism for us!
I think one of the things I've gotten out of stoicism, and something that people often forget about stoicism, is that stoics have a duty to society, and that it is everybody's obligation to figure out what they're best at and then do the sh*t out of it. I think that right there is the basis for entrepreneurialism.
Tim/Ryan, was your real world example a showcase of your own self barriers? Why does "remember you're small" bother you? I think it's important to remember where you're going and what your goals are, and to observe where you currently are given the gravity of your goal... and if you're always thinking big, aren't you going to always remember that you're small? That works!
This trick is it being non-linear, doing it all at once and that both excites and humbles you.
There is no right/wrong there are just opinions given ones perception, or popular opinion based upon time and place.
I guess my observation is do what works for you and create the rules as you go along.
There are just things happening in the world - nothing else. People just add meaning and stories to situations, when the truth is, it just happened. It is difficult for people to accept this concept for sensitive situations, though, when you boil it down, strip away all added-meaning and story.. it's just something that happened.
I think a part of using that concept and living in this society is marrying the thought with human empathy. It doesn't ''mean'' that you look at everything and are 'cold' towards it, just that you should understand the base 'truth' of what happened - which is always just an action; all the while connecting, listening to and understanding the vast majority of people who don't look at what happened with the same concept of thought.
/end my random thoughts :p
For the ambitious there is ultimately one necessity-
wisdom: study, practice, refine, repeat.
Other terrific reads are The Art of War, The Prince, and An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life
Great post Tim and Ryan..the stoics were responsible for arguably the greatest empire in history ...
In reading it, though, I was quite intrigued by how it appears to mirror certain tenets of Buddhism in many ways. . .and the core principle of seeking a certain "detachment" from life's ephemeral "problems" and our own insecurities is almost "right on" with Buddhist teachings. It's quite fascinating, actually.
I often wonder how much of these teachings were shared across the world through explorers and traders, and how teachings that we currently attribute to one individual or region of the world have actually materialized from interaction between different peoples and geographic regions. Tim, or other folks reading. . if you know of any research in this area, could you point me in the right direction, please?
Ryan, I'm curious as to if you've had any experience in finding ways of sharing this sort of content with people who can be somewhat averse to opening themselves up a bit to new ideas/ways of thinking. This is one of my own personal challenges, I guess. . .you see, as an entrepreneur and a guy who is always open to any new learning experience, I'm an easy sell when it comes to broadening my horizons. . .particularly with a "wee bit 'o philosophy." But sharing this great stuff with others I find difficult, as I think a lot of people not instantly intrigued by it, find it to be preachy instead. Any insight/tips you can provide? This is also something I pointed to when Cameron posted his "Manic..." post here some months back as well. Sharing this insight with family members and team members so that they too can attempt to understand the entrepreneurial mindset is often the toughest sell.
I'd love to hear your feedback.
Cheers,
Doc
I've read it numerous times, but it has been years. I will need to dig it out - thank you for the reminder.
Thank you for sharing such an insightful and inspiring post.
Thanks again,
Joe
This last quote by Seneca is AWESOME:
“Nothing, to my way of thinking, is a better proof of a well ordered mind than a man’s ability to stop just where he is and pass some time in his own company.”
Best to you,
Jose Castro
Ahhh, when I was 21, I was quite the fearless animal too. It reminds me of that Buddhist story about how easy it is to be a monk who meditates in the mountain cave all day. That's easy. Try keeping that mindset when you are in the crowded village with a bunch of jerks everywhere. There's your test.
Great philosophy though. Excellent advice. If more Americans subscribed to this, we would be in a different place.
###
From Tim: I'm not sure where this anger come from, Starfruitman, but I don't think it's necessary. His credentials for what? I've known Ryan for years. Age doesn't automatically qualify or disqualify someone for using Stoicism well with real problems. I also know plenty of older people whose "experience" is simply the same mistakes repeated year after year. I think it might make sense to take a breath and give Ryan the benefit of the doubt, especially since you've never met him nor -- I suspect at least -- read some of his other work. He's a bright and immensely capable person.
Best,
Tim
What are your thoughts on Epicurean philosophy ?
Epicureanism has some real gems, and I combine it with Stoic principles, along with some Buddhist state-awareness practice. I find it's possible to cultivate logic and non-overreaction (Stoicism) while still enjoying the little things (Epicureanism) and focusing on the present moment (Buddhism) instead of excessive planning or regret.
Best,
Tim
Thanks for sharing guys, this is helpful presentation. Don't know if I can follow you on certain points. However, I appreciate the practical, real world approach. Action rather than abstract, mindless debating... I'm all for it. :)
I really like, "To the Stoic, everything is opportunity." This is how I approach situations, so I guess I fall in line with Stoicism at that level, haha... who what of knew! Like everything, weaknesses are therein, for example, it's easy to discuss perception and emotion, and how it should be controlled but we all know it's easier said than done.
Most people lose the battle, I've seen sharp people, at least intellectually, that have the emotional age of a 14 year old. It's difficult, for many because most don't think about their preconceived ideas or perceptions.
We just look at the world around us (worldview) without stopping to examine the lens we gaze through to see the world around us. It will always be easy to accept things based on our (lens) but harder to stop and maybe admit, we need to change the lens if possible, because if those speckles are changed the outcome, perception and views change will it. Something to think about. :)
Thanks again for sharing.
-Mig
# You face your misfortune with smile
# You strive to be present at the moment
# You understand that you are not a sum of your past, nor your future
I don't really think that philosophy generally isn't useful: In closer inspection many philosophers that are traditionally not regarded as stoicistic seem to express same bright ideas (except perhaps that post-structural lesbian feminism...).
These ideas tend to show themselves in different names in all philosophy, from Wittgenstein to Jesus, or from Freud to Swedenborg - It's a matter of perspective.
This article really helps put a tactile element into words on all the ideas listed in the comments as well.
Tim. It would be really cool if you could talk about the changes in others of reaction to people who work on your ideas. Like how once you work on the path of Humility others begin to raise you up. Etc.
I suggest this because I think people like to see results for their efforts but may have trouble seeing them unless they are shown how to recognize it. Do you think its a good idea?
Self-help is nothing new :)
I love this kind of practical writing/ It's awesome to read this on a big blog like Tim's and I can only be happy of it.
I tend to naturally have a "stoicisim mind". I remember not being afraid of a particular situation and have 2 people around me going crazy only because I wasn't runing link a chicken without his head.
Stephen Covey Law N°1 is exactly that "choose your response to a stumuli".
Please share this knowledge !
The quote on my wall from Mellen-Thomas Benedict (or Near Death Experience fame) is "The Balance of finite order and infinite chaos is the Key. Being Clear is the Way to Master the Key". Isn't this what the stoics where resolving within themselves and their environement?
This quote will make it hard to adhere to this principle..
"Returning to the point of the exercise, it’s simple: remember how small you are." (ryan holiday)
A lot of these principles are great, but they are better outlined in the New Testament by Jesus. If you have a problem with all of the salvation, spirituality and supernatural, just filter it out. The principles are still better laid out there than in the writings of Stoicism
At some point in my own Clearing work I realized that for the first time in my life, and was also empowered and unburdened by standing up and saying the truth about myself and my then condition as it truly was. Facing the truth of my condition helped to rise above it.
As a result of entrepreneurial activities I'm going through bankruptcy - it is not an easy time to put it mildly. But, you go through the worst case scenario and realise the world hasn't come to an end. Also, as the article points out, new opportunities inevitably present themselves and... What doesn't kill you makes you stronger (Nietsche (or was it Kanye West)).
Personally I think stoicism syncs very neatly with buddhism.
Finally, I'd personally recommend Nasim Taleb - brilliant stuff (and predictor of the financial crisis). A mathematician, he points out that basically, the only thing you control is how you face the firing squad. (Have a nice day!)
Remembering at least this would be a good place to start....
Here's where i take issue (and perhaps someone could straighten me out on this): All things being equal, if a sage holds that he is "immune to misfortune" because events are inherently neutral (they have no +/- value beyond that with which we imbue them through our impulses), wouldn't he also have to accept that he is immune to good fortune?
It would seem that you could never say anything insofar as an event being good or bad, whether it was, suffering physical pain or winning the lottery.
Bottom line, if we remove our impulses (that which guides our senses on the positive or negative nature of a given event), how do we know what's good?, What to shoot for? What actions are appropriate? - Maybe I've gone and boiled things down to far; thrown out the baby with the bathwater. Any input that might help me back up a few steps would be appreciated. Thanks
Ben
You wrote:
"Here’s where i take issue (and perhaps someone could straighten me out on this): All things being equal, if a sage holds that he is “immune to misfortune” because events are inherently neutral (they have no +/- value beyond that with which we imbue them through our impulses), wouldn’t he also have to accept that he is immune to good fortune?"
Yes, this is indeed my biggest criticism of Stoicism, as it can be used to turn one into an automaton of logic. I hope to explore in future posts how I combine it with elements of Epicureanism and Buddhism to emphasize the + elements, not just avoid negative overreaction.
Good observation and thanks for the comment!
Tim
Practical Philosophy: The Greco-Roman Moralists
Course No. 4473 (24 lectures, 30 minutes/lecture)
Taught by Luke Timothy Johnson
Emory University
Ph.D., Yale University
This is the guy that wrote "The Real Jesus", a landmark piece of scholarship about 10 years ago on the theology of Jesus.
Good stuff. Highly reccommended. You can play these tapes, CDs, or mp3s while jogging or commuting. It is a fantastic use of dead time.
Make your own Good Luck,
Dana
http://combatsportpsychology.blogspot.com/2009/...
Only if you count the brain as physical :)
Tim
If you have any links in particular to PDFs, that would be most appreciated!
Best,
Tim
Socrates was an expert at spiritual exercises. If you can run a Socratic dialog on yourself you can convince yourself to abandon almost any negative or destructive thought.
@Doc,
The Hays translation of The Meditations is so basic and so straightforward that I have a few copies I like to give to people. It sells itself. One of the important tenets of Stoicism though, or at least where it differs from Christianity, is that it's not necessarily evangelical. We all have a lot of work left to do on ourselves before we should worry to much about converting others.
"For nothing is so productive of elevation of mind as to be able to examine methodically and truly every object which is presented to you in life, and always to look at things so as to see at the same time what kind of universe this is, and what kind of use everything performs in it, and what value everything has with reference to the whole." - Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, iii. 11.
That is so Tim! :) Thanks again for pulling into light something I knew in the back of my head, but didn't know how to articulate.
Craig what would you do if more of your friends were Stoics?
After reading about happiness by Dalai Lama, I understod that "pain" is in your mind, and wheather you are happy or not is your own decision.
When my friends complain about their lives I remind them of these teachings, and that usually starts an argument :0)
Why is it that we think that our happiness is dependent on the right life partner, the right boss, the right weather, more money or something else?
This renders a tremendous feeling of personal power.
I totally agree. I tried reading Aurelius many times and was always left feeling I didn't get it... until I found Hays' translation. Worth its weight in gold.
Great post!
my companion latched onto me and buried her head in my chest as she clutched my favorite scraparondacks.org organic teeshirt.
the scene from fightclub where ed norton's plane gets ripped apart came to mind, as well as the satanic verses where in the opening chapter the two protoganists fall 30,000 feet)
but then i realized that death would be quick. other than the free fall. and me not wanting to lose my life, (and that of my kids as they were two rows behind me) in a moment of clarity it became clear there was nothing i could do to save my life and thus i resigned my self to death. all the projects, dreams, etc would vanish with my passing and that was that.
when i came across your posting on stoicism it dawned on me that that's what was guiding me on the time. a little fear gave way to wtf. i won't remember a thing.
Nothing is ever as scary as the second before the unknown becomes the known.
Just two thoughts brought to mind by this comment.
I can't believe I didn't remember this but I actually interviewed Gregory Hays last year. It's worth reading for anyone who is on the fence about reading the book. You get the sense that Hays understood Aurelius much deeper than other authors had and that's why his writing seems more genuine.
http://www.ryanholiday.net/archives/mediations_...
On my path of being a better person, increasing my education and delving into my fears and failings, I evolved a state of mind that follows the Stoics very closely (I just never had a name for it). I even took a course that 'preaches' this exact mentality - 'everything is meaningless, people make the meaning.' It truly made concrete this way of thinking for me.
There are so many great quotes up there that It's hard to pinpoint one in particular, but this one hit the nail on the head for me:
“Today I escaped from anxiety. Or no, I discarded it, because it was within me, in my own perceptions—not outside.”
Perceptions are everything, when you are confronted with any option, a choice arrises, not only in the interaction, but in your mind. Your perception of the situation creates the meaning and that is what you will take away with you.
@Sean I agree whole heartedly agree with you how others can view this approach to life. I am often considered somewhat aloof in situations, even cold or distant. Mostly because I don't break down and commiserate a misfortune in the same manner as might 'normally' be the routine of society. It can be unsettling, but then again, if I don't put much meaning into it and I can continue to walk tall in my understanding of myself.
Long ago when I would tell one of my confidants about a perceived problem I was having, she would always reply, "What are the facts?"
The facts were always irrefutable. What I had been "thinking" and "feeling" were always the real issue - and the moment I realized this, the problem always lessened.
I'm taking a great class on Meditation/Buddhism, the concepts are incredibly useful and practical yet very few people consider them because Buddhism is obscured by different religious practices and intense academic debate that loves to use words like "soteriological."
This stuff is changing people's lives for the better, let's get it out into the real world where people will actually pay attention to it!
A great practical and short book on meditation and why it's good for you:
Bhante H. Gunaratana, Mindfulness in Plain English
@Ryan Running a Socratic dialogue on yourself sounds similar to performing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - a very successful modern technique for treating psychological disorders simply through talking
And turtlenecks?!
The turtleneck anecdote isn't meant as a slam towards all philosophy majors. My brother was a philosophy major at NYU, and there are intelligent, humble students of the craft, to be sure, as well as practical courses. Unfortunately, to fill four years of class time and debate, this major also tends to attracts some people who are very fond of intellectual tail-chasing with semantics vs. applications. My brother would be the first to agree on this. Be that as it may, some of my favorite courses at Princeton were in the PHI department -- Professor Rosen's class on Epistemology and Metaphysics was amazing. Not as immediately relevant as some of the Stoic writings, but thought-provoking all the same.
Hope that helps and thanks for the comment,
Tim
I know myself well enough to believe that I am inherently evil. Even if I convince myself otherwise, my actions demonstrate that I am evil (yes, I know this bring up the debate of what is evil). And that's just my point, there must be an outside party to gauge right and wrong. This doesn't occur in stoicism.
Papers by Bruno Frey (a Swiss economist with broad interests):
http://www.bsfrey.ch/articles.html
Richard Davidson (an affective neuroscientist at Wisconsin-Madison...on meditation):
http://psych.wisc.edu/faculty/bio/davidson.html
Richard Layard (at the London School of Economics):
http://cep.lse.ac.uk/_new/staff/person.asp?id=970
I think we can also look to Nietzsche as an ideal for the entrepreneurial mindset. "On the mountains of truth you can never climb in vain: either you will reach a point higher up today, or you will be training your powers so that you will be able to climb higher tomorrow. "
"We all have alot of work left to do on ourselves before we should worry too much about converting others."
Amen...A philosophy to live and die by. There is a vast difference between preaching and a sharing information, violent faith and healthy debate, the search for knowledge/personal growth and the appearance of knowledge/self importance.
@Tim
A bottle of wine someday to you. The book and blog have been of more use than than years of school.
It is EXACTLY like cognitive behavior therapy. The two are very similar and I think that's why it has been so effective for 2,000 years.
@Jack
Christianity v Stoicism is an interesting discussion all by itself. For some reason, Christianity viewed Stoicism as a threat early on (even though Christianity came after) despite how similar they are. John Stuart Mill once asked whether the world would be a better place if people replaced the Bible with Aurelius' Meditations. For me though, I like Stoicisms emphasis on taking responsibility for oneself rather than giving it to God. Prayer is much more theoretical and mental than the Spiritual exercises are.
"What are the facts?" is a perfect modern translation of a Stoic exercise. A common theme in Epictetus and then later in Marcus is to look at a situation and say "What part of this is under my control and what part is out of it?" Then only worry about the first part.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pragmatism
and Utilitarianism:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utilitarianism
Thanks for the interesting article.
Is this journaling with the perspective of the 3 Stoic principles you are pointing out in the post or is there more to it?
Do you practice Stoic Writing daily, weekly?
This post (and blog) is a great source of reassurance and encouragement towards my own goal of entrepreneurial success. Thank you Tim and Ryan!
Excellent recruitment for the post my friend!! Thanks for posting as I cannot wait to delve into deeper thought on these prinicipals and how they can positively effect not only my life, but the lives of those around me.
Always,
Lee
Marcus wrote a large part of Meditations on campaign in Germany. The Stoics often wrote in the morning and at night as a well to prepare and reflect on the day. It's meditative primarily in the sense that the intended audience was often THEMSELVES and not other people.
So when Marcus writes "Remember to always..." what he is sort of saying is "Marcus, I am reminding you to always...because you forgot it earlier today and it caused you problems."
I try to do it as often as I can. On my site, my goal is to digest what I'm learning out loud as way to hold myself accountable through my readers but I like to observe the same principles.
@Sherry
I think the fairest thing to say is that they're both equally similar to each other. It's probably a good thing that they developed the principles independently of each other because it means there is some deep human truth to them rather than just "respect for something old"
by the way, I could be wrong but II think were you wrote;
"THOUGH my preferred Stoic writer, Lucius Seneca, I’ve found it to be a simple and immensely practical set of rules for better results with less effort."
you may have meant;
"THROUGH my preferred Stoic writer, Lucius Seneca, I’ve found it to be a simple and immensely practical set of rules for better results with less effort.
all the best
"someone is probably TRY to pull something over on you."
may have meant to be;
"someone is probably TRYING to pull something over on you."
btw, I'm happy to proof read for you Tim. I can offer fast turnaround and excellent results (for free). Let me know if you're interested.
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/mihaly_csiks...
His big book is entitled Flow:
http://www.amazon.com/Flow-Psychology-Optimal-E...
Stoicism is very similar but adds a practical way to think about it.
I love the part about turning mistakes into opportunities. Now it is going to be great when I make mistakes... :P
I will definitely find a book on stoicism, very soon... And the 4-hour work week! lol
Being in politics since a very young age, I know the difference between an opportunist and a stoic. Your example of Mr. Obama's response to the Rev Wright issue left me wondering where that came from. Knowing a little about what happened there I would assume you are aware that he sat in the pew for 20 years and and called the Reverend his mentor but then threw Rev. Wright figuratively under the bus. By the way, the speech he gave on race was developed much earlier for a special occasion. Knowing he was having this issue, he decided to use the speech at that time rather than later. Stoic? I don't think so.
I've been trying to come up with a politician who is also a stoic. Perhaps Abe Lincoln best fits that mold.
Do you have any personal internal “markers” you use to know when you are beginning to swing too far into either “this is awesome!”-land or “it means nothing/I am small”-land and need to do something to pull back?
I find for myself that I know when I've gone too far into feeling enthusiastic because, while there are visions of desirable outcomes in the forefront - of course a lot of fun to mentally play with, I also sense a kind of frenzied energy underneath. At that point, I feel like I may have set myself up for the downward slope (and sometimes my internal response to subsequent events shows this may be the case). Still, I find it difficult to sense the connection with the things and ideas that inspire me to move in certain directions when also trying to maintain equanimity. Actually, now that I think about it, I do keep moving, but there's so much third-party observer aspect to it, I'll have this sense of “I remember this felt really important to me at one point” and it feels strange to be moving proactively without as deeply feeling why I'm doing it in the first place. Yet, I know maintaining a level, logical perspective is vital.
Having said that, for you, what is the internal “staying connected” experience like when equanimity maintenance is also a priority?
Also, have you found stoic philosophies to be helpful in dating and relationships? I'm serious, but I'm laughing right now because I just envisioned a dating website with photo mascot/concrete bust of Seneca at the top. Instead of wishing everyone the best in the search to “Find Your Soulmate”, the tag line might read “Enjoy yourself, but let's keep it in perspective, shall we?” I wonder how many memberships they would sell?
Thanks,
Alison
That's not exactly true, of the ancient Greek Philosophiers believed in what they called the "transmigration of souls" basically the same thing as Incarnation. But yes the Stoic/Buddhist parallels are very prominent.
Respect,
Ian
The tension went out of my body when I read those words. Here I am worrying about how to buy some new clothes for from fear of how I look. The quote put it into perspective for me. It does not matter what other people think of how I look.That gives them power over me. My jeans ripped are my uniform to humbly remind myself of what is important. Not new clothes. No a different perspective on how to look at yourself first. Face your fear and learn the lessons life has to offer us. A case in point. The current recession has gotten everyone worldwide scared. I say is this what I dread? Not having the lifestyle before the money dried up? The recession is a natural reset economic button. We got to start 2009 fresh. Take this time to really find out who you are? What you want? Where you want to go? Why you want to do it? Who will be along for the journey? When will the changes begin. How will you make them happen? How will you treat the recession as a gift?
There is a Buddhist saying, "Act as if the fate of the world depends on your every action while laughing all the time that anything you do makes any difference."
www.stoics.com It has the following writing online:
Cicero's De Officiis,
Seneca's Moral Essays (3 vols),
Seneca's Moral Epistles (3 vols),
Plutarch's Lives translated by North (3 vols of 8),
1 volume of Plutarch's Lives translated by Dryden,
Castiglione's Courtier,
Erasmus's Christian Prince,
Elyot's Governour,
Sidney's Arcadia Book I (index only),
Spenser's Faerie Queene (Books I, II, and VI),
Montaigne's Essays (3 vols) translated by Florio,
James I's Basilikon Doron, and
Hall's Character
I would actually recommend NOT reading the free online texts. Some are as much as 100 years old and written in a completely different style. Part of the reason that philosophy is so inaccessible is the reliance on old texts that use colloquialisms the reader no longer understands.
Marcus never said "Thou" and that phrase was only common in English for a few centuries. In 2009, using thou instead of "you" is alienating.
The new translations are fantastic. Try them.
Ryan
A few years I read some books by Alain de Botton, the Zurich-born London-based writer and philosopher, and I was really impressed by how practical he made it sound. Alain de Botton manages to make philosophy really accessible and "prescribes" philosophers to tackle certain attitudes, mental predispositions, moods, etc. This is when I discovered that philosophy is not just for an intellectual "elite", but can be understood and applied by anyone.
I would strongly suggest The Consolations of Philosophy to dip your toes in the minds of some great thinkers ... hmmm, that Idiom didn't really work, did it? ;-)
http://www.alaindebotton.com/philosophy.asp
All the best
Greg
Great read ... thanks for sharing!
A few years ago I read some books by Alain de Botton, the Zurich-born London-based writer and philosopher, and I was really impressed by how practical he made it sound. Alain de Botton manages to make philosophy really accessible and "prescribes" philosophers to tackle certain attitudes, mental predispositions, moods, etc. This is when I discovered that philosophy is not just for an intellectual "elite", but can be understood and applied by anyone.
I would strongly suggest The Consolations of Philosophy to dip your toes in the minds of some great thinkers ... hmmm, that Idiom didn't really work, did it? ;-)
http://www.alaindebotton.com/philosophy.asp
All the best
Greg
While browsing through some comments, I came across a comment from Alison that not only made me smile, but also reminded me that it would be great if you could dedicate some next-edition-4HWW pages to the aspect of how implementing the 4HWW-teachings impacts on relationships? Some philosophy might come in handy here too, I guess ;-)
Many thanks in advance,
All the best,
Believe it or not Cicero has an essay on just the topic you mentioned (could you be happy while on the rack being tortured?) Perhaps someone else could take a crack at answering but it could be possible, especially with a mix of some Epicurean principles. No one ever said it would be easy or fun or painfree, though. That's your straw man.
I will rephrase the question to be, "Can a philosopher remain happy despite torture?"
The stoic James Stockdale, USN (1923 – 2005) answers yes.
From "The Stoic Warrior's Triad":
"In a crucible like a torture prison, you reflect, you silently study what makes those about you tick. Once I had taken the measure of my torture guard, watched his eyes as he worked, watched him move,felt him move as he stood on my slumped-over back and cinched up the ropes pulling my shoulders together, I came to know that there was good in him. That was ironic because when he first came in with the new commissar when torture was instigated after I got there, I had nicknamed him "Pigeye" becauseof the total vacancy of the stare of the one eye he presented as he peeked through cell door peepholes. He was my age, balding and wiry, quick, lithe and strong, like an athletic trainer. He was totally emotionless, thus his emotionless eyes. He had almost no English-language capability, just motions and grunts. Under orders, he put me through the ropes 15 times over the years, and rebroke my bad leg once, I feel sure inadvertently. It was a court martial scene and he was having to give me the ropes before a board of North Vietnamese officers. The officers sat at a long table before Pigeye and me, and behind us was a semi-circle of soldiers bearing rifles with fixed bayonets at a kind of "dangle" position, the bayonet pointing at the cement floor ahead of them. This was in the "knobby" torture room of "New Guy Village" at Hoa Lo prison in August 1967-so-called because the walls had been crudely speckled with blobs of cement the size of an ice cream scoop in a "soundproofing" attempt. I could tell Pigeye was nervous because of these officers whom I had never seen before, and I don't think he had, and he pressed me flat over my bad leg instead of the good one he had always put the tension on before. The healing knee cartilage gave way with a loud "pop," and the officers looked at each other and then got up and left. I couldn't get off that floor and onto my feet for nearly two months. In all those years, we probably had no more than 24 hours, one-on-one together. But neither of us ever broke the code of an unvaryingly strict "line of duty" relationship. He never tricked me, always played it straight, and I begged no mercy. I admired that in him, and I could tell he did in me. And when people say: "He was a torturer, didn't you hate him?" I say, like Solzehnitsyn, to the astonishment of,those about me, "No, he was a good soldier, never overstepped his line of duty." By that time, I had learned that fear and guilt are the real pincers that break men's wills. I would chant under my breath as I was marched to interrogation, knowing that I must refuse to comply, and take the ropes: "Your eyes must show no fear; they must show no guilt." The North Vietnamese had learned never to take a prisoner "downtown"-to the payoff for what our
whole treatment regime was about-public propaganda exploitation-unless he was truly intimidated, unless they were sure he felt fear. Their threats had no meaning unless you felt fear. They had suffered the political damage of several, including myself, who had acted up, spoken up, and blurted out the truth to the hand-picked audience of foreigners at the press conference. Book IV of Discourses: "When a man who has set his will neither on dying nor upon living at any cost, comes into the presence of the tyrant, what is there to prevent him from being without fear? Nothing."
http://www.usna.edu/Ethics/Publications/stoicis...
Here's what I mean: a physical analogy, large muscle groups and stabilizing muscle groups...analogous to Newtonian Mechanics and Quantum Mechanics. Both are necessary, vital - but accessed differently.
I happen to think that what you guys are sharing here is another echo of this. Laws of being and thinking...some large and seemingly immovable, predictable, constant; some small and seemingly random, highly powerful...but all connected, participatory - also accessed in different modalities...some physical, some mental, some transrational.
Perhaps it's a bit neo-platonist combined with a techno-utopianism...I'm not sure labels are useful here. I find it to be simply connected to the breath and a core level anchoring to life long learning. It is rhythmic, physical, and only mental upon reflection or discussion.
"In times of change learners inherit the earth, while the learned find themselves equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists." Something like that, like true freedom in knowing that no one and nothing can keep you from learning. It may be the only true freedom.
Best,
Eric
ps.
@ Tony Landreth,
Studied Mihály Csíkszentmihályi’s work in grad school - in particular "Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience" and I highly recommend it for learning psychology and what he calls "steps towards enhancing life."
OK, here goes:
1) Deliberately choose to see everything that happens to you within the framework of the sovereignty of God.
Ephesians 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will.
Matthew 10:29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
Psalm 37:23 The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way.
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
2) Deliberately choose to give God thanks in the midst of everything.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 5:20 Always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Phillipians 4:6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Colossians 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.
3) Seek to discover God's purpose for the situation.
James 1:2-5 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Cheers
Leonard
You mentioned the Cicero essay. Perhaps it might be possible to be happy or "positive" while being tortured but depending on how long or how great the torture becomes I don't believe *anyone* can maintain a positive attitude. I believe that "strawman" example points to the fact that we are matter that we only influence, we don't "control" it. Another extreme example is a total debilitation stroke that leaves one at a semi-vegetative state. There's *nothing* there to be positive *with* and I believe sufficient torture or other conditions such as being forced to stay awake for 30 or 40 days will demonstrate that we *don't* have a choice in how we react to everything.
I point that extreme examples out as something where it is easy to see the lack of choice. I wonder how much there is in the day to day reactions the original post is really talking about. There certainly is a lot of choice possible in most of life's situations but not total.
I also worry about "positive thinking" falling into the Voltaire Dr. Panglos trap.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candide
Where, no matter what happens if we just look at it right "all is for the best in the best of all possible worlds".
If you'll forgive me for another extreme if a Serial Killer rapes and kills your 6 year old kid then no, there is no "positive" reaction.
Having heard Tim previously mention his interest in Stoicism piqued my curiousity. Thanks for the well written article.
@Ross: As a fellow believer in Christ, just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to contrast of our faith with the philosophies of the stoics. I would add my favorite verse under #2 Deliberately choose to give God thanks in the midst of everything: Prov 3: 5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." Written by King Solomon, considered to be one of the wisest men who ever lived.
My reaction to Stoicism is that it could lead to a boring or muted life (in comparison to a life lived without Stoicism). My thinking is essentially that the sweet isn’t as good without the sour. The stronger the sour, the stronger the sweet. Basically I’m saying to appreciate the sweet, you need to fully FEEL the sour. My read of this post makes me think Stoicism would DILUTE the sour by reframing it, or changing the meaning of the sour.
For example, I think if you feel fear of going bankrupt, allow yourself FEEL the fear and let it propel you towards taking actions that will alleviate it. Don’t reinterpret the fear as an opportunity to learn how to better forecast demand.
I assume that the counter argument is that Stoicism is not about not reacting, it’s about not overreacting. That to me sounds like an impractical line to tip toe. I would rather overreact to my team winning the championship then having to stop and think about if I am overacting.
And a small nit-picking point, I don’t think the example of how to deal with grief or sorrow was an example of a practical application. If we feel horribly sad that a person close to us has passed away, I don’t think someone telling us this is a chance to practice fortitude is a practical response.
I do agree with many of the points in this post. In a future post I’d like to see philosophies of how to live life while maxing out emotions and using them to achieve goals (if there is such a philosophy). All in all I think any post that gets the gears turning is a great post. Keep em coming!
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/health/emotiona...
I thought this might be interesting to readers of this article and definitely fits in the category "Filling the Void." I'd personally love to hear your take on volunteering as it relates to health and general well-being.
"Look again at that dot. That's here. Tht's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there – on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam."
Good stuff as always Tim - thanks!
Simple answer for me: Seneca, "Letters from a Stoic." It's superb.
Tim
"But for the sake of some little mouthful of meat,
we deprive a soul of the sun and light,
and of that proportion of life and time it had been
born into the world to enjoy."
SENECA (C.5 - C.E.65)
^Not sure about the source, if someone can confirm, great thanks :)
GREAT post! I never knew I was naturally Stoic -- thanks!
Here's some “Reminders for the Advanced Soul” quotes you two will enjoy from Richard Bach’s “Illusions”:
“Remember where you came from, where you’re going, and why you created the mess you got yourself into in the first place…”
“Learning is finding out what you already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you. You are all learners, doers, and teachers…”
“There is no such thing as a problem without a gift for you in its hands. You seek problems because you need their gifts.”
“You are never given a wish without being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however.”
“Argue for your limitations, and sure enough, they’re yours.”
“The world is your exercise-book, the pages on which you do your sums.
It is not reality, although you can express reality there if you wish. You are also free to write nonsense, or lies, or to tear the pages.”
“Every person, all the events of your life, are there because you have drawn them there. What you choose to do with them is up to you.”
“In order to live free and happily, you must sacrifice boredom. It is not always an easy sacrifice.”
“Here is a test to find whether your mission on earth is finished: If you’re alive, it isn’t.”
“The mark of your ignorance is the depth of your belief in injustice and tragedy. What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.”
“You’re going to die a horrible death, remember. It’s all good training, and you’ll enjoy it more if you keep the facts in mind. Take your dying with some seriousness, however. Laughing on the way to your execution it not generally understood by less advanced lifeforms, and they’ll call you crazy.”
“Everything above may be wrong!”
I find myself really taking a second look at my life after your video. I followed the similar path of being deathly scared of swimming, taking Japanese and quitting, and not believing in the 9-5 rat race. However, I realize that I may not have used fear to motivate me to success but rather to beat me into submission and forcing me to shrink to inactivity.
I find myself re-inspired to find the right methods of achieving what I initially set out to do and I will do my best to realign myself with past dreams.
I thank you so much for sharing your experience and I want you to know that you've made a difference in my life.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Gun K
I love this one. Going to do it ASAP.
- MPM
this is gold
But you need to know that this post lands somewhere between the court case against Don and Tim's shoes on the unintentional comedy scale.
Do yourselves a favor and pick up a copy of Aristotle's Nicomancean Ethics (if you don't already have it). You'll learn what the Stoics were responding AGAINST and, more importantly, why the history of philosophy deserves a bit more credit. Context matters.
And please read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlatan
This is absolutely brilliant. Many of us fail to pursue our dreams for fear of rejection, whether it is asking our dream girl out on a date, cold calling prospects, asking for a raise, starting up that company or whatever.
For me, one of my worst fears was to have no money. And then, I actually realised that fear and it ended up being one my of greatest blessings because being broke and having next to no money was no where near as bad as I thought. Sure I had to make some changes but I truly had to ask myself, "Is this what I used to dread?" Now that what I feared most in my life actually happened and I realise it was far worse in my head than in reality, I have been starting to look at some of my other fears. However your point about practising what you fear is amazing. I'm committing to taking that on every day. I can see how once we actually encounter what we fear and realise it's never as bad as we imagined, life becomes so much easier and there is so much more freedom to live and I mean really live rather than just exist!! As someone once said to me, "I cannot choose how I will die; I can only choose how I will live". Practising your fears can definitely give you an access to that.
Thanks so much guys,
Cheers, Niro
(In all seriousness, I have yet to read this article (though I will), but as Tim is asking for test comments, I am replying from a new email address. Here's to hoping this isn't an email grab. (It seems I've got some cynicism to go with my stoicism... :-o))
Mead
Comment in lieu of tweet. ;)
(test comment)
Comment in lieu of tweet request.
you twittered about leaving a comment, so here it is. Please delete :)
Liam Martin
Pumped to see that you are using Disqus, great decision.
Posting this w/ diff email as requested. Good luck!
Cheers,
Ryan
so, just "Test" it is then
By the way im wondering where in Vietnam you went. I was down south from hsmc and took the public bus to rach gia, phu quoc, and long xuyen. Great trip but I stood out a little (6'4" 255 lbs football player), but had a great time.
Just finished reading "The Celestine Prophecy" and while it's not totally aligned with the stoic thoughts above, it does share the philosophy of staying objective and therefore staying in control.
Cheers,
Tim
PS. from twitter post.
Kris
Commenting per your twitter request, "testing the site". I expect you have some intention that is a little more nuanced than just "testing", but then again so do I. Comments about you. First the good stuff. You are inspiring, clever, a "smashing young man", and it is often a great pleasure to read your blog, which I have shared with many friends. Your apparent arrogance is far overshadowed by what you have to offer, and I like your strong stance and your a apparent ability to receive feedback. Just two nights back I befriended a young man who was moving to Spain as a result of reading your book, and we shared some good appreciation and criticism of your work.
Now the bad stuff. You appear to be a hack in some regards, claiming some mastery in areas that have more nuance than a dilettante survey can offer, and some of your authoritative voice is lost after seeing exactly how you, for example, won the kick boxing championship. It almost appears that you did so for the wrong reasons, or for reasons that are so instrumental as to appear contrary to some of the intrinsic values you espouse on philosophy. I and a a few of my colleagues speculate that you are at times an over-achiever, seemingly motivated by some feeling of lack, inadequacy or fear. There seems almost a desperation on some of your actions that belays a lack of trust in the world you experience. If this is so, perhaps it has helped you to accomplish great things, but I think true mastery lies beyond. Here is a book by an old friend on the subject. http://www.amazon.com/Mastery-Keys-Success-Long...
My deep gratitude for your work.
- L
P.S.
Obviously this is meant for Timothy Ferriss, and it is at the readers discretion as to it's publication.
Testing as requested, sir.
BTW, have you heard of the book Unstuck? It looks like material that you would be interested in. Click my name for more info...
Book excerpt:
'Simple, effective meditations that can enhance the biology of your brain and body, and make it far easier for you to deal with and transform the beliefs and fears that have inhibited and overwhelmed you.
Clinically tested experiments with words, images, drawings, movement, yoga, and dance that can help you mobilize your intuition—and your body—to move surely and often swiftly through each of depression's seven stages.
Detailed, practical plans for using food and supplements, and the ancient, powerful methods of Chinese medicine to balance your physical and mental functioning.
Ways to make the world's spiritual wisdom and spiritual practices a sustaining part of your healing journey.
Strategies for tailoring all of these approaches and techniques to your unique, individual situation, to your life.'
Keep up the good work Tim, always look forward to your posts.
Quick lament: I've been a part of starting and selling 3 companies, authored 3 books, and lots of consulting and travel (34 countries so far), making me a multi-millionaire before I was 30. Now 42 and not nearly as "rich" as I was (as-in, not feeling that joy and passion in my life), I'm reading Tim's book and realizing how far I've fallen from what I loved. My momentum of standing still is strong as I work at a large software company in Seattle getting lost in the crowd. I'm feeling the creativity re-kindled through the book and these articles. Thank you for that and keep them coming.
I see you as a romantic
(as in romanticism).
Would you agree?
Your thoughts on romanticism?
Thanks,
Matt
‘It may be beneficial to consider what is often called ‘mental anguish,’ to ensure that the purely ‘painful’ elements do not distract from the analysis. A young man suffers because of the death of his bride of only 8 months. His grief is terrible because he loved her passionately; and so he suffers. Yet, if he was asked: do you wish to be relieved of you grief? he might hesitate. If it were possible for a laser to burn out of his brain precisely those cells which retained his memory of her, he might well refuse to submit to this therapy. The enormity of his grief, he may realize, simply is due to the enormity of his love. Had he not loved so much then, he would not grieve so much now. He may wish he could go back in time, or that she had not died, but even in his extremity he realizes the futility of such thinking. Thus, although he may bitterly resent his need to suffer and grieve, he would not opt to grieve at her death, for that would mean her death did not matter. Thus some kinds of suffering, such as grief, cannot be foresworn without the forfeiture of something so precious that the suffering demands acceptance.’ ‘Truth and Existence’ by Michael Gelven
‘If Machiavelli is right, if it is in principle impossible to be morally good and do one’s duty as this was conceived by common European, and especially Christian ethics, and at the same time build Sparta or even Periclean Athens or the Rome of the Republic or even of the Antonines. Then a conclusion of the first consequence follows: that the belief that the correct, objectively valid solution to the question of how men should live can in principle be discovered, is itself in principle not true... The idea of the world and of human society as a single intelligible structure is at the root of all the many various versions of natural law - the mathematical harmonies of the Pythagoreans, the logical ladder of Platonic Forms, the genetic-logical pattern of Aristotle, the divine Logos of the Stoics and the Christian Churches and of their secularised offshoots. The advance of the natural sciences generated more empirically conceived versions of this image as well as anthropomorphic similes: of Dame Nature as an adjuster of conflicting tendencies (as in Hume or Adam Smith), of Mistress Nature as the best way to happiness (as in the works of some French Encyclopaedists) ... This unifying monistic pattern is at the very heart of traditional rationalism, religious and atheistic, metaphysical and scientific, transcendental and naturalistic, that has been characteristic of Western civilization. It is the rock, upon which Western beliefs and lives have been founded, that Machiavelli seems, in effect, to have split open. So great a reversal cannot, of course, be due to the acts of a single individual. It could scarcely have taken place in a stable social and moral order; many beside him, medieval nominalists and secularists , Renaissance humanists doubtless supplied their share of the dynamite.... it was Machiavelli who lit the fatal fuse. ’The Originality of Machiavelli’ in Against the Current by Isaiah Berlin
Stoicism may be useful as a secularised version of the Protestant work ethic but without its metaphysical justifications it seem little different from nihilism to me.
I have very little time ATM so I will comment only on living the misfortune part for the moment: I wholeheartedly agree with ths idea, I actually went out of my way to practice the misfortune (temporarily left my luxury downtown residence to live in a horrible trailer in the ghetto) and it has helped tremendously to overcome the comfort trap. Not to mention it gave me the motivation and energy to make progress with my business startup and get back into serious networking. It allowed me to break free of stagnation, lethargy an anxiety caused by comfort. Of course it doesn't have to be so extreme for everyone, but it was necessary for me, and it worked for me. Now I know I can survive anything and the thorns on the path are not going to stop me from getting where I want to be.
I recommend reading moer quotes from Marcus Aurelius an Seneca for more insights :)
Thanks for sharing
Here's your test comment!
Great article!
Thank you.
Thanks for bringing this back to mind. I read Marcus Aurelius in college (a long time ago) and remember being struck by his view of the relatedness of all people. In a practical sense, he gave much the same guidance as might be found in Christian philosophy, albeit for different reasons.
From the quote above:
"The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous and surly. They are like this because they can’t tell good from evil, which sounds a lot like "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do."
Also:
"...and have recognized that the wrongdoer has a nature related to my own–not of the same blood or birth, but the same mind, and possessing a share of the divine." Since then I have understood, "Love thy neighbor as thyself" to imply that in some sense, your neighbor IS yourself: you share the human condition (the same mind) and share a bit of the divine spark.
I find it's easier to deal with difficult people and situations when I remember that ultimately, we are all doing the best we can and we are all connected.
Doug
We met at El Rio last Saturday. I took your advice and googled your friend Kevin and happened upon you. It was nice meeting you that night. Thanks for showing us your Michael Jackson moves!
Taryn
PS My friend didn't break his foot!
- Marcus Aurelius
By: A. A. Long and Thoughts of a Philosophical Fighter Pilot (Reprint ed.) [Paperback]
By: Jim Stockdale
"What then is to be done? To make the best of what is in our power, and take the rest as it naturally happens." Epictetus, Discourses