But what are you doing here, Perceptions? Get back to where you came from, and good riddance. I don't need you. Yes, I know, it was only force of habit that brought you. No, I'm not angry with you. Just go away.- Marcus Aurelius 7.17a That's what you say to perceptions and automatic thoughts, to [...]
Category: Stoicism
Get the benefits of surviving a disaster – from the comfort of your own couch!
Catchy title, isn’t it? I just finished reading a wonderful Modern Stoic book called “A Guide to the Good Life”, by William B. Irvine. The book is a treasure trove of practical wisdom, from ancients, refurbished. An insightful and useful practice Irvine brings up multiple times in his book is Negative Visualisation. Negative Visualisation is [...]
Forget the future
Forget the future. When and if it comes, you'll have the same resources to draw on - the same logos.Marcus Aurelius 7.8 When and if it comes. You don't know what happens. It may never come for you, and all you worry now is for nothing. When it comes, it will be dealt with then. [...]
Is my intellect up to this?
This morning I read again good old Marcus and was confronted by two passages that stopped me in my tracks. 7.5 and 7.7 I’ll provide the exact quotes in a bit, but first I’m going to ask /you/ a question: Do you do bullshit like this? Wanting to appear “smart” and “knowledgeable”, you don’ t [...]
The Joy Of Missing out – Plan, Action and Discipline
The grass looks greener on the other side of the fence, and sometimes it is. The grass is always grey and tastes like shit the InBetween-land. That's where the uncommitted, undecided and undisciplined people live. It is a place of great misery. The problem If I don't watch it, this is what happens: I have about twenty five [...]
Kindness
Respecting the rights of others.Wishing well to others.Being ready to help those in need.Seeking to build community and find common ground.Not hurting others.Doing what you can to stop those who attempt to hurt others.Showing up as the best version of yourself available, keeping your temper in check and only saying things that are helpful, even [...]
Memento Mori
Remember that the time is finite. We lose each other in so many ways, and it happes from moment to moment, all of the time. Things change, people change. What is good about this time, savour it, but do not expect it to last. Do not allow yourself to use your precious moments in the [...]
Reckon on everything, expect everything
Have you worked on a goal and failed? Have you been bullshitting yourself about something? I sure have. Now, would you like to climb back on the right wagon? Do that with me today, with these thoughts in mind! Reckon on everything Log the numbers. Know your key figures. Know where you are with this [...]
Fortune gives us nothing which we can really own
Fortune gives us nothing which we can really own. - Seneca I should remember my mortality, and the mortality of others. How silly will all my resentments look like, in a future not so far from now. Live in this moment, every minute of the day, but do your best not to embarrass your future [...]
You could leave life right now
You could leave life right now. Let that determine what you do and say and think. - Marcus Aurelius Yes, indeed. It is a bummer, isn't it? How different would we all act, if we knew that this was our last day? It could be! We often act as if there was unlimited time. Things [...]
Fate Permitting 