I think one pitfall we tend to encounter, when we try to put Stoic teachings into practice, is that of becoming unfeeling, “like a stone.” I mentioned four such difficulties in a previous post. Here, I want to expand on this particular one. What this expression means, becoming or being “unfeeling like a stone,” is … More The pitfall wherein we become unfeeling
Have you encountered these difficulties in attempting to live Stoically? After a conversation I had, some time ago, about living as a Stoic philosopher, I found myself wondering what pitfalls and stumbling blocks a person is likely to encounter when they try seriously to integrate Stoic teachings and practice into their life. Four things came … More Four ways we may stumble in attempting to live Stoically
Not, of course, negative in the sense of bad or unpleasant. How could … More Happiness defined negatively?
Do you apologize too much?
Epicurus’ analysis of happiness is one my mind returns to periodically. … More Epicurus and Genuine Happiness
When you feel so tired … More When you feel so tired
Recently I’ve been hearing people talk about how spiritual growth is not painless. This, I think, is a very good thing to be pointed out, a very good thing to be reminded of, a very good thing to consider somewhat regularly. The topic puts me in mind of certain other observations. One, that to walk … More Observations on pain and spiritual growth
We become so accustomed to speeding ahead, … More We become so accustomed
What would you do this week, if you weren’t afraid?
There’s such a push to do more. Don’t you think? It seems like we’re always being advised, persuaded, pushed, to do something more, something further. The advice is: add this other thing on top of all the things you already do. The subtext seems to be: you won’t be happy unless you add this (whatever … More Do a little less (or not)
What is one thing you appreciate about these face masks we’ve all been wearing? There’s been a lot of complaining of course, and now that mask mandates are being lifted where I live, there are lots of comments about how terrible the wearing masks is/was. A sense of relief is understandable. At the same time, … More Question of the Day: No. 532
True, intrinsic self-esteem is extremely conducive to happiness. But self-esteem that is merely contingent, on the other hand, is not. Following up on a previous post, I want to share a few contrasts between true and contingent self-esteem. Gabor Mate identifies these in Scattered (see chapter 25). Contingent self-esteem… True self-esteem… evaluates accepts “is fickle, … More True Self-Esteem 2
trauma is a still-unhealed wound, still carried within oneself traumatic event, or traumatizing event, is the thing that caused the trauma often ‘trauma’ is used to mean traumatizing event. this seems fine to me, so long as the meaning is understood. However, The distinction between trauma and traumatizing event is perhaps not widely understood or … More a note on trauma
Not long ago, I read something about self-esteem that seems important to share. It’s a distinction between contingent and true self-esteem. Or rather, a distinction between self-esteem, and something that looks like self-esteem, but isn’t. Gabor Mate puts it like this: “Self-esteem based on achievement has been called contingent self-esteem or acquired self-esteem. Unlike contingent … More True Self-Esteem
By SeekerFive A very nice comment by @kjensenstudio pushed me to enlarge upon what I meant by suggesting, in a previous post, that “life is the condition for meaning and meaningfulness, rather than something that needs a single, permanent, or predetermined meaning.” Although I attempted to do so in a long-winded reply, I also want … More Seeking an outside-of-life meaning as a category mistake
Recently, my teammate AP2 published a touching post about life’s meaning. A major point he sought to make was this: “our lives hold as much meaning as we give them” which he connects with the danger of losing a sense of meaningfulness, the danger of getting swallowed up by a personal existential nihilism, of becoming … More A condition for meaningfulness?
Sometimes I remember a writer, I can’t recall who, describing a friend who though atheist, sometimes goes into a church and prays. The writer had noticed this about his friend and was perplexed: How, or why, is he praying, if he does not believe in a god to pray to? His friend explained that although … More An atheist praying?
Most of the world, it seems, has experienced a great deal of fear during this past year. I’m not thinking primarily of the recent U.S. election or the current U.S. presidential transition. There had already been enough fear to write this post after a month or two of pandemic-occasioned “lock down.” Timelines differ around the … More What can you get out of all that fear?
How would you illustrate what it means to do a good thing gladly and with pleasure, as distinguished from doing the same thing with reluctance, pain, and a sense of loss? … More Your thoughts please: What’s an example of doing the right thing gladly?
Obviously technical skills are important in life. But it’s other qualities that make you a good person, a good human being. Someone, in other words, who leads a good life. Does the question seem random? In fact, it’s intrinsically connected with the pursuit of humane and skillful wisdom. I’ll follow up on this question in … More Your thoughts please: What are the most important personal qualities?