Category: Philosophy

And now, weak, short of breath, my once-firm muscles melted away by cancer, I find my thoughts, increasingly, not on the supernatural or spiritual, but on what is meant by living a good and worthwhile life — achieving a sense of peace within oneself. I find my thoughts drifting to the Sabbath, the day of rest, the seventh day of the week, and perhaps the seventh day of one’s life as well, when one can feel that one’s work is done, and one may, in good conscience, rest

And now, weak, short of breath, my once-firm muscles melted away by cancer, I find my thoughts, increasingly, not on the supernatural or spiritual, but on what is meant by living a good and worthwhile life — achieving a sense of peace within oneself. I find my thoughts drifting to the Sabbath, the day of rest, the seventh day of the week, and perhaps the seventh day of one’s life as well, when one can feel that one’s work is done, and one may, in good conscience, rest

— Oliver Sacks

Don’t worry too much about making money. It won’t change the way you live. Time spent earning enough money is time reasonably well spent. Time earning an excess of money far beyond that required to meet one’s needs, however, is time wasted.

Don’t worry too much about making money. It won’t change the way you live. Time spent earning enough money is time reasonably well spent. Time earning an excess of money far beyond that required to meet one’s needs, however, is time wasted.

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Truth

Truth

There is no one truth in this world. The truth is a nascent thing, it is a fragile thing. It comes from different angles, different perspectives. The truth is probably broader than a narrow view”

Raoul Pal
The Lessons of Stoicism

The Lessons of Stoicism

— Nicholas Vardy

“Here’s a quick summary of what Stoicism teaches us.

Lesson No. 1: Radical Acceptance:

Acceptance stands at the core of Stoicism. The Stoics tell us that we should accept unconditionally anything that is outside of our control. Avoiding the unpleasant in life is impossible. It’s best to bear the uncomfortable with equanimity. Amor fati – “love your fate” – as Marcus Aurelius advised.

Lesson No. 2: Focus on Yourself

The only thing we control is our perceptions. The key to freedom is to focus only on our own beliefs and actions. The Stoics admonish us to not focus on the trivial. Avoid gossip and rude, vulgar conversation. Were the original Stoics alive today, they would tell us to avoid all social media.

Lesson No. 3: Character Is Key

For the Stoics, character is everything. The only real value in life is to act virtuously. And this means living your life in a specific way. The Stoics counseled that we should do only what is right. Remain indifferent to criticism. Only the vulgar measure their self-worth by external things.”



Happiness is the proper goal for people on their first mountain. And happiness is great. But we only get one life, so we might as well use it hunting for big game: to enjoy happiness, but to surpass happiness toward joy…

Happiness is the proper goal for people on their first mountain. And happiness is great. But we only get one life, so we might as well use it hunting for big game: to enjoy happiness, but to surpass happiness toward joy…

… Happiness tends to be individual; we measure it by asking, “Are you happy?” Joy tends to be self-transcending. Happiness is something you pursue; joy is something that rises up unexpectedly and sweeps over you. Happiness comes from accomplishments; joy comes from offering gifts. Happiness fades; we get used to the things that used to make us happy. Joy doesn’t fade. To live with joy is to live with wonder, gratitude, and hope. People who are on the second mountain have been transformed. They are deeply committed. The outpouring of love has become a steady force.

The people who radiate a permanent joy have given themselves over to lives of deep and loving commitment. Giving has become their nature, and little by little they have made their souls incandescent. There’s always something flowing out of the interiority of our spirit. For some people it’s mostly fear or insecurity. For the people we call joyful, it’s mostly gratitude, delight, and kindness.“

— David Brooks From “The Second Mountain: The quest for a moral life”