Very soon

NO SELF-FLAGELLATION NEEDED
“Philosophy calls for simple living, but not for penance—it’s quite possible to be simple withoutbeing crude.”
—SENECA, MORAL LETTERS, 5.5

Marcus’s meditations are filled with self-criticism and so are the writings of other Stoics. It’simportant to remember, however, that that’s as far as it goes. There was no self-flagellation, nopaying penance, no self-esteem issues from guilt or self-loathing. You never hear them call themselvesworthless pieces of crap, nor do they ever starve or cut themselves as punishment. Their self-criticism isconstructive.

Laying into yourself, unduly depriving yourself, punishing yourself—that’s self-flagellation, not selfimprovement.

No need to be too hard on yourself. Hold yourself to a higher standard but not an impossible one. Andforgive yourself if and when you slip up.

Be alone. Eat alone, take yourself on dates, sleep alone. In the midst of this you will learn about yourself. You will grow, you will figure out what inspires you, you will curate your own dreams, your own beliefs, your own stunning clarity, and when you do meet the person who makes your cells dance, you will be sure of it, because you are sure of yourself.

© Bianca Sparacino 📚

Shabbat Shalom

“While you are alive in this world, chase everything with determination except death and love; for when their time comes, both of them will come looking for you and stand at your door without hesitation.”
Something I read

#GoToChurch #Churchሂዱ

እግዚአብሔር ወዳለውም ቦታ ደረሱ፤ አብርሃምም በዚያ መሠዊያውን ሠራ፥ እንጨትንም ረበረበ፤ ልጁን ይስሐቅንም አስሮ በመሠዊያው በእንጨቱ ላይ አጋደመው። አብርሃምም እጁን ዘረጋ፥ ልጁንም ያርድ ዘንድ ቢላዋ አነሣ። የእግዚአብሔር መልአክም ከሰማይ ጠራና፦ አብርሃም አብርሃም አለው፤ እርሱም፦ እነሆኝ አለ። እርሱም፦ በብላቴናው ላይ እጅህን አትዘርጋ፥ አንዳችም አታድርግበት፤ አንድ ልጅህን ለእኔ አልከለከልህምና እግዚአብሔርን የምትፈራ እንደ ሆንህ አሁን አውቄአለሁ አለ።
ዘፍጥረት 22:9-12

@chrstian_316

NO EXCUSES

“It is possible to curb your arrogance, to overcome pleasure and pain, to rise above yourambition, and to not be angry with stupid and ungrateful people—yes, even to care for them.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 8.8

I was just born this way.” “I never learned anything diferent.” “My parents set a terrible example.”“Everyone else does it.” What are these? Excuses that people use to justify staying as they are instead ofstriving to become beter.

Of course it’s possible to curb our arrogance, control our anger, and be a caring person. How do youthink others do it? Certainly their parents weren’t perfect; they didn’t come out of the womb incapable of ego or imune to temptation. They worked on it. They made it a priority. They solved it like they wouldsolve any other problem: by dedicating themselves to finding a solution, making incremental progressuntil they did.

They became who they are. Just like you can.

In 1966 when students of addis ababa university started riot emperor send his troops trying to silence them. Even killing their leaders on the street. The riot didn't die but as a result the emperor collapsed. Then again students of addis ababa university started a riot to throw the derg regim. Former prime minister melese zenawi was one of them look the derg regim fall.

THE OBSTACLE IS THE WAY

“While it’s true that someone can impede our actions, they can’t impede our intentions and ouratitudes, which have the power of being conditional and adaptable. For the mind adapts andconverts any obstacle to its action into a means of achieving it. That which is an impediment toaction is turned to advance action. The obstacle on the path becomes the way.”
—MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 5.20

Today, things will happen that will be contrary to your plans. If not today, then certainly tomorrow. As a result of these obstacles, you will not be able to do what you planed. This is not as bad as it seems, because your mind is infinitely elastic and adaptable.
You have the power to use the Stoic exercise of turning obstacles upside down, which takes one negative circumstance and uses it as an opportunity topractice an unintended virtue or form of excellence.

If something prevents you from geting to your destination on time, then this is a chance to practice patience.

If an employee makes an expensive mistake, this is a chance to teach a valuable lesson.

If a computer glitch erases your work, it’s a chance to start over with a clean slate.

If someone hurts you, it’s a chance to practice forgiveness.

If something is hard, it is a chance to get stronger.

Try this line of thinking and see whether there is a situation in which one could not find some virtue topractice or derive some benefit.
There isn’t one. Every impediment can advance action in some form or another.

▓▓▓░░░░░░░░░░░░░ ፲፱% (19%)

Man is sometimes extraordinarily, passionately, in love with suffering, and that is a fact.

- Fyodor Dostoevsky🖤📚