Seek first to understand. This is one of my favorite concepts because it implies gaining clarity by taking action. The first thing that comes to mind when I think about the concept of “seeking” is a RADAR system that used to cause me a lot of headaches when I was a young Airman. As a […]
Seek first to understand Read More »
Each moment is a choice to live the life we want to live. We can’t change our choices in the past, but we can make a choice that helps us right now. It is a trap to wallow in our despair about past choices when we can step out of the mud and the muck
Wallowing in the past is not the answer Read More »
All other factors aside, the most important thing we do is make choices. This makes decision making one of, if not the most, critical skill we need to develop and grow.So how do we expand and refine our capability and capacity to make decisions? Decision making relies on the ability to think with a level
(Clarity + Complexity)Action = Progress Read More »
The language we choose to describe the world to ourselves and others can be a powerful force in our lives. Our word choices can exaggerate risks and our fears. They can confuse or misdirect our emotions. They can also invoke clarity and understanding. If chosen with intent and purpose they can be a useful tool
Not starting is self selecting failure. A common perspective in the military is to have a “bias for action.” The cautious, security seeking portion of our mind will tell us “No just wait we need to know more before we begin.” That might be a trap and I would encourage you to challenge that hesitation.
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Want to be more content? Start by challenging the assumption that you should be ceaselessly pursuing pleasure and constantly avoiding pain. It might even be worth taking a look at the habits you have developed in seeking pleasures and avoiding challenges. Those habits might just be an indication that you are caught in the “this
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Peace of mind is the result of choosing a path that aligns with our values and then sticking with it despite the distraction and misdirection offered up by the world around us. Knowing our core values becomes a critical step in developing and living the life we want to live.
There are forces in the world, and inside us, that push and pull us. The defense against being harmed by these forces is to be clear on what we value so we can cut the strings of harmful influence and stop them from jerking us around like a puppet on a string.
When you first start to study Stoicism it is pretty common to latch on to the concept that the only thing completely within our control is our thoughts. As I learned more about cognitive theory I started to understand that not all thoughts are created equally. Some of our thoughts rush into our minds as
The thing that comes up time and time again in my daily study of Stoicism, and is an absolute necessity, is understanding the things we control so we can recognize what is not ours to control. Things in our control: Things not in our control: This concept helps us focus our time and energy on
Understanding Control Read More »
