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 »
To live the life you want to live, you must be the product of your sound judgement, well reasoned thoughts, and proper actions. This can’t happen if you allow yourself to think and act like you are the victim of your environment and circumstances.
Live the life you want Read More »
In Stoicism the ability to act based on our reasoned thoughts is key to living the life we want to live. But what does this mean? Cognitive Behavior Theory gives us some critical insight. 1. Evaluate Your Thoughts: look for cognitive distortions, bias, and irrational thinking. If you find any of these things challenge or
Using CBT to reason with our thoughts Read More »
According to the Stoics we only have control over our opinion, choice, desire, aversion, and the things of our own doing. Cognitive Behavior Therapy has a similar list of things in our control which includes our thoughts, our behaviors, our attitudes and feelings, and our goals and values. There is a lot of overlap with
Accept it, live with it, and get on with your life Read More »
Habits are a double edged sword. On one side they can help us shape the life we want to live, while on the other they can deepen the ruts of our bad behavior. The good news is there is a simple test for any habit in our lives. All you have to do is reflect
Double Edged Habits Read More »
The “mind” is a complex system. Of course it is our brain, and it is also our senses, our hormone system, our stomach, our heart, our hands, arms, legs, and feet. It is the whole package of what we are. All these parts play their role and the result is this sometimes mystical idea called
What is the Point of the Mind Read More »
Here are the questions I started asking myself as I transitioned out of the military. Taking the time to really think about these questions helped me gain clarity and insight. That insight supports the development of my goals and plans. The result was being able to take actions towards living the life I want to
Questions to ask when you are leaving the military Read More »
