Be a good person and pursue the occupation you love
One of my favorite things to do, especially on cloudy Sundays like today, is take care of my succulent garden.
One of my favorite things to read is Meditations, by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius. One of my favorite things to listen to on Podcast Addict (my favorite and free podcasting app) and YouTube is The Daily Stoic with Ryan Holiday. What Ryan does, is he takes passages from stoic writers and shows us, in short audio or video format, how they apply to our livestoday! thousands of years after they were written!
The great emperor Marcus Aurelius didn't live in a cave in the mountains watching beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Like us, he also lived in a world where politics were difficult, he was surrounded by corruption, betrayal, death and unfairness, yet he was able to remain good, grounded, and decent. He was also able to write some of the most powerful meditations that allow us to enjoy the world and improve the lives of others as well as our own.
The answer is stoicism.
In a world where we scroll our smart phones with our thumb with an endless stream of photos and short videos, not to mention "news" on the upcoming election that might make our blood boil or heart pound. In a world in which we try to focus on work, yet we get that PING! sound from our phone that distracts us constantly. In this kind of world we CAN be less distracted, less impulsive and more focused.
In the words of Marcus Aurelius...
It’s time you realized that you have something in you more powerful and miraculous than the things that affect you and make you dance like a puppet.
And THAT is what stoicism does for us. It's a tool designed for the real world and its real problems; it's a philosophy that helps you work towards self-mastery and discipline.
Today I'd like to share something from Epictetus' Discourses book IV chapter I and I'd like to start with a quote:
What, then, is it which makes a man free from hindrance and his own master? For wealth does not do it, nor a consulship, nor a province, nor a kingdom, but something else has to be found. In the case of living, it is the knowledge of how to live.
- Epictetus, Discourses. Book IV Chapter I
Source: wikisource.org
And so, for today's #thoughfuldailypost I'd like to talk about the two most essential tasks in life that might, in the words of Epictetus, teach us how to live:
Being a good person and to pursue the occupation you love.
How exactly does one achieve those tasks? I don't have the answer to that, but you might be able to find clues by deciding to stay away from distractions and negative emotions and perhaps asking yourself
What is the best use of the finite time I have on planet Earth?
I know everybody's circumstances are different and some may not have the opportunity to dedicate 100% of their time to doing what they love, but you can always find time to dedicate some time to those activities which make your heart happy
Follow the golden rule as much as possible by treating others the way you'd like to be treated and understand that every tiny choice is an opportunity to practice the larger principles put forth by amazing thinkers from the past, like Epictetus.
What are your thoughts on these practices? Do you think they are part of the key to learning how to live our best lives?
Do you find it easy or difficult to "be a good person"?
I'd love to read your thoughts below.
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That's some deep wisdom you've given. Being good helps us live well with the people around us and doing the things we love helps us make the best use of our finite time on Earth. Nothing gives life purpose like pursuing our passions. And nothing makes the world a good place like being good to others.
It's amazing that these pearls of wisdom have been handed down for thousands of years. Hope you have a wonderful Sunday, friend.
I think that a free person has the ability to manage his time and live consciously. A person notices the signs of the Universe and chooses the most correct moves in various situations. I like the thoughts of the former slave Epictetus. It is not wealth that gives a person the right path - but knowledge of himself and the world around him.
I can't begin to understand what kind of life one can live being a slave and being banished to a foreign land. Perhaps these conditions are what helped Epictetus develop his ideas that all external events are beyond our control and that we are responsible for the consequences of our own actions.
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So true...
The sad part is that we are also so easily affected by the things that affects us, it's insane really... your own mind is the only thing you can really control and yet we all struggle to do this one basic thing... we're too concerned with shit the most of the time...
My 2 cents 🤣🤌
Yeah, we can so easily be affected by the nonsense that surrounds us... if we allow it.
I think it's amazing to read what stoic philosophers like Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius had to say about being better human beings and improving our lives as well as the lives of those around us. Deep meditations that were written thousands of years ago are still relevant to this day.
While I was reading your post I had several thoughts coming in... The first was about Twitter and short-content platforms on the Internet... I was wondering why they don't stick to me at all... Yes, they can make some bonds stronger, but in most cases, it is a waste of time... I would rather spend my time reading a thoughtful post like this one, learn something new, and move my grey cells than lose hours and hours on a discussion about politics, reality shows, and stuff like that...
Which leads to this:
To do what we love, to provide value to others, which should bring back the positive energy to us, and make us better persons...
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Short-form platforms are tailored to people's desire for instant dopamine hit. A quick laugh or nice set of tits. Yes, there's the ocasional insightful Tik-Tok, but like you said, they are usually a waste of time 😄.
Providing value is the name of the game. In life, in social settings, in business...
I think it is easy to be good in a good environment too.😊
Yes, although a good environment is not always the case. We are often surrounded by people who lie, cheat, steal and are disrespectful to others. It is in this environment that we are put to the test.
Well, the reason why it is too hard to be good when living in a given type of environment.😊
That's why we read from stoic masters like Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus. It may be hard, but not impossible.
It would be great to have that book.😊
Sometimes the simplest things can be the hardest, eh?
Never heard of Epictetus. I would remember, because that's an epic name...
I like Kant's categorical Imperative. Which seemlessly integrates with Mark Aurel and other stoics.
Have you heard of the Lakonians? The OG Stoics.
I look up to these dudes.
But it's hard. By default, by temperament, I am not a "good person", at all.
I am not calm. I am unfair and selfish and emotional. Another greek word: I am choleric.
Perceived injustice drives me up a wall and I sometimes have no patience for other people... things like that. Classic...
So, I have to make a conscious effort all the time and overwrite my factory settings.
If I don't control my behavior, I am completely chaotic.
Stoicism and related concepts are an expression of self-control and discipline.
And that's all quite easy in theory, but one of the hardest things to practice.
...for me at least.
I started making art in 2017(same year I started writing my blog here). So far I have only sold 5 art pieces but making art still makes me happy. Same with Hive. I am nowhere near where I would like to be but each
dollarcent earned brings me closer to my goals. That is also why lately I have bought some HBD. I love seeing my claimable HBD grow.Well it's actually not easy to do both, or choose one. I'm a Christian, so I mostly do what God wills and most times what God wills brings fulfillment. Like the commandment says love your neighbor as yourself. Sometimes doing something like this eventually benefits another person
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i agree. And i NOW find it easy to be a good person, most of the time. Years of practice!
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Meditations, by Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius.