Life On A B-I7

Meditation Journey Begins

This morning I meditated for twenty minutes before my little shrine here at my writing desk. I call it a shrine but I’m not really invoking any deity in this practice. I’m just trying to get in touch with myself. This is a relatively new routine, but already I’m feeling comfortable with it. I was going to take up TM, but my engagement with the local TM instructor here in Central Oregon left me uncertain if the two of us should proceed. So, as a result, I’m striking out on my own meditation journey with high hopes that I know as much about my body and its needs as someone that doesn’t know me.

ICE

Let’s get ICE off our streets and into our beverages.

I’m not making light of our situation. ICE is focused on rounding up the wrong people. Illegal immigration is not a felony. There are plenty of felons in Washington D.C. that should be arrested and brought to justice before we get obsessed with illegal immigration.

Conspiracy

The only conspiracy in America is the conspiracy by the current administration to convince Americans that there are conspiracies in America.

George Orwell put it succinctly in the novel “1984.”

”The Party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears.”

To see the truth takes discernment and willingness.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 129

There are three question that we should keep foremost in our consciousness throughout the day:

1. Desire. Are we letting it dictate our actions?
2. Impulse. Are we acting impulsively or for the right reasons?
3. Reason. Are we using reason to guide our actions?

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 128

Look at the world around you and seek out that which is good. Once you notice the good around you, acknowledge it. This will free you from the evil that would otherwise weigh you down.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 127

The more desires we have the less free we are. Our goals need to be in keeping with our means and our ability. Having goals we cannot achieve binds us and ultimately inhibits our growth.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 126

While money is important for living, having money never fixes what is wrong inside of us.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 125

Spend a few minutes at the end of each day examining how you lived. If you don’t take stock of your day you will be prone to repeating mistakes over and over. Writing is practicing. Writing at the beginning and end of each day is good exercise for your mind and can help you grow.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 124

The secret to life, according to Marcus Aurelius, is to keep an untroubled spirit. In other words, think positively not negatively. If you hear someone speaking negatively, consider it chatter and dismiss it. “The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts.” Mind and reality are a closed loop. Thoughts create words, words create actions, actions create thoughts. It all starts with your mind and how you engage it.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 123

1. Don’t start your day by picking up your phone.
2. Don’t eat in a hurry.
3. Drink water before coffee.
4. Avoid things that cause stress.
5. Avoid overexposure to noise.
6. Go outside.
7. Pay attention to your breathing.
8. Don’t end your day by picking up your phone.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 122

Don’t spend time overthinking the simple stuff. Invariably the small things take care of themselves. Our job is to take care of what is in front of us, whatever that is today. Focus on that and do the best we can. Getting lost in distractions or other people’s business prevents us from reaching today’s goal. By approaching today’s goal with clarity we will not only achieve that goal, but as an added benefit, we will also achieve serenity.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 121

Pick out someone wise and study them. Observe what they do as well as what they don’t do. Make it your job to emulate them to the best of your ability. Let them serve as your model and your inspiration.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 120

Ask yourself this question whenever you are about to find fault with someone: “What fault of mine most nearly resembles the one I am about to criticize?”

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 119

Restart life every day. Make an effort to see the same things in a different light. What happened yesterday is in the past. The door is open for us to move forward. We have the power to restart.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 118

Epictetus asks us to consider three questions each morning:

1. What did I do yesterday that did not move me toward serenity?
2. What did I do yesterday that was unkind, unsocial or uncaring?
3. What changes do I need to make today to avoid these failures?

Answers can be obtained by spending a few minutes meditating on our experiences from yesterday. We can’t progress unless we understand what it is we need to be doing.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 117

Take time to pet the cat. He needs love as much as you do. By giving love we will ultimately receive more love in return. Often it will come to us unexpectedly.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 116

We all have times of success and times of failure. Life might be easier for some than for others. There is only one thing we need to focus on, that which is in our control. The things that are not in our control, if we spend too much energy on them, will move us away from our goal, not closer. What matters is our choices. Think before choosing.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 115

Look at the world like a poet or an artist. Learn to see the beauty in ordinary things. Observe and take note. Doing so will reveal to you the beauty in the world and your reward will be greater happiness.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 114

We have our work, and as the saying goes, “our work will set us free.” That is not talking about the work we do to earn a living. That is talking about the work we do to make ourselves a better person. Our work directly plays into the quality of our life and how well we are able to deal with the world around us. We have the best teachers in the world: The Stoic philosophers, the Hindi philosophers, the Chinese philosophers, the Christian philosophers, and so many more. All we need to do is realize the path is their for our understanding and put in the work.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 113

Rote behavior is the death of all creative thought. “Because that is the way I have always done it” is no answer. Everything requires thought and questioning. Always ask, is this really the best way to do what I am doing? Always ask, is this the right reason?

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 112

There are two ways to live.

One way to live is to constantly be questioning. First accepting ideas then rejecting them for another.

That is thinking like the wind.

Another way to live is to employ our judgement. When we rely on the opinion of others we are at the mercy of others. When we rely on our judgement we can achieve tranquility.

That is thinking with judgement.

The employment of judgement must be based on sound principles. Sound principles means using our welfare, the welfare of others, and the knowledge of verified experts as our guide.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 111

We are besieged by thoughts of things that need doing or buying. Temptations like food and entertainment. What are the things that matter and how do we stay focused on them. The answer is we must strive to be more than a pawn to these forces. We must counter them by knowing our values and keeping them in the forefront of our consciousness. Listen to the inner voice that knows what you need to do to focus your life.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 110

There are many paths to serenity but one that is proven to help move you in that direction is the notion of control. Exercise control over those things that are within your agency. Exercising control requires constant reflection and adjustment throughout the day. When you retire at night, tell yourself you will do it all again tomorrow.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 109

Serenity is the result of our choices. It does not rely on place or circumstance, who we are with or what we are doing. Serenity is a choice we make and that choice is wholly determined within our own mind.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 108

One of the highest forms of being is to seek tranquility. All action aimed at tranquility has to be determined by applying sound judgement. Bringing order to events by applying sound judgement is key. Use reason to picture the outcome you seek but do not allow personal desire to alter the picture. Doing so will move you away from the outcome, not toward it.