Life On A B-I7

Donald Trump is a modern day Nero. So many people that have done Trump’s bidding have been cast aside. These people should have been prepared for their fate. The signs were everywhere. Instead it seems they were surprised.

Seneca was tossed aside by Nero. Seneca was well respected, Nero was a tyrant. When Seneca’s friends heard the news that Seneca had been sentenced to death by suicide, they lamented the fact. Seneca’s reply, “where is your philosophy?” You should be prepared for any turn of fate. We may not be happy to be led by men like Trump and Nero, that makes the necessity to be prepared all the more important. Fate does not spare anyone.

Nothing is free. We will face situations where we are outmatched by the adversity we are facing. Preparation is our best practice in defense of adveristy. When facing adversity, how we respond will define us. Is our approach to the confrontation allowing us to learn and get stronger or have we submitted to failure without a struggle?

General Douglas MacArthur once said, and these words are engraved on a wall at the West Point Gymnasium:

Part of life is constantly being caught off guard. It will happen more often than we want it to. Plans are only as good as their assumptions. When you are caught off guard, the best you can do, and your highest priority, is to calmly find your way back to your goal as quickly as you can.

Life is to be wrestled with. Adversity and the unexpected require that you be ready to grapple with circumstances at any time. I the best of circumstances, life is like dancing, when circumstances become complex and work against you, life becomes like a wrestling match. Be a good dancer, but also learn some good wrestling holds.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 182

If you set your mind to a task and you always follow through, that is commendable. If you always follow through, even when the task becomes irrelevant, this behavior becomes a liability. Always look at your tasks in the light of changing conditions, because conditions change. Some tasks are not meant to be completed. They may have been good ideas when they were conceived, but now they are no longer good ideas due to a change in conditions. Complete tasks whenever you can, but don’t be captive to them.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 181

Nothing is unending, you simply need to be gracious and work through it.

“Nature is merciful, and does not try her children, man or beast, beyond their compass. It is only when the cruelty of man intervenes that hellish torments appear. For the rest — live dangerously; take things as they come; dread naught, all will be well.” Winston Churchill spoke those words prior to WWII.

This attitude no doubt played a role in leading Churchill through one of the darkest times in modern history. I take encouragement from these words. There is little doubt we are facing our own dark time full of trials. Remembering these words is consoling.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 180

Does someone hate you? Let’s hope not. If you find yourself in those shoes, it is better to respond with kindness than it is to respond in kind. If there is a chance to influence the hater, take it. If that is not an option, then accept that person as they are — never hate in return.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 179

It’s better to persevere than it is to get lucky. Anyone can get lucky. The truly great person achieves success through hard work, by prevailing over adversity and disappointment. It is also better to admire the hard working over those that achieved success via luck or unearned inheritance. There is a saying, “God favors fools.” That may be true, but who wants to be admired as a fool?

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 178

If you have a philosophy that you choose to live by (Stoicism is one of many to choose from) that’s a good thing, but beware the temptation to think you understand that philosophy before you have had time to put it into daily practice. Just because you agree with a philosophy or feel attracted to it doesn’t mean you have a true understanding. Understanding only comes with time, learning, and practice. Beware the temptation to sound smart before you actually are.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 177

There are two ways to approach desire. When desire is appropriate, address it with caution and be sure not to overindulge. When desire is inappropriate, ask for the strength to ignore it. In both cases, make desire a positive motivation, don’t allow it to become an obsession.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 176

Avoid giving in to fear. Fear is a warning to be cautious and aware, not a signal to give up hope. The Stoics speak of the “Inner Citadel.” Our inner domain is our sanctuary. Fortune can affect us. Physical vulnerabilities may befall us. It is our inner sour, our inner fortress that sustains and supports us.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 175

Avoid arrogance. Nothing is more unbecoming. Even the lowliest creatures can sense arrogance and will avoid it. If you want to be respected, if you want to be taken seriously then avoid arrogance at all cost. Let your actions speak for you. If you are questioned, answer from your heart, what you know to be true. Don’t give answers you think other people want you to give.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 174

Think about surviving on less, so that when that day comes, you will be better prepared to accept it. This will help not just in the case of financial loss, but also in the case of physical or emotional loss. For these things are sure to befall us sooner or later.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 173

Think about spending one day a month experiencing the worst fear you can imagine. That act alone can be preparation for any calamity that may befall you in the future.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 172

If you start a task and then begin to have second thoughts about it, ask yourself, “why am I doing this?” Don’t continue doing the task hoping the answer to that question will somehow reveal itself. Remember that quality is better than quantity. Steve Jobs understood that. It was his motivation for creating one of the most valuable companies in the world.

He once said, “a home run is better than two doubles.” He was partly correct. That is true in the business world, but in the world of baseball, he would not have been a good manager. Both a home run and two doubles score a run, but two doubles leaves a runner in scoring position.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 171

We must be willing to bear the consequences of the risks we take. Both the good risks and the bad risks. If we make a bad choice we must be humble about the consequences we will suffer. If we make a good choice we must be humble about our good fortune.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 170

You have the power to determine what your life means. Only you. Living in Wisdom Montana will not make you wise, only you can do that — and you can do that anytime, anywhere. Use reason, make good choices, that is your hidden power.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 169

Your freedom of choice is the most precious gift you have. All manner of harm can be done to you but no one or no thing can take away your freedom of choice. People can try to change who you are but you are the only person with the power to do that.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 168

Remember that what belongs to others is not yours. To covet what others possess enslaves you. What is yours is yours and no one can take that away from you. Focus on what you can control — yourself and yourself alone.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 167

The inspiration for this category of entries is “The Daily Stoic,” by Ryan Holiday. Ryan has written extensively about Stoicism and done a great service to bring the philosophy of Stoicism to the modern mind. Ryan has made a career out of guiding and encouraging people to not only understand but also live by Stoic principles. (I’m not a big fan of his profiteering from his life work, but that is the nature of capitalism I suppose.)

My discovery is that living by Stoic principles takes more than study. These daily entries are my “study,” I am also trying to live the words of the Stoics. That will not be an overnight achievement, it will be a lifetime endeavor. I will be returning to these entries in the years to come for inspiration, encouragement and guidance. It is not my goal to become a Stoic Master. I will be happy to achieve the level of apprentice someday.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 166

Do not rush into things for which you have not prepared adequately. No man knows everything there is to know. There is no substitute for wise preparation. Preparation that is inspired by a search for facts through humility. There is no such thing as “part-time” preparation. Life should not be lived halfheartedly. Take time daily for preparation.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 165

Strengthening yourself is hard work. Physical strengthening or emotional strengthening takes effort and determination. This work, this effort, is how you will develop the ability to persevere through all of life’s difficulties.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 164

Do not rely on good luck. “The rational soul is stronger than any kind of fortune.” The words of Seneca ring as true today as they did in ancient times. Be like Cato, learn indifference to fortune. Live the life you know is correct despite adversity or good fortune, either one. By being strong in this way you will be prepared for whatever may befall you.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 163

If you are inclined to look at someone’s failings and hold that against them, look at your own failings first. Be as forgiving of those people as you are of yourself. That is the only way you can grow to understand them better — and understand yourself better.

Stoic Thought of the Day — Day 161

No person has the power to possess everything they want. Does that sound familiar? It should. We are being led by a man that thinks having whatever he wants is reasonable. The ancient Romans knew this was not a tenable reality. Today we call that behavior malignant narcissism. The desire to obtain obscene wealth and power is possibly the most tragic of human flaws.