February 27th: Cultivating indifference where other grow passion
Ryan Holiday, The 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Of all the things that are, some are good, others bad, and yet others indifferent. The good are virtues and all that share in them; the bad are the vices and all that indulge them; the indifferent lie in between virtue and vice and include wealth, health, life, death, pleasure and pain. — Epictetus, Discourses, 2.19.12b-13
November 27th: The pleasure of tuning out the negative
Ryan Holiday, The 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
How satisfying it is to dismiss and block out any upsetting or foreign impression, and immediately to have peace in all things. — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 5.2
Ryan Holiday, The 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
It is said that if you would have peace of mind, busy yourself a little. But wouldn't a better saying be do what you must and as required of a rational being created for public life? For this brings not only the peace of mind of doing few things, but the greater peace of doing them well. Since the vast majority of our words and actions are unnecessary, corralling them will create an abundance of leisure and tranquility. As a result, we shouldn't forget at each moment to ask, is this one of the unnecessary things? But we must corral not only unnecessary actions but unnecessary thoughts , too, so needless acts don't tag along after them. — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.24
The purpose of your life is far greater than your personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It's far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose.
Hebrews 12:14 New International Version (NIV)
Warning and Encouragement 14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
