Thank you this is something I was thinking about just today. On where I was 10 years ago and where I am now steadily growing. 3 years sober. Not exactly where I want to be but not where I was before but that thought does steadily creep in your mind to just go back to how you were because it was so much easier to just be stoned drunk then but one must persist and carry on to new things and grow in confidence. Thank you again for your encouragement
This is an amazing body of insight, and taken in small doses daily can equate to longlasting change. Bad habits are created over time, and so are healthy ones. Great piece!
While I have taken a lot of wisdom from Stoicism, I have always perceived it as one of the "hyper-individualistic" philosophies. When it comes to what might be termed 'younger Stoicism' or perhaps modern interpretations, I've found a lot of fatalism in it concerning action.
Perhaps this perspective is influenced by my knowledge that about 50% to 55% of people in Western cultures experience at least one traumatic event. Some without developing (c)PTSD. This is often because, while (c)PTSD builds upon traumatic experiences, it is frequently the lack of "social rehabilitation" that ultimately results in (c)PTSD. The mental health problem thereby is caused by how others treat you and your traumatic experience.
So, in the end, is it truly the individual that can change themselves? How can one change oneself when there's no social stability? How does one find a glade of calm when there are only enemies beyond the threshold of one's doorstep? Who can help you reflect on your growth when there's only rejection? How can a social creature become fulfilled within its own territory, all on its own?
Yes, hyper individualistic! Distinctly Western in this way. Stoicism feels like a Buddhism subset to me.
You raise some great points. Meditational effects are appreciably social. Stick a meditator in the middle of an agitated team, family, forest, classroom, business and you have a different group dynamic.
Stoicism Buddhism, Christianity Taoism,let them all be the roads to Rome, and not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I read that famous gurus in India will follow a deity until they come to a point where they think of themselves one with the divine. Maybe the deity will destroy your past by living in the present,While creating the future.
Sometimes it's not about good or perfect, but rather about suitability and thought terminating cliches. Tell me: how would a person not remembering their troubling past due to disassociation let go of it?
Some, fate may assign not to a good society, but to a society. Thereby living kind of a fatalism towards action by accepting fate by giving into it.
Others weren't assigned by fate, but by a self-chosen purpose.
I’m trying hard at this, don’t think I can disassociate from trauma. I feel like it needs to be on the back burner. Not make a big deal about it, by associating with a higher self.
Being diagnosed with both PTSD and OCD, it’s not easy to do, yet it’s important in my endeavors to be ready for my next life.
And strangely enough I do accept this life, because I chose it before birth.
Maybe we're talking about the same. If you chose your life during your last one, you run into the same problem.
I derived the sentence on fate from stoicism: "Did fate assign you to a good father? No, but to a father."
It's Epictetus'answer to whether one should complain about having an abusive father. It's kind of fatalism.
While I have my problem seeing why you should have chosen a life of trauma, I do accept your views. I only wish I could care for your (emotional) wounds, providing whatever you need to heal.
Those feelings are my decision. My purpose. I decided to give my best try ending the pain of others. Knowing that it will burn me up, shortening my life. Knowing that I will never be able to accomplish this goal.
That's because I do not want to give into fatalism. I'm an educator. Every year, every day, and every second I sacrifice may result in years to come for others.
Where younger stoicism focuses on the self, becoming a philosopher to become what the Logos expected you to be, I choose to become nothing, for others to become something.
What do I care for Logos, God, or becoming one with a deity. I am MY purpose. And this purpose is for me to become a chance for others. But, in my opinion, this chance has to be born from criticism. For lack of possibilities was born from a given normality.
Maybe the bardo state, the place between lives. I like to think I chose this life then. Yet I don’t think I would if I could go back and make the decision again. It’s helpful for me to think this life is to build character for the next. Or hopefully to get out of the cycle.
And I do see the reincarnation in this life. The goal is not to keep going in the same cycle. That’s why Picasso kept changing styles.
I don't know what came before or what will be after. I can't begin to comprehend whether there's an in-between, or not. I only know that I'm here right now.
Making the most of it, I'm here to listen, support, and comfort whenever possible. Whoever in need.
Come what will. I am. I will have been. I will have acted. So I choose who I am. What I and my actions will have been.
If your reading things like stoicism on line, your doing a Hell of a lot better than just sitting in a lazy chair, and just watch what ever comes on. I’m saying this for all the guilt that is put upon us for being online.
So.. hot take.. I was an idiot to read Being and Nothingness, but in the sartrian tradition, I ask: is this just a drawn-out interpretation of the "you are condemned to be free" thing ? or some kind of anti-akrasian mood?
Thank you this is something I was thinking about just today. On where I was 10 years ago and where I am now steadily growing. 3 years sober. Not exactly where I want to be but not where I was before but that thought does steadily creep in your mind to just go back to how you were because it was so much easier to just be stoned drunk then but one must persist and carry on to new things and grow in confidence. Thank you again for your encouragement
Amazing work that you do, so miraculous but know its success came from hard work & dedication.
Thank you for another great essay to help us. ❤️
This is an amazing body of insight, and taken in small doses daily can equate to longlasting change. Bad habits are created over time, and so are healthy ones. Great piece!
While I have taken a lot of wisdom from Stoicism, I have always perceived it as one of the "hyper-individualistic" philosophies. When it comes to what might be termed 'younger Stoicism' or perhaps modern interpretations, I've found a lot of fatalism in it concerning action.
Perhaps this perspective is influenced by my knowledge that about 50% to 55% of people in Western cultures experience at least one traumatic event. Some without developing (c)PTSD. This is often because, while (c)PTSD builds upon traumatic experiences, it is frequently the lack of "social rehabilitation" that ultimately results in (c)PTSD. The mental health problem thereby is caused by how others treat you and your traumatic experience.
So, in the end, is it truly the individual that can change themselves? How can one change oneself when there's no social stability? How does one find a glade of calm when there are only enemies beyond the threshold of one's doorstep? Who can help you reflect on your growth when there's only rejection? How can a social creature become fulfilled within its own territory, all on its own?
Yes, hyper individualistic! Distinctly Western in this way. Stoicism feels like a Buddhism subset to me.
You raise some great points. Meditational effects are appreciably social. Stick a meditator in the middle of an agitated team, family, forest, classroom, business and you have a different group dynamic.
Stoicism Buddhism, Christianity Taoism,let them all be the roads to Rome, and not let the perfect be the enemy of the good. I read that famous gurus in India will follow a deity until they come to a point where they think of themselves one with the divine. Maybe the deity will destroy your past by living in the present,While creating the future.
Sometimes it's not about good or perfect, but rather about suitability and thought terminating cliches. Tell me: how would a person not remembering their troubling past due to disassociation let go of it?
Some, fate may assign not to a good society, but to a society. Thereby living kind of a fatalism towards action by accepting fate by giving into it.
Others weren't assigned by fate, but by a self-chosen purpose.
If you want to give in by letting go, go for it?
I’m trying hard at this, don’t think I can disassociate from trauma. I feel like it needs to be on the back burner. Not make a big deal about it, by associating with a higher self.
Being diagnosed with both PTSD and OCD, it’s not easy to do, yet it’s important in my endeavors to be ready for my next life.
And strangely enough I do accept this life, because I chose it before birth.
Maybe we're talking about the same. If you chose your life during your last one, you run into the same problem.
I derived the sentence on fate from stoicism: "Did fate assign you to a good father? No, but to a father."
It's Epictetus'answer to whether one should complain about having an abusive father. It's kind of fatalism.
While I have my problem seeing why you should have chosen a life of trauma, I do accept your views. I only wish I could care for your (emotional) wounds, providing whatever you need to heal.
Those feelings are my decision. My purpose. I decided to give my best try ending the pain of others. Knowing that it will burn me up, shortening my life. Knowing that I will never be able to accomplish this goal.
That's because I do not want to give into fatalism. I'm an educator. Every year, every day, and every second I sacrifice may result in years to come for others.
Where younger stoicism focuses on the self, becoming a philosopher to become what the Logos expected you to be, I choose to become nothing, for others to become something.
What do I care for Logos, God, or becoming one with a deity. I am MY purpose. And this purpose is for me to become a chance for others. But, in my opinion, this chance has to be born from criticism. For lack of possibilities was born from a given normality.
But that's just me talking stuff. 🤪
Maybe the bardo state, the place between lives. I like to think I chose this life then. Yet I don’t think I would if I could go back and make the decision again. It’s helpful for me to think this life is to build character for the next. Or hopefully to get out of the cycle.
And I do see the reincarnation in this life. The goal is not to keep going in the same cycle. That’s why Picasso kept changing styles.
I don't know what came before or what will be after. I can't begin to comprehend whether there's an in-between, or not. I only know that I'm here right now.
Making the most of it, I'm here to listen, support, and comfort whenever possible. Whoever in need.
Come what will. I am. I will have been. I will have acted. So I choose who I am. What I and my actions will have been.
I’m dealing with addiction and I’m tired I want to leave it too but it seems because I’m always lonely most of the time
When you get comfortable being alone then you will feel like your with the whole world.
you need Jung
Wdym
If your reading things like stoicism on line, your doing a Hell of a lot better than just sitting in a lazy chair, and just watch what ever comes on. I’m saying this for all the guilt that is put upon us for being online.
So.. hot take.. I was an idiot to read Being and Nothingness, but in the sartrian tradition, I ask: is this just a drawn-out interpretation of the "you are condemned to be free" thing ? or some kind of anti-akrasian mood?
If it were all so easy.
❤️
Can I resist the temptation to fall easily and put my highest effort to persist in the face of the temptation?
That is my ONLY human choice, my highest perishable wealth as Homo sapiens.
I don't care. energy can't be destroyed only change