Well written! What you’ve written about facing failure and misfortune has made me recall Schopenhauer’s two cents:
“In the case of a misfortune which has already happened and therefore cannot be altered, you should not allow yourself to think that it might have been otherwise; still less, that it might have been avoided by such and such means; for reflections of this kind will only add to your distress and make it intolerable, so that you will become a tormentor to yourself-[Greek: heautontimoroumeaeos]. It is better to follow the example of King David; who, as long as his son lay on the bed of sickness, assailed Jehovah with unceasing supplications and entreaties for his recov-ery; but when he was dead, snapped his fingers and thought no more of it. If you are not light hearted enough for that, you can take refuge in fatalism, and have the great truth revealed to you that everything which happens is the result of necessity, and therefore inevitable.”
Hello Batman, I like the idea of thinking of what happens as a necessity and avoiding the trap of regret. It coincides with the Stoic idea of loving your fate. However, there are some parts I disagree with on Schopenhauer's text.
"but when he was dead, snapped his fingers and thought no more of it."
As Seneca would caution, you cannot deceive grief to get over it. It's wise to process this melancholy with strength and dignity and accept that you'll inevitably think about your object of loss. By doing this, you accept universal nature as it brought the event to you and your nature in how your mind is coping with it.
Well written! What you’ve written about facing failure and misfortune has made me recall Schopenhauer’s two cents:
“In the case of a misfortune which has already happened and therefore cannot be altered, you should not allow yourself to think that it might have been otherwise; still less, that it might have been avoided by such and such means; for reflections of this kind will only add to your distress and make it intolerable, so that you will become a tormentor to yourself-[Greek: heautontimoroumeaeos]. It is better to follow the example of King David; who, as long as his son lay on the bed of sickness, assailed Jehovah with unceasing supplications and entreaties for his recov-ery; but when he was dead, snapped his fingers and thought no more of it. If you are not light hearted enough for that, you can take refuge in fatalism, and have the great truth revealed to you that everything which happens is the result of necessity, and therefore inevitable.”
Hello Batman, I like the idea of thinking of what happens as a necessity and avoiding the trap of regret. It coincides with the Stoic idea of loving your fate. However, there are some parts I disagree with on Schopenhauer's text.
"but when he was dead, snapped his fingers and thought no more of it."
As Seneca would caution, you cannot deceive grief to get over it. It's wise to process this melancholy with strength and dignity and accept that you'll inevitably think about your object of loss. By doing this, you accept universal nature as it brought the event to you and your nature in how your mind is coping with it.
You'll do well to be in harmony with all that is.
Thank you for this. There's a lot in there that resonates with my current situation and a change in my attitude to move forward.
Thank you for taking the time to read Andy. I hope you keep finding the strength to stride onwards.