If You Want To Be Steady

I am blogging everyday (or nearly everyday) on The Daily Stoic.

Filtering the outside world through the straightener of judgement is something I’ve struggled with this past week. It all started with waking up earlier than expected in the morning. That led to frustration that led to some poor decisions. I’m starting to pull myself out but it’s confusing why I had such clarity and then had my world devolve into a non-tranquil state. Better judgement in tougher times makes it harder to make the right choice.

What We Control And What We Don't

I am blogging everyday (or nearly everyday) on The Daily Stoic.

This was a huge revelation for me last year. It’s sometimes hard to keep in mind when something surprising or frustrating pops up. It is opportunity to take a step back and remember that. It’s quite comforting. Sometimes they can build to a point where I lose those thoughts. Other times I recognize it and fight to bring myself back to center.

Seeing Our Addictions

I am blogging everyday (or nearly everyday) on The Daily Stoic.

Freedom is abstaining from our addictions. My question is to do what? What outside of my addiction should I do? I go to work. I workout. I read. I try to improve myself. Yes I play video games and enjoy the adult beverage. When It’s not appropriate I don’t do it. We had a bomb take out our ISP this past weekend. I took it as an opportunity to get some chores done around the house. Certain days I feel like just letting go and not worrying about it. Is that addiction or am I just trying to recharge.

I haven’t been sleeping well lately. One of the things I struggled with last year was going to bed at a reasonable hour. I’m doing a much better job of that. The side effect to that is that I am now waking up at 4 a.m. and it’s a little bit more of a struggle to go to sleep. I believe I need to strike a balance for myself. 9-10 hours in bed every night is not something I need. It’s progress. Addictions take time to overcome. I used to smoke and it took my several years to finally end up quitting. It’s a process and unfortunately for me it’s not just a light switch I can turn on and off.

Seven Clear Functions Of The Mind

I am blogging everyday (or nearly everyday) on The Daily Stoic.

Refusal is probably the function I struggle with the most. I tend to say screw it and go with the more enjoyable thing in life. This often means I’m putting aside productive things. In fact, right now I’m making a choice of playing a video game after this instead of reading a book. There’s something I want to accomplish in game before the night is over. Then again maybe that is me choosing my priorities. I’ve come to accept that I enjoy video games over things like woodworking or other hobbies. Those things tempt other people. For me it’s video games. It’s challenges and progression.

Daily Stoic(s)

I am blogging everyday (or nearly everyday) on The Daily Stoic.

December 18 - On Being Remembered

The point of this stoic, I think, is that even if we are remembered it’s likely just a day. There are great people from history I’ve likely heard of. Others I probably don’t. If they are someone I know I likely will only think about them for a short time and move on. Being remembered is not something I aspire to. I will for a short time by those close to me and then I’ll fade like all people do.

December 19 - Give Thanks

Gratitude is something I strive for. It helps in less than ideal scenarios to look at the silver lining. Gratitude is a way to that. I try to say thank you at work at the conclusion of emails. I have gratitude for the work being done. No matter how small.

December 20 - Taking The Bite Out of It

A calm mind can help with tough situations. This can allow me to see clearly. Bagging groceries is a chaotic thing. It was my first job. It can quickly feel overwhelming. I usually calmed the mind though and look at bagging as a game of Tetris. I can allow it to speed me up or I can remain calm. Golfing can kick me in the mouth. Topping the ball. Undercutting the ball can be very frustrating. I’ve found that I need to remain calm because the next shot is just as important. If I allow it to dig at me I’ll make a bad shot. If I allow it to pressure on me I’ll make a bad shot. Instead I try to take each shot as an individual. There will be good shots and bad shots. Probably more bad shots.

December 21 - Get Active In Your Own Rescue

Take action on the things from the daily stoic. I started this book to help improve my life. I’m happy with the value I’ve gotten and intend to do it again for another year. The stoic talks about being a scholar and a solider. Essentially, take on the learning. I intend to do that. Posting on my blog will be a documented writing of progress.

December 22 - Control and Choice

This has been one of the key takeaways for me last year. I only have control over two things. My thoughts and choices. This has helped with previous frustrations and stress. This peaked last year at the start of the pandemic. I got very upset at the reaction. After a brief night of frustration I reset and saw the pandemic as an opportunity to practice this stoic.

December 23 - Education Is Freedom

Studying new ideas is freedom. This past year I’ve made more of an effort to read. I believe it’s helped me in life and work. I realized recently that even fiction can teach me something.

December 24 - Be Ruthless To The Things That Don’t Matter

I’ve never felt obligated to go do something. If I don’t want to, I won’t. Outside of family who I want to spend time and enjoy precious moments. This past year I worked on saying no to emotions. I practiced letting go. Especially when circumstances were out of my control. Traffic was a big one prior to the pandemic.

December 25 - The Big Three

Perception, action, and will are the overlapping disciplines of Stoicism. Control perceptions; direct action; and accept what’s outside of our will. It’s a pretty consistent them for the stoics. The last year I’ve become less stressed at work. Golf is a much more enjoyable game accepting these disciplines. The pandemic was much easier to accept and to look for the benefits.

Yesterday - Clarify Your Intentions

I’ve never been one for five year plans or having creating goals in general. I get them. I just find them hard to determine when things are going well. When we were struggling financial I set a goal to get over a certain dollar amount and a better place career wise. I accomplished all that in four years. Now I have the goal of spending more time with the family and working on golf. Work and my career is where I want it to be. Maybe those are the goals in the stoic.

Today - Where, Who, What, And Why

Last year, I didn’t know where to go with this stoic. Who am I? I think the stoic has helped me with that. I don’t have the same uncertainty I did last year. I feel like I’ve found myself and that I still need more work to do.