Protect Your Peace of Mind

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

I’ve become more mindful of my stressors at work, especially when they put me in an irritable or excitable state. Today was a good example. I had a big meeting come up to prepare for. There was a question on how serious I was taking the meeting. This triggered some emotions for me. I spend a lot of time trying to stay on top of things and preparing for big meetings. For me to be questioned on that really assaulted my ego. In the end it was ultimately on me for not doing something.

The meeting went well and I felt emotional at the end. I decided to take a moment for myself. That’s continued on into the meeting though. The ego feels vindicated and is giving me a high. The problem is that usually leads me to staying up late because I’m so amped up. The crash is the next day when I haven’t gotten enough sleep. I’m trying to be mindful of that and not rush into my normal things I’d run into to burn off energy. Instead I’m trying to find a place of tranquility or zen to refocus that energy for a later time.

Hero Or Nero

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

I believe today’s stoic is about knowing myself. Do my wants and desires rule me like a tyrant or am I a wise king. I still do things that I don’t understand. Often it’s staying up late into the early hours of the morning. Despite having something early in the morning. I’ve gotten much better about it. Yet, I still do it from time-to-time and I don’t often have a good explanation. Am I getting sucked up into the good feelings that I don’t want things to end? Or is there something from that day still bothering me. Or is it something the next day I’m trying to avoid and in staying up late not allowing a full days rest to tackle that thing. I’ve started to wonder if I like chaos. I strive to be good at my job and improve myself during the day. That can lead to a boring life. The staying up late can sometimes add that little spice or that struggle. I’m curious.

Anger Is Bad Fuel

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

Anger can be a powerful motivations. That’s a trap though. If anger is the fuel then it starts requiring it to get results. I should instead foster fuel that will make me successful without anger. The side effects are too great.

You Don'ty Have To Have An Opinion

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

I don’t have to have an opinion. The example used is someone talking about us behind our back. If we don’t hear it we can’t get upset about it. I find this stoic interesting because the author just wrote a blog post about our civic duty. Essentially, if we don’t do something we’re in the wrong. That’s essentially asking me to have an opinion about the matter.

This line of thinking has been applied other scenarios over the past year. If I don’t say something that says something and I should be ashamed. I’ve always disagreed with that idea, because there’s lots of wrong and unjust things in this world. Am I to speak up about that one or just this one that someone else is interested in. In that regard I think the other person is frustrated with the current volume of their issue and they want it amplified others. It’s a bit ironic in that regard.

Did That Make You Feel Better?

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

This is a question to recenter my emotions. When I hit a bad shot in golf does it make me feel better to get angry or frustrated? It’s a game that gives and takes. I still get frustrated on the course. Each time I try to refocus because it doesn’t help me to get angry or upset. That is wasted energy. Energy is a finite resource for golf. 3-4 hours of swinging a club or walking to a ball takes up a lot of my energy. I played 18 holes today and practiced for 40 mins prior. My allowed calorie count for today is over 3000. That’s a lot of energy. Getting angry will sap some of that and led to poorer shots later in the round.