The Banquet Of Life

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

The stoic talks about letting things come to me. Don’t reach out or jump the line for things desired. I feel like that’s something I’ve struggled with over the last few years. Try to find purpose and the next project. Instead I should look for opportunities when they present themselves. I’ve recently discovered this with a high-risk investment. It’s something I wanted to get into and was eventually presented to me by some close friends who I trust. We went in and we’re waiting to see that outcome.

It also talks about being a glutton and fattening on the things around me. I’ve done that with video games and alcohol. I’m starting to use those in more moderation. The pandemic for as much of it I hated and desired for the world whole again has given me opportunities to advance my stoicism and practice it.

Prepare For The Storm

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

This past weekend at golf I realized I had the expectation that I should be hitting the ball better. There was a lot of chatter in my head. Overthinking and rethinking things. There was also this underlying unconfidence in my hitting. As soon as I let go of these feelings and got back to enjoying the game the round went much better. I still hit below my overall average, so there’s improvement in that.

The Enemy Of Happiness

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

Happiness is available in the now. Looking towards the future brings excitement and anticipation but not happiness. I learned this fairly early in life. I would get excited about something that would happen in the future only to find it either canceled or not what I expected. I’ve learned to temper my excitement because I don’t know what that future event will bring either good or bad. Instead I try to focus on the here and now. Those small little moments in life that bring joy.

Daily Stoic(s)

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

Thursday - Think Before You Act

Habits can be a hard thing to break. Especially, bad ones. One of the things I’m working on is paying attention when I make decisions and trying to take a step back. It doesn’t always happen. It is becoming more frequent. Every once and a while it helps me avoid making a decision that I would normally make. Still it will take time, patience, and persistence. Rewiring the brain is a difficult thing.

Yesterday - Only Bad Dreams

Worrying about the future can bring out a lot of emotion. Especially, if it’s something new well into the future and the only way to learn more about it is to wait. That waiting can lead to some unnecessary stress. At the beginning of the year we went in with some friends on a risky investment. There was a lot of worry then. I identified the worry and tried to remember that there was nothing to control. It was still tough and will require more practice.

Today - Don’t Make Things Harder Than They Need To Be

We control how we react to things. This Key and Peele skit says it all for me.

Pleasure Can Become Punishment

I am blogging everyday (or nearly everyday) on The Daily Stoic. 7

Too much of a good thing can lead to feeling worse for experiencing it. I’ve felt this with drinking and video games. I’ll sometimes over indulge and regret it the next day. I am working on it and getting better about not over indulging. I still indulge though and just try to reign myself in.