It's Not The Thing, It's What We Make Of It

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

There’s a great story from a podcast I listen to, Manager Tools. One of the guys talks about being poked in the chest on an elevator by a guy holding an umbrella under his arm. After the guy with the umbrella gets off he tells his buddy that the guy made him so mad. His buddy responds that it wasn’t the guy that made him mad, it was his decision to get mad.

Studying Buddhism I’ve found the same philosophy. We can choose to get upset or angry or excited. It’s our choice. Driving on the highway has become a much more enjoyable experience for me because I no longer get upset at the other drivers on the road. I sleep better because I don’t let things bother me as much anymore at work. It does take effort to rewrite our responses to things. It can be done though.

Always The Same

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

A lot of people complain about millennials. I find it a bit interesting because those same people were complained about by the older generation. I was just watching my son on YouTube watching someone react to something they were watching on YouTube. I don’t get it. Then again my parents probably didn’t get why I was into this thing or that. It’s a cycle.

All Is Fluid

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

Things are ever changing. Look at seasons which go through life, sunshine, fall, and darkness. We grow from child into young adult into adult into senior and finally death. Expecting things to stay the same is folly. I moved every two to three years growing up. I think it prepared me for a life of change.

Actors In Play

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

We’re all given a role. The stoic says I need to play the role or handle dealt to me and to do it well. I don’t know what’s ahead. I can plan. I have planned and life hasn’t turned out anywhere near those plans. The idea is to be the best person I can be with what fate, destiny, cards are dealt to me.

How To Be Powerful

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

To want less is to have more power over my life. I’ve done a pretty good job of this. I think. I don’t impulse by things. I usually major and weigh them. Christmas and my birthday are a tough time because I usually have everything I would want. That’s changed over the summer as I’ve picked up golf. I want a custom fit set of clubs. I’m just waiting for the right deal at this point.

Another example is work. I've reached my career goals and I don’t want anything further. If I continue to advance it’s a bonus. I’m happy to be where I’m at for the rest of my career. I know going up higher doesn’t always mean more success. It could be more headaches. If I go there it will be because I see it as a good decision for both me and my family. I don’t want to go up and feel I’ve made a mistake. I don’t want to go up and have less time with my family.

I do struggle with wanting to play video games or drink. Those are wants I still need to master. I’m getting better. It’s a continual thing in life to want and to temper those wants.