National Museum of the Pacific War 2017
I am glad to receive your message that you now understand the concept of stoicism. Can you imagine 7 years past since the first time we talk about it in our trip to National Museum of the Pacific War? I am not sure about your current understanding, so let me explain what it means to me. The essence of stoicism is that we only control what we can control. If we cannot control something, we accept it and find a way to deal with it. We must build our wisdom to discern what can be controlled and what cannot.
We have limited control over things in life, but we always have the power to make choices. We choose how we spend our time, how we make decisions, who we want to be friends with, and what thoughts we entertain. All of these choices shape our lives and define who we are. Looking back on our past choices, we may see mistakes, but as long as we make the best choices we can then, it's all right. Even if we make wrong choices, the experience provides opportunities to learn and grow. We will face the consequences of our own choices. If we do something wrong, we will be punished. If we want to improve our capabilities, we must work hard. If we want to awaken, we must endure suffering. The core is that we can turn all these so-called "obstacles" into stepping stones for growth. Building resilience and learning from our mistakes is essential in life. It's important to let go of past regrets and shake hands with our past because they are all interconnected and shape us into who we are today.
The world has its own principles, rules, and directions, and we have very limited power when facing the forces of nature. There is a concept of surrendering to the humongous source of nature and adapting to it. It doesn’t mean that we have nothing to do, but when we face something as powerful as an elephant, we cannot force it to do anything. The world, people around us, and our subconscious mind are all behaving like elephants. We have to find the courage to face the challenge and the wisdom to a way to get through it. ”Do things at your own pace. Life's not a race." Remember that progress may be slow during the process, but that doesn't mean you'll always be slow in the future. Falling behind now doesn't mean you cannot catch up later. You have your own way of making progress. For example, Hegel had to work for his classmate Schelling when he was young, but he eventually became a more successful philosopher.
The center of stoicism is using wisdom to decide what we can control and what we cannot control. This is where we learn to explore our limitations and understand the world, people, nature, and science. It's great to keep learning and gain a habit of self-reflection. Although it may seem boring, it's a journey of awakening and freedom. Nobody can control us, and we are free despite the pressures, obstacles, and constraints around us because we can overcome them, find inner peace, and make choices that are true to our hearts.
Let me know if my understanding of stoicism makes sense to you.
We have limited control over things in life, but we always have the power to make choices. We choose how we spend our time, how we make decisions, who we want to be friends with, and what thoughts we entertain. All of these choices shape our lives and define who we are. Looking back on our past choices, we may see mistakes, but as long as we make the best choices we can then, it's all right. Even if we make wrong choices, the experience provides opportunities to learn and grow. We will face the consequences of our own choices. If we do something wrong, we will be punished. If we want to improve our capabilities, we must work hard. If we want to awaken, we must endure suffering. The core is that we can turn all these so-called "obstacles" into stepping stones for growth. Building resilience and learning from our mistakes is essential in life. It's important to let go of past regrets and shake hands with our past because they are all interconnected and shape us into who we are today.
The world has its own principles, rules, and directions, and we have very limited power when facing the forces of nature. There is a concept of surrendering to the humongous source of nature and adapting to it. It doesn’t mean that we have nothing to do, but when we face something as powerful as an elephant, we cannot force it to do anything. The world, people around us, and our subconscious mind are all behaving like elephants. We have to find the courage to face the challenge and the wisdom to a way to get through it. ”Do things at your own pace. Life's not a race." Remember that progress may be slow during the process, but that doesn't mean you'll always be slow in the future. Falling behind now doesn't mean you cannot catch up later. You have your own way of making progress. For example, Hegel had to work for his classmate Schelling when he was young, but he eventually became a more successful philosopher.
The center of stoicism is using wisdom to decide what we can control and what we cannot control. This is where we learn to explore our limitations and understand the world, people, nature, and science. It's great to keep learning and gain a habit of self-reflection. Although it may seem boring, it's a journey of awakening and freedom. Nobody can control us, and we are free despite the pressures, obstacles, and constraints around us because we can overcome them, find inner peace, and make choices that are true to our hearts.
Let me know if my understanding of stoicism makes sense to you.