Thoughts on Seneca
" No one should undertake a journey by car or walk down the stairs, or say goodbye to a friend, without awareness. " (160)
"Because we are injured most by what we do not expect, and because we must expect everything, we must, proposed Seneca, hold the possibility of disaster in mind at all times." (159-160)
Seneca was a worry wart and a pessimist. I don't really believe in having to think about what could happen to you or others that you love/care for. That's not living. Living is doing what you want and what makes you happy with care and no worry. I don't think it's considered living if you are constantly thinking how a disaster may happen to you or another person. This causes more stress and anxiety, which leads to life followed by negative worrisome thoughts about others and yourself. Also, this type of lifestyle and beliefs can deeply affect your relationship with yourself and others.
You don't want to be that one friend who won't go out on Friday nights because you believe that there are more drunk drivers out on Friday nights. But the truth is that there are drunk drivers out every night. Bad things happen to good people. Bad things happen to bad people. Good things happen to bad people. Things happen. Disasters happen. You can't live life thinking that there is a knife constantly hanging over you head waiting for you or hanging over your friends head waiting for your friend. You got to live life. Everyone worries and stresses and those are two things that will never go away, but you can control how you live. You can't control natural disasters or relationship disasters or any type of disasters. You need to know that things happen, so live in the moment and take each day by day.
“Whatever is going to happen will happen, whether we worry or not.”
― Ana Monnar
To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, nor even to found a school…it is to solve some of the problems of life, not only theoretically, but practically. – Henry David Thoreau
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
accepting reality with applying Stoic views
Seneca/Epicurus
Living for pleasure in an Epicurus way is one side of a lifestyle while acknowledging the bad and accepting it exists is the Seneca view of life. Both are very important for being alive; one must try to accept their frustrations and confusions although it is very difficult to overcome. I feel for some people its easier than others, not to say some are stronger and others are weaker, but people have different thresholds and tolerance levels going about dealing with their struggles and suffering. People get very caught up in their head and running thoughts to the point where they can feel trapped in their mind, which creates anxiety and pain. Its hard to get out of a lost mind because we tend to overthink everything once it's in the thought process. Seneca has a way of saying that we must accept that bad situations and bad moments do exist and that we must understand that they happen to everyone just that some can be worse than others.
Epicurus philosophy shows a more positive view about living for pleasure and joy, that we should live in the importance of freedom thought and friends. Both are true and very realistic they are just different. They focus on two large points that are similar in a way so their philosophies could be applied together; live for pleasure while accepting our suffrage.
But can we really try to control reality? Don't we all as a whole create a reality with the world's differing opinions towards situations and issues; aren't we apart of the world and its moving reality? As an individual we can't control what the reality is but only our reactions to it. We have little power over the horrible situations that happen in the world, only a strong opinion that others can choose to agree with; with that also comes not being able to control other peoples opinions and thoughts, what they do or how they feel. So in the end the world keeps going no matter what happens and we must accept like the Stoic way of thinking does to our problems and situations that come up though out our lives as we grow and prosper.
Living for pleasure in an Epicurus way is one side of a lifestyle while acknowledging the bad and accepting it exists is the Seneca view of life. Both are very important for being alive; one must try to accept their frustrations and confusions although it is very difficult to overcome. I feel for some people its easier than others, not to say some are stronger and others are weaker, but people have different thresholds and tolerance levels going about dealing with their struggles and suffering. People get very caught up in their head and running thoughts to the point where they can feel trapped in their mind, which creates anxiety and pain. Its hard to get out of a lost mind because we tend to overthink everything once it's in the thought process. Seneca has a way of saying that we must accept that bad situations and bad moments do exist and that we must understand that they happen to everyone just that some can be worse than others.
Epicurus philosophy shows a more positive view about living for pleasure and joy, that we should live in the importance of freedom thought and friends. Both are true and very realistic they are just different. They focus on two large points that are similar in a way so their philosophies could be applied together; live for pleasure while accepting our suffrage.
But can we really try to control reality? Don't we all as a whole create a reality with the world's differing opinions towards situations and issues; aren't we apart of the world and its moving reality? As an individual we can't control what the reality is but only our reactions to it. We have little power over the horrible situations that happen in the world, only a strong opinion that others can choose to agree with; with that also comes not being able to control other peoples opinions and thoughts, what they do or how they feel. So in the end the world keeps going no matter what happens and we must accept like the Stoic way of thinking does to our problems and situations that come up though out our lives as we grow and prosper.
Seneca & Epicurus
Epicurean philosophy on how to achieve happiness are centered around the following three points: Friends, Freedom, and Thought. Stoic philosopher Seneca felt that in order to not be angry, people must have lower expectations of their imagined world so that when it inevitably collides with reality, they won't be so prone to anger. At first glance, these philosophies don't seem at all connected; one is focused on the attainment of happiness, the other on avoiding anger.
But is it at all possible for the two philosophies to intertwine?
To determine the answer, we must examine each one more closely.
At it's core, Epicurean philosophy is based on pleasure; but not necessarily the sensual, decadent pleasures one tends to think of when envisioning this school of philosophy. According to Epicurus, when one has friends, freedom, and thought they are able to be happy no matter their financial circumstance. One can be relatively wealthy and unhappy; but if they have friends with which to share it, freedom of choice, and the ability of higher thinking then happiness can be acheived. The same can go for those who have less money; if they have friends, freedom, and thought they can be happy.
On the other hand, Stoicism places more responsibility on the individual; strong emotions, such as anger, aren't out of our control. If one thinks something through logically, then such unnecessary emotions can be eliminated. It also asks for people to have lower expectations in order to avoid these strong emotions as well.
If somebody has successfully lowered their expectations or thought logically about a situation that would normally make them angry, then they have the freedom to create an environment which could make them happy. For example, during the college application process, many students are pressured into a cycle that perpetuates the idea that if they don't get into a good school, then nothing will come from their future. But, when applying Stoic and Epicurean philosophy, if students change their idea of what defines a 'good school' for them as individuals then they can then construct a situation where they are happy with the college they get into, regardless of the expectations of others.
That is not to say that this can't be untrue for other situations, even the same one, but it does show that such differing philosophies don't have to act alone.
Seneca
How
do you have a happy life with the possibility that something bad could happen
at any second?
Personally,
I don’t think you can. If you are
constantly thinking and worrying about how this may be the last time you see
someone or that a natural disaster could occur at any moment, it is impossible
to live a satisfying life. It is okay to
have these thoughts in the back of your head, and allow them to resurface once
in a while, but living in constant fear will not lead to a fulfilling
life.
One positive side of being aware of the endless “what
if’s” is that it helps people appreciate their lives as they currently
are. People who choose to view the world
like this are forced to live consciously in the moment because if they don’t,
then they will just spend their whole life suffering.
Obviously disaster and death are part of our world, but
it is a conscious decision to let these things upset you and affect your daily
life, or not. This touches on another
one of Seneca’s teachings, about how humans are in control of their emotions
and can decide whether or not to allow events to cause you to get flustered or
not. If you intentionally decide not to
think about the immeasurable amount of things that could go wrong in the world,
then you can, for the most part, live a carefree and content life. Everyone has the option to decide how he or
she wants to feel about different situations in our daily lives, and overall
can control whether the level of happiness in their life.
Steps to Happiness
Money is the root of all evil and happiness. People never seem to be satisfied. When we have what we need we are always wanting more. Unless you don't have a lot of money then you don’t have the option or freedom to become materialistic. Because you have other things to deal with like how you're going to eat tomorrow (in more drastic cases) or pay the bills. In one sense poor people are free but then again they have to constantly worry about not having enough money.
If a person bases their happiness off of money then they have already promised themselves a lifetime of unhappiness. Money can only bring temporary happiness which means you will always be left wanting more. The Epicurus theory states that to be happy all one needs is friendship, freedom, and thought. Epicurus urges people not to eat alone because eating alone without friends is the life of a wolf. He says, “We don't exist unless there is someone who can see us existing, what we say has no meaning until someone can understand” (56). We need friendships to stay relevant. What’s the point of talking if there is no one to here us? And true friendships last forever unlike material things that eventually get outdated.
Distancing ourselves from material things is the only path to freedom. Being free from the burden of wanting more or competing with people to have the best. Epicurus says, “We must free ourselves from the prison of everyday affairs and politics” (57). If we live simple content lives then we can be free and on our way to happiness.
Lastly, thinking helps us vent out any fears, doubts, or confusions. Being happy does not mean that we will never have any issues or conflicts, but if we have the ability to think then those conflicts dissolve away. Writing our problems or saying them out loud helps us find the root of the problem to confront them. The ability to think allows us deal with any aggravations we might have.
Without friendship, freedom, or thought people can never be fully happy, "Nothing satisfies the man who is not satisfied with a little" (62). We must be content with simple things in our life first before we can be happy.
Patience
It takes strength to be patient in most cases. If not, maybe one is naturally adapt to it. To wait for certain life turns, it is not always easy. It is due to the thoughts, ideas, actions, and especially emotions we take upon while the process takes place.
For most, people tend to have a link of anxiety, anger, being upset, or simply annoyed resulting into frustration. This is because we all have some level of reaction. If we were told we were to be given a cookie, our first thought or question would be "when?". This is because we centralize the idea that we want the cookie (and for most, sooner). Why is this? Our instincts tell us we love the taste, the smell, and so on. Whether it comes sooner or later, a stoic person would focus on the fact that we will get the cookie either way and that nothing else matters for that fact about what will happen around or how they feel.
I would assume for those who perceive life in a very stoic way, the people they see around who don't see life just as similarly as they do, rather over dramatize life seem to live chaotic if we're speaking about patience. When one is waiting for a promotion at work and they know they will be, why complain or gossip with coworkers or friends about how long it's taking until you're given that promotion by your boss? Instead, keep working and wait until you are told. With all the hard work you've done, there wouldn't be anyway you wouldn't get that promotion. Of course, if you'd have done something of the wrong choice, there will be consequences for not getting that promotion. This only makes the situation better because it not only shows maturity, but calmness.
Just like us students here, we tend to get nervous, scared, or anxious before our grades come out. We tend to always ask teachers, "When will our grades come out?" and "Is this the grades our parents will see?" It is the emotions that follow. We would be scared and nervous because if one gets a bad grade in the class, they will not be happy or their parents would definitely not be happy. Instead, they would be miserable for some time before they decide how they would fix their grade somehow. Of course, again we are to focus that the grades are out and now, whether or not our grades are good or bad, the intension is to maintain those grades. If it's low, raise them. If it's high, maintain that wellbeing.
Although, because we are only human, we cannot be robots and set a certain "system" in us to easily endure pain, hardship, or be completely emotionless in order to keep moving on. In the case of patience, we cannot just wait. We are given are heart, which is technically one of the major organs keeping us alive, but also one of the softest parts of ourselves emotionally. To live a lifetime given, can we be strong enough to only see that "what's done is done" or question ourselves and what surrounds us to further learn?
“Patience is the antidote to the restless poison of the Ego. Without it we all become ego-maniacal bulls in china shops, destroying our future happiness as we blindly rush in where angels fear to tread. In these out-of-control moments, we bulldoze through the best possible outcomes for our lives, only to return to the scene of the crime later to cry over spilt milk.” ― Anthon St. Maarten, Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny
For most, people tend to have a link of anxiety, anger, being upset, or simply annoyed resulting into frustration. This is because we all have some level of reaction. If we were told we were to be given a cookie, our first thought or question would be "when?". This is because we centralize the idea that we want the cookie (and for most, sooner). Why is this? Our instincts tell us we love the taste, the smell, and so on. Whether it comes sooner or later, a stoic person would focus on the fact that we will get the cookie either way and that nothing else matters for that fact about what will happen around or how they feel.
I would assume for those who perceive life in a very stoic way, the people they see around who don't see life just as similarly as they do, rather over dramatize life seem to live chaotic if we're speaking about patience. When one is waiting for a promotion at work and they know they will be, why complain or gossip with coworkers or friends about how long it's taking until you're given that promotion by your boss? Instead, keep working and wait until you are told. With all the hard work you've done, there wouldn't be anyway you wouldn't get that promotion. Of course, if you'd have done something of the wrong choice, there will be consequences for not getting that promotion. This only makes the situation better because it not only shows maturity, but calmness.
Just like us students here, we tend to get nervous, scared, or anxious before our grades come out. We tend to always ask teachers, "When will our grades come out?" and "Is this the grades our parents will see?" It is the emotions that follow. We would be scared and nervous because if one gets a bad grade in the class, they will not be happy or their parents would definitely not be happy. Instead, they would be miserable for some time before they decide how they would fix their grade somehow. Of course, again we are to focus that the grades are out and now, whether or not our grades are good or bad, the intension is to maintain those grades. If it's low, raise them. If it's high, maintain that wellbeing.
Although, because we are only human, we cannot be robots and set a certain "system" in us to easily endure pain, hardship, or be completely emotionless in order to keep moving on. In the case of patience, we cannot just wait. We are given are heart, which is technically one of the major organs keeping us alive, but also one of the softest parts of ourselves emotionally. To live a lifetime given, can we be strong enough to only see that "what's done is done" or question ourselves and what surrounds us to further learn?
“Patience is the antidote to the restless poison of the Ego. Without it we all become ego-maniacal bulls in china shops, destroying our future happiness as we blindly rush in where angels fear to tread. In these out-of-control moments, we bulldoze through the best possible outcomes for our lives, only to return to the scene of the crime later to cry over spilt milk.” ― Anthon St. Maarten, Divine Living: The Essential Guide To Your True Destiny
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Money/Happiness
America: founded on "creating a better life" has not changed its ways. It is still a country where the people residing in it depend on money. They depend on it for basic necessities as well as personal simulation. Money has become the key to unlock happiness in America. It is an ultimate goal of people.
For example, an average student spend nearly all of their developmental years as a part of the educational system. They use it as a tool to work their way up. It is a common belief that if one spends time working and studying hard in school that they'll make it into college where they'll attain a degree that qualifies them for a high paying job.
I do not disagree that the educational system in America can help one achieve their goals and attain a job that will fulfill their needs or wants. However, I do not believe it is the only way. Is it worth it to spend time and money succeeding in the educational system in order to be "rich"? Why can't people be considered rich if they live in a house and help their community become a better place? Why do so many people strive to have money? Why do we assume that it will fill any holes that have been dug during our life times?
The again, who I am I to determine what makes someone happy? If a person is the first one in their family to go to college and graduate, wouldn't that make them happy? Maybe money does make someone happy? They may not have had it their entire life and after working hard to get it, they now have it. It buys them all of the commodities they never fathomed having before, and provides a sense of security.
What if someone worked as hard as they could to climb to the top, but on the way, failed? Did their education teach them to have enough grit to get back up and try again? Or will they lie content with their failure and not try again? Would they view the situation as a lesson learned? or fall into the web of fortune?
One of Seneca's many teachings was that excess may not be the key. He quoted, “It is quality rather than quantity that matters.” How many people are achieving happiness by working towards a good quality of oife rather than the quantity of things they have?
Are those of us working towards the common goal of a set career with a high paying salary in a rush to reach the destination? Are we truly enjoying the journey?
Will money make us happy when we have it? What will we work for then?
For example, an average student spend nearly all of their developmental years as a part of the educational system. They use it as a tool to work their way up. It is a common belief that if one spends time working and studying hard in school that they'll make it into college where they'll attain a degree that qualifies them for a high paying job.
I do not disagree that the educational system in America can help one achieve their goals and attain a job that will fulfill their needs or wants. However, I do not believe it is the only way. Is it worth it to spend time and money succeeding in the educational system in order to be "rich"? Why can't people be considered rich if they live in a house and help their community become a better place? Why do so many people strive to have money? Why do we assume that it will fill any holes that have been dug during our life times?
The again, who I am I to determine what makes someone happy? If a person is the first one in their family to go to college and graduate, wouldn't that make them happy? Maybe money does make someone happy? They may not have had it their entire life and after working hard to get it, they now have it. It buys them all of the commodities they never fathomed having before, and provides a sense of security.
What if someone worked as hard as they could to climb to the top, but on the way, failed? Did their education teach them to have enough grit to get back up and try again? Or will they lie content with their failure and not try again? Would they view the situation as a lesson learned? or fall into the web of fortune?
One of Seneca's many teachings was that excess may not be the key. He quoted, “It is quality rather than quantity that matters.” How many people are achieving happiness by working towards a good quality of oife rather than the quantity of things they have?
Are those of us working towards the common goal of a set career with a high paying salary in a rush to reach the destination? Are we truly enjoying the journey?
Will money make us happy when we have it? What will we work for then?
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