Saturday, May 26, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Marcus Aurelius once said "The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts. Therefore, guard accordingly and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable to nature."
He spent much of his reign fighting barbarians who were ruthless opponents. One time I was told that the only way to fight barbarians in your life is to build a wall, but they will keep trying to climb over it and all you can do is beat them over the head with an iron stick. Maybe to some people, I am the barbarian? It's a matter of which side of the mirror you are on. Perhaps the barbarian is inside of each individual? Maybe we can call it our will, ego, desire? It's that part of us that wants what it wants and will do anything to get it even if we know it's wrong. Like a two year old who wants someone else's toy, then grabs it a runs away.
I believe what Marcus Aurelius realized is there is a barbarian in all of us and we need self control to rise above the battle zone in our hearts and minds. He also said, "Try living...as one who is well pleased with what is allotted to him from the whole and finds contentment in his own just conduct and kindly disposition." So no matter what pleasures, pains, health and wealth, be content in all that is given to you, good and bad, and you will be able to find happiness in the way you think about your circumstances. For good and bad are based on judgements and judgements are most often false.
Don't worry just be happy and share happiness with others as often as you find the strength in your heart and joy in your mind.
He spent much of his reign fighting barbarians who were ruthless opponents. One time I was told that the only way to fight barbarians in your life is to build a wall, but they will keep trying to climb over it and all you can do is beat them over the head with an iron stick. Maybe to some people, I am the barbarian? It's a matter of which side of the mirror you are on. Perhaps the barbarian is inside of each individual? Maybe we can call it our will, ego, desire? It's that part of us that wants what it wants and will do anything to get it even if we know it's wrong. Like a two year old who wants someone else's toy, then grabs it a runs away.
I believe what Marcus Aurelius realized is there is a barbarian in all of us and we need self control to rise above the battle zone in our hearts and minds. He also said, "Try living...as one who is well pleased with what is allotted to him from the whole and finds contentment in his own just conduct and kindly disposition." So no matter what pleasures, pains, health and wealth, be content in all that is given to you, good and bad, and you will be able to find happiness in the way you think about your circumstances. For good and bad are based on judgements and judgements are most often false.
Don't worry just be happy and share happiness with others as often as you find the strength in your heart and joy in your mind.
I decided to move to Aruba.
Described as "One Happy Island"
http://www.aruba.com/explorearuba/multimedia_gallery.aspx
Described as "One Happy Island"
http://www.aruba.com/explorearuba/multimedia_gallery.aspx
