Delving into more works of the Stoics, I have solved a major enigma. Life is completely about how we use our minds to perceive our current conditions. The first aspect of this practice is living in the present and not lamenting so much about the past nor fretting about the future. This is an incredibly challenging task when taking on a new outlook! I know personally, I have lived entirely too much in one area or the other in my mind. I had never focused enough on the present to be truly “living.” Past thoughts or future worry should not consume us but guide us by acceptance of past happenings and understanding the future is not a guarantee.
I had often found it difficult to accept “negative” outcomes but instead would resist them with all my strength and energy. Is this not a futile effort? When so many things are not in our control, we must learn to accept things happening as they may. When we resist them, negative emotions remain high and start to destroy us from within. What good is it to fight evil, with evil for example? It creates a perpetual cycle where evil begets evil. The only way to stop the cycle is through acceptance and forgiveness. It is important to understand that our mind is what ultimately betrays us if we let it!
Perception is how we interpret everything that occurs in our lives. It is vital to reducing negative emotional outcomes through the proper interpretation of events by implementing realistic expectations. Human beings are horribly flawed for example. Is it not unrealistic to expect another human to read your mind and perform the expectations you have set upon them? Why do we do this? It is a simple loss of realistic reasoning pertaining to the actions of others. Again, our mind deceives us, resulting in emotional hardships.
The physical environment we exist in simply influences the mind, confusing the individual from having realistic expectations. We observe others amongst us, in person, in media, and in literature expecting that another shall do similar or the opposite for us. Influence can be a boon and a blessing. Have you been influenced by a piece of philosophy, or have you been influenced by the latest influencer on YouTube? Either can be seen as positive or negative, but either way you are now influenced through assimilation. Will your thoughts betray you?
One physical aspect I am very thankful for is the 5 senses I have function of. I can’t imagine those who experience life without certain senses we take for granted. What I am sure of though is those who are absent of certain senses perceive our world in a completely different way than we normally do. Trying to live more in the moment allows us to focus on how we should interact with others as well as what to expect from them within realistic reasoning. It is easy to “what if” a thousand scenarios then base our physical actions off this hypothetical self-deliberation!
The passive and direct influence of others can be a real poison when ingested regularly. Desire and expectations tend to keep many on the hamster wheel of life, slowly deteriorating health that could have been used on enjoying other endeavors! Again, when not living in the moment, keeping up with the Joneses creates massive amounts of “future fret” ending in this materialistic chase of sorts.
I can tell you that I have personally turned many ways of thought completely around as of late. I used to obsess with the “why me” standpoint of things. No more. It only hurts the individual harboring those thoughts. Did the wise become so from a perfectly positive existence? Not hardly! You can only become wise and knowledgeable only after much hardship I believe. It is when we endure adversity that it creates our courage as well. In times of loneliness, it may be pain that you embrace till it is gone too, leaving a new unbreakable mindset ready for the next hardship.
Through accepting fate at every turn instead of resisting it we can learn and endure. Quit asking “why me” and start asking “why not.” After all it is your mind that is the determining factor in understanding that not even you are exempt from the realism of the world we exist in. Amor Fati is the ancient Stoic’s way of “loving your fate.” When you “love your fate,” you will not wish for different outcomes, therefore avoiding much fewer negative emotions. Great in theory, hard to put into practice!
This world can be a cruel place but understand your state of mind is your state of life. Physical interaction made capable through our senses is a gift bestowed upon most to help us interact within this ever-changing world. Never take that for granted! One or more senses can be taken away at a moment’s notice. We are even born, only to die at any given moment without warning. Live life like it is your last moment every second, every single day. Do not procrastinate as your future life is not guaranteed. Maybe in another time and place, our fantasy becomes reality where morals reign supreme and evil is nowhere to be found! Till then, may your mind be that place where hardship turns into a learning experience based on your new perception of life’s missteps.