210618 What I learned in my studies this morning

Friday, I'm in love.

A joyful life spent with her

All the years fulfilled.

Daily Stoic:

Let me accept today as it comes. 

Let me focus on virtue today and do the next right thing. 

Let me fix my flaws rather than look to change others. 

Let me know serenity today. 

Today's Meditation:

From Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl 

Second Meditation: 

From The Daily Dad for June 18, 2021

Third Meditation: 

From A Guide to the Good Life by William B. Irvine:

Chapter 19: On Becoming a Stoic — Start Now and Prepare to be Mocked

Why start now?  Because there's no better time to begin gaining control over your life.  

When is it better to stop one's impulse to anger from overwhelming your good sense and goading you into saying something you will regret later?  Should you do it now, before you say the hurtful words? Or should you wait until later when you have already injured your relationship?

When is it better to prevent blaming oneself for things clearly out of your control?  Now, while your self-respect, attitude, and demeanor are intact?  Or later, when you have begun a downward spiral into depression and self-recrimination, damaging your relationships both with others and with yourself?

By pursuing Stoic rationality and calm, you give yourself the best chance to both live a serene life and to be satisfied, in the end, that your life was worth living.

Start now.

Why mocked?  Because, by adopting a new philosophy of life, some people take this as an indictment of their own life choices and feel bad because they have not taken similar steps to improve their own lot.  If you have different values than they do, they may feel like you are casting aspersions on their approach to life and will turn to mocking to bring you back down to their level.

Stoic rewards.  By practicing Stoicism, you gain advantages over your old habits and behaviors you would never have realized had you remained living your "unexamined life."

• You will experience fewer, and less intense, negative emotions.
• You will be more prepared for loss and disappointment.
• You will be more likely to act in ways which will, upon later reflection, be easily identified as moral and virtuous.
• You will find yourself being satisfied by simple, easily obtained pleasures, avoiding frustration and discovering fulfillment in whatever life brings to you.
• You will be more joyful.