210810 What I learned in my studies this morning

Who knows where my mind

Will wander through the subjects

Of my daily life....

Daily Stoic:

Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.

Related: "You're not a perfectionist. You're just afraid your work isn't good enough."

Most of the time, I do what I need to do without anxiety.  No fear.  No fuss.  Just do it and move on to whatever I want / need to do next.

When can I do this?  When the task is easy.  When it's quick and comfortable and doesn't carry major repercussions if something isn't right. So, most of the time in normal, daily life.

Too often, however, when I am faced with uncertainty or doing something I haven't done before, I procrastinate, hemming and hawing until I am forced to finish the task in a rush because the deadline is looming.  (See, that way I can blame any errors on the rush, not a lack of competence.)

I've known about my tendency for years, but have not figured out how to make myself act on what I know would be a better path.  

Even now, I am putting off a task because it's novel.  Experience tells me I will probably be able to either do it or, at least, to make a good start then learn any final bits which are escaping me.  Yet, still, I procrastinate.

Am I so weak-willed?  Am I so afraid?  An adult does what they need to do.  What am I then?

I pretend that "my morning studies" are more important. (And they are, in a big picture sense, but right now, I need to STFU and work.)

Original here: Strange Planet by Nathan W. Pyle

Today's Meditation:

Daily Shakespeare:

From Letters from a Stoic by Seneca, Letter XLVI:

In this short letter, Seneca explains to Lucilius how to read a book.  He presents three ways*  to do it: 

1. Dipping into a book, just to get the flavor and outline, the most general impressions of what the book is about.

2. Reading a book, which he compares to hearing the text.

3. Digesting a book, which involves another reading and thinking about what the book says.

This may be Seneca's way to instructing Lucilius in how to read his (Seneca's) books.

* These are my terms, not Seneca's.  If you know of a better way to put it, let me know.