221127 What I learned in my studies this morning 3

Peace by exclusion.
Peace by better mind focus.

Peace by my judgment.

Daily Stoic:

There are so many, many things I shun from my life. Things I once spent too much time on which brought me anxiety, fear, annoyance, upset, anger, and even pleasure. 

I cut them from my life because of their negative effects. They caused conflict, internal and external. They cost me sleep. They sapped my equanimity. They generally make things worse in so, so many ways. 

What things am I talking about? News for one. I never watch or read it voluntarily. Their entire job is to try and work me into a frenzy about things which make zero difference to my life, much less the drastic difference they would have me believe such things should have. 

Politics is another. I worked in politics. Big politics. Capital Hill politics. I cannot express the depth of disdain and condemnation I have for both the people and the system.

Beyond those are myriad issues which I ignore in my day-to-day life: old phone games which I spent too much time on; caring about whether My Team wins or loses to the point that it could ruin a day or more; feeling like a bad move by another driver is a personal insult; and others besides. 

This is another area where I do well, but I still have a long way to go to find everlasting tranquility. Alas. So be it. 

Time to be better. 

Today's Way to be More Stoic:

Today's Meditation:

Today's Meditation II:

Today's Music:

'Hymn to the Dawn' from Choral Hymns from the Rig Veda (to 3:14) by Gustav Holst

And two more I found while searching for the one above. I like them even better, but that's probably because I enjoy Holst's big, brassy, bold compositions so much. 

Battle Hymn and Hymn to an Unknown God, also from Hymns from the Rig Veda by Gustav Holst