Many of you know my general disappointment with my generation and how soft we became — avocado toast on steroids.
This morning I continued to see the topic of resilience in different books I read.
Bearing painful moments in life with temperance is crucial.
We need to adjust what is the true meaning of happiness.
Stop trying to pursue this Epicurean day-to-day, to pursue a life of extraordinary resilience. Understand that peace is found within.
When you procrastinate on an important task, try to work on it for 15-minutes. Bear the pain. It will bring you good fortune. Don't fear the future and never let your past crush your present.
Happy Monday.
From Book IV, of Marcus Aurelius' Meditations:
"I am unhappy because this has happened to me.- Not so, but happy am I, though this has happened to me because I continue free from pain, neither crushed by the present nor fearing the future. For such a thing as this might have happened to every man, but every man would not have continued free from pain on such an occasion. Why then is that rather a misfortune than this a good fortune? And dost thou in all cases call that a man's misfortune, which is not a deviation from man's nature? And does a thing seem to thee to be a deviation from man's nature, when it is not contrary to the will of man's nature? Well, thou knowest the will of nature. Will then this which has happened prevent thee from being just, magnanimous, temperate, prudent, secure against inconsiderate opinions and falsehood; will it prevent thee from having modesty, freedom, and everything else, by the presence of which man's nature obtains all that is its own? Remember too on every occasion which leads thee to vexation to apply this principle: not that this is a misfortune, but that to bear it nobly is good fortune."
In a world in which everything is on-demand and instant, the ability to focus, do deep work, and go through pain is a super-power.
Having strong opinions is important. It will make people listen to you. Holding them weakly and adapting demonstrates character and humility.
As I am back in SF, I have been looking to catch up with friends over dinner. I can’t imagine how painful it must be to own a boutique hotel or a restaurant.
