Stoicism for a Better Life – Weekly exercise (September 11, 2019)

Hello there,

For this week let us look for inspiration from Seneca’s writings on the tranquillity of the mind:

“The mind must be given relaxation – it will rise improved and sharper after a good break. Just as rich fields must not be forced – for they will quickly lose their fertility if never given a break – so constant work on the anvil will fracture the force of the mind. But it regains its powers if it is set free and relaces for a while. Constant work gives rise to a certain kind of dullness and feebleness in the rational soul.”

In my upcoming book Your Duality Within, I speak about our incisive quest for accomplishing, doing, getting, making, winning, gaining, etc. We live in a society that actually uses expressions like “Grab the Bull by the horns.” … one that perpetuates self-worth based on accomplishment. But lest we forget: We are human BEINGS, not human DOINGS.

Life is passing you by no matter what you do or not do. And no matter your role in the human society, your responsibility to the human community supersedes it. You must be the best “YOU” that you can be. In order to do that, you have to rest your mind. The mind is a muscle, and like a muscle it needs rest, or it can be overworked, strained, incapacitated and injured.

So this week, as you’re getting into the groove of the new Fall routine and schedule, remember to make some time for you, your mind and to rest it. Of course, keep in mind we can also be virtuous in our choice of how we rest it, but I leave that up to another week’s discussion. Let everyone know how you rested, or what you changed in your routine.

As always, much love to you all and I wish you a wise, tranquil and productive week.

Anderson Silver

(Author of “Your User’s Manual” and “Vol 2: Your Duality Within”)