There always comes a time when one must choose between contemplation and action. This is called becoming.
– Albert Camus
Are you constantly planning? Talk is cheap, ideas are cheaper and there is no reality outside of what you do. Thinking and talking should be aimed at acting and creating. Take control of the present and stop planning for the future, just get busy.
All great deeds and all great thoughts have a ridiculous beginning.
-Albert Camus
Do you dream too big? No, you don’t. If your vision doesn’t seem ridiculous, it’s too modest.
He who tries to travel two roads at once will arrive nowhere.
– Hsun Tzu
How are you decisive? Choosing one path inherently means that you are not taking many others. This is a reason to celebrate because this focus can be your freedom from distraction. Choosing to fully commit to a person, an idea or an action is the path to the greatest growth and happiness. You cannot be two places at once, embrace the moment and travel the road on which you currently stand as the person you currently are.
We think that by protecting ourselves from suffering we are being kind to ourselves. The truth is we only become more fearful, more hardened, and more alienated.
-Pema Chodron
How is your guard up? Suffering is a natural part of life. As such, walking alongside it while cultivating an understanding is more beneficial than simply ignoring it. You cannot learn from a teacher if you close your ears and eyes. Suffering can be meaningful if we do not protect ourselves from it, but instead, see it as a teacher.
Without giving up hope- that there’s somewhere better to be, that there’s someone better to be-we will never relax with where we are and who we are.
– Pema Chodron
Do you feel that the grass is always greener on the other side? You can only become who you envision by being who you are right now.
At Oran, as elsewhere, for lack of time and thinking, people have to love one another without knowing much about it.
-Albert Camus, The Plague
Why do you love the people and things that you love? Make time to think about your reasons for loving. Know about your love.
Stop aspiring to be anyone other than your own best self: for that does fall within your control.
-Epictetus
Do you compare yourself to others? Focus on what is in your control, your own actions and thoughts. Strive for perfection in all that is completely yours.
We should enjoy good fortune while we have it, like the fruits of autumn.
– Epictetus
Do you stop to smell the roses? How do you conscisouly appreciate when things are going well?
But of all motives, none is better adapted to secure influence than love.
– Cicero
What inspires you? Love? Competition? Anger? Love is secure and sustainable.
Learning should never cease.
– Hsun Tzu
What did you learn this week? How will you apply the knowledge next week? Learning and living are synonymous. Learning consciously and applying deliberately can help you flourish.
The Pocket Philosopher 