…reality alone counts, and that dreams, expectations, and hopes only serve to define a man as a broken dream, aborted hopes, and futile expectations; in other words, they define him negatively, not positively.
– Jean Paul Sartre
Do you wake up and take a sleeping pill or do you wake up and take action?
Habit is the only thing that creates certainty.
-John Stuart Mill
What do you habitually do, say and think? No matter what the answer is if it is a habit you’re getting confident. You may be getting confident that you’re not confident. No matter what it is if it is a habit it carries the power to create belief.
Never stop sculpting your own statue, until the divine virtue of splendor shines in you.
-Pierre Hadot
What virtues did you develop today? Our soul hears our thoughts and feels our actions.
Everywhere and at all times, it is up to you to rejoice piously at what is occurring at the present moment, to conduct yourself with justice towards the people who are present here and now.
-Marcus Aurelius
For how much of your day are you present? Be where you are and try to be your best.
Nothing, therefore, is more important than that we should not, like sheep, follow the flock that has gone before us.
-Seneca
What makes you unique? The thing we should all strive for is to be the best at being ourselves. You are the artist and the art. Make your painting your own and one that highlights your unique qualities.
There are four kinds of food that we consume every day. They are: edible food (what we put into our mouths to nourish our bodies), sensory food (what we smell, hear, taste, feel and touch), volition (the motivation and intention that fuels us) and consciousness (this includes our individual consciousness, the collective consciousness, and our environment.)
-Thich Nhat Hanh
What did you consume today? This week? This month? Taking control of what we consume, when we can, will lead to a happier and more focused life.
We can aspire to be kind right in the moment, to relax and open our heart and mind to what is in front of us right in the moment. Now is the time. If there’s any possibility for enlightenment, it’s right now, not at some future time.
-Pema Chodron
Do you dwell on the future? Putting off the good things we can do right now can be just as risky as living in the past.
Your person or your goods, which is worth more?
-Lao Tzu
Do you work on yourself as much as you work to earn money? Do the actions that earn you money also develop virtues? Earning money is not inherently problematic, not working to develop ourselves certainly is.
In reality, when you feel depressed, lonely, betrayed, or any unwanted feelings, this is an important moment on the spiritual path. This is when real transformation can take place.
-Pema Chodron
How do you describe and respond to “negative” emotions? Look at pain as a teacher, not a bully.
…virtue comes as a result of habit.
-Aristotle
What do you do every day? Most days? We become what we do and we become good at what we do frequently.
The Pocket Philosopher 