In order to lead a meaningful life, you need to cherish others, pay attention to human values and try to cultivate inner peace.

Posted on 27 January 2013 by philosiblog

In order to lead a meaningful life, you need to cherish others, pay attention to human values and try to cultivate inner peace. – Dalai Lama

How do you show your friends that you treasure them? How could you show others?

How do you show your friends that you treasure them? How could you show others?

What does that mean?
In this quote, the topic is a meaningful life, and how to have one. It states that there are three things to do and work on in your life.

The first thing mentioned is the need to cherish others, to hold them dear or to treasure them. Note that the quote doesn’t restrict this to just a certain group of people. That’s a lot of people!

The second thing mentioned is to pay attention to human values. Not your values, my values, or a certain set of cultural values. The values that most sane humans share, for their good and the common good.

The final thing mentioned is to try to cultivate inner peace. This was the topic of a post from two weeks ago, and is a worthy addition to the list.

Why is trying to lead a meaningful life important?  Continue reading →

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The hottest love has the coldest end.

Posted on 26 January 2013 by philosiblog

The hottest love has the coldest end. – Socrates

A well tended fire burns neither too hot nor too cold. How do you prefer your romances?

A well tended fire burns neither too hot nor too cold. How do you prefer your romances?

What does that mean?
This quote caught my eye as there was recently a discussion on one of my other posts about how love ends.

The quote starts by talking about the hottest love, which is fairly easy to understand. That is the love with great heat and is often accompanied by lots of demonstrations thereof, often in public. It is energetic, it is enthusiastic, and it is far too often doomed.

The coldest end could mean different things to different people. Is it the cold of indifference, where you don’t even acknowledge they exist, or is it the cold fire which burns icy hot, where you actively try to make their life miserable?

In either case, the coldest end doesn’t happen for casual acquaintances or even for moderately close friends. The coldest end is reserved for those for whom you once had the hottest love, right? And that is the whole point of the quote, as I see it.

Why is moderation in love important?  Continue reading →

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If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives, let’s go.

Posted on 25 January 2013 by philosiblog

If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives, let’s go. – Lemony Snicket, nom de plume of Daniel Handler, from ‘The Ersatz Elevator’

If you aren't ready for your close-up now, when will you be ready? If you can't answer that question, you're probably never will be ready.

If you aren’t ready for your close-up now, when will you be ready? If you can’t answer that question, you’re probably never will be ready.

What does that mean?
This is the eternal question. When do you do something? If you start too soon, you are likely to fail. If you wait until you are ready, you will fail to start. Somewhere between the two extremes is the proper answer.

However, the location of exactly where things are optimal is the hard thing to figure out. But my experience is that there is a pretty broad area where things work fairly well, once you get past way too soon and before you get to way too late.

So the trick to getting things done is two-fold. The first is recognizing that you’ve managed to get past the ‘way too soon’ phase, and that your prospects are about as good as they are going to get. The second is getting up the courage to actually do the thing.

Why is finding the courage to do something important?  Continue reading →

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Everybody laughs the same in every language because laughter is a universal connection.

Posted on 24 January 2013 by philosiblog

Everybody laughs the same in every language because laughter is a universal connection. – Yakov Smirnoff

Laughter helps to bind us together as groups, as well as help us with our health.

Laughter helps to bind us together as groups, as well as help us with our health.

What does that mean?
Have you ever noticed that everyone laughs the same? Well, some laughs are a little peculiar, but everyone on the planet knows what a laugh is. Even if you don’t know how to ask were the bathroom is, you know a laugh in an instant.

Laughter, like smiles, is one of the few universal methods of communication between humans. Even some animals seem to be able to follow along when we laugh. And when people share laughter, there is a special connection between them, even if they aren’t speaking the same language.

Laughter is one of the most welcoming emotional expressions which humans have, and one which excludes no one (with one exception for mean laughter). The laughter of others can be infectious, and lead to even more laughter. This is a great benefit for all of the people of the world.

Why is laughter important?  Continue reading →

Posted in emotion, friendship, happiness, humor, laughter, sharing | Tagged , , , , | 9 Comments

The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions.

Posted on 23 January 2013 by philosiblog

The greatest ability in business is to get along with others and to influence their actions. – John Hancock

This is the book that started it all.

Whether it’s at work or at home, this is the book that tells you how it is to be done. My copy isn’t quite that old, but  it’s just is as well read.

What does that mean?
As one of the founders of the American Revolution, his name is known by many for his large and flamboyant signature on the Declaration of Independence. However, he was a business man and a more practical man. This quote describes his preferred method of making change.

The first part of the quote is about getting along. If you’re at war, you aren’t interested in getting along, but are focused on defeating the other party. In business, if you can’t get along with someone, you’re going to have a hard time getting them to buy your stuff, right?

In business, unlike in war, you have to influence others. You have to entice them or inform them, and help them see things your way. Usually, that is to see what you are selling as the best thing ever, and very well suited to their problem, while the products of your competitors are inferior.

There are many methods for getting along with people, and many more for influencing them (see Dale Carnegie’s seminal book, How to Win Friends and Influence People). I want to focus the ethics of influence, as I believe there are far more unethical ways to gain influence.

Why is ethical influence important?  Continue reading →

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It is as natural to die as to be born.

Posted on 22 January 2013 by philosiblog

It is as natural to die as to be born. – Francis Bacon

At their age, they probably remind each-other of their love every day, not knowing when their last chance might be. Why wait until you're old? Who knows when your time might come,

At their age, they probably remind each-other of their love every day, not knowing when their last chance might be. Why wait until you’re old? Who knows when your time might come, so it might be better to be safe, rather than sorry.

What does that mean?

While some lament death as the end, others welcome it as a new beginning. I’m not sure what it actually is, but I believe it is, as the quote says, as natural as being born.

A similar saying is that every beginning has an end, and this holds true with life itself. Put another way, if it wasn’t for death, the world would be very, very full. And not just with humans, but everything else that ever lived as well.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not that interested in meeting all my ancestors. Even less fun to meet would be a Sabre Tooth Tiger or even a T-Rex. And don’t get me started on insects. How many zillions of them would be around?

That was my explanation of death to my children when they were little and one of the fish died. It makes sense, and it is part of the circle of life. It is nature at it’s finest, recycling the best ingredients for the next turn of the cycle.

Why is understanding our mortality important?  Continue reading →

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If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it.

Posted on 21 January 2013 by philosiblog

If we are not ashamed to think it, we should not be ashamed to say it. – Cicero

If you aren't willing to say it in public, should you even be thinking it?

If you aren’t willing to say it in public, should you even be thinking it?

What does that mean?
This quote is all about our morals, our values, and the potential for a dichotomy between how we act and how we think. Is it fine to wish someone dead in your mind, if you would not be willing to do so out loud?

That is the crux of this quote. How many of us think things we would be embarrassed to say out loud? Or say things in private that would cause us shame if they were made public?

The quote is about keeping our mind at least as clean as what we say. While some have fairly low standards in their public discourse, I imagine most of you will find bringing your mind up to the level of your public discourse.

Putting the quote together backwards, if we are ashamed to say it out loud in public, before our family and friends, we shouldn’t be thinking it in the first place, right? I believe this to be a very worthy goal, do you?

Why is integrity important?

Continue reading →

Posted in action, belief, honest, improve, integrity, shame | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Ask yourself, what am I doing about my anger, my attachment, my pride, my jealousy? These are the things we should check in our daily lives.

Posted on 20 January 2013 by philosiblog

Ask yourself, what am I doing about my anger, my attachment, my pride, my jealousy? These are the things we should check in our daily lives. – Dalai Lama

What are you doing about your anger? Do you keep it bottled up inside, or do you have a way to let it out?

What are you doing about your anger? Do you keep it bottled up inside, or do you have a way to let it out? This is one method.

What does that mean?
This quote is about our negative emotions and impulses. It asks us if we’ve monitored them, and asks what we’re going to do about them. We are all human, and all have an issue with these emotions, even if only rarely.

I believe this quote has great merit, as it asks us to continue to examine ourselves, and specifically our darker side. It asks us not just to see what might be lurking in the dark corners, but to then consider what we are going to do about it.

The quote concludes by imploring us to do this exercise daily. And I thought I was a tough taskmaster! But seriously, this quote is reminding us that if we keep after things, over time we can make ourselves much better. Yes, it might take a little time, but I believe it is worth the effort.

Why is regular self-examination important?  Continue reading →

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Expecting is the greatest impediment to living. In anticipation of tomorrow, it loses today.

Posted on 19 January 2013 by philosiblog

Expecting is the greatest impediment to living. In anticipation of tomorrow, it loses today. – Seneca

While the picture is of the recital itself, I always had trouble focusing the day before, anticipating a concert or performance.

While the picture says that it was taken on the day of the recital itself, I always had trouble focusing the day before, anticipating a concert or performance. The result, not much got done on the day before the show. The quote, realized.

What does that mean?
This is a bit of ancient wisdom regarding time management. It has been seen in many cultures throughout time. In this version, expectation is held up as a terrible waste of our lives. It is also called the anticipation of tomorrow in the quote.

Anticipation seems to be a natural human condition. However, this quote is not addressing normal anticipation, but an excess of it. It is discussing a form of paralysis caused by too much anticipation. If you are expecting to win the lottery tomorrow, it might be a little hard to show up at work, right?

The quote finishes with the cost of the anticipation of tomorrow, the loss of today. What might that person who was anticipating the lottery win have accomplished in the day before the drawing? How much would likely actually get done? That is the loss of which the quote speaks.

Why is staying focused on today important?  Continue reading →

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What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. Scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.

Posted on 18 January 2013 by philosiblog

What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. Scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable. – Joseph Addison

Smiles are to humanity as sunlight is to flowers and the plants which support them.

Smiles are to humanity as sunlight is to flowers and the plants which support them. How often do you smile at others, or return their smiles?

What does that mean?
As is so often the case, this is a slightly longer quote trimmed down for the sake of sharing on Twitter. The more complete version is: “What sunshine is to flowers, smiles are to humanity. These are but trifles, to be sure; but scattered along life’s pathway, the good they do is inconceivable.”

This quote is about the power of a smile. It even goes so far as to state that smiles are trifles, which are defined as being of little importance or value. Yet it finishes by saying that smiles do so much good that it is beyond comprehension.

It compares sunshine to smiles. Sunlight is the power for the plant which makes the flowers. Smiles are the power for the people, and it does them good. Good what, you ask? Ask that of yourself. When you see a smile, where is the good? For me it’s usually a good feeling. What is it for you?

Why are genuine smiles important?  Continue reading →

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An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.

Posted on 17 January 2013 by philosiblog

An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest. – Benjamin Franklin

Whether it's from a University, a Trade School, or the School of Hard Knocks, Knowledge will pay you back with interest.

Whether it’s from University, Trade School, or the School of Hard Knocks, Knowledge will pay you back with interest.

What does that mean?
As is often the case on Twitter, there is a longer version of this quote available: “If a man empties his purse into his head no man can take it from him. An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.”

The longer version helps give context to the rest of the quote. It is talking about what to do with your money to protect it from those who might want to take it. The author of the quote suggests putting the money, which at the time was carried in what were called purses, into knowledge.

By doing that, the quote says you have not only safeguarded your money, but you have also given yourself something that will repay you with interest. So not only do you get your money back, but you get even more, that sounds like a good deal, and that is what he is trying to emphasize.

Why is knowledge important?  Continue reading →

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Practice, work hard, and give it everything you have.

Posted on 16 January 2013 by philosiblog

Practice, work hard, and give it everything you have. – Dizzy Dean

If you needed to hire someone, would you hire the hard working person, or the hardly working person?

If you needed to hire someone, would you hire the hard working person, or the hardly working person? Which one is more likely to get things done, to get ahead?

What does that mean?
I’m sure you’ve heard something like this at some point in your life. Perhaps from a parent or perhaps from your boss. It’s the workman’s credo. It’s how stuff gets done. This version was said by one of baseball’s great pitchers of the 1930’s and was noted as being both highly talented as well as a very hard worker.

He breaks it down into three parts, starting with practice. The game is no place for practicing, so you have to do that before-hand. That makes sense to me, does it make sense to you?

The second part says to work hard. That applies to both practice and the performance. No slacking off, just good hard work. There is a time for jokes and goofing, but that’s for after you’ve done your work.

The third part says to give it everything you have. Both in practice and in the performance, there is no place for half-measures. You put it all on the line, and you make things happen.

Why is doing all that hard stuff important?  Continue reading →

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300,000 views! Thanks!

Posted on 15 January 2013 by philosiblog

About 6 hours ago, the blog had it’s 300,000th view. Thanks for the support!

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Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

Posted on 15 January 2013 by philosiblog

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. – Martin Luther King Jr.

How do you conquer hate? May I present one possible method?

How does one conquer hate? May I present one possible method? We should always try to remember that we cannot force this change of heart on others, only encourage them to change by our behavior and our example.

What does that mean?
To me, this quote is about a fundamental truth of the universe, and the corresponding relationship in the human heart. It starts out stating the obvious. Darkness is a lack of light. More darkness cannot make it less dark, which is something only bringing light can accomplish.

Similarly, the quote tells us that hate cannot drive hate from your heart or the hearts of others. The only thing which can do that, according to the quote, is love. While the analogy breaks down a little with hate not being exactly equal to the absence of love, the premise is spot on.

In the end, hate will continue if left unopposed. The question is how to best oppose it. The quote states what I believe is one of the best and simplest methods. While no method is fool-proof or without risk, it is the best and most effective method I have seen or experienced.

Why is bringing love to fight hatred important?  Continue reading →

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At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person.

Posted on 14 January 2013 by philosiblog

At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. – Albert Schweitzer

Have you shown your gratitude for those who helped you? Do you try to help others?

Have you shown your gratitude for those who helped you? Do you try to help others?

What does that mean?
This is another quote which has been shortened for twitter. A more complete version of the quote is: “At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”

To me, this quote is about the people who have helped us out of the darkness, out of hopelessness. It is about those who have found us when we had lost our way, and guided us back to the light. It is about them having helped us rekindle our light.

This light isn’t specified, but I believe it applies to all the different aspects of ourself. From beliefs to courage, from hope to love, from certainty to faith, we can lose the light. It truly is a dark and dismal place to be, in the dark.

However, this quote isn’t all gloom and doom. It reminds us that there are people out there who can and are willing to help. And it implores us to show our gratitude to those who have helped us back on the path and relit our light.

Why is helping others relight their light important?

Continue reading →

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