The very purpose of spirituality is self-discipline. Rather than criticizing others, we should evaluate and criticize ourselves.

Posted on 30 December 2012 by philosiblog

The very purpose of spirituality is self-discipline. Rather than criticizing others, we should evaluate and criticize ourselves. – Dalai Lama

Criticizing others, or criticizing yourself. One will get you results, the other just annoys people.

Criticize others, or criticize yourself. One will get you results, the other just annoys people. Be constructive in your self-criticism, and then do something about it.

What does that mean?
Recently, I was riding in a car when the driver criticized the driver we were following for their driving style. To me, that was exactly what this quote was about.

They were criticising others for something they didn’t even know they did, and did so in their absence. Without them being present, there would be no way of them understanding what had happened, or altering their behavior.

Instead, the quote urges us to evaluate what we could do to better adapt to the situation, and criticize ourselves and our behaviors. It is implied, at least in my mind, that after we criticize ourselves, we then do something about it, and act to remedy our deficiencies.

Why is fixing ourselves first important?  Continue reading →

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I don’t consider myself bald, I’m just taller than my hair.

Posted on 29 December 2012 by philosiblog

I don’t consider myself bald, I’m just taller than my hair. – Seneca

Some start with no hair, others end with no hair. Why worry? Be yourself.

Some start with no hair, others end with no hair. Why worry? Relax and just be yourself.

What does that mean?
While this may seem a flippant quote, to me, it has deeper meaning. To me this quote is about being at ease with who you are and your physical condition. While many people complain about aspects of themselves, this is one of the things for which there still isn’t a really good solution.

Here, a little levity is used to address a condition that devastates some people, mostly (but not entirely) men. That to me is disconcerting, that anyone would allow something completely outside of their control impact their self worth so strongly.

This quote implies to me that we should take life with a grain of salt, to roll with it, and to not get hung up on the little stuff. We are, I would like to think, more than the sum of our follicles. This quote treats the situation with the seriousness I believe it deserves.

Why is accepting who you are important?  Continue reading →

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The bravest are those who have vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it.

Posted on 28 December 2012 by philosiblog

The bravest are those who have vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding, go out to meet it. – Thucydides

This youth, after the picture was taken, landed off the platform and tumbled about 100 feet down the side of a rocky hill. Odds are the thought of life altering injury never came to mind.

This youth, after the picture was taken, landed off the platform and tumbled about 100 feet down the side of a rocky hill. Somehow, I doubt that the thought of life altering injury never came to mind. That’s not bravery.

What does that mean?
In researching this quote, I found it is sourced both to Pericles and to Thucydides. The latter is famous for having written the History of the Peloponnesian War. To me, this implies that Pericles most was most likely to have said it, and Thucydides is most likely recorded it. Regardless of the exact pedigree of the quote, I feel it has sufficient value to discuss.

It’s easy to step forward, seeing nothing but glory and fame before you. It is easy to do things, when all you can see is the good that comes from your actions. However, things are rarely that easy. Usually, along with all the good stuff is a little of the other stuff as well.

That is what today’s quote is about. It is about those who see not just the good things, and the easy things, but those who also see the hard things and the less than pleasant things which await them. Those who see all of this, and still do what needs doing, they are the ones who the quote calls brave.

Why is knowing, yet doing anyway important?

Continue reading →

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Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.

Posted on 27 December 2012 by philosiblog

Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst. – Henri Cartier-Bresson

This is quite a collection, from an ancient Brownie thru some cheap cameras, to some really nice pieces. There have been a lot of photographs taken.

This is quite a collection, from an ancient Brownie through some cheap cameras, to some really nice pieces. There have been a lot of photographs taken by these cameras.

What does that mean?
I love this quote, as it is all about short-cuts, or more precisely, the lack of them. While there may be some on a map, in real life there just aren’t any. So many people want a pill, a ‘magic bullet,’ a sheet of instructions, or whatever; something, anything, to quickly make things better.

As I write my 675th post, I am reminded that I still have a few more posts to go before I start to get really good at this. It’s also a bit of a mantra in martial arts. Do something 10 times, and you have an idea. Do it 100 times, and you are starting to get the hang of it. Do it 1000 times, and you are getting good. Do it 10,000 times and you are approaching mastery of it.

Similarly, this quote (by a photographer, if you hadn’t guessed) is about how long it takes to get good at photography. If you are a good critic, and can look objectively at an image, you can look at your work afterwards and say what you would do differently if you were to do it again.

Why is repetition important?  Continue reading →

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The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.

Posted on 26 December 2012 by philosiblog

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. – Saint Augustine

If you traveled to Bolivia, you could find out about their customs, including their brightly colored blankets and their hats.

If you traveled to Bolivia, you could find out about their customs, including their brightly colored blankets and their hats. Or you could read about it in a book or on the net.

What does that mean?
This is an interesting way of making an analogy. One page of a book will only give you so much information. You will never know about what happens in the next chapter, much less at the end of the book. That is the fate of those who stay in one place, and never visit other places.

The flip side of that is the person who travels afar, and reads from the pages of each place that they visit. In this manner, they end up reading the whole book, page by page. And like a good mystery, reading a later chapter may just explain something read in an earlier chapter.

Note that if you just visit nearby communities with the exact same culture, you’re going to read the same page again that you have previously been reading. It is my belief that the quote is urging us to learn more about each-other, that we may better understand the whole of the book which is the world.

Why is learning about others important?  Continue reading →

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250,000 views!

Posted on 26 December 2012 by philosiblog

Sometime on Christmas Day, the blog had the 250,000 view. Thank you to all who have been reading and following me on this journey.

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Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.

Posted on 25 December 2012 by philosiblog

Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough. – Oprah

In this season of renewal, many cultures and religions have activities centered around gratitude. For what can you be grateful?

In this season of renewal, many cultures and religions have activities centered around gratitude. For what can you be grateful?

What does that mean?
This is another Twitter-friendly shortened quote. The more complete quote is “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.”

This is a quote that deals with on what we focus, and how that impacts how we perceive the world. That perception, in turn, helps to determine our attitude towards life in general.

Specifically, if you are grateful for what you have, your focus is gratitude, and you will more easily see other ways to be grateful, and you will find more opportunities to express your gratitude. You may not get a lot more ‘stuff,’ but you will most certainly appreciate it more, and enjoy your life.

On the other hand, if you are not so grateful, if you are always complaining (even if only in your head) about how others have it better, and you have it so bad, no amount of ‘stuff’ will ever satisfy you. That is because you will always be able to find someone with more, and the complaining will resume.

Why is gratefulness important?  Continue reading →

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Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition.

Posted on 24 December 2012 by philosiblog

Love is but the discovery of ourselves in others, and the delight in the recognition. – Alexander Smith

Do you see yourself in this person? Yes, the hair may be different, but what about the eyes?

Do you see yourself in this person? Yes, the hair may be different, but what about the eyes? Start by seeing what is similar, and discovery of yourself in others will follow.

What does that mean?
To me, this is a quote about that odd phenomenon of instant friends and love at first sight. The former is more about a familial or fraternal love, while the latter is about a more romantic love.

Both tend to be immediate and enduring. Nearly all the people I have ever had this experience with are still friends at some level. The recognition of ourselves in the other person is what is key. When we notice it, we have an instant bond, covering the things we have in common.

This commonality is what brings forth the feelings of friendship, kinship and of love, be it romantic or otherwise. And in finding that commonality, we share in great delight, because it is always nice to meet someone who is just like us, even if only in one aspect of ourselves.

Why is recognizing ourselves in others important?  Continue reading →

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A real sense of concern for others breeds trust, which in turn leads to friendship and a sense of security.

Posted on 23 December 2012 by philosiblog

A real sense of concern for others breeds trust, which in turn leads to friendship and a sense of security. – Dalai Lama

Many people have family. But how many families have shown sufficient concern to be close friends and feel completely secure together?

Many people have family. But how many families have shown sufficient concern to be close friends and feel completely secure together? These three look the part.

What does that mean?
This is another interesting sequence of emotional states. The quote says that when you show others a sense of concern, you will instill them with feelings of trust towards you.

The quote finishes by saying that the trust will lead to the formation of a friendship and a sense of security. This is a fairly natural flow, although not always occurring as quickly as one might presume from the quote. At least that has been my experience.

This process may take some time, but if you continue to show your concern for others, they will begin to trust you. Over time, that trust will blossom into friendship, and from that friendship will come a sense of security in the relationship.

Why is having a sense of security important?  Continue reading →

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I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it.

Posted on 21 December 2012 by philosiblog

I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it. – Pablo Picasso

When he started, nobody knew how to do this. Now you can go to school to learn all about it.

When he started, nobody knew how to do this. Now you can learn about it in school. When you’re doing something new, you may be on your own.

What does that mean?
Well, that makes perfect sense, doesn’t it? If you don’t know how to do something you don’t have too many options. You can sit there and do nothing, but that’s not very productive.

You can try to find someone who has done it before and learn from them. However, that only works if you’re a follower. For people like Picasso, who were out in front and on the cutting edge, there is no one to turn to for mentoring or guidance.

That leaves doing it anyway, expecting a bit of a mess, and then cleaning up the mess. By repeating the process, you eventually figure out how to best do it. Whether you’re inventing the light bulb or inventing a new style of painting, there really isn’t any replacement for experience. Do something, learn from the action, repeat and perfect.

Why is doing things important?  Continue reading →

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What nature requires is obtainable, and within easy reach. It is for the superfluous we sweat.

Posted on 21 December 2012 by philosiblog

What nature requires is obtainable, and within easy reach. It is for the superfluous we sweat. – Seneca

Do you really need a big screen TV? It sure is nice, but is it

Do you really need a big screen TV? It sure is nice, but is it something which nature requires you to have in order for you to exist, or is it superfluous? Just asking. 8)

What does that mean?
This one is so true, it almost hurts. It is especially this time of year, when it is all too easy to get caught up in materialism or consumerism. Do you require a big screen TV, or is that superfluous?

Food, shelter, transportation, these things are readily available. Yeah, you might end up living in a cheap apartment due to your cash flow, but you can probably get shelter pretty easily. You might have to trade off transportation for shelter, that is an affordable place might mean a longer commute, right? But you can make it work.

However, if your commuter vehicle is really expensive, you’ve gone beyond what nature requires, and bumped into the superfluous. Same goes for shelter and food. If you’re shopping for caviar, you’re well past what nature requires, and are deep into the superfluous. That’s not a knock, but simply an observation.

Why is balance in your life important?  Continue reading →

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Absence diminished mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and kindles fire.

Posted on 20 December 2012 by philosiblog

Absence diminished mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and kindles fire. – Francois de La Rochefoucauld

This fire has good coals and embers, and a fresh load of fuel. The wind will help, not hinder.

This fire has good coals and a fresh load of fuel. The wind will help, not hinder.

What does that mean?
In this season of holiday celebration, there are many who are away from the ones they love and whom they care about. This quote is about the power of absence on a relationship, for both good and ill.

The first pair (mediocre passions & candles) is about the lesser loves in our lives. The number of College (or University) ‘crushes’ that end over the holidays is probably absolutely massive. The absence allows the tiny flames in the heart to go out. So it often is with the lesser passions.

The other pair (great passions & fires) is about the true and strong loves in our lives. The fire doesn’t go out, but remains strong and centered, even though you may be spending time away from each-other. Like a fire, the wind only serves to drive the fire to new heights. If you don’t believe me, just watch the reunions of military families after a deployment.

Why is withstanding the test of time important?  Continue reading →

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Fall seven times, stand up eight.

Posted on 19 December 2012 by philosiblog

Fall seven times, stand up eight. – Japanese Proverb

Do you get back up and shake it off, or do you fall down and stay there?

Do you get back up and shake it off, or do you fall down and stay there?

What does that mean?
I like this quote, as it is about the ‘never say die’ attitude. It means getting back up every time you get knocked down, fall down, or otherwise end up feeling down. Even if you start feeling like one of those inflatable punching bags the little kids use, you have to get back up.

This quote also infers that the only way you can lose is to not get back up. If you go down and stay there, that is the only path to a sure defeat. While you are still able to get back up, there is still hope, however slim it might seem.

And that’s what the quote is about, in my opinion. Getting back up, no matter what. Over and over and over again. Until you win. Until the other guy gets tired of swinging, or loses interest and wanders off. You just don’t stop until you have what you set out to achieve.

Why is getting back up and back into the fight important?  Continue reading →

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When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.

Posted on 18 December 2012 by philosiblog

When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you. – Lao Tzu

I wonder if this is why our pets are always content?

I wonder if this quote explains why it seems that our pets are always so content?

What does that mean?
Once again, we have another Twitter-friendly shortened quote. The more complete version is “Be content with what you have; rejoice in the way things are. When you realize there is nothing lacking, the whole world belongs to you.”

What is it that you are lacking in your life? Conversely, what do you have in your life which you take for granted? About what could, or even should, you be rejoicing? Your health, your relative wealth, your friends, your family? Even if you have none of those, you could rejoice in the quiet and tranquility.

So many of us focus on what we do not have, and overlook or even ignore what we do have. At least until it’s too late, right? I’m sure it never happened to you, but you see it in movies and TV shows all the time. There’s even a song about not knowing what you have until it’s gone.

But this quote is about realizing that everything that is important to you, you already have all that you need. Perhaps not all you want, but all that is necessary. And in that, you have all that matters in the world, everything else is just extra flash and dazzle.

Why is acknowledging the things which you have important?  Continue reading →

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Values are like fingerprints. Nobody’s are the same, but you leave ’em all over everything you do.

Posted on 17 December 2012 by philosiblog

Values are like fingerprints. Nobody’s are the same, but you leave ’em all over everything you do. – Elvis Presley

What does your values fingerprint say about you? What words go with each feature? Is it by design or by accident that you have those values?

What does your values fingerprint say about you? What words go with each feature? Are they there by design or by accident?

What does that mean?
Think what you will of the King of Rock and Roll, but he did have a way of turning a phrase. We leave a little bit of ourselves in or on everything we do. These fingerprints are tied back to our choices, motives, desires, actions, and driving all of those, our values.

Everything Ebenezer Scrooge did bore his fingerprints, the fingerprints of greed. Everything that Bob Cratchit did left his fingerprints as well. But they were fingerprints of compassion and duty. Every story has people with values, and their actions show their values as uniquely as a set of fingerprints.

We each have our own fingerprints, and they are unique. The same is true for our values. I might value one thing a little more than you do, but value something else a little less than you do. And those values will show in our choices, our motives, our desires, and our actions; as our fingerprints.

Why is are our values important?  Continue reading →

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