Adversity is just change that we haven’t adapted ourselves to yet.

Posted on 20 August 2012 by philosiblog

Adversity is just change that we haven’t adapted ourselves to yet. – Aimee Mullins

This guy lost part of his leg in a climbing accident. He could have quit, but he adapted and is climbing again. Would you?

What does that mean?
Adversity is defined at TheFreeDictionary as “A state of hardship or affliction; misfortune.” In the case of the author of today’s quote, it was losing both her legs just below the knee at a very young age.

Hardship? Yep. Misfortune, even, right? However, she worked at it. With the help of prosthetic legs, she was a great baseball player, and ran track & field in college. With the help of some more natural looking prosthetics, she managed to break into fashion modeling.

She adapted to this change in her life and has made a great life for herself. How well could you adapt to losing one or more limbs? She not only adapted, she has thrived, and has some motivational and informational videos out on the net, which I think you might find interesting.

Why is adapting important?  Continue reading →

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The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness.

Posted on 19 August 2012 by philosiblog

The ultimate source of happiness is not money and power, but warm-heartedness. – Dalai Lama

Is it his warm heart, or his power and money that brings this dog satisfaction and happiness?

What does that mean?
How happy are powerful people? How many have had no regrets on their death beds? How many rich people spend more time getting more, or protecting what they have, than they spend enjoying it? How many of them could actually be called happy by any reasonable definition of the word? They may have their moments, but are they truly happy?

Now think of the happiest people you know. How many of them are rich or powerful, and compare them to the number who are warm-hearted. I know very few powerful or rich people, so I’m no expert, but I know a lot of warm-hearted ones, and they’re almost universally happy.

Now, the important part. How difficult is it to become powerful? How difficult is it to become rich? How difficult is it to become warm-hearted? I know which path seems easiest to me. And I know which I believe will bring the most happiness. Which path have you chosen for your life?

Why is warm-heartedness important?  Continue reading →

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There are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force: the first method is that of men, the second of beasts.

Posted on 18 August 2012 by philosiblog

There are two methods of fighting, the one by law, the other by force: the first method is that of men, the second of beasts. – Niccolò Machiavelli

Gangsters don’t always look like they did in the old movies.

What does that mean?
This is another Twitter-friendly quote. The more complete version is : “You must know there are two ways of contesting, the one by the law, the other by force; the first method is proper to men, the second to beasts; but because the first is frequently not sufficient, it is necessary to have recourse to the second. Therefore it is necessary for a prince to understand how to avail himself of the beast and the man.”

This is an interesting quote, and one that I think applies to modern people as easily as to the Princes of the City State era. While most of us don’t have enemies that require this kind of treatment in the literal sense, there are people out there who will use these methods against others.

By understanding how it works, you are better prepared to understand what is going on, and to take appropriate actions to protect yourself or to warn others to protect themselves. From inner city gangs to border raiders, there are people even in the USA who work this way.

The obvious and most likely people to use this method today would be criminal organizations. However, in areas where the government is less than effective at keeping order, any type of organization could work these methods. From warlords to tribal groups to narcotics cartels, there is no shortage of people using this method.

Why is being prepared for the worst important?  Continue reading →

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Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe with you.

Posted on 17 August 2012 by philosiblog

Believe in yourself and there will come a day when others will have no choice but to believe with you. – Cynthia Kersey also listed as Oscar Wilde

If you believed in your ability to talk to one person, you would have reason to believe in talking to a small group of people, even if it was a bit scary, right? Pretty soon, others will start to believe in you, even if you aren’t quite done being scared.

What does that mean?
This is one approach to the age old question of how do you get confidence when you don’t have any at the beginning? The answer, according to this quote is to believe in yourself. Whether it’s trying to generate some confidence, or taking an action you aren’t sure you’re ready for, it’s one of the best answers I’ve ever heard.

The opposite is also true; if you don’t believe in yourself, what can you possibly accomplish? The ability and willingness to believe in yourself is so crucial to pretty much everything you do. You walk or run without much thought because you believe you can do it. Why can’t your other activities be just as certain to you?

The quote finishes with the comment that if you believe enough in yourself, you will start to convince others that you can do it. Perhaps they will begin to belive that they can do it too. In a way, you are a pioneer, and what you can show the world, they will soon be rooting for you. Even if every attempt isn’t as successful as you would like.

Why is certainty important?  Continue reading →

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Life has no remote. Get up and change yourself.

Posted on 16 August 2012 by philosiblog

Life has no remote. Get up and change yourself. – Unknown

There’s no remote control to do that for you. Baby, you’re going to have to get up and do it yourself.

What does that mean?
This is a fun quote, especially since I’m old enough to have been the remote control for the TV back in the old days. Dad would say the channel, or what needed to change with the antenna or the volume, and I’d get up and do it. Yeah, I’m even older than the internet.

But that’s what this quote is all about. We live in an era when there are remotes for the TV, for the radio and all the entertainment devices we have. We have remotes for the blinds, for ceiling fans, the car and house alarms, and even the bath tub.

But in life, if we want something important changed, we have to do it ourselves. The mail won’t get itself. The food won’t cook itself. The bedroom won’t paint itself. The bills won’t pay themselves. We have to get up and do that. No remote control will suffice.

When the thing we want to change is ourselves, the quote gets really to the point, as the only way to change ourselves is to do it ourselves. Do you want to lose weight? Want to learn a skill, a language, or a sport? Want to find a date? You’re going to have to do that yourself. No one else can do it for you.

Why is getting up and doing it yourself important?  Continue reading →

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Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens.

Posted on 15 August 2012 by philosiblog

Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens. – Epictetus

What can you do? Every line is a long one, and which ever one you chose will be the slowest. Will you be grumpy because you can’t change the situation, or instead, will you do your best to make the best of the situation?

What does that mean?
This is another great Stoic quote. It starts out by admitting that there are things that are outside of our ability to control, or even modify in any way. While the most obvious examples are forces of nature, there are plenty of other things in life that are outside our power.

But the quote specifically says to concentrate on doing the best you can with what you have in your power to do. To use an old cliché, if life is giving you lemons, open a lemonade stand, right? Make the best of every situation. Do what you can to help yourself and (by extension) others. Be responsible for your actions, and be careful not to hurt others.

Then take what’s left, which is the things you cannot do much (or anything) about, as gracefully as can be managed. This could be things completely beyond human power, or it could simply be something beyond your experience or ability to make sense of.

Why is being able to take what happens important?  Continue reading →

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Intellect annuls fate. So far as a man thinks, he is free.

Posted on 14 August 2012 by philosiblog

Intellect annuls fate. So far as a man thinks, he is free. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

When you look for inspiration, when you think, where does your mind go?

What does that mean?
I don’t want to debate the deeper philosophical meaning of free will in this post. Whole forests have been laid waste to fill libraries with tomes from the great minds of this argument. I have neither the depth nor the time to cover that aspect of the quote.

Instead, I wish to consider the thinking and planning a mind of some intellect can manage, and how that confers a form of freedom compared to the mind that simply reacts to stimulus in the patterns it has already determined to be beneficial.

With deliberate thought, you can accomplish amazing things, in conjunction with appropriate effort, that is. Contrast that with those who don’t think great thoughts, and who rarely accomplish great things. Those who don’t use their intellect, simply float down life’s river.

They are subject to currents and eddies, blown any which way, a victim of their fate. Those who use use their intellect, they build a raft, make oars or sails, and become the captain of their fate, at least to an extent. And in that, they are somewhat free. Free to try their luck, free to chart their own course. Free to escape fate. And free to fail.

Why is thinking important?  Continue reading →

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The most important things in life aren’t things.

Posted on 13 August 2012 by philosiblog

The most important things in life aren’t things. – Anthony J. DeAngelo

Two people, from the looks of how they are sitting, friends. Both are surrounded by things, and are ignoring each other. What’s more important, people or things?

What does that mean?
Think for a moment about what is most important to you. How many of them were things, rather than people or ideals? Did your cell phone, your car, your house, your job, or some other ‘thing’ make the list? If not, you’re ahead of the game, congratulations.

For the rest of us, it’s time to reconsider our priorities, and what we consider to be of great value in our lives. To me, even family heirlooms have to take a back seat to my family, the individual people in my life, freedom, and justice.

While my family heirlooms probably wouldn’t get me enough cash to fill my car with gas, they are still valuable for sentimental reasons. But if the house were on fire, and I had time to grab one thing, ‘things’ wouldn’t even cross my mind. I’d be making sure everyone was out before exiting the building myself..

Why is aren’t things important?  Continue reading →

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If you conduct your life on the basis of truth and honesty, it gives you a sense of satisfaction and self-confidence.

Posted on 12 August 2012 by philosiblog

If you conduct your life on the basis of truth and honesty, it gives you a sense of satisfaction and self-confidence. – Dalai Lama

Her: “Why did you bring me out here?” Does he answer honestly? Was it a great place to make out, to enjoy a great view and pick-nick, or to propose?

What does that mean?
Let’s start by looking at this from the other direction. What satisfaction do you get from telling a lie, or being dishonest? Perhaps there’s a momentary thrill of not getting caught (yet), but is that truly a satisfying experience? And do you get any self-confidence, except perhaps for those who look to lying and dishonesty as a profession? Most likely not.

So this quote seems to be about living a life of which you can be proud, and stating that the foundation for that life are the values of truth and honesty. I have never met anyone who has never lied, nor have I ever met anyone who had never been dishonest. I consider it a natural human failing.

However, we have the opportunity to select truth and honesty. I believe that the satisfaction and self-confidence is based on human desires that go beyond borders and beyond cultures. It is, to me, a fulfillment of a basic human need, and therefore satisfying. Repetition of satisfaction results in self-confidence.

Why is honesty important?  Continue reading →

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Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others.

Posted on 11 August 2012 by philosiblog

Men rise from one ambition to another: first, they seek to secure themselves against attack, and then they attack others. – Niccolò Machiavelli

If someone has to lose for you to win, perhaps you should consider your approach to life.

What does that mean?
This quote a condensed version of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, tailored to match the ruthlessness of the times Machiavelli lived in, and the audience he was addressing. Once a Prince is secure in their station, the next logical thing to do is to clear the field of anyone who is, or could possibly become, a threat.

This is still going on in the modern world, although usually not in terms of physical violence (certain rulers of third world countries excepted). For most of us, we only perceive threats to what we are used to, not necessarily to our existence.

For most of us (as an example), losing a job is painful, and can hurt our self-esteem (and our cash flow). However, with perseverance, we can usually bounce back. It usually isn’t a survival issue. Even if it completely wipes you out, there are places and people to turn to in your hour of need. There is always hope.

Why is avoiding the trap of win-lose existence important?  Continue reading →

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another day of ‘sick leave’…

Posted on 10 August 2012 by philosiblog

Unfortunately, I am still sick. Tomorrow is a day of bed-rest, and hopefully I will get back into the swing of things then. In the mean time, there are plenty of posts in the right column to read, and categories to scan as well. Enjoy yourself.

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No post today…

Posted on 9 August 2012 by philosiblog

For the first time in over a year, I’ve run out of backlog, and the cold still lingers. I just don’t have it in me to write one today, but should be back at it tomorrow. Feel free to read one of the posts in the right hand column, and enjoy one of my prior blogs.

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Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.

Posted on 8 August 2012 by philosiblog

Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened. – Dr. Seuss

Is this what you want to remember, or do you want to remember the good times instead?

What does that mean?
While at first, years and years ago, I considered this line to be trite and unhelpful, over the years, I have warmed to the power and wisdom of this quote. It is about the ending of things, it’s about saying goodbye, it’s about moving on, or moving away.

Over the years, I have lost friends, family members, pets to death. I have moved many times and lost friends to distance. I have been married and divorced, losing many friends in that trauma. There are even memories of pleasant times which were just but brief flashes of fun.

In each case, we have a choice. We can lament that they are no longer here, or we can smile with the recollection of the good times we experienced. To me, this applies even to the dead in our lives. You can chose to remember the pain of the loss, or the joy of the good times.

Why is is focusing on the happy moments important?  Continue reading →

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For though we love both the truth and our friends, piety requires us to honor the truth first.

Posted on 7 August 2012 by philosiblog

For though we love both the truth and our friends, piety requires us to honor the truth first. – Aristotle

If both these people were your friends, what would you do if you knew he was lying to her? Would you honor the truth first?

What does that mean?
For the sake of this quote, we will use an alternate (and older) definition for piety, which normally has religious overtones. TheFreeDictionary.com defines the term ‘piety’ (from pious) as meaning “Duty; dutifulness; filial reverence and devotion; affectionate reverence and service shown toward parents, relatives, benefactors, country, etc.”

Basically, the quote is saying that in a contest between truth and our friends, our obligation is to the truth. The use of the terms duty and filial reverence imply that the truth is to be as close to our hearts as the dearest members of our family.

This quote says your first obligation is to the truth, even if it causes some temporary pain for your friends. This is the quote that applies when your friend’s wife calls and asks if he is there, he is, and you know he shouldn’t be. Where would your loyalties be?

Why is being truthful important?  Continue reading →

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The quality of everything we do: our physical actions, our verbal actions, and even our mental actions, depends on our motivation.

Posted on 6 August 2012 by philosiblog

The quality of everything we do: our physical actions, our verbal actions, and even our mental actions, depends on our motivation. – Dalai Lama

Why do you make a funny face? Is it to mock someone, or is it a scientific test for the presence of an inherited gene?

What does that mean?
This quote is very close to a principal I have found very useful. This quote says that the quality, or value of all that we do depends on our motivations. In this case, the scale against which our actions are measured is the greater good, at least that’s how I read it.

According to the quote, our motivation will either help us get a result which is beneficial to others from our actions, or one that is detrimental, based on what our motivations for the action are.

The quote states that if our motivations are for the good of humanity, it is very likely that the quality of the results we achieve will be for the betterment of humanity. Similarly, if our motivations are to the detriment of humanity, so too shall the outcome be.

Why is are our motivations important?  Continue reading →

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