Joining us from just ten minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge, guest blogger David Erskine is back to share Stoic wisdom through his own lens. He also shares a photograph of the bike path outside his window, looking north toward the Bay.
I’ve started a 366-day journaling journey with The Daily Stoic Journal by Ryan Holiday. Every week focuses on a different theme and includes questions for morning and evening reflection. Inspired by this, I’m sharing recent themes and my thoughts about their questions. I hope you’ll join me in considering your answers, too.
Week One: Practice True Joy
Man is born for deeds of kindness. — Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius taught us that Stoic joy isn’t about the delights of the senses or material pleasure. It’s about being kind to others. To that end, the question to consider is, ”What if I stopped caring what others thought?”
For me, life would be more joyful. I would find myself living more in the present. I would have less resentment and grievance because I wouldn’t care what someone or something did to me. I believe worrying about what others think or say is really about the ego. Also, caring what others think is either living in the past or being afraid of the future.
Week Two: Test Your Impressions
Don’t let the force of the impression when first it hits you knock you off your feet; just say to it, ‘Hold on a moment; let me see who you are and what you represent.’ — Epictetus
Epictetus warned us against allowing a first impression to carry us away. He also told us to examine and test that impression against the rules we possess, and determine whether it pertains to things within our control. The question related to Epictetus’ teachings is, ”How do my judgments cause me anguish?”
Judging myself or others is a slippery slope. I’m trying to practice accepting myself without judgment and also not judging others, including friends. I want to control what I can control and let go of the rest. This means actively remembering what isn’t within my control, like the weather, politics, and unkind people. Things I can’t control mean nothing to me. At this moment, as I look at the blue skies and lush green Mount Tamalpais with its beautiful ridgeline, I choose to focus on that. I can control the present moment by surrendering to it.
Week Three: Count Your Blessings
Don’t be overheard complaining… Not even to yourself. — Marcus Aurelius
Marcus Aurelius posited that it’s easy to complain about the things that are missing in our lives, but so much harder to appreciate how much we already have. Epictetus followed by saying, “Without gratitude, what is the point of seeing, and without seeing, what is the object of gratitude?” The question related to this theme is, “How am I creating momentum for my good habits?”
I believe in getting up every day and embracing my morning routine of stretching and salutations. Then, I focus on exercising and enlightenment. This could be a jog, a bike ride, or Bikram yoga, because they center me and drop me into nature both mentally and physically. Also, I practice being present as much as possible and letting go of fears of the things I cannot control. I challenge myself daily by confronting uncertainty, guilt, and fear. The key ingredient I blend into all of this is counting my blessings every day. These elements form daily habits that enrich my life, keep me grounded in the moment, and allow me to be open to the wonder around me—for which I am deeply grateful.
David Erskine
World Traveler, Poet, Actor, Taxi-Driver, Author, Tech Sales Director, Dipsea Survivor, and Blogger
If you enjoy David’s blogs, check out his book Fifty Poems, Five Decades and Fifty Thousand Miles, available now on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
