12 Comments

Great listen with the voiceover ! 🤟🏼

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Agreed - it's great to have the option to read or listen. Or like George Will does with books - could listen to audio first, and then go back and read afterwards.

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Thank you Ammitai - I’ll keep it up!

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Thank you Nick!

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Being stuck in traffic for me hits a bit different. I feel the instant need to get off the X when I come to a complete stop. I get nervous AF and start eyeing shit that isn't there.

Post service I discovered a book which is really a life manual..."The Power of Now" by Eckhart Tolle. I still reference it weekly. The struggles to release the conditioned mind are real but anything is possible with discipline.

That and I always remind myself, people don't fail....they quit. And I never quit.

EDIT: Thumbs up on the audio inclusion.

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I definitely have some of that myself - it's a vulnerable position. I spend more time looking in my side mirrors for people getting out of their vehicles.

Tracking on the audio. Really appreciate the feedback, I'll keep it up.

I haven't read any Tolle. You recommend starting with "The Power of Now"?

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100% on "The Power of Now". It has helped in more ways that I ever imagined. You will definitely connect with it at a deeper level. "Watching the thinker" is literally what you referenced in your post.

An excerpt that sums it up and teaches us how to recognize our weakness...the human ego:

"As long as the egoic mind is running your life, you cannot truly be at ease; you cannot be at peace or fulfilled except for brief intervals when you obtained what you wanted, when a craving has just been fulfilled. Since the ego is a derived sense of self, it needs to identify with external things. It needs to be both defended and fed constantly. The most common ego identification have to do with possessions, the work you do, social status and recognition, knowledge and education, physical appearance, special abilities, relationships, personal and family history, belief systems, and often also political, nationalistic, racial, religious, and other collective identifications. None of these is you."

Facts.

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This is great stuff, echoing ancient philosophy. I appreciate the recommendation.

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As always, a ton to take away and a much-needed reminder to appreciate life and make better choices.

"Yes, and when you’re at a steak house you can walk around and grab that man’s steak with one fist and that woman’s mashed potatoes in another and shove it all in your mouth, lick your fingers, and look around the room for some shiny object to slip in your pocket."

My takeaway from this week's reading - Do not become barbaric, because when you do, you lose control.

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Nailed it Erik. When I lose my temper I do what everyone else does - I try to justify it.

Thinking in analogies like this is something Epictetus did to really good effect and I've tried to do the same when I feel myself slipping into justifications.

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I can’t remember the last time I drove and didn’t lose my temper. Naturally, it’s the easier thing to do because it requires no skill or discipline. These discussions definitely help and serve as a reminder to do better next time.

Today, I lost my temper because there was a delivery truck parked in the middle of the road, and when I tried to go around it, the guy driving towards me flipped me off and drove off. I lost my temper, but right after I realized how pointless my reaction was and ended up laughing it off. I probably would’ve had a better day if I had laughed it off in the first place, maybe next time I’ll be able to laugh it off before losing my temper.

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Such a good test... a guy flipping you off when he could've simply coordinated with you is the perfect opportunity to practice awareness. And the fact you laughed about it at all is awesome.

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