Image Credit: Wm. E. Ashton, II
Today’s topic is one of my all-time favorite Stoic concepts: the very thing preventing us from continuing on our path marks the path itself; that same thing becomes the path…
… if we allow it.
Our rich, skilled, and overactive egos will convince us to not engage with what’s before us in order to preserve itself. Engaging with the obstacle could bring about the things that challenge ego’s comfort: pain, in any form, and/or the necessity to change.
How we engage the obstacle isn’t important. What is important is that we do engage, not sit around idly, or make excuses.
If you feel challenged by whatever blocks your path, it’s because you’re triggered by what you feel from your encounter with the obstacle. If you feel less-than when faced with the mountain, it’s because the mountain is showing you your fears, your weaknesses, and places where you could train more. In short, your ego is uncomfortable when faced with challenges.
Please, don’t let your ego be your boss. Face it, conquer it…
… after all, it’s the obstacle.
(See y’all tomorrow, when we’ll begin talking about duty.)
… if we allow it.
Our rich, skilled, and overactive egos will convince us to not engage with what’s before us in order to preserve itself. Engaging with the obstacle could bring about the things that challenge ego’s comfort: pain, in any form, and/or the necessity to change.
How we engage the obstacle isn’t important. What is important is that we do engage, not sit around idly, or make excuses.
If you feel challenged by whatever blocks your path, it’s because you’re triggered by what you feel from your encounter with the obstacle. If you feel less-than when faced with the mountain, it’s because the mountain is showing you your fears, your weaknesses, and places where you could train more. In short, your ego is uncomfortable when faced with challenges.
Please, don’t let your ego be your boss. Face it, conquer it…
… after all, it’s the obstacle.
(See y’all tomorrow, when we’ll begin talking about duty.)
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