Hey so I started reading meditations and I liked the idea of just writing down my thoughts about whatever so please, my friend and wise mentor, let me hear your thoughts on "Meditations: my version": Some actions and aspects of reality are not allowed or restricted by first yourself, then society, then by law, and last by the order of the universe. Always find the most binding and restrictive entities - whether it be health (disease/injury), authority (parents/government), or any other incarnation of bondage; Physical, Mental, or Authoritative. Most other examples will boil down into one of those three categories, for instance; financial struggle stems from a problem with authority. Why must our lives be spent devoted to financial gain? Why must our worth in society be based on our career, when most people are not even happy with their lives due to their career? It can then be said that, in this society (where everyone is already being judged all of the time by others because most people are insecure, mistrustful, selfish, and jealous), people are constantly being judged and have equated their self-worth with a job. Now this is a problem from many angles. He does not want a job, but he must provide, so he suffers willingly. While suffering willingly, he is being judged both during his work and off the clock (through the brands he wears, the quality of his accessories, the activities in his posts on social media). Judged not by the content of his spirit but by the amount in his pockets. Judged for doing the very things he despises- making someone else rich. Dedicating his whole life for doing something he despises, yet yields no pity, only shame and self-loathing. “Why did I not pay better attention in school?”, one may say. “Why did I not pick a different major?”, or more likely “Why did I even start college?”. A garbage man does not like dealing with garbage, but he must support himself, and his family. He is disrespected by his friends, family, and community. He feels ashamed, but has no choice, as humans must consume food and water (and the right balance AND quality AND consistency), own land to live on, and gain education about the world (learning about this experience of life, what to expect, and how best to prepare).

This video is everything you’ll need to know about Epictetus, Stoicisms mythological sage. I’ll soon add this video into the foundations of Stoicism course.

I’ve been doing more journaling recently. I think it is a great way to pass time and learn about yourself. If you have any journaling prompts that are interesting lmk.

“with no desire for success, no anxiety about failure, indifferent to results, he burns up his actions in the fire of wisdom” - Bhagavad Gita pg. 75

I have seen how powerful this knowledge is, so I want to know what you know about it