The Crisis is Now!
Tags: Stoic Phiosophy, Stoicism, Philosophy, Stoic, Progress

“When faced with anything painful or pleasurable, anything bringing glory or disrepute, realize that the crisis is now, that the Olympics have started, and waiting is no longer an option; that the chance for progress, to keep or lose, turns on the events of a single day.”

The Stoics give prominence to actions rather than results. They value self-improvement more than anything else.

Every moment is a new opportunity for you to become better, to improve, to make progress. It’s how you act in small matters that determines how you will act in more serious matters.

Every decision you take affects your life no matter how small it may be. You must be improving yourself every day, every moment. Keep a constant watch over your actions and the consequences.

And the way you make progress is by being aware of everything you do. Focus on what really matters rather than wasting your time.

Why you must constantly improve yourself? To live a better life, to be happier. To prepare yourself against anything that might come your way.

As Epictetus writes, “you are not yet Socrates but you should live as someone who wants to be Socrates.” You are not yet wisest of all but you should at least try. It’s hard but not impossible. It’s within your reach.

Progress is a product of all of your decisions — small ones as well as big ones. Better decisions ensure progress. Bad decisions, however, will take you in the opposite direction.

Here are some Stoic points to help you in the process:

Learn to say no: Your time is valuable, you must say no to unnecessary things as well as unnecessary people. Now, I'm not saying that people are unnecessary, but they can waste a lot of your time on inessential things. “Let no one rob me of a single day,” Seneca wrote, “who is not going to make me an adequate return for such a loss.” Remember you must die: Be aware of mortality, the impermanence of your life. You are going to die and that can happen at any moment. Why should, you think, you be wasting your time? Why do something which is not going to matter in the long run? Is this necessary?: If you do this you can save so much of your time and energy. By avoiding unimportant things, you make time for more important things. As Marcus Aurelius put it, “Because most of what we say and do is not essential. Ask yourself at every moment, ‘Is this necessary?’” Do nothing without purpose: The Stoics believe nothing should be done without purpose in mind, not even thinking. “Train yourself to think only those thoughts such that in answer to the sudden question ‘What is in your mind now?’,” Marcus Aurelius wrote, “you could say with immediate frankness whatever it is, this or that: and so your answer can give direct evidence that all your thoughts are straightforward and kindly…” If you're not growing you're degrading: Deeds that do not improve you,

worsen you. You can’t stand where you are. If you are not moving forward, you are moving backward. Therefore always do what makes you better. Focus on the things you control: Stressing over, worrying about the things you don't control — government, society, people, climate, your health — will only waste your time. Better focus on the things you do control.

Don't wait any longer. Begin now!

Until Next Time,

Pooran