Rethinking The Future – Wisdom From The Past

We all have new schedules living at home. Inside my home the full service diner is open 24/7. As head chef, chopping and mixing, with assistant/sous chef (husband Cody) who is doing such a good job, I’m feeling the need to increase his tips. In such close quarters he is observing all my culinary secrets. If we keep this up Cody may replace me as head chef. That being said, and all kidding aside, we are rethinking the future.

Life as we knew it is gone. If by chance things do get back to what we perceive as normal, a new normal is the way forward. Like everyone, we are seeing businesses we have loved and frequented for years closing permanently, and many uncertain if they will be able to reopen. No one has been unaffected by the Coronavirus. With heavy hearts we have all witnessed loss of life around the world. Families are grieving, and many are in fear for more reasons than I care to list. I know everyone is grateful to the courageous heroes working on the front lines in different capacities. There is certainty in fall-outs and after-effects from this pandemic, and our collective future is uncertain. Yet…

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. – Marcus Aurelius

What is certain is that we are in charge of how we choose to react, or respond, to the quarantine/pandemic. Watching the news will destroy our spirit. It is called Tell-A-Vision & Programming for a reason. Check in once or twice a day for updates, but engage in activities that bring you peace of mind. Watching the news or engaging in fearful social media does not bolster our spirits. There is no illusion greater than fear. – Lao Tzu.

If you visit and post on social media, make it something positive to lift others up, not drag them down. I have seen virtual wars on social media – friendships destroyed over politics, religion, and limiting opinions. These are people who truly cared about each other until they discovered they were not on the same page. People with strong opinions will defend their ‘perceived’ position at all costs. Tact is keeping an open mind without making an enemy, – Isaac Newton. Keeping an open mind, with the ability to look at all sides of a situation is critical thinking at it’s best. I quote Leo Tolstoy – Free thinkers are those who are willing to use their minds without prejudice and without fearing to understand things that clash with their own customs, privileges, or beliefs. This state of mind is not common but it is essential for right thinking. At the end of the day, very few people know what is truly going on behind the scenes politically. It’s a dangerous game manipulating people and countries, as politicians jockey for position and power. We are the fallout.

Can you change this overnight? No, but you can choose how you contribute and conduct yourself in the outer world. This starts with your inner world, which you are in control of. Over centuries of time, similar issues ensue, as each era moves forward. What do we do?

Self control is strength. Calmness is mastery. You have to get to a point where your mood doesn’t shift based on the insignificant actions of someone else. Don’t allow others to control the direction of your life. Don’t allow your emotions to overpower your intelligence. – Morgan Freeman.

Here are a few ancient quotes of wisdom from the past showing that little has changed in regard to life from a soul perspective. Every century has had it own challenges, just as we are having now…

The truth is like a lion; you don’t have to defend it. Let it loose; it will defend itself. – Augustine of Hippo

Conquer yourself rather than the world. – René Descartes

I shall allow no man to belittle my soul by making me hate him. – Booker T. Washington

Constantly regard the universe as one living being, having one substance and one soul; and observe how all things have reference to one perception, the perception of this one living being; and how all things act with one movement; and how all things are the cooperating causes of all things which exist; observe too the continuous spinning of the thread and the contexture of the web. – Marcus Aurelius 

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. – Aristotle (On critical thinking)

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. – Leo Tolsoy

Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily. – Epictetus

Those who are able to see beyond the shadows and lies of their culture will never be understood, let alone believed by the masses. – Plato

It’s easier to fool people than convince them they have been fooled. – Mark Twain

Judge a man by his questions rather than by his answers. – Voltaire

Truth is to ever be found in simplicity, and not in the multiplicity and confusion of things. – Sir Isaac Newton

The neglect this implied, the suffering and wasted quality of human life were appalling. – Fred Hollows