Returning

It's day 260 of documenting 2025.

A very very late night post.

After hitting publish on this, I'm going to bed immediately.

Today was very tiring...and I didn't get any chance for a nap.

I'll rest properly tonight, by God's grace.

Anyways, not much update here...

Was quite a normal day at school, with an unusual supply of energy.

I didn't doze off, although I was very tired...and still went for my home-tutoring session in the evening.

Well....

I did doze off a few times 😐

And as soon as I got home, there was no chance for a nap.

I really thank God for His strength in me...because today could have turned out very differently.

Alright, let's look at Highlights for today (I'll share the whole note)

Then I'll just share a few thoughts from Meditations by Marcus Aurelius.

365 Days With Self-discipline 

📌 On Courage

"People who seem to act “courageously” usually have specific consequences in mind; they know the consequences both of acting and not acting. They’ve decided that the consequences of not acting are worse than the consequences of what we consider to be their courageous acts."

Quote by Harry Browne

Here’s a little trick to inspire courage to make a change: prepare a list of the consequences of acting and not acting. 

List all the great things that will happen if you change and all the bad things that will happen (or keep on happening) if you decide not to act.

Aim to make the list of the consequences of not acting so terrifying that the only valid choice would be to act. 

In essence, that’s what courageous people often do in a split second: they see something that fills them with fear and do it anyway because ultimately not facing their fears is an even scarier proposition.

For example, if you’re afraid to change your job, imagine what will happen if you don’t act. 

You’ll have to continue working in a job you may even hate.

Day by day, week by week, it will probably get even worse. The same faces, the same annoying tasks, the same frustrating boss. 

Isn’t that prospect scarier than looking for a new job?

Well, I think it is 🤔 

I've actually tried this technique once...but I just made a list.

That got me to act, but eventually the influence of the technique wore off....and I finally found out what happened.

I stopped.

You see, one thing I have realized it that the "enemy" is fighting against our continuity in something that will benefit us.

So, if we have decided to do something for a long time, the real test comes when you suddenly don't feel like doing it anymore.

You might miss a day or two...and you come up with reasons to justify your decision to not take action.

I know this because I've been there...lots of times. And the only thing you have to do in those moments is to take one tiny action.

Something that doesn't move the needle, but something that counts.

You still did something 😌

Sleep it off, and restart tomorrow.

Okay, this time....I just want to make this post a bit longer.

So, we'll look at some quotes from the book and then Meta AI in my WhatsApp can help us interpret.

(Didn't name this one 😏)

Meditations 

📌 Book 6

10. (i) Mixture, interaction, dispersal; or (ii) unity, order, design.

Suppose (i): Why would I want to live in disorder and confusion? Why would I care about anything except the eventual “dust to dust”? 

And why would I feel any anxiety? Dispersal is certain, whatever I do.

Or suppose (ii): Reverence. Serenity. Faith in the power responsible.

11. When jarred, unavoidably, by circumstances, revert at once to yourself, and don’t lose the rhythm more than you can help. You’ll have a better grasp of the harmony if you keep on going back to it.

12. If you had a stepmother and a real mother, you would pay your respects to your stepmother, yes . . . but it’s your real mother you’d go home to.

The court . . . and philosophy: Keep returning to it, to rest in its embrace. 

It’s all that makes the court—and you—endurable.

I understand the second quote...but not the others.

Let's see what Meta AI says about them.

10.

Marcus Aurelius presents two contrasting worldviews:

(i) Mixture, interaction, dispersal: This perspective suggests life is chaotic, random, and ultimately ends in nothingness ("dust to dust"). 

If this is true, why bother with anything?

(ii) Unity, order, design: This perspective implies life has purpose, harmony, and a guiding force. 

If this is true, one should feel reverence, serenity, and trust in the universe's design.

He's highlighting the importance of perspective and how our worldview shapes our experiences and emotions.

11.

This quote emphasizes resilience and adaptability. When faced with challenges:

- Revert to yourself: Return to your core values, principles, and inner strength.

- Don't lose the rhythm: Try to maintain your balance and harmony despite external disruptions.

- Keep going back to the harmony: Continuously return to your center, and you'll better navigate life's challenges.

12.

This quote uses the metaphor of a stepmother (philosophy) and a real mother (true guidance) to convey the importance of philosophy in navigating life's challenges:

- Philosophy as refuge: Just as you'd return to your real mother for comfort and guidance, Marcus Aurelius suggests returning to philosophy for solace and wisdom.

- Endurance: Philosophy makes life's challenges more bearable, providing a framework for understanding and coping.

These quotes offer insights into Stoic philosophy, emphasizing the importance of perspective, resilience, and the guiding principles of philosophy in navigating life's complexities.

Yep! It's all philosophical...

Not bad at all!

But that's not a good way to end today's post.

I'll end with this verse from the Bible, the book of Proverbs.

"Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him".

A real shield 🛡️ 

God has helped me through today, like I prayed. I'm eternally grateful to God for his grace and mercy.

Now, this is a better note to end today's post on...

Thanks for reading 🎀 

You can catch up on the former posts by visiting the main site, Documenting 2025

See you in the next post 💜