Stoic insights into psychology are fascinating, consoling and empowering. But no one can internalise (make exclusively self-referential) goals, judgements and actions all the time.
Why? Because we often don't have time to reflect, or haven't trained ourselves to reflect, when going about many of our daily actions. Although we have the power of reflection, we are still animals who run on auto-pilot. Daily meditation is one way of overcoming our reflexive nature.
That said, externalising is not necessarily bad. It is a practical and strategic way of dealing with the world and getting what you want. It is only bad when you don't realise it is only a strategy, and certain things within that strategy are not in your own control.
Rather than try to achieve the impossible, i.e. always internalise rather than externalise, we might consider training ourselves to better realise and react to when our externalising has gone too far and has lead to, or is like to lead to, negative psychological, material and/or relationship consequences. We can then reminder ourselves of Stoic teachings and perhaps meditate for a short time.
No one should feel disappointed if they feel to live like a Stoic all the time. We humans weren't made for it. However, we be grateful for the opportunity to improve, because that means we can live an even better life.
Why? Because we often don't have time to reflect, or haven't trained ourselves to reflect, when going about many of our daily actions. Although we have the power of reflection, we are still animals who run on auto-pilot. Daily meditation is one way of overcoming our reflexive nature.
That said, externalising is not necessarily bad. It is a practical and strategic way of dealing with the world and getting what you want. It is only bad when you don't realise it is only a strategy, and certain things within that strategy are not in your own control.
Rather than try to achieve the impossible, i.e. always internalise rather than externalise, we might consider training ourselves to better realise and react to when our externalising has gone too far and has lead to, or is like to lead to, negative psychological, material and/or relationship consequences. We can then reminder ourselves of Stoic teachings and perhaps meditate for a short time.
No one should feel disappointed if they feel to live like a Stoic all the time. We humans weren't made for it. However, we be grateful for the opportunity to improve, because that means we can live an even better life.
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