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Daily Reflection 2.23.21
Feb. 23rd, 2021 09:49 amI'm finding that working with The Art of War becomes more difficult as we proceed. I've tried to make this a daily blog, barring exceptions for weekends; lately it's probably been more like 3-5 entries per week. I sometimes find that a particular passage will jam me up, and taking a break from it for a day is what allows it to marinate in my unconscious mind and become more clear.
Today I've discovered another block. I wrote on Sunday that the hardest time to do a daily habit is the day after you failed to do it. For me there's another difficult time, and that's the day after I come up with something that I really like. I liked Sunday's post. Yesterday I stared at the text until my eyes went bleary, and then some set of convenient distractions (toddlers are very good at providing these, as are cats) allowed me to step away from it.
Now, was my goal in starting this series of posts to always write a lengthy reflection; to always write something I like at the time; or was it simply to write something, provided that it be true and, from my own perspective, reasonably useful?
The answer is the third option, of course.
I'm going to guess that I'm not the only person that manifests this kind of pattern. "Yesterday was great, how could I possibly top that? I couldn't, I couldn't-- Oh, look! The cat needs to go outside. Break time!"
The Enemy within is cunning; its goal above all else is to stop you from becoming.
Sun Tzu writes:
For "energy," read "potential," which we create by preparation. This passage highlights several themes which we've returned to more than once in these reflections. The first is practice: We need to prepare ourselves by regular practice of whatever art or craft or path we've chosen. The second is watchfulness: If our goal involves any kind of specific change, like getting a job, a home or a romantic partner, we need to be vigilant for opportunities.
And there is a third theme, which I haven't talked about before here: Decisiveness.
If you want to know the truth, I probably haven't discussed it because it's one area where I'm somewhat deficient. It's honestly not very easy for me to make decisions. Upon reflecting on this, it occurs to me that the reason for it is that I'm just not very clear on what I want, most of the time. I keep returning to the point of unity of purpose. Sun Tzu tells us it's necessary in warfare. Plato tells us that it's necessary in the government of our souls. Who can doubt that they're right?
If we are able to be decisive, it will be because we have formulated our goals ahead of time; prepared to achieve them by daily practice; and kept vigilant for opportunities to put them into action.
Today I've discovered another block. I wrote on Sunday that the hardest time to do a daily habit is the day after you failed to do it. For me there's another difficult time, and that's the day after I come up with something that I really like. I liked Sunday's post. Yesterday I stared at the text until my eyes went bleary, and then some set of convenient distractions (toddlers are very good at providing these, as are cats) allowed me to step away from it.
Now, was my goal in starting this series of posts to always write a lengthy reflection; to always write something I like at the time; or was it simply to write something, provided that it be true and, from my own perspective, reasonably useful?
The answer is the third option, of course.
I'm going to guess that I'm not the only person that manifests this kind of pattern. "Yesterday was great, how could I possibly top that? I couldn't, I couldn't-- Oh, look! The cat needs to go outside. Break time!"
The Enemy within is cunning; its goal above all else is to stop you from becoming.
Sun Tzu writes:
The good fighter will be terrifying in his onset, and prompt in his decision.
Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of the trigger.
Energy may be likened to the bending of a crossbow; decision, to the releasing of the trigger.
For "energy," read "potential," which we create by preparation. This passage highlights several themes which we've returned to more than once in these reflections. The first is practice: We need to prepare ourselves by regular practice of whatever art or craft or path we've chosen. The second is watchfulness: If our goal involves any kind of specific change, like getting a job, a home or a romantic partner, we need to be vigilant for opportunities.
And there is a third theme, which I haven't talked about before here: Decisiveness.
If you want to know the truth, I probably haven't discussed it because it's one area where I'm somewhat deficient. It's honestly not very easy for me to make decisions. Upon reflecting on this, it occurs to me that the reason for it is that I'm just not very clear on what I want, most of the time. I keep returning to the point of unity of purpose. Sun Tzu tells us it's necessary in warfare. Plato tells us that it's necessary in the government of our souls. Who can doubt that they're right?
If we are able to be decisive, it will be because we have formulated our goals ahead of time; prepared to achieve them by daily practice; and kept vigilant for opportunities to put them into action.
