Daily Advice 1.13.21
Jan. 13th, 2021 02:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
readoldthings Back to Sun Tzu.
The first chapter of The Art of War closes with several pieces of warfighting advice. One that I want to highlight is this:
Most of the time, most of us aren't going into battle. The average, day-to-day goals that we are trying to accomplish don't require "deception," as such. What they do often call for, which is similar to deception, is silence.
Some goals can be achieved no matter how much you talk about them. This morning my wife and I planned what to have for dinner tonight; in an hour or two I'll get it started. Simple enough.
But other types of goals benefit enormously from simply not talking about them while you're pursuing them.
I've talked about writing a few times in these posts. Writing is very much one of these kinds of goals. If you want to take all the energy out of a writing project, especially if it's a fiction project, talk about it before it's finished.
Some people are exceptions to this. Mario Puzo's son recalled that while his father was writing The Godfather he used to shout at his kids "Be quiet, I'm writing a bestseller!" And he was right. But I'm not Mario Puzo and you probably aren't either.
Other types goals are like this. If you have a New Years resolution to hit the gym every day, just do it. Don't tell anyone about it. The more people you tell, the more likely you are to miss a day, and then to decide that since you missed yesterday, you might as well miss today, and tomorrow, too.
How to know which goals to shut up about? Well, you could play it safe and just not talk about any of them if you don't need to. This is usually what I do. I talk about my plans with people they directly concern, and that's about it. .
So that's how deception applies to everyday, non-warfighting types of goals.
On the other hand, related to what I posted yesterday, everyday life is feeling more and more like a battle. Political conditions and their reflection in the Astral Light are becoming increasingly toxic in the United States. If your goal is to join one or the other of the two sides lining up against one another right now, I'm sure you can figure out how to apply Sun Tzu's words on your own. On the other hand, if your goal is to weather the storm and to still be here once the demons of the Left and Right are done with one another, I want to talk about how we can apply Sun Tzu's advice.
All warfare is based on deception. Our war is the war of the spirit against the passions, God against the Devil, reason against emotion, peace against war. How do we deceive our enemy?
I suspect that silence is the key here, as well. In particular, there is no reason to engage in political arguments or discussions with those who are committed to one side of our political divide or the other. In certain situations, you may feel that you are forced to do so. Are you really, though? What is your motive?
We do not know where things are going. Everything could calm down after the Inauguration or we could be in a civil war by the summer. Right now, there is absolutely nothing to be gained by standing out, making noise, or rushing to judgment. Above all, avoid committed partisans. You can't reason with them right now; all you can do is have them label you "Enemy."
Beyond that, we just don't know yet. More will become clear with time.
The first chapter of The Art of War closes with several pieces of warfighting advice. One that I want to highlight is this:
All warfare is based on deception.
Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
How can we apply this advice to our lives at this time?Hence, when able to attack, we must seem unable; when using our forces, we must seem inactive; when we are near, we must make the enemy believe we are far away; when far away, we must make him believe we are near.
Most of the time, most of us aren't going into battle. The average, day-to-day goals that we are trying to accomplish don't require "deception," as such. What they do often call for, which is similar to deception, is silence.
Some goals can be achieved no matter how much you talk about them. This morning my wife and I planned what to have for dinner tonight; in an hour or two I'll get it started. Simple enough.
But other types of goals benefit enormously from simply not talking about them while you're pursuing them.
I've talked about writing a few times in these posts. Writing is very much one of these kinds of goals. If you want to take all the energy out of a writing project, especially if it's a fiction project, talk about it before it's finished.
Some people are exceptions to this. Mario Puzo's son recalled that while his father was writing The Godfather he used to shout at his kids "Be quiet, I'm writing a bestseller!" And he was right. But I'm not Mario Puzo and you probably aren't either.
Other types goals are like this. If you have a New Years resolution to hit the gym every day, just do it. Don't tell anyone about it. The more people you tell, the more likely you are to miss a day, and then to decide that since you missed yesterday, you might as well miss today, and tomorrow, too.
How to know which goals to shut up about? Well, you could play it safe and just not talk about any of them if you don't need to. This is usually what I do. I talk about my plans with people they directly concern, and that's about it. .
So that's how deception applies to everyday, non-warfighting types of goals.
On the other hand, related to what I posted yesterday, everyday life is feeling more and more like a battle. Political conditions and their reflection in the Astral Light are becoming increasingly toxic in the United States. If your goal is to join one or the other of the two sides lining up against one another right now, I'm sure you can figure out how to apply Sun Tzu's words on your own. On the other hand, if your goal is to weather the storm and to still be here once the demons of the Left and Right are done with one another, I want to talk about how we can apply Sun Tzu's advice.
All warfare is based on deception. Our war is the war of the spirit against the passions, God against the Devil, reason against emotion, peace against war. How do we deceive our enemy?
I suspect that silence is the key here, as well. In particular, there is no reason to engage in political arguments or discussions with those who are committed to one side of our political divide or the other. In certain situations, you may feel that you are forced to do so. Are you really, though? What is your motive?
We do not know where things are going. Everything could calm down after the Inauguration or we could be in a civil war by the summer. Right now, there is absolutely nothing to be gained by standing out, making noise, or rushing to judgment. Above all, avoid committed partisans. You can't reason with them right now; all you can do is have them label you "Enemy."
Beyond that, we just don't know yet. More will become clear with time.
no subject
Date: 2021-01-15 09:00 am (UTC)I'm with you!
My sister is very much in line with the American "left," and it occurs to me that she stopped speaking with me because I refused to accept the virtue of "speaking out." That is, I sowed silence and I reap silence in return. But on the other hand, how many people remain silent in order to "keep the peace" at, say, Thanksgiving dinner? There's a karma to silence, just as there's a karma to speaking out, but what you get depends on the situation you're in.
In such confused times it's very hard to know how to navigate. I'm glad you're finding divination helpful, I'd be totally lost without it.