Daily Reflection 3.27.21
Mar. 27th, 2021 02:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
readoldthingsSince I missed yesterday, let's have a Saturday Post.
Sun Tzu says:
An army that followed Sun Tzu's injunctions here would have the following qualities.
It would move quickly, covering great distances. But it would move together as a unit, not strung out across many, many miles, so that if an enemy appeared, it would be able to turn and fight. It would appear suddenly in the enemy's territory, raiding supplies and plundering farms and cities. Its intentions would be unknown and unknowable to its enemy. When it did act, it would act very suddenly, with great preparation leading to overwhelming and immediate success: Its coming would be like lightning from the heavens.
Let's leave aside warfare now, and consider what such a person would be like. If I were such a person, I would have the following qualities:
I would be able to make decisions and act upon them very quickly when I needed to, not hemming and hawing. In order to do this, of course, I would need knowledge of my own purposes and intentions.
I would not be taken off-guard by sudden eventualities like a global pandemic, my place of employment closing, or a sudden shortage of toilet paper. Instead, I would respond quickly in such a way that turned the situation to my advantage. This would require self-knowledge, plus a great deal of self-possession, and a level of preparation and adaptability.
When I saw something that would help me in attaining my goals, I would reach out and take it. This would require self-knowledge, plus vigilance in pursuit of opportunities.
When I created something that I wanted in my life-- a good habit, a relationship, a career-path-- I would let nothing move me from it. This would require self-knowledge, plus knowledge of those quirks of human psychology that fool us into seeing a temporary mood of resistance, temptation, or lack of motivation as a permanent condition.
I would not spend my time talking and bragging about what I wanted to do. Instead, I would keep my plans to myself, and let their achievement be their announcement.
I was going to say "I'll let you know when I get there." But that just shows you that I'm not there yet. Instead, let me say that when I get there... you'll know.
Sun Tzu says:
Let your rapidity be that of the wind, your compactness that of the forest.
In raiding and plundering be like fire, in immovability like a mountain.
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
In raiding and plundering be like fire, in immovability like a mountain.
Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
An army that followed Sun Tzu's injunctions here would have the following qualities.
It would move quickly, covering great distances. But it would move together as a unit, not strung out across many, many miles, so that if an enemy appeared, it would be able to turn and fight. It would appear suddenly in the enemy's territory, raiding supplies and plundering farms and cities. Its intentions would be unknown and unknowable to its enemy. When it did act, it would act very suddenly, with great preparation leading to overwhelming and immediate success: Its coming would be like lightning from the heavens.
Let's leave aside warfare now, and consider what such a person would be like. If I were such a person, I would have the following qualities:
I would be able to make decisions and act upon them very quickly when I needed to, not hemming and hawing. In order to do this, of course, I would need knowledge of my own purposes and intentions.
I would not be taken off-guard by sudden eventualities like a global pandemic, my place of employment closing, or a sudden shortage of toilet paper. Instead, I would respond quickly in such a way that turned the situation to my advantage. This would require self-knowledge, plus a great deal of self-possession, and a level of preparation and adaptability.
When I saw something that would help me in attaining my goals, I would reach out and take it. This would require self-knowledge, plus vigilance in pursuit of opportunities.
When I created something that I wanted in my life-- a good habit, a relationship, a career-path-- I would let nothing move me from it. This would require self-knowledge, plus knowledge of those quirks of human psychology that fool us into seeing a temporary mood of resistance, temptation, or lack of motivation as a permanent condition.
I would not spend my time talking and bragging about what I wanted to do. Instead, I would keep my plans to myself, and let their achievement be their announcement.
I was going to say "I'll let you know when I get there." But that just shows you that I'm not there yet. Instead, let me say that when I get there... you'll know.
