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031 Considering Wisdom
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A weekly newsletter from BobBarnardnm.com
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Thoughts on the intersection of Society/Culture, Productivity/You, and Wisdom/Knowledge.
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Without freedom of thought, there can be no such thing as wisdom – and no such thing as public liberty without freedom of speech. Benjamin Franklin
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Please share this with your friends so we can encourage others to consider wisdom.
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MY WEEK
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I had a fairly busy week. Filled with meetings and then a stint at the Saturday Market staffing a booth for Mesilla Valley City of Hope (MVCH.). I joined the board of MVCh to help work on the homeless problem in our city. MVCH moves people from homelessness into stable housing and provides the necessary support services that homeless people need. Then on Sunday, we worked for an hour clearing weeds around the meeting house. At least some did, but I don't have the stamina I used to.
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our weekly wisdom quote
To live the good life: We have the potential for it. If we can learn to be indifferent to what makes no difference. Marcus Aurelius
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Living the good life is a goal we all long for; as Marcus Aurelius states, we have the potential. But we have to ask ourselves what the good life means. Is it the old, fully functional family like Ossie and Harriet from the '60s and '70s tv show or something else? Is it the same for everyone? Is it the same now as it has been historically?
I think that Marcus Aurelius would say it is the same for him as for each of us. I describe the good life as internal contentment. It is not about power, money, or by the approval of others. It is how you see yourself and your role in the world. If you live the good life, are concerned about others, work hard to build better relationships, and most of all, as it relates to other people, you recognize that we are all one brother and sisterhood.
We are human, so we fall short in many of these areas, but as long as we work to improve and are self-aware, we are moving towards the good life. Are we there yet? Not by a long shot. We have much ground to make up as long as we continue to think about them and us rather than as a unified whole.
How do I personally get closer to the ideal good life? Here are some things to consider.
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- Focus on what is happening in your life. What should you be indifferent to each day? For example, comparing yourself to others is a game of fools. You are a unique individual with all the talent necessary to live your good life. Your good life is yours and no one else's. Therefore, be indifferent to the kudos others receive because that is their life, not yours.
- Live your life better every day. Focus on being the best you can be. Be the best friend to everyone.
- Always review your day and figure out what you could have done better.
Questions to reflect on this week
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- What does a good life mean to you?
- What are you doing to live your life better every day?
- Do you see people through a dualistic lens, us and them, or as one whole?
Actions for the week ahead
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- Build some review time into each day.
- Meditate on how to be a better friend to others.
- Make a list of your mistakes. We all make them. And ponder what you could have done differently.
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