"Stop whining about adverse circumstances, be the creator of your own ones"
Parents and private schools (public ones never will) should spend much more of their curricula simply exposing and explaining to the kids the deep wisdom of the thousands of quotes smart people in all places and civilizations have uttered over the ages. There's no walk-of-life that isn't covered succinctly and almost in a perfect way to easily and playfully be kept in mind.
Beautiful thoughts, theory really, to which I once subscribed. But observations over a long life have led me to conclude that only some people "can always control what you will feel and do about what happens to you.” It seems to me that some (most?) can't always control what they feel or what they do - even with long years practicing self-control as Stoics, Buddhists, etc. Unfortunately, Frankl's theory can make those who can't muster self-control to feel guilty and those who can, to cast blame. Perhaps the best we can do is have compassion for whatever others and we ourselves do (have to?) endure and gratitude for all miseries that don't befall us.
Yes, compassion is usually the right response toward all people. Good for us and them. Also worth noting that white "the sage," might be able to have complete control over such things, most of us are mere mortals that do the best we can. It's something to strive for, over which we have a large amount — but incomplete — control. We do the best we can.
I used to get discouraged about my stoic failures and then a wise friend told me, “ Stoicism is an aspirational philosophy.” Stoicism is not a goal you achieve, it’s a philosophy you practice, forever, in order to ‘get better’.
Put simply:
"What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger" or
"Stop whining about adverse circumstances, be the creator of your own ones"
Parents and private schools (public ones never will) should spend much more of their curricula simply exposing and explaining to the kids the deep wisdom of the thousands of quotes smart people in all places and civilizations have uttered over the ages. There's no walk-of-life that isn't covered succinctly and almost in a perfect way to easily and playfully be kept in mind.
Beautiful thoughts, theory really, to which I once subscribed. But observations over a long life have led me to conclude that only some people "can always control what you will feel and do about what happens to you.” It seems to me that some (most?) can't always control what they feel or what they do - even with long years practicing self-control as Stoics, Buddhists, etc. Unfortunately, Frankl's theory can make those who can't muster self-control to feel guilty and those who can, to cast blame. Perhaps the best we can do is have compassion for whatever others and we ourselves do (have to?) endure and gratitude for all miseries that don't befall us.
Yes, compassion is usually the right response toward all people. Good for us and them. Also worth noting that white "the sage," might be able to have complete control over such things, most of us are mere mortals that do the best we can. It's something to strive for, over which we have a large amount — but incomplete — control. We do the best we can.
I used to get discouraged about my stoic failures and then a wise friend told me, “ Stoicism is an aspirational philosophy.” Stoicism is not a goal you achieve, it’s a philosophy you practice, forever, in order to ‘get better’.