Having had a life replete with challenges and having sometimes wished I did not have so very many of them, I have found that in the aftermath of break through when one or more of them has found a solution is always boredom. When things are too easy they are boring -- like sitting in a class in school that is covering topics already thoroughly known to you.
And in those moments when I do not have a challenge already before me, the challenge is to go exploring and discover the next one.
And it is not so worthwhile to compare myself with others as it is to compare myself not with whom I have been before.
So while I agree with much of what Epicurus has to say about avoiding unnecessary wants, life just doesn't have meaning without trying to go somewhere and to discover what more is possible for me. I do not compete with others; I compete with myself to become something qualitatively more than I am now.
Epicurus and Happiness
Re: Epicurus and Happiness
How do you decide which challenge to work towards?
Re: Epicurus and Happiness
I always had a weak personality and I was unable to understand it in my younger age.. I was afraid to accept new challenge or to do new things because I was afraid of defeat and I didn't ever trust myself..I was always negative thought I'm weak.. After reading your post I felt that I should compete with myself to be a strong person
-
amandastone
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Wed Aug 26, 2020 5:10 am
Re: Epicurus and Happiness
The best challenges choose me, rather than I them.
It is like that very beginning of the Harry Potter series with all the owls but with another voice going around randomly saying "Wow! Doesn't that sound cool?"
The best chooser is the small voice within which is again and again the one that knows what is right for me and what I am needing now.
Usually that voice comes with a hint "try looking here" -- to which often enough I respond "There?! How could that be found there?!" -- only to find that once again it is quite right.