Latest / The Stoic Handbook with Jon Brooks / Guided Meditation: Seneca's Stoic Evening Reflection

Transcript

Guided Meditation: Seneca's Stoic Evening Reflection · The Stoic Handbook with Jon Brooks

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: So it's the end of the day.
• 0:05
  SPEAKER_00: Recognize that whatever has happened is now out of your control.
• 0:11
  SPEAKER_00: It's done.
• 0:13
  SPEAKER_00: Cannot be reversed.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER_00: You cannot change the past.
• 0:21
  SPEAKER_00: How you reflect on your day and learn from it, however, is definitely within your control.
• 0:30
  SPEAKER_00: How wonderful is it that we are not doomed to keep repeating the same mistakes?
• 0:37
  SPEAKER_00: What a gift that we can use the material that life gives us and actually grow stronger from it, even if it's painful and difficult.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: Let's review our day.
• 0:55
  SPEAKER_00: As you reflect on the following questions, try to bring as much attention and imagery to mind as possible.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: First, we will focus only on the things you did well.
• 1:08
  SPEAKER_00: Really zoom in on the good things that you did.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER_00: Afterwards, and only afterwards, we can look at the things you could have improved.
• 1:22
  SPEAKER_00: So scan through your day for examples of things you did well, things you can compliment yourself for, things you can feel proud of.
• 1:38
  SPEAKER_00: In what ways did you handle temptations well?
• 1:59
  SPEAKER_00: Let it go and try and zoom in on the things you did well.
• 4:08
  SPEAKER_00: Some of us we have a grandiose self-image, and we zoom in only on the things we did well and ignore our faults.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: Some of us only zoom in on the things we did badly and ignore the things that we did well.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: Both of these views are problematic.
• 4:30
  SPEAKER_00: As you continue with this type of training, the aim is to develop a balanced perspective, a rational, reasonable view of things you did well and things that you could improve.
• 4:44
  SPEAKER_00: So now let's switch to the things that you could have improved.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER_00: In what ways did your temptations get the better of you today?
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_00: Did your fear consume you at all?
• 5:12
  SPEAKER_00: Make you make unwise decisions?
• 5:34
  SPEAKER_00: How did you act improperly in social situations?
• 5:58
  SPEAKER_00: Did you get overwhelmed at all?
• 6:03
  SPEAKER_01: What happened?
• 6:24
  SPEAKER_00: Stoics felt anxiety, fear, anger, sadness, just like the rest of us.
• 6:34
  SPEAKER_00: If you get upset by the fact that you didn't do things perfectly today, realize that the reason this exercise was created by Stoics was so that they could improve for tomorrow.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER_00: Even the greatest Stoics of all time saw problems with the way they behaved as they reflected on their day.
• 6:59
  SPEAKER_00: This is perfectly normal.
• 7:02
  SPEAKER_00: What's important is that we look at tomorrow and make a commitment to be better.
• 7:10
  SPEAKER_00: So, what is the single lesson?
• 7:13
  SPEAKER_00: Just one lesson you can take with you into tomorrow.
• 7:17
  SPEAKER_00: You don't need more than one.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER_00: Just one.
• 7:21
  SPEAKER_00: Create a strong intention.
• 7:34
  SPEAKER_00: Imagine yourself tomorrow struggling to practice the intention you set for yourself.
• 7:42
  SPEAKER_00: What obstacles come up?
• 7:45
  SPEAKER_00: How do you handle them?
• 7:59
  SPEAKER_00: It doesn't have to be easy.
• 8:02
  SPEAKER_00: But if you can cope with adversity, that's an amazing step forward.
• 8:08
  SPEAKER_00: Promise yourself now that you will commit to this intention tomorrow, whatever happens.
• 8:19
  SPEAKER_00: You've done great work today.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: I'll see you back in the morning.