Stoicism 101 Flashcards
1
Q
Happiness is ______ health and well _____.
A
mental
being
Discipline your eating habits: no more sugar! If Marcus Aurelius can sleep on the floor, you can give up sugar… once and for all. Just think it through. SOS = Stay Out of Stores. Grocery shop AFTER eating, NOT before. Use the replacement idea to form a new habit instead of trying to break a bad habit. My relationship with my Daimon, my conscience, is my most important relationship. I am the best friend of my Daimon, my soul. Forgive yourself right now! You are getting stronger and stronger.
2
Q
My inner me is my inner ____
A
Daimon
My me that is watching me.
My healing soul.
My conscience.
3
Q
Wisdom is the _____ of life: The ____ ___ work.
A
goal
way
things
Live congruent with time honored principles.
What can I change, what can I NOT change?
Reflect on the three golden questions:
What works? Why it does? How to do it?
4
Q
Justice is a ______ and _____ balance.
Living with ______.
A
fair
equal
integrity
Integrity is the moral courage to make my decisions based on my knowledge of right and wrong.
5
Q
Fortitude is ______ with hardship, with difficulty.
A
courage
Press on in spite of obstacles.
Courage enables and vitalizes all other virtues.
Fortitude with courage is to move in spite of fear.
6
Q
Temperance is not too ____ not too ____, in Swedish it’s ______
A
much
little
lagom!
Self-restraint. Practice self-restraint with food, sweets, candy, etc. You can do this! Remind yourself.
Lagom means “just the right amount”. The word can be variously translated as “in moderation”, “in balance”, “perfect-simple”, and “suitable” (in matter of amounts).
7
Q
Get yourself into action, ____ into the ____.
A
lean
battle
8
Q
No. 1 Rule of Stoicism is _____ .
A
Self-control, self-discipline. No matter what.
Some things are in your control.
Some things are not in your control.
Care only about what is in your control.
- live with virtue
- control your thoughts
- control your behaviors
- love mercy
- do justly
- walk humbly with your God.
If something happens to you, choose how to think, react and feel about it. Pause for a mindful moment. Choose to think about it with your values and virtue. As you do this, you will feel a certain way: Mindfully dispute irrational or inaccurate thoughts. Choose the most empowered response.
Practice self-control all the time!
9
Q
Tranquility is to_____ your way then ___ your way.
A
know
walk
Play your given role well:
Where ere thou art, act well thy part.
- Be congruent with your higher self, your values.
- Be what you wish to seem.
- Walk your path: steeped in virtue.
- Play as powerful and fully as you can.
Stay grounded: calm, confident, and tranquil.
10
Q
Reserve Clause: focus on your _____.
A
Process
Do your best, forget the rest. Process is a way to discipline yourself, ground yourself. I can do this but it will be hard. Nothing is certain. An archer is responsible for shooting the arrow straight. An archer is Not responsible for hitting the target (wind, quality of feathers, wood, bow string strength, etc. could impact the flight of the arrow).
- Have goals but focus on Process.
- Create a smart step by step (SBS) Process.
- Let go of attachment to outcomes focus on Process.
11
Q
The Art of Acquiescence: It’s not a good idea to argue with ___, the universe, or ____: You will lose.
A
God
reality
The stoic idea is to be energized, yet tranquil and not attached: loving what is.
You can only control your thoughts and behavior and thereby influence the next moment but you cannot control it.
You can be a good influence on others, you cannot control them. They are free agents just like you are. Free to choose: right over wrong, virtue over vice, thankfulness over despair. You choose. You influence. That’s it, that’s all you can do.
12
Q
Equanimity: When life hits you, how _____ do you get ____ again?
A
fast
up
What knocks you down?
How long does it take you to get up again?
Practice what helps you find your balance.
OMMS – obstacles make me stronger.
Our body’s, our minds, adapt with pressure – within reason.
13
Q
I don’t care about _____ things.
A
trivial
I care deeply about living a virtuous life.
I am mindful and pay attention.
Note: If your attention is on the world around you, you will not be in touch with your Daimon.
Why care what people think of you?
- You know your virtuous intentions.
- That’s what counts… your intentions.
- Build potential with focused virtue.
14
Q
My ideal Sage is ____ _____.
A
Jesus Christ
What makes him special?
Jesus inspires me.
What would Jesus do?
15
Q
Retreat to _____ and _____ .
A
pause
reflect
What’s going on now?
Maybe its time to hit your journal.
Dismiss cravings: jump to journal.
16
Q
The purpose of these _____ is to give myself time to _____ and ____ before returning to the fray of everyday life.
A
exercises
repair
heal
17
Q
During my ____, I learn and reflect on fundamental ____ and ____ to help me make good, ____ decisions.
A
life
truths
principles
conscious
18
Q
Dye your ___ with a new color.
A
soul
Color your soul with a good, smart attitude, your sentiments. Take time for wisdom, reasoning, and the benefits of virtue.
19
Q
Remember and reflect on what you did ___.
A
right
Boost yourself.
20
Q
Ponder and ____ over your ____.
A
pray flocks
21
Q
Becoming _____ would be the highest version of yourself right now.
A
self-disciplined.
Practice elements of Stoicism every day.
22
Q
I am a _____ and ____ person, well _____, and able to do what I need to do, when I need to do it.
A
kind
loving
disciplined
23
Q
______ is to know your path, then to walk ___ ___, live well, and to stay in your lane.
A
Tranquility
your path
Energize your path: build Potential Energy as you go.
Reflect on fundamental truths:
eating, moving, sleeping.
Keep a journal.
24
Q
Mental health is the ____ and ____to reflect on what I have ___ NOT on what I have ____ out on.
A
intention potential learned
missed
25
How could you train your mind to apply wisdom?
I would ____ wisdom.
**love**
I continue to study and to develop my mind.
Intense, hard-driving wisdom.
Emotional stability is a function of a trained mind.
Reflect on time honored truths.
26
Habit 1: Be ___.
**Proactive**
Creating or controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened.
27
Creating or controlling a situation by causing something to happen rather than responding to it after it has happened is being _____.
**proactive**
28
Habit 2: Begin with the ___ in ____.
**End
Mind**
29
Habit 3: Put ____ Things ___.
**First
First**
30
Habit 4: Think ____ ____.
**Win
Win**
31
Habit 5: Seek ____ to _____, Then to be _____.
**First
Understand
Understood**
32
Habit 6: _____
**Synergize**
To combine or coordinate the activity of (two or more agents) to produce a joint effect greater than the sum of their separate efforts.
33
Habit 7: Sharpen the ____.
**Saw**
These are principles of self-renewal. Reflect on Values, Principles, Drives, etc. Practice a new skill.
34
Fear is the ____ of dreams
**thief**
35
Positive coaching by Jim Thompson.
| Success equals ____ over _____.
**effort
time
S = E/T.**
Strong **effort** within reasonable **time**, wins over weak motivation with procrastination.
36
I ____ my activities by understanding the _____ of my actions.
**govern
consequences**
ASK: ask, seek, knock
Understand the answer to **"Why am I about to do this"?**
Think it through.
Seek **first** to understand, **then** to be understood.
37
____ more of what you _____.
**Give
want**
Jesus reminds us that it is more blessed to give than to receive.
Ya gotta give to get! Earl Nightengale mentions if you want heat from a furnace, put in the wood first. Give to get. Build potential first, then spend it wisely.
38
I'm gonna ____ it.
**make**
From a U of Md classmate. He made a difference in my life. Endeavor to do the same in someone else's life.
39
George Washington had ____ his ideals.
There was no ____ between what he _____ to and what he did.
**internalized**
**gap**
**aspired**
40
What you put ____ into gets bigger.
**energy**
Be careful where you spend your energy.
Keep your heart pure.
Understand your values.
41
I am an ____ manager.
**energy**
I continuously choose good energy for good outcomes. Smart values build useful energy. Pay attention to what is **valuable** to you. Something that will help get you where you want to go. Avoid stupid! Remember: begin with your end in mind (not someone else's)!
42
Thou shalt ____ the Lord with all thy ____, with all thy ___, and with all thy ____.
**love
heart
soul
mind**
Take care of your inner daimon, your soul, live to be proud of yourself.
43
Faith is ____ on with ____ and well measured thought, believing that your ____ on is right.
**hanging
reason
hanging**
Go as far as you can see.
When you get there, you will see farther. - Thomas Carlyle
44
____ is the key to happiness.
**Forgiveness**
Especially forgiving yourself for every stupid, immoral, dumb thing you have ever done. No way can you change your past. You must focus on your future, make smarter decisions, be more virtuous: Be someone else's good example.
**Practice living with virtue all day long!**
45
If any of you lack ____, let him **ask** of ___, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it **shall** be given him.
- New Testament, James 1:5
**wisdom
God**
46
I am sensitive and ____ to all people all the time. No Matter What.
**kind**
47
I choose to _____ 170 pounds.
**weigh**
I can do it and I am worth it.
I limit carbs to 20mg every day.
Walk several 15 minute segments every day.
Walk two 60 minute segments every weekend.
No matter what!
48
Plant the right _____.
Habitually feed it with strong ____ thought.
Always directed toward the ___ in mind.
**seed
affirmative
end**
This seed will grow into a mighty force, finding ways and means to overcome any obstacle.
49
When your ____ and ____ for something are well understood, then your ___ ____ ____ ____ develops.
When your **why to do it** is well understood, your **how to do it** follows. You become excited in the right direction.
**values reasons**
**why to do it**
50
When you think ___ ___ ___ this, then and only then,
the ___ ___ ___ it develops.
**I can DO
how to DO**
Keep a positive attitude!
Maintain your thinking on how to be successful.
Focus on your process.
Engage and re-engage your reasoning faculty.
51
Look for ___.
Understand ____.
**value
reasons**
Well developed **values** are the seed corn for your next **smart decision making** harvest. Make time to increase the value potential in your soul. **Values** contained in your soul **build** and **enable** your ability to make **smart decisions**.
52
Make every step ____.
**deliberate.**
Think it through. Go over your homework, your algebra problems, your health classes, again and again. Look for flaws. Make corrections. Have questions? Get some tutoring or ask out loud in class.
53
What is the ____ version of _____ right now?
**best**
**me**
Stoics endeavor to always have their best possible self on display.
54
Divide externals into what I can _____ and what I cannot ____.
But, be a good influence.
**control
control**
55
Exercise sound ____ about events.
Think it through.
**judgment**
56
Practice ____. Be teachable.
**humility**
57
You suffer more in _____ than in reality.
**imagination**
58
Our actions may be _____ but not our _____ and dispositions.
**impeded
intentions**
Make time for sound intention statements.
Reflect on what you intend to accomplish today.
59
Embrace ____, _____, _____, and **Fortitude**.
**Prudence
Temperance
Justice**
Use PTJF as a guide in decision making.
60
You could leave life right now.
Let that determine what you ____, _____, and ____.
**say
think
do**
61
When I have my reasons well understood:
* I grow in the "I ___ do"
* which motivates my "I ____ do"
* followed by my "I ___ ___".
**WILL
MUST
CAN DO**
I keep a smart, positive attitude!
62
**Ikigai** is an understanding of:
What you ____ to do,
What you are ____ at,
What the world ____, and
What you can be _____ for.
**love**
**good**
**needs**
**rewarded**
GRIT helps you do your Ikigai today and come back tomorrow.
63
Grit is about having a ____ you care about so much that it ____ and gives ____ to ____ you do.
**goal
governs
meaning
everything**
**Focus!** You cannot chase two rabbits with one dog!
64
Grit is ____.
**perseverance**
65
Grit is ____ , ____ and ____ for long term ____.
* **commitment**
* **perseverance**
* **passion**
* **goals**
Commit, persevere, excite...
Citius, Altius, Fortius
Faster, Higher, Stronger
66
Your ____ and your ____ are the ____ and ____ for your seafaring soul.
**reason passion rudder power**
from the philosophy of Kahil Gibran.
67
Stoics ____ to let outside ____ or influences decide their ____, their ___.
**refuse
circumstances
wellbeing
fate**
68
Resilience comes from your ___ to ____ your ___ no matter what!
**intention
retain
composure**
69
Remind ___ that ___ is short.
**yourself
life**
What matters most is how you choose to view your life. Understand what is meant by **paradigm**. Your perspective, your attitude (ask yourself: What works? Why it does, and How to do it?)
70
Retreat to your own faculty of ___.
**reason**
| Rise above external events. Contemplate impermanence.
71
If this would seem ___ to me twenty years from now, then why shouldn't I view it as ____ today instead of worrying about it as if it is a catastrophe?
**trivial
trivial**
72
Live in ____ with ____.
**agreement nature**
Stoicism teaches us to keep calm, focus on what you can control. **Spend your energy wisely**... no matter what! Do NOT waste mental energy on things you have no control over. They are going to happen no matter how much worry you expend. Figure out how you can influence things, then focus on those things.
73
Live with ___.
**virtue, arete**, the highest of all goods. It helps to reflect on your **Ikigai**. Pay attention to this!
**Ikigai**, a Japanese philosophy, is something that gives a person a reason for living. Your **Ikigai** is:
* What you **love** to do
* What the world **needs**
* What you can be **paid** for
* What you are **good** at.
Virtues are how you spend your values, your built up potential energy. Potential energy built up with doing your homework, paying attention in class, turning off your distractive smart phone. You flourish with reasoning, rational, well thought through human nature. Live the smart good life with minimal regrets: The **sooner** the **better**. Take time to learn about virtues, then live your life with virtues always being over your shoulder.
The Greek word arete has two meanings. Arete as a **person** is the Greek goddess of virtue and knowledge. Arete as a **concept** is a word which means "excellence," "fulfillment," or "virtue." Arete in early Greek moral thought is something striven for throughout one's life.
74
Focus on what you can ___, accept what you can't.
**control**
Remember: You can always be a good influence.
**Doing** the right thing is enough.
75
Distinguish between the ____, ____, and indifferent things.
The ___ things include the ____ virtues.
**good bad good cardinal**
The cardinal virtues are:
* prudence
* temperance
* justice
* courage
Add in a little self-discipline too!
76
Take ____.
A true philosopher is a ____ of the ____, not a warrior of the ____.
**action
warrior mind library**
Reading about how to be a good driver, how to earn your learner's permit helps and is worthwhile. Where the rubber meets the road, however, is how you **act behind the wheel**. How you pay attention, how you avoid distractions.
77
Ask: What could go _____?
What could go ____?
**wrong right**
Seneca: Nothing happens to the wise man against his expectations.
In other words, well measured thought wins the day.
Lincoln lamented that he was governed more by events than by well measured thought.
The idea of premeditation is to help you get ready for adversity NOT to cause it to happen.
78
Add a ____ ____ to your actions.
**reserve clause**
Stoic students are meant to do the right thing, to do your best that you are capable of... but, after giving it your best, accept the outcome.
- Do your **very best** to succeed
* Know and **accept that the outcome** is beyond your direct control
79
Love everything that ____.
**happens**
Epictetus: Seek not for events to **happen** as you wish but rather wish for events to happen **as they do** and your life will go smoothly.
80
Turn obstacles into opportunities: ___ and ____ are key.
How **you** look at things!
**Your paradigm**.
**perception
perspective**
Smart, informed paradigm is key. What is going on with your attitude right now? Are you really thinking positive about your future?
81
____ is how you see and understand what happens to you, and what you decide those events will ___.
**Perception
mean**
This is what is meant by a **paradigm**, how we see and interpret things. Your **perception** grows and changes as you learn more, keep an open mind, and grow up.
82
Be ___. Stoic mindfulness is where it all begins.
**mindful**
You need some mindfulness to practice Stoicism.
Being mindful is about being aware enough to take a step back from your own thoughts, then choose the best action instead of mindlessly being on autopilot.
**Add daily reflection, daily journaling to help you grow yourself to success. Don't just go through life, GROW through life.**
83
Daily reflection:
- What ____ did I do today?
- What could I do ____?
- How can I be the best version of myself?
- What do I want to change?
**good
better**
84
How should a stoic warrior of the mind live?
A Stoic warrior should live with **reason and ethics** most every minute.
* Reject perfectionism: Just keep getting better and better, smarter and smarter.
* Practice **patience** as you continue to improve.
* Become a **champion** with Stoicism... a smart, resilient teenager.
* Citius : Faster
* Altius : Higher
* Fortius : Stronger
85
What should you picture yourself as?
Picture yourself **as you want to be**: One living with virtue, ethics, courage, and effective.
* express your **ideal self** always
* show you are **congruent with virtuous principles**
* Teach others with **your good example**.
Your vision is your preview of your life's coming attractions.
86
What should you make every step?
Make every step **Deliberate**. Take your time, think it through, give your reasoning faculties a chance!
* Be mindful
* Start with a smart action
* Do it right on purpose!
87
What disturbs you more than events?
Your **opinion** of what just happened.
Remember, its your **judgment** about an event that makes you feel up or down, not always what just happened.
Employ **reason** and the sooner the better. Ask yourself:
**What works?
Why it does?
How to do it?**
88
To impede ____, test impressions.
Think twice, speak ___.
**impulsivity**
**once**
Absorb reality.
Ask, Seek, Knock...
Mind the gap between the stimulus and your response.
Think it through, take your time.
89
Focus on what you can control
Spend your precious mental energy only on **what you can control**.
Take a minute to really understand yourself, your strengths, weaknesses, network of friends, and resources. If you can solve the problem go ahead. If not, go talk to your parents! Asking for help is a strength... it means that you care about getting better, making smarter decisions, growing in wisdom and virtue.
90
Take responsibility
Refuse to allow **circumstances** dictate your **wellbeing**.
Ask yourself:
* How can I handle this?
* Who can help me?
* Call a friend.
* Think it through.
91
Remember: You are a rule learner and a rule follower.
Practice self-discipline. Hold yourself accountable.
Contemplate the four cardinal virtues.
Be congruent with the **cardinal virtues**:
* prudence
* temperance
* justice
* fortitude
92
The Cardinal virtue of **justice** is formed by ___ and ___.
**Kindness
Fairness**
When you practice **kindness** in your interactions while being **fair**, you automatically dye your soul with the attribute, the virtue of **justice**.
93
Prudence is ____
Common sense
94
Temperance is ____
Not too much, not to little... just right.
95
Justice is ____
**Kindness plus fairness**.
96
Fortitude is ____
**Courage**.
Faith over fear.
Competence breeds confidence.
Make and take time to get good to excellent at something.
Self-confidence will come as a by-product... guaranteed!
97
What must I mind between stimulus and response? _____
I must mind the **gap** between when I sense the stimulus and the time I respond. The time to think things through is the time between the stimulus and your response. Will you be ready? Have you done your homework? How did you spend your time to get ready to respond in a smart, well thought through way? President Lincoln lamented that he was governed more by events than by well measured thought. He wanted to be proactive, but was governed by political stimuli.
“The one thing you can’t take away from me is the way I choose to respond to what you do to me. **The last of one’s freedoms is to choose one’s attitude in any given circumstance**.” ― Viktor E. Frankl
98
How can a teenager become successful in life?
What does Victor Frankl say about this?
“Don't aim at success. The more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it. For success, like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensue, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one's personal dedication to a cause greater than oneself or as the by-product of one's surrender to a person other than oneself. Happiness must happen, and the same holds for success: you have to let it happen by not caring about it. **I want you to listen to what your conscience commands you to do and go on to carry it out to the best of your knowledge**. Then you will live to see that in the long-run—**in the long-run**, I say!—success will follow you precisely because you had forgotten to think about it” ― Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
99
Who is in charge of your attitude?
Your disposition?
How you see things?
**You are in charge of your attitude.** Your wisdom, your insight, your values, your ethics all play a part in your attitude.
To develop and maintain a good attitude, employ three golden questions:
* What works?
* Why it does?
* How to do it?
Over and over again.
One philosopher (a gal I had a date with) from my past advanced the notion that "Questions are the answer".
Keep asking questions.
Answers are just around the bend.
“Those who have a **'why'** to live, can bear with almost any **'how'**.” ― Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning
100
What is the Scipionic Circle?
A diverse collection of men of vastly different talents, stations, and interests all **trying to find** a way to contribute and thrive in the world.
101
Aristo argued that the expertise of a javelin thrower in the Olympic Games comes from ____ and ____, not from _____ the target or _____ rules.
**training**
**practice**
**studying**
**memorizing**
102
I make no equivocation. There is only good and evil. There can be no in between.
It certainly sounds impressive: A wise man simply knows!
103
We need ________, because situations are complicated and fast-moving. Sometimes the people who preceded us were actually _____, and figured things out by painful experience.
**precedents**
**wiser**
104
The true sage firmly grounded in right _____ will intuitively know just what to do in every situation and won’t need a rulebook. But what about the rest of us?
**principles**
Take time, make time to learn principles, cause and effect!
105
Let no one think that ideas that change the world do so on their own.
They must, as a wise scientist would later say, be shoved down people’s throats. Or at least defended and fought for.
106
Four-Way TEST PROMPTS
* TRUTH
* FAIR
* GOODWILL, BETTER FRIENDSHIPS
* BENEFICIAL
OK, now finish the sentences!
107
The only reason to study philosophy is to become a ____ ____.
**better
person**
Anything else, as Nietzsche said, is merely a “critique of words by means of other words.”
108
Practice the Art of Living as a warrior of the mind.
Stoics are concerned with applying philosophy to everyday life.
109
Express your ideal self and reflect upon your actions.
Stoics express their highest self in every moment and show what they are capable of.
110
Be aware of your every step.
Stoics are mindful and choose their best actions deliberately.
**Make every step deliberate!**
111
Know that you are disturbed not by what happens but by your opinion about it.
Stoics understand it's their judgment of a situation that harms them. So think twice, speak once. Mind the gap.
112
Always test your impressions.
Stoics don't react impulsively but think before they (re-) act.
113
Focus on what you can control.
Stoics concentrate their effort on what they control and accept the rest as it happens.
114
Take responsibility.
Stoics refuse to let outside circumstances decide their wellbeing. They take responsibility and get good from themselves.
115
Take back your time: Prioritize and make time for what matters.
Stoics eliminate the nonessential and spend their time wisely.
116
Accept rather than fight what happens.
Stoics cultivate acceptance to what happens as they understand the complexity of the universe.
117
Act despite the emotions: Endure and Renounce.
Stoics hone their self-discipline and say no to what others can't resist doing and say yes to what others dread doing.
118
Choose tranquility whenever possible.
Stoics don't let trifles affect their calm mind.
**Choose** tranquility instead.
119
Don't complain and take it as training.
Stoics **don't** whine and complain about adversity but **choose to practice** virtuous behavior. Every virtuous step forward pays a dividend. Build your potential!
120
Eliminate the nonessential.
Stoics favor a minimalistic lifestyle and see the necessary, not the extravagant.
121
Be kind and forgive the wrongs of others.
Stoics understand that ______ and _____ are strengths, and love even those who stumble.
**kindness
forgiveness**
* Love does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;
* Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
* Love never fails; but if there are gifts of prophecy, they will be done away; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; but when the perfect comes, the partial will be done away.
* Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
* And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.
* And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.
* Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
* Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
* Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
* Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
* Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.
* For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.
* But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
* When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.
* For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
* And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.
122
Listen and say only what isn't better left unsaid.
Stoics understand it's better to trip with the ____ than with the ______.
**feet
tongue**
123
Justice can be:
* the **high standards** I hold for myself
* the way **I treat** people
* the **promises I keep** (builds self trust)
* the **integrity** I demonstrate with my words (the self-discipline to make my decisions based on my knowledge of right and wrong)
* the things **I care** about
* the **difference** I make with others
124
It is a general human weakness to allow things, uncertain and unknown, to set us up in hope, or plunge us into fear. - Gaius Caesar
Mind the gap, think twice, speak once. The gap is the time between stimulus and your response. Change your perspective. Discuss, look for a different angle. Reflect on your gains too.
125
There is nothing more painful than the insult to human dignity, nothing more humiliating than servitude.
Human dignity and freedom are our birthright.
Let us defend them or die with dignity. - Cicero
Potentiate your skills.
Potentiate your mental health.
Potentiate your spiritual health.
Get prepared.
Be prepared.
Stay prepared.
126
Remember: A man needs little to lead a happy life. - Marcus Aurelius
Focus on moving closer and closer to becoming a good man. A man with good character! You will never reach perfection, but you can always be improving!
127
No sooner said than done -- so acts your man of worth. - Quintus Ennius
Be careful of what you say to yourself, what you plan to accomplish with that mini-intention. Follow-thru on your promises to yourself!
**Trust yourself!**
128
When danger encircles you, show yourself steadfast and undaunted.
But when the winds are too favorable, fail not to show wise caution and haul in the billowing sail. - Horace
129
It is God who can transform the lowest into the highest,
Who humbles the proud,
And causes that which is in darkness to become light. - Horace
130
What a small portion of infinite and immeasurable time is allotted to each of us.
It is quickly swallowed up by eternity.
How small is the clod of earth on which you crawl about.
Remember all these things and consider nothing great but this: do what Nature bids you, and suffer what life brings. - Marcus Aurelius
131
He lives doubly who also enjoys the past. - Marcus Martial
Make today a happy and prosperous one.
Something to enjoy again in a few weeks, a few months, even a year from now.
132
An easy task becomes difficult when you do it with reluctance. - Terence
Grit through it!
133
Not he who has little, but he who desires much is poor. - Seneca
Count your blessings, name them one by one, count your many blessings, see what God has done.
134
Be favorable to bold beginnings. - Virgil
Be bold, mighty forces will come to your aid. - Basil King
135
Nothing is too hard for HIM who loves.
Love even those who are tough to love. Continuous kindness wins the day.
136
Marco Rubio's Three Questions
* Does it make the USA **stronger**?
* Does it make the USA **safer**?
* Does it make the USA more **prosperous**?
