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The Universe Doesn't Hate You
The Universe Doesn't Hate You
Mastery: The Universe Doesn't Hate You
Issue No. 55 | January 15th, 2024 | Read Time: 3 Minutes
Have you ever had one of those days where everything just seems to be against you?
Your car breaks down.
A relative dies.
Your jacket gets caught on the doorknob as you're walking out the door.
You know, one of those days that makes you wonder
"Why me?"
And then you start to wonder if God, the Universe, or whatever higher power you believe in is against you.
Honestly, I've had more of these days than I can count.
But in Marcus Aurelius'
Meditations
, he made a very good point about how you should start looking at those tough days. . .
"If the Gods have made decisions about me and the things that happen to me, then they were good decisions. It's hard to picture a God who makes bad ones."
Meaning that whatever happens to you, it was destined for you.
Some obstacles in life are meant to come back around as something great in the future.
And sometimes, obstacles are simply meant to make you into a stronger person.
In the movie
Evan Almighty
, Steve Carell plays a newscaster who leaves Buffalo when he wins a seat in Congress. But just when everything seems to be going his way, God, played by Morgan Freeman, tells him to build an ark in preparation for a flood that is destined to come.
By now you're probably wondering,
"What does this have to do with Stoicism and accepting challenges?"
Well bear with me.
In the movie, there's a scene where God is speaking with Evan Baxters (Steve Carell) wife and gives her a lesson on the meaning of opportunities. . .
"If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous?"
Let me give you an example, recently, I've been trying to make an effort to complain less.
For those of you who don't know me, I complain a lot.
Sometimes I'm sarcastic about it, but other times I genuinely hate what I'm doing.
So in accordance with Stoicism, I'm been trying to complain less because it only makes the situation more intolerable.
And so whenever something happens, like my jacket getting caught on a doorknob, instead of cursing the world, I'm starting to view it as an opportunity to practice my serenity.
So whatever happens, the Universe or God doesn't hate you. Everything and anything that happens is either made to make you stronger or come back in the future as something worthwhile.
All it takes is a little patience.
Until next time,
Isaiah Taylor
Dive Deeper
What I'm Currently Reading -
I'm now reading Robert Greene's book
The Daily Laws
which is 366 meditations on power, mastery, and the psychology behind human nature.
If you'd like to see my book notes pertaining to this book or any others I have previously read, then check out my websiteisaiahctaylor.comto view my entire library of notes and summaries.
Quote Of The Week
"Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." — John D. Rockefeller
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