💀 Dying Every Day
The Dying Every Day series delivers guided meditations on the art of living. Each meditation provides a quote, a selected passage (from an original Stoic text), and a reflection prompt to consider. These meditations are designed to help you (and me) reflect on what it means to live a good life.
The Art of Focus
“Do external things distract you? Then, make time for yourself to learn something worthwhile; stop letting yourself be pulled in all directions.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 2.7
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Selected Passage
In this week’s meditation, we explore the art of focus through a selected reading from the letters of Seneca.
You should keep learning as long as you lack knowledge; if we believe the proverb, as long as you live. And that is just what this learning is for: you should keep learning how to live for as long as you live. On that point, I have something to teach as well. ‘What’s that?’ you ask. It is that even the old have something to learn. …
Make haste, then, Lucilius. Move quickly, lest what happened to me should happen to you, and you become a pupil in your old age. But the real reason you should make haste is that the study you have embarked upon is one you can scarcely learn thoroughly, even if you become an elderly learner. ‘How much progress can I make?’ you say. As much as you attempt. What are you waiting for? No one attains wisdom merely by chance.
+Adapted from Only the Honorable is Good
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Reflection Exercise
At the start of our Perennial Habits course, I asked, “What do you think is the driving aim of your life?” It’s a difficult question to answer. Ancient philosophical schools, however, often had clarity on the highest good. The Stoics believed it was a virtue; the Epicureans pointed to pleasure, and Aristotle called it happiness (or eudaimonia).
When discussing focus and distraction, we’re also inquiring about what matters. “What do we want to avoid being distracted from?” or “What are we focusing on?” Seneca stressed that if we accept the “view that something besides the honorable is good, then every virtue will have a hard time.” It’s wise to remember that the art of focus begins with recognizing that some things are more important than others. We need a direction to know that we have veered off course. Without clarity on what matters, we are pulled in all directions.
Journaling Prompt
Consider journaling on what you believe is your highest good or driving aim in life. Once you have an answer, ask yourself, “How might I be wrong?” At the end of your days, will you be grateful you focused your efforts here?
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Thank you for reading; I hope you found something useful.
Until next time, be wise and be well,
J.W.
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