Saturday 9 May 2009

The unexamined life is a life not worth living


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I am a great believer in "first things first".  In short, my view is that, for long term lasting success, lay good foundations: deep spiritual practices; strong, enquiring minds; healthy, exercised bodies.  

We have to ask ourselves some deeply personal questions about body, mind, and spirit.  Each part of us requires its appropriate food on a regular basis.  Each part of us requires its appropriate exercise on a regular basis.  Each part of us requires human interaction on a regular basis.  Each part os us requires appropriate stillness and rest on a regular basis.

How do we do this and do it well?  Where do we begin?  The picture gives some clues.  You don't have to do each and everyone in the diagram and something might occur to you that is similar but not on the list.  But the best things begin with reflection.

A famous quote attributed to Socrates is: "The unexamined life is a life not worth living."  So if you don't know how to being your reflection, begin with this quote.  Find a quiet, comfortable place and think about you, your life, the people around you, your personal environment, the wider environment and your place in it.  Do this regularly.

You may wish to make changes to your life - but choose carefully.  As you make changes, they will affect your body, your mind, your spirit.  

For the body, here are sound diets and rubbishy, faddy, unhealthy diets.  Similarly, for the mind there is quality food and junk food.  Be selective about what you let in.  In the world of spiritual belief and practice, there are sound teachings and practices.  There are also unsound teachers with unsound, unhelpful, and unhealthy practices.  

Indeed, when one wants to move into the world of personal life change or personal development, there are plenty of people wanting to take your money and hook you up into the strangest ways.  There has never been a shortage of charlatans in the world - but often wise teachers take a while to enter one's life.

Turn  to the wise books 
from a variety of cultures and traditions.  
There is much to find.  
If you get stuck and need a helping hand - 
you can always write to 
misseaglesnetwork(at)gmail(dot)com.  

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