Our state of our existence and the world is one of the most fundamentally uncertain things we are aware of. 

The pandemic has clearly shown that to most if not all of us. 

It’s oftentimes easier to give in to the feelings of dread when we look at the current state of the world. 

To realize that so little is under our control which may lead to the Pantheon of Emotions taking a hold of your very being – a grab that hinders your life. From a more “real-life,” tangible frame, with millions of people losing their jobs and houses, what’s stopping you from entering the same fate? 

Step One: State of Feeling vs. State of Being

As a Stoic practitioner, I can assure you that even the ancient Stoics—yes, the very people who paved the road for the way of life you and I can learn from today—admitted that our all-too human reactions to the experiences life supplies us with are, well, human! If you jump into a freezing cold shower, you will feel cold. If someone unexpectedly appears, your heart will start to start racing. The moment you first lock eyes with that cute guy or gal, your body will react accordingly.

This is critically important to understand. And, there’s nothing shameful about accepting these very responses to the world around us. Something that is considered a pillar of Transcend Reality is to live a life of radical transparency. Seneca said that almost no amount of wisdom or rigorous training can prepare us for these responses.  

What matters here, for us and for them, is what we do after our response. 

We live in a world in which we are almost perpetually bombarded with news and information ranging from decimated stock markets to what your next door neighbor’s best friend wore during her lunch. 

Continuing with the example of us, we hear and read so much, and that very well may fill us with a unique emotion. 

What happens next? 

If that piece of news resonates with us, will we talk about it and take tangible, actionable steps towards creating a solution?

Or will we just remain content with sitting in our living rooms talking until the sun dies out about what you just consumed? 

There’s this saying that being scared is a momentary state of feeling. Being afraid is a long but changeable process, and fear is a life-long state of being. 

Throughout my life, and particularly during my childhood, my parents and I moved around a lot because of their work. 

At a younger age, with the tremendous support of Mom and Dad, I came to learn that the one constant of life as we know it is change. I also created my 2A approach to reality.

Moving a lot for most people can be difficult – not being with friends for too long, not building roots in one area, etc. Looking back, I wouldn’t ever trade those experiences because I can always rekindle relationships with friends via tech or look through old photos and reminisce and read journal entries. But I never could have imagined the soul-food that emerged from those experiences. 

Step Two: Improvement Obstacles

The Human Race and our history has amazed me, now and again – our defeats, our setbacks, but our eventual victories and ultimate rise to (somewhat) just and peaceful domination of Earth. 

What’s particularly fascinating is what led us to such a meteoric rise: our minds. 

Our minds have very strong innate survival mechanisms which have helped us endure over the millennium. For living in the African savannahs, our mental software is superb. For living in our modern concrete jungles, our antiquated software creates quite a few difficulties. 

For example, our minds are evolutionarily designed to take actions that require the smallest amount of energy but still provide sufficient reward. 

Rather than making a healthy breakfast, why do some people just grab a bag of chips or run down to some fast food place for a bite?

Rather than going to the gym or practicing that same discipline through in-home workouts, why do some people just plop down on the couch to catch up on TV and movies?

Rather than embracing improvement obstacles and other formative experiences, why do people wish away such experiences?

If you have a role model or a hero, what in your eyes did this person have to go through to achieve what he or she did? 

When prospective Navy SEALs are looking towards BUD/S, it’s easy to be fearful of the unknown that lies ahead. Because that’s what a base human does. 

To the prospective Navy SEALs who have determined that that line of work is what s/he considers meaningful and is where his/her heart is set, their perspective is likely totally different.

They understand that true joy is almost impossible to comprehend and feel without its opposite feeling – pain and discomfort. 

These SEALs who pass through BUD/S and their entire training process can walk away with a far deeper and better understanding of their true capacity, inner strength, and tenacious persistence. 

So, it seems from some of the best that humankind has to offer that our perspectives can radically change a low-point in life to a beautiful opportunity for self-growth. 

This of course doesn’t relate to all the problems around the world, rather think of life as an incoming cycle of boxing opponents. Sometimes your challengers may outmatch you at the present moment. Through metaphorical height, skill, speed, anything. What matters is how you react to that improvement obstacle. 

Reframe it.

Will this moment in your life define you as a person who quits?

Will this moment in your life define you as a person who relentlessly grows to keep pushing forward?

The choice is yours to execute upon.

Gandhi, Einstein, the Navy SEALs, all of them face these tests of their human character face on. Will you join the group of human beings who became grateful for such formative moments? 

And, remember to keep consciously choosing which fire you fuel today.

Please leave me a comment below to let me know what you think of this post. Your feedback is so important. And, know this is an open and supporting community which does its best to propel all members forwards, together. Follow your heart, lead with your mind, and cherish with your soul. 🖖