by Blogsip Admin | Mar 12, 2022 | Self-Awareness
One of the critical concepts of Aristotle’s virtue ethics is finding the mean, or balance, between excess and deficiency.
As part of Aristotle’s virtue ethics, the Doctrine of the Mean can be explained in the following manner: “Excellence in any field is achieved by hitting the mean and not by excess or deficiency. So, to be virtuous in our acts and emotions, we must avoid excess or insufficiency in our activities and feelings” (Velasquez 470).
Thus, the goal becomes finding the trait that falls between deficiency and excess. It may be applied to various characteristics in terms of caring for oneself. For example, a person may be excessively stingy and unwilling to give to anyone. On the other end, a person may be too selfless, taking care of everyone else before caring for themselves.
Locating the balance comes by sliding away from these distinct poles and coming to the middle ground. In this case, the mean may be characterized as generosity. Yet, what if selfishness became one’s goal in a refined sense of the term?
Redefining Selfishness
Codependent No More, Melody Beattie cites Nathaniel Branden: “Thus, to respect oneself is to practice selfishness in the greatest, noblest, and most misunderstood sense. And this, I would argue, requires considerable independence, boldness” (Branden in Beattie, 126).
Many people will reject this immediately upon reading it. “Be selfish? That’s ridiculous! I have kids, a family, and a company! I can’t afford my health. It wouldn’t be fair to everyone else.” In response, Beattie urges readers to realize the following: “Out of high self-esteem will come true acts of kindness and charity, not selfishness” (126). It is, in a sense, selfishness that leads to selflessness. Being honest with oneself is selfish.
Applying Aristotle’s Ethics
How does Aristotle fit into all of this? His Doctrine of the Mean encourages balance. In situations where one needs to care for themselves, it can be beneficial to examine the excess and deficiency of their actions and the mean they are striving for.
“Giving ourselves what we need does not only mean giving presents; it means doing what’s necessary to live responsibly—not an excessively responsible or an irresponsible existence” (Beattie 116). Utilizing Aristotle’s model, responsibility to others at our expense is categorized as an excess. Conversely, downright irresponsibility is a deficiency. The balance here is a responsibility to oneself.
As Beattie pointed out, caring for yourself does not necessarily mean treating yourself to lavish gifts or vacations or focusing on your own needs at the expense of everyone else. Responsibility to yourself involves realizing and acknowledging your own needs and wants, even if there is nothing you can do about them at the moment.
Being honest about your feelings and needs seems an overly simplistic way to begin practicing responsibility to yourself. Yet, sometimes the most superficial answers are ignored because they seem too easy. Unfortunately, these are often the most excellent options.
by Blogsip Admin | Mar 10, 2022 | Changing Personal Habits
This article describes the concept of the law of attraction and discusses techniques to use in attracting that which is desired.
The law of attraction is a long-standing philosophical principle. Its general guide espouses the notion that whatever people say and think is what they attract. If they say and think negative things, then those things will materialize. However, if they believe and verbalize positive things, they will come into being. Thus, whatever people have drawn to themselves through their thoughts and words is what they have in their lives today.
How the Law of Attraction Works
Those who embrace the law of attraction believe that people will invite into their lives whatever they put their energy and focus on, whether they want it or not. For example, continually talking about debt will only bring more debt, while speaking of wealth will bring abundance. Likewise, dwelling on unhappiness attracts more sadness, while concentrating on blessings brings joy and contentment.
Applicability of the Law of Attraction
Affects every element of existence. It applies to material possessions, health, wellness, feelings, attitudes, and accomplishments. People develop their inner being by focusing on the information they bring into their minds. In relating this idea to an examination, the words “don’t fail” would focus on failure, while the words “be sure to pass” would draw attention to passing.
The Law of Attraction is used by individuals to actualize their wishes. So, for example, those who say they cannot afford a particular car will not get the car, but those who believe they can find a way to afford it will likely acquire it.
Techniques Associated with the Law of Attraction
There are some specific techniques associated with the law of attraction that people can use to create what they want in their lives. First, one must speak about what they want as if they already have it. Some people refer to this technique as telling the truth in advance. However, it should be used with excellent specificity. For example, someone who wants a new home might say, “We have a beautiful new home with four bedrooms, four bathrooms, and a gourmet kitchen with cherry wood cabinets, granite countertops, and marble flooring.”
Another helpful technique is visualization. Visualization is using the imagination to concentrate on what is desired. For example, someone who wants a brand new red sports car would create a visual image of precisely what is expected. The law of attraction espouses that the visualized particular thing will materialize.
Using Attraction to Shape the Future
People utilize the law of attraction to deliberately create what they want in their lives by focusing on the specific details and speaking as if they already have it. The power for creating comes from within. The process involves getting a clear mental image of what is desired, being excited about it, and getting very focused. That which is created in the mind will then materialize.
by Blogsip Admin | Mar 10, 2022 | Changing Personal Habits
Today, most folks want to find ways to simplify their lives or manage their time better. Use this simple question to help you make decisions.
The basic rule for a simple life is to keep everything you need or love and get rid of the rest. That applies to staff as well as relationships.
One of the two biggest stumbling blocks people trip over in a quest for simplicity is to look at an object, an activity, or a relationship and be unable to eliminate it from their life because “it (or they) is too good to throw away.” But unfortunately, very few of the things you will eliminate from your home, schedule, or list of relationships will be tossed in the dust bin.
The second most significant obstacle to simplifying your life is a lack of commitment. When you make a committed choice to keep one thing over another, Once decided, it is no longer a significant concern. You have committed to something and rejected every other option. Unfortunately, people who fail to achieve their choices put that old coat, the new golf clubs, or the second vacuum cleaner in their bedroom closet “just in case.” That is, they did not choose at all.”
Simplifying your life needs decision-making and action. In most cases, a decision not to continue to own, participate, or relationship is not an activity of judgment but setting priorities. For example, that pair of shoes you never wear may still have a great deal of utility and service yet to give – just not to you. Likewise, the fish that still live in your son’s bedroom (even though he just graduated college) are not worthless creatures, but unless you need or love them, perhaps it is time to send them on to a better home than yours.
A Word About Stuff
Excess stuff produces far more negatives in your life than you may realize.
- Time to care for it
- Space to store it
- Guilt for not using it
- Additional choices that complicate other areas of your life (clothes, purses)
- Money wasted itself, room to keep it and to maintain it
A Word About Relationships
The time you spend with someone you don’t need or love takes time away from someone you do need or love. So don’t start up a new friendship if you don’t have time to spend with your new friend. We all have dozens of acquaintances, but there can be no friendship without making time for your friend.
If your relationship is over, don’t keep making promises you can’t follow. It isn’t fair to your family, new friends, or old ones. Trying to maintain too many relationships results in hurt feelings guilt and eventually leaves you with a bunch of folks you know but none that you love who love you back.
Love It, Need It – Keep It
Examine your time and money use. What stuff takes up space on your shelves, in your drawers, and in your closets? Who are you trying to keep up within the family and in your circle of friends? Whether animal, vegetable, or mineral, this simple question applies.
For each item or relationship, ask, “Do I love it or need it?” If the answer is no, you must decide and be committed to sticking with it. Is this an easy process? Unfortunately, no. But it is a simple one.
by Blogsip Admin | Mar 10, 2022 | Changing Personal Habits
Thanksgiving is a beautiful holiday, but there are many reasons to be grateful all year.
Be Thankful All Year
I love Thanksgiving. It is a great feeling to be thankful for everything in our life when everybody else is doing the same thing. This enormous mass of grateful energy coming together brings up lots of beautiful feelings in everybody. Thanksgiving is a day of peace, good feelings, good food, and good interactions with family. People try not to judge each other as much as they do on different days. Even newspapers and television have good stories to tell to conjure warm, positive, and thankful feelings in us.
Many people celebrate this day just because it is a tradition; it is something that everyone in society and their family has been doing for a while, so they also get on the bandwagon. I used to be like that. When I was younger, I celebrated Thanksgiving because everybody else did, but even if I wanted to, To be thankful and feel grateful for the essential things in life was something I didn’t know. I grew up thinking that material things could give me happiness; I believed that having more money in the future would make me a happy and grateful person.
After many pleasant and unpleasant experiences, I learned that material happiness is excellent but short-lasting. I also learned that daily gratitude is required for lifetime pleasure. So, though I still love Thanksgiving Day today, and I am extra grateful on that day, I strive to be thankful.
More money and more material stuff won’t make you happier. Neither will more recognition, more college degrees, and more awards. You may mistakenly believe they will. After all, it is nice to be recognized for something good that you did or to receive lots of money regularly. But these are temporary. They will fill a temporary gap, and once the excitement of the moment is gone, you have to go back to “chopping wood and hauling water.”
On the other hand, being happy and grateful for the things you have and for who you are NOW will create an unbelievable snowball of positive and grateful energy that will bring you much material and non-material wealth. It doesn’t mean you can’t have dreams and goals and want your life to become better and better. You can still have all of that, but you will only GET all of that if you are thankful now.
Here is a starter list on the path to being thankful all year long:
- Be Thankful for Your Health: health is the essential item of all; you can’t fully enjoy what life offers without health. You may earn more if you wish. But if you have lost your health, sometimes you cannot regain it.
- Be Thankful for Being Alive in a Beautiful World: though we hear much bad news on television, radio, etc., the world is full of incredible people that are giving and grateful and do beautiful deeds.
- Be Thankful for Having the Capability of Accomplishing Anything You Want: this is true for all human beings; if you think you can, you will.
- Be Thankful for Little Things: be thankful for being able to sleep on your bed, to live where you live, to play or talk to your children, to have a car, do not have a car, to eat good food, to be able to walk, to be able to think and reason, etc. Gratitude for the little things can greatly enhance your life.
These four ways of being thankful are just the very beginning. Start a gratitude notebook, and every day, write five things you are grateful for. Make sure to share this with others. Then, every year on Thanksgiving Day, you can be thankful for how grateful your entire year has been.
“Thanksgiving points to a key lesson from the Law of Attraction: Practice gratitude. Counting our blessings increases our pleasure and energizes us. It’s physiologically impossible to be stressed/negative and thankful simultaneously. “Thanking your employees may excite and engage them.” – John Assaraf.
by Blogsip Admin | Mar 10, 2022 | Changing Personal Habits
The start of a new year heralds many New Year’s Resolutions that are likely to go unkept. So beat the odds with these tips for keeping New Year’s Resolutions.
Millions of people throughout the globe make New Year’s resolutions. However, while New Year’s Resolutions are meant to be personal goals that help individuals be better people, unmet resolutions often leave people feeling as though they have failed themselves.
Keeping New Year’s Resolutions can be made easier with planning and self-checking throughout the year. These simple tips will help make your new year goals more achievable.
Set Specific New Year’s Resolutions
You need to establish clear objectives to know when you’ve reached them. For example, rather than losing weight or saving money, aim to lose 30kg or save $5,000. It will help you keep your target in sight and provide further motivation to continue with your resolution.
Resolve to Be More Realistic
Unrealistic aspirations lead to failure and disappointment. So while it is great to dream big, it is also essential to bear in mind the hurdles you may face while achieving your goal. For example, don’t aim to lose 100kg or save $20,000 as you are likely to become overwhelmed by the task and fall off the wagon.
Share Your New Year’s Resolution with Someone
By letting a friend or family member in on your goal, you will be establishing your cheer squad. This person will be able to check in on your progress from time to time, spur you on when you are losing faith in yourself, and help you celebrate your success at the end of it all. Then, of course, you may repay the favor by assisting someone with their resolution.
Take Baby Steps Toward Your Goal
Many resolutions are made to break years of bad habits such as smoking, spending, or overeating. It can take a long time to shake these habits, so begin by setting small goals such as “not to buy new clothes for a week,” then a fortnight, and then a month. By taking smaller steps, you will experience small wins regularly and feel better about yourself.
Reward Yourself for Meeting Smaller Goals
As you achieve the small wins mentioned above, reward yourself for your hard work with something that will help keep you motivated. For example, if your New Year resolves to lose weight, celebrate your efforts with new clothes; opt for a lovely dinner (without the alcohol) if you’re trying to quit drinking. And if you’re trying to save money, reward yourself with something cheap or free but no less enjoyable, such as an hour-long bubble bath and home facial.
New Year’s Resolutions are set to boost our self-esteem and pride in our accomplishments. Adhering to these suggestions increases your chances of sticking to your commitment and enjoying a pleasant, productive new year.
