by Owen | Mar 13, 2020 | Impromptu, Philosophy
Yesterday I opened up my calendar and hit delete on every project, event, and class I had scheduled for the next two months. Everything had been canceled because of COVID-19. It was a frustrating moment. Nevertheless, I had also known it was coming for a few days. Deep down, I had prepared myself for this loss. And I knew more may come. But, I knew I could move-on. In this time of spreading infection, it may be scary to consider the worst-case scenario. But this counterintuitive practice can be our best tool.
The ancient Stoic philosophers knew that almost nothing was within their control, only how they reacted to situations. Armed with this understanding, they lead with the practice of Premeditatio Malorum — or the premeditation of potential evils and troubles. Knowing they could only control their reactions, they sought to prepare themselves for the things they feared most. To do this, they considered the worst-case scenario. They visualized the negative outcomes of their decisions and the future. By taking the time to expose themselves to the idea of these losses, they sought to quell their fears and temper their reactions. If they were prepared for the worst-case, then they were also ready with the best response — and in turn, muted their fear.
Seneca The Younger, a pillar of stoicism, took this idea even further. Despite being one of the wealthiest and most respected men in Rome, he regularly practiced poverty. Every month, Seneca would take days at a time to live as if he were poor. He would wear the cheapest clothes, eat only the crusts of bread, and sleep on the floor. He experienced what it would be like if he lost everything. A fear we all have. While it may seem masochistic, this practice kept Seneca in control. By exposing himself to the worst-case, he also revealed that he could survive, and even be happy despite his loss. In practice, he exposed the irrationality of his fear and prepared himself for its arrival. As he wrote in his letters:
“We should project our thoughts ahead of us at every turn and have in mind every possible eventuality instead of only the usual course of events…Rehearse them in your mind: exile, torture, war, shipwreck. All the terms of our human lot should be before our eyes.“
It may be depressing or anxiety-ridden to consider the worst-case scenario — what and who we might lose. But taking the time to reflect on these fears gives us the power to arm ourselves for the outcome. If and when our fears do come true, we will be all the more prepared to react as our best selves.
by Owen | Mar 11, 2020 | Impromptu
As companies and schools close their doors across the world, it’s clear that we are all going to be spending a lot more time at home. With anxiety and depression begin to creep up in the stir, it’s important to remember what we have in our control and that we need to keep moving.
As we hole up in our bedrooms behind our computers, we are going to feel helpless. It is natural. We may not have been able to prevent our classes from ending or our projects from being canceled, but that does not mean we can afford to slack off or give up.
It’s important to find outlets and work for ourselves. We must maintain some sense of normalcy. Stick to your practices, don’t fall behind. Perhaps it’s time try out a new hobby or exercise. Start writing. Whatever you do, take what you can and continue to put yourself to use. There are no excuses to let yourself fall behind. Online classes will be different, but its no reason to give up on your education. Pick up a book or find an online masterclass. It may not be perfect, but we will have to make it work.
Things may not be perfect or even ideal. But giving up on what we do have will only hurt us more. The best way to overcome a crisis, personal or otherwise, is to keep moving. Letting ourselves fall into the depths of depression and uselessness helps no one. So find a way to occupy yourself. Try to use the time and space you have been given for a useful purpose. How can you help yourself? How can you help others? There is always something to do or to contribute to. Take what you have and make it work. Keep moving, even when it feels like everything is grinding to a halt.
by Owen | Mar 9, 2020 | 2019-2020, Weekend Reflections
This was meant to be the first book by Lewis I was going to read. But, I felt that diving right into his more recent work was jumping the gun. So I put it off until I made my way through a few others and felt really familiar with his work. But of course, every book was a new striking voice, and this one is no different. Here Lewis dives into the life and collaboration of Israeli psychologists Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky who changed the way we think about, well… thinking. Together they studied bias and decision making revealing how feeble our minds can actually be. While the psychology is interesting (I recommend reading Kahneman’s Thinking Fast and Slow), the story behind their friendship is even better. I can’t recommend this one enough.
What I’m Reminding Myself: It’s Not That Important
This last week I went on a cruise with some friends. And, by choice, I went (almost) entirely without cell service or internet. While it was nice to get away from social media, It was even nicer to get away from the stress of work and projects. But, of course, my inner anxiety would catch up with me. I found myself worrying about gear rental emails and the paperwork I needed to do. I dreaded what was waiting for me in my inbox. While it was full, nothing I was worried about had come for me. In fact, everything was fine. We often like to use the phrase “it’s not rocket science” about easy things. But it’s at times like this; it’s also a good reminder that it’s not nearly as important. And most jobs and projects aren’t. We stress a lot about things that in the grand scheme are laughably unimportant. So why get worked up? Sure, something might go wrong, or you might miss an email. Is it going to be stressful? Only if we let it. The truth is it is as big a deal as we let it be. So let’s keep some perspective and remember that it’s all going to be okay.
A Quote I’m Thinking About
People are not so complicated. Relationships between people are complicated
Amos Tversky
by Owen | Mar 1, 2020 | 2019-2020, Weekend Reflections
What I’m Listening To – What The Dog Saw by Malcolm Gladwell
Despite my undying adoration for Gladwell’s work, I always struggled to get through this one. I couldn’t say why. After exhausting his books and podcasts, however, I was left with nowhere to turn. I’m glad I gave it another shot. While it doesn’t have the same weight as his other works, this collection of articles showcases the best of Gladwell’s curiosities.
What I’m Excited For: Taking A Break
I’m off this week on a cruise, which unfortunately for this blog means no posts next week. I could have written ahead and scheduled posts, but I felt it better to leave it alone for a week and see what kind of energy I can give back on my return. I’m excited to get this time away, I’ve been deep in the midst of projects and shows. I could definitely use a week to practice stillness and cultivate some energy in a new environment.
What I’m Working On: Relying on Others
I’ve been struggling a lot recently with my ability to trust others with important work. Or more accurately, try and reign myself in form overstepping. I spent a lot of my early education and training more or less doing things on my own or working for someone else. But, with my biggest sound design project around the corner, I’m having to rely a lot more on my team. While I know they are capable, I’m finding it hard not to constantly check-in or offer up solutions (especially dangerous in the world of education).
A Quote I’m Thinking About:
“I shall never be ashamed of citing a bad author if the line is good.”
Seneca
We have something to learn form everyone. Don’t discount the words of someone else because you dislike them. Seneca often quoted Epicurus, the founder of “the enemy” philosophy, Epicureanism, that opposed his own Stoicism. Seneca knew that sometimes even the opposition has something worth considering.
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