The Olympics of a Reflective Life

The Nose On Your Face

I often find it best to start out by stating the obvious, and this is what I think is obvious, anyway, about those of us who choose our philosophy or religious tradition: We pick one (or pick elements of various ones) because we find those suggested practices and commitments useful in constructing the formula for a good life.

I think I’ve got that right.

As a consequence, having pre-chosen a lifestance, we are better able to deal with life’s inevitable highs and lows. We have a method!

As for me, a particular style of Christianity was chosen for me at birth due to the circumstances and geography of my birth.

My experience of life, however, led me to question the meaning, methods, and efficacy of the style of Christianity that my birth had chosen for me.

First I questioned that form of Christianity, then I questioned Christianity itself. For me, Christianity did not offer answers to the questions that I felt were getting asked as I lived my life.

So, for those lucky enough to get a choice, the criteria for choosing a new philosophy or religion (or, gosh help us, a “spirituality”) would appear to be something that makes sense and creates meaning and purpose in our lives.

Warning: Gladiators Eat Dust

As a Humanist, I’m partial to that earlier humanistic philosophy, Stoicism, and for my money, the Stoic philosopher Epictetus (died 135 CE) said it best in Chapter 29 of his Enchiridion, or “Manual.”

In all things, think about
what comes before
and what comes after.

Then, act. Otherwise,
you will start with a bang
and then begin to whimper.

Who doesn’t want to be
an Olympic champion?

But give some thought to
what comes before the glory
and what comes after.

If you want all of it—
the rules,
the diet,
the exercise—
go for it. Make your
trainer your boss.

Want to be a gladiator?
You might get slammed;
you might eat dust;
you might get beaten.

Think about it.

If you still want it,
go for it. But first,
consider—or you will look
like the kids who play at
wrestler or gladiator.

Consider or, like an ape,
you will mimic what you see,
then wander to the next thing.

Consider. Go for what
you want with zeal.

Want to be a philosopher?
It’s not all about the talking.

Consider: what do you want?
Want to be a wrestler?
Do you have the back for it, the legs?

We all have different strengths.
Stoics don’t gorge,
don’t get angry, don’t get drunk.
They follow a middle way.

Consider all this, then,
go ahead, if you want.
But be consistent.

Either act with integrity
or look like a child at play.

Cultivate your reason;
cultivate your body.
Work on your inside and
your outside.

Do some thinking about it.
Or be one of the mob. (author’s translation)

Epictetus gets at that central problem with potential: we can want in several different directions and end up playing lots of parts but never achieving anything.

The mere fact that many human beings alive today have the choice of which religions and philosophies to follow can lead to lots of sampling and very little savoring. We must remember the point of religions and philosophies: to aid us in achieving meaning and purpose, “the good life.”

What was true in the Rome of Epictetus is true today: you can’t be an Olympic wrestler, gladiator, and philosopher, except in virtual reality. In this we reality, we all must choose where our priorities lie. Religions and philosophies offer sets of practices and commitments that—ideally, anyway—help with those choices.

After thanking your lucky stars for the freedom the choose, do some thinking about it. As Epictetus would say.

Consider. Go for what
you want with zeal.