The Daily Stoic - Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Day 27
November 8th - Actors in a Play
"Remember that you are an actorin a play, playing a character according to the will of the playwright - if a short play, then it's short, if long, long. If he wishes you to play the beggar, play even that role well, just as you would if it were a cripple, a honcho, or an everyday person. For this is your duty, to perform well the character assigned you. That selection belongs to another."
-Epictetus, Enchiridion, 17
From the Author:
"Our station in life can be as random as a roll of the dice. Some of us are born into privilege, others into adversity. Sometimes we're given exactly the opportunities we want. At other times we're given a lucky break, but to us it feels like a burden.
The Stoics remind us that whatever happens to us today or over the course of our lives, wherever we fall on the intellectual, social, or physical spectra, our job is not to complain or bemoan our plight but to do the best we can to accept it and fulfill it. Is there still room for flexibility or ambition? Or course! The history of the stage is littered with stories of bit parts that turned into starring roles and indelible characters that were expanded in future adaptations. But even this begins with acceptance and understanding - and desire to excel at what we have been assigned."
I'm not sure where or when I first heard about it, nor how it ties in with Samsara, the Hindu belief of reincarnation, but a theory that resonates with me is such; in the afterlife, we review our lives, whether that's God's judgement, or a coordinated effort to see what you learned, then you choose another role, and other lessons to learn, in the next life. Each life giving yourself different 'fate' lines, where you invite other souls/spirits to come along and play their part along side you.
I think overcoming adversity, having gratitude, patience and being accepting of who you are is a big part of navigating the lessons, trials if you will, that we have set for ourselves.
And despite this, having potentially limitless impressions on this world, birth, life, death, rebirth, we must realise that we don't carry from one to the next our memories consciously, and therefore we must treat this like our only life, our precious, limited time, to do the best we can, to be the best we can with what tools we're given.
Become the star of the show if you wish, and put your whole self out there. Maybe the lesson to be learned is humility. Or be a wallflower, keep to yourself and a small group - and perhaps learn that you must be more open, that you must seize whats infront of you.
Whatever it is, along with your purpose, find it. Run with it. What's the worst that can happen?
Shevacai
npub19u…wgppv
2023-11-08 13:45:21
Author Public Key
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2023-11-08 13:45:21Event JSON
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"content": "The Daily Stoic - Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living\n\nDay 27\n\nNovember 8th - Actors in a Play\n\n\"Remember that you are an actorin a play, playing a character according to the will of the playwright - if a short play, then it's short, if long, long. If he wishes you to play the beggar, play even that role well, just as you would if it were a cripple, a honcho, or an everyday person. For this is your duty, to perform well the character assigned you. That selection belongs to another.\"\n\n-Epictetus, Enchiridion, 17\n\nFrom the Author:\n\n\"Our station in life can be as random as a roll of the dice. Some of us are born into privilege, others into adversity. Sometimes we're given exactly the opportunities we want. At other times we're given a lucky break, but to us it feels like a burden. \nThe Stoics remind us that whatever happens to us today or over the course of our lives, wherever we fall on the intellectual, social, or physical spectra, our job is not to complain or bemoan our plight but to do the best we can to accept it and fulfill it. Is there still room for flexibility or ambition? Or course! The history of the stage is littered with stories of bit parts that turned into starring roles and indelible characters that were expanded in future adaptations. But even this begins with acceptance and understanding - and desire to excel at what we have been assigned.\"\n\nI'm not sure where or when I first heard about it, nor how it ties in with Samsara, the Hindu belief of reincarnation, but a theory that resonates with me is such; in the afterlife, we review our lives, whether that's God's judgement, or a coordinated effort to see what you learned, then you choose another role, and other lessons to learn, in the next life. Each life giving yourself different 'fate' lines, where you invite other souls/spirits to come along and play their part along side you. \n\nI think overcoming adversity, having gratitude, patience and being accepting of who you are is a big part of navigating the lessons, trials if you will, that we have set for ourselves. \nAnd despite this, having potentially limitless impressions on this world, birth, life, death, rebirth, we must realise that we don't carry from one to the next our memories consciously, and therefore we must treat this like our only life, our precious, limited time, to do the best we can, to be the best we can with what tools we're given. \n\nBecome the star of the show if you wish, and put your whole self out there. Maybe the lesson to be learned is humility. Or be a wallflower, keep to yourself and a small group - and perhaps learn that you must be more open, that you must seize whats infront of you. \nWhatever it is, along with your purpose, find it. Run with it. What's the worst that can happen?",
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