The modern world has brought us excellent gifts, items and services that our grandparents did not even dream of. However, new dangers and challenges have also come from his hand, so from time to time it is worth looking back and recovering some great teachings, timeless ideas that can improve our lives.
Ideas from the old world, common sense for today’s world
1. Gnothi seauton
It is a Greek aphorism inscribed in the ancient oracle of Delphi: “Know thyself.”
The path of self-knowledge is the most complex and exciting path that we can undertake throughout our lives. In reality, it is impossible to go far if we are not aware of our potential and do not take into account our limitations.
Success comes through self-knowledge, only when we know ourselves deeply are we able to make good decisions, decisions that will allow us to grow and achieve our goals. On the contrary, poor self-knowledge will leave us at the mercy of circumstances and will probably make us follow a path that, in the long run, will not satisfy us.
The Stoics, including Seneca, stated that evils had to be “premeditated.”
This is not an exaltation of negative thinking but rather preparing ourselves for the worst, in the good sense of the term. In a society where positivism has been established at all costs, some have forgotten the importance of strategic negativism. In fact, good projects fail for reasons that could have been avoided if only we had had the ability to anticipate problems.
On the other hand, the ability to foresee evils allows us to adopt a more objective perspective since we are often victims of catastrophic thinking that exaggerates the possible consequences of problems. However, when we force ourselves to envision the worst possible scenario and assume an objective attitude, we realize that our emotions were playing tricks on us and that in reality everything is not as bad as we assumed, which gives us the strength to go forward.
3. Focus
This simple but effective maxim of Buddhist philosophy, “Focus,” has been rescued by modern trends in personal productivity.
In a world full of distractions, it is increasingly difficult to concentrate. And I am not referring to the mere attentional capacity that we need to work or study but rather the possibility of focusing on what really matters to us, learning to prioritize activities and objectives.
To be happy, to be more effective and to achieve our goals we do not need more things, we need less. When we simplify our lives, we reveal what is essential and we are able to focus on what is truly important to each of us.
This ancient Latin proverb has survived to this day but very few manage to apply it: “Deeds, not words.”
On the one hand, it refers to the need to put our ideas into practice and translate our dreams into actions. Procrastination is our worst enemy because it not only keeps us immobile but is also a useless source of worry through which our energies drain away. Remember that no one has gone far without first taking the first step. Fortunately, carrying out a project and being consistent until the end is a skill that is learned and perfected with practice.
On the other hand, this saying also reminds us of the importance of being consistent with our feelings, ideas and beliefs. Our value system must find a way out through our attitudes and behaviors, only then will we feel fully satisfied with ourselves.
5. Carpe diem
The Roman poet Horace coined this phrase, as simple as it is profound: “Seize the moment.”
An Australian nurse discovered the biggest regrets of people who were about to die . Almost all of them would have liked to pursue their dreams and give themselves more opportunities to be happy. And while we are trapped between the past and the future, the present escapes us.
This maxim invites us to reflect on the transience of time and the need to make the most of it. How to do it? Learning to be fully present, enjoying the here and now, preventing worries from ruining a good time and, above all, getting to work to achieve our dreams.
