Reflection - Don't Be A Wage Slave

If I were given a day of pure reflection, what would I think of? What would come to mind? Most of us, I suspect, would be compelled to situate ourselves somewhere along a timeline. I am 30 years old, for example. From there, I would begin to contemplate my life, analyze the past, and — inevitably — plan for the future.

The most beautiful aspect of reflection is that it is wholly private. Unless I choose to reveal my thoughts, no one has access to them. Whether those musings are pure, puerile, or even prurient, they are mine alone. Isn’t that wonderful? Here in the hidden recesses of my mind, I might decide what the world means and what impact I may wish to have upon it — if any at all.

Yet this is where reflection becomes difficult. If I see the world as a dark and pitiless place, my hands, figuratively, may become immobile. I could be unable to act, incapable of influencing change. I thus remain trapped in the despair of powerlessness, a condition that afflicts so many lives. Conversely, when I am bathed in positive and hopeful aspirations, in the light, I can cleanse my mind of its impurities and see the world as a positive and beautiful place. I can then act accordingly.

One of humanity’s quiet tragedies is that many people do not understand the extraordinary power of a trained mind. My friend David maintains that your goals are achievable if — and only if — you truly believe, and act consistently. Nothing, he claims, can stop you from finding your holy grail (1) or nirvana. Yet in the real world, most ambitions are not fully realized; we often fall short of our ultimate wishes. What is undeniably true, however, is this: if you never try, nothing will ever be achieved.

Reflection eventually leads me to consider education, especially in the age of AI. Why do I go to school? Many would answer: to obtain a degree that will secure a better future. But this explanation is increasingly incomplete. What truly matters today is learning the skill sets that allow one to face a changing and unpredictable employment landscape. In short, I must go to school not merely to learn, but to learn how to learn.

In time, my reflections bring me to the idea of justice. Socrates insisted that one must devote one’s life to the pursuit of what is truly good, of virtue, for “the unexamined life is not worth living.” (2) Such examination naturally involves a moral unfolding of one’s life plan. Why am I here? What is my mission? What happens when I leave here? Ongoing introspection may eventually yield answers. Rousseau (3) claimed that we are innately good by nature, but that we must open the door to our potential and resist being corrupted by society.

This is no easy task in the modern world, particularly in the age of the Internet and social media. We are continuously bombarded by noise, and this clamour obscures the inner voice. How, then, can I learn to hear it? First, by remaining silent for at least five minutes upon waking. Then, by writing whatever spontaneous thoughts arise in my notebook. Finally, by refusing to look at my phone for the first hour of the day. Practiced daily, this routine allows my pensées (4) to emerge. This is the greatest gift I can give myself: the chance to uncover what I truly want from “my piece of life.”

Fr. Ernest Dimnet (5) leaves us with a thought: “The object of reflection is invariably the discovery of something satisfying to the mind which was not there at the beginning of the search.”

A closing thought: My reflective times are my gift to myself. I must simply be reminded that unless I take this time, it does not exist because time is ephemeral. It is a good note to stick on my computer.

To sum up: This week, we spoke of taking the time to be reflective.

To be noted: A traditional Tibetan saying — The wise understand by themselves; fools follow the reports of others.

Just for fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lykgg5phVJE&list=RDEMenmqsCzddT3JG4lHzKadAA&index=1

For reflection: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmSGwCcznKM

This week, on your reflective stroll, please ponder what taking a moment to think means to your life.

Every day, look for something magical and beautiful.

Don’t be a wage slave – critical thinking is great!

http://www.dbawageslave.com

Quote: Reflect on your life; this is a necessary element of personal peace

Footnotes:

1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Grail

2) https://liberalarts.org.uk/the-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living/