Daily: Cultivating Mental Fortitude
You know how I’m good at starting things, but not so great at sticking with them? That’s exactly how I was feeling—like I didn’t want to keep up this daily routine anymore. Then, this morning, I read something that inspired me to keep going. Maybe I can give this one more try!
Listen to the Deep Dive:
1. Don’t let your soul go first: “It’s a disgrace in this life when the soul surrenders first while the body refuses to.”—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 6.29
2. Marcus Aurelius never let his soul give up. Even as his body weakened, his spirit remained strong, right up to the moment he died.
3. Amor Fati: Nietzsche said, “My formula for greatness in a human being is amor fati: that one wants nothing to be other than it is, not in the future, not in the past, not in all eternity. Not merely to endure that which happens of necessity... but to love it.”
4. It’s a challenge, but also an opportunity: to embrace every moment, not because of the pain, but for the chance to learn and grow stronger.
5. We practice this by seeing everything as fateful—believing that everything happens for a reason—and finding the lesson in it all.
6. Words and phrases to remember: noble character, iron saints, monotony, iron regimen, glean the lesson, go straight ahead.
7. Your crown of iron, forged through suffering, comes before your golden crown of glory.
Something I’ve picked up again after years is solving a Rubik’s Cube. I first learned it years ago, but after a while, I stopped playing with it and eventually forgot how to solve it. Then, this year, I decided to re-learn it, and now I try to solve it once a day. For me, it’s like a focusing exercise.
This time, I’ve also associated the algorithm with scripture. I’ve mapped the most basic four-move algorithm to Proverbs 3:5-6:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
As I turn the cube, I remind myself of this verse. It’s a small daily habit that helps me focus and reflect. Some days I forget or skip it, but today marks the 147th time I’ve done it!
It’s similar to how some chefs use a specific cheese to recalibrate their palate. Solving the Rubik’s Cube daily is my way of centering myself and checking in with my mental clarity—it helps me notice if there’s a glitch or something feels off.
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I asked GPT how I could make this better for the reader, and it gave me some really helpful suggestions! Do you like the original version or the revised one better, and why?
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GPT: Your content is heartfelt and relatable, but here’s how you can reframe it to make it more audience-focused while still keeping the personal touch:
Turnaround Approach: Benefit-Oriented for the Audience
Ever feel like starting something is easy, but sticking with it is the real challenge? That’s exactly where I was recently. But this morning, I came across something that reminded me why it’s worth keeping at it—and I hope it inspires you to keep going too.
Here’s a thought to carry with you: “It’s a disgrace in this life when the soul surrenders first while the body refuses to.”—Marcus Aurelius. Even as his body weakened, his soul stayed strong until the end. What if we approached challenges with that same perseverance?
Nietzsche’s concept of Amor Fati—loving your fate—reminds us to embrace every moment, even the hard ones, not just to endure them but to find growth and strength in them. What’s one moment today you can embrace instead of resist?
Have you ever revisited a skill or habit you once loved? For me, it’s solving a Rubik’s Cube. It started as a way to re-focus, and now it’s a daily habit that helps me reset and center myself. What’s something you could pick up again to help you refocus?
Here’s a small practice that’s helped me find clarity: I’ve paired a simple Rubik’s Cube algorithm with a verse from Proverbs 3:5-6:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
Every turn of the cube reminds me to trust, reflect, and realign my focus. Is there a verse, mantra, or reminder that could anchor your day?