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Dear Friends,
Today’s short meditation begins a new series called — Becoming Every Day (An idea discussed previously). It’s part of a new project (that I’m sharing with members). It is intended to provide guided meditations that connect with many of the ideas and concepts in our upcoming course — Wisdom is the Way (and our Perennial Habits course).
Let me know your thoughts (and suggestions) in the comments!
What does it actually mean to self-improve?
Strangely, the art of transformation is not as straightforward as we think.
In the Enchiridion (or Manual), Epictetus asked his students: “How long are you going to wait before you demand the best for yourself.” But what does it actually mean to demand the best for yourself?
In the Art of Living (a modern translation of the Enchiridion), Sharon Lebell says, “Now is the time to get serious about living your ideals. How long can you afford to put off who you really want to be? Your nobler self cannot wait any longer. Put your principles into practice — now.”
We tend to put the most essential tasks in life at the bottom of our to-do lists.
But what if there is truly no time to waste? What if some of these decisions will be some of our biggest regrets?
Lebell (and Epictetus) stress, “The sooner you set yourself to your spiritual program, the happier you will be. The longer you wait, the more you’ll be vulnerable to mediocrity and feel filled with shame and regret because you know you are capable of better.”
My most recent conversation with Dr. Brian Russell discussed the idea of deep transformation. Brian writes in his new book Astonished by the Word, “Most of us desire deep transformation. We want to grow in grace. We want to live out of wholeness. We want to be perfected in love so we can live fully as the people God created us to be.”
Do you desire deep transformation?
How do you know if your principles and practices (or way of life) are leading you toward transformation?
Watch the conversation with Dr. Brian Russell:
What if one of the obstacles to transformation is fear?
As the renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow put it, “We fear our highest possibilities. We are generally afraid to become that which we can glimpse in our most perfect moments under conditions of great courage.”
Are you afraid of deep transformation?
Becoming Every Day is a mindset (or approach to life) focused on the art of intentional living (not perfectionism). It is seeing each moment as an opportunity to create the type of life you actually want to lead!
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Thank you for reading; I hope you found something useful.
Until next time, be wise and be well,
J.W.
P.S. For those interested in transformation, I encourage you to check out our upcoming course, Wisdom is the Way, and our weekly meetup, Reading & the Good Life (Fridays at Noon EST).
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Tools for the Art of Living: Meditations, Podcasts, and Courses