Originally posted by Zippy
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Sounds like a plan! -
I really don't like the guy - i find him to be like most of the self-help gang insofar as it's all about practising a kind of self-brainwashing, with a heft dose of fluffy nonsense talk to confuse one's self into believing the bits that do actually make a point.
I'd much rather recommend Ayn Rand for a general education on what it means to be a man, and how to live as a man and be proud of doing so (with pride being the ultimate source of all human happiness). I think its probably best to mix her non-fiction with the fiction so that they help explain each other. I'd recommend Atlas Shrugged to anyone.
Rand might not be the best for directly dealing with 'life's ups and downs', but starting with a solid foundation is going to help.
I read a book about Nicolo Machiaveli (the subtitle was "a man misunderstood") quite a few years ago now, and it described his most famous work "the prince" (which I haven't read). In describing how to be a good prince he basically said that you need to make the most of the good times, and be prepared for the inescapable bad times that fate will throw at you. But while you're dealing with those bad times it's very important to be ready to take advantage of the good opportunities when they present themselves, instead of feeling sorry for yourself. I think the same can be said about life in general - it's important to understand and accept the reality of man's nature and to try not to struggle attempting to resolve apparent contradictions between reality and the way you'd like reality to be; and it's important to understand that the sole purpose of your life is to enjoy it as much as you can, and to understand where that happiness comes from so that you can achieve it.
-- Ayn RandHappiness is that state of consciousness which proceeds from the achievement of one’s values. If a man values productive work, his happiness is the measure of his success in the service of his life. But if a man values destruction, like a sadist—or self-torture, like a masochist—or life beyond the grave, like a mystic—or mindless “kicks,” like the driver of a hotrod car—his alleged happiness is the measure of his success in the service of his own destruction. It must be added that the emotional state of all those irrationalists cannot be properly designated as happiness or even as pleasure: it is merely a moment’s relief from their chronic state of terror.
Neither life nor happiness can be achieved by the pursuit of irrational whims. Just as man is free to attempt to survive by any random means, as a parasite, a moocher or a looter, but not free to succeed at it beyond the range of the moment—so he is free to seek his happiness in any irrational fraud, any whim, any delusion, any mindless escape from reality, but not free to succeed at it beyond the range of the moment nor to escape the consequences.
The bit I put in bold highlights the general vibe I get from Tolle, and why I don't like his spirituality in favour of a more objective philosophy.
I don't know the nature of your downs though, so perhaps there might be some value in his work in that regard.Comment
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Nope.Originally posted by mudskipper View Post
Take up meditation and do it everyday - it's been proven to work."You’re just a bad memory who doesn’t know when to go away" JRComment
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Interesting concept - complete opposite of the Tolle/Buddhist message.Originally posted by SpontaneousOrder View Post
Pride and ego I see as sources of unhappiness. Anyway - each to their own!"Is someone you don't like allowed to say something you don't like? If that is the case then we have free speech."- Elon MuskComment
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Originally posted by mudskipper View PostMore evidence for my thesis that current medical education is not fit for purpose in the modern world.Originally posted by Old Greg View Post
There should be more logico-mathematical/statistical/epistemological/philosophy of science stuff rather than biological fact-cramming.Hard Brexit now!
#prayfornodealComment
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Actually there is a growing body of evidence that mindfulness & meditation is useful in the reduction of anxiety, stress and depression. It's a pretty sound recommendation, and probably a better one than prescribing happy pills in a lot of cases.Originally posted by sasguru View PostWhile you're waiting, read the free novel we sent you. It's a Spanish story about a guy named 'Manual.'Comment
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Half way through the first chapter, and so far I think there's the promise of an interesting idea obfuscated by an awful lot of hippy mumbo jumbo. Will persevere...Originally posted by doodab View PostComment
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This is broadly true. Mrs OG is a cognitive neuroscientist who researches in a closely related area. I'm not sure it follows that reading the book will be effective.Originally posted by doodab View PostComment
one day at a time 
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