Philosophical thoughts about the meaning of life. How to live right - wise advice from the philosophers of ancient Greece Philosophers' advice about life

The history of Chinese philosophy has become the most popular course at Harvard in modern times. Why is she so interesting? Let's take a look at the most interesting tips on how to become a better person, according to Confucius and other prominent thinkers and philosophers in China.

People are often surprised to learn that Confucius, Mencius, Lao Tzu, and other classical Chinese philosophers were not rigid traditionalists who taught that our highest good comes from the limitations of social roles. Nor were they serene sages preaching harmonious coexistence with the natural world. Rather, they were bright and radical thinkers who undermined the conventions of their society. They sought to make the world a better place by expanding the boundaries of human possibilities.

The middle of the first millennium B.C. was as turbulent as it is today with regard to disputes about how to live, how to maintain morality, and how to build a better society. Unlike Western philosophers, who are better known to us, Chinese thinkers did not ask such big questions. Their philosophy can be described as highly pragmatic, based on questions that seemed unimportant, such as: "How is your daily life?" These thinkers emphasized that great change only happens when we start from something down to earth and doable.. Their teachings show that many of our most fundamental assumptions about how we should live are actually misleading us.

So, what ideas do we value, and what alternatives would Chinese philosophers offer instead?

Stop looking for yourself

Our thinkers were skeptical about the existence of a true "I". Especially the one you can discover by looking into yourself.

There is such a popular postulate: it is important to look into yourself in order to understand and realize your true essence. Our thinkers would be skeptical about the theory of the existence of a true "I". They understood that we are multifaceted and develop towards the outside world, and not inward. Human personality is formed through interaction with other people, through reaction to things and events, through occupation. You don't behave in the same way with your mother, colleague, dentist, and close friend. Each of us is a complex creature that constantly collides with other complex beings. Each meeting draws a different perspective. We are made up of patterns of behavior and emotional habits that have been formed over time. And this means that we have numerous possibilities of what we can become.

be inauthentic

We are not only what we think we are.

Once we discover who we are, we must accept ourselves and be true to ourselves. But the great Chinese thinker Confucius, who was born in the sixth century BC, thought differently. He would say that the problem with authenticity is that it is not a liberation, as we believe. What do you think, who is this “true self” that you discover in yourself? This is your image at a particular moment in time. If you stay true to it, let that image be your guide, it will hold back and limit the growth that comes when you acknowledge that you are constantly changing.

We succeed when we acknowledge our complexity and learn to work with it through self-improvement. Growth begins, for example, when it comes to understanding that you are not a bully just because you tend to think of yourself as a short-tempered person, or shy because you consider yourself an introvert. Most labels are patterns of behavior that we have formed and are susceptible to destruction. We are not just what we think we are. We can always become the best version of ourselves.

Pretend (perform rituals)

When you smile as if you're not angry, or bite your tongue to avoid lashing out, you're pretending to be acting more mature.

The opposite side of our reverence for authenticity is the ritualistic ways of behaving that are called "pretending." Wouldn't it be better to let the "real me" come out?

But Confucius teaches that certain rituals - when we behave "as if" - help a person to transform, because they break the patterns of behavior that he has fallen into. When you smile as if you're not angry, or bite your tongue to avoid lashing out, you're faking it. These “as ifs” create a tiny break from reality, which is why they are so valuable. We act “as if” we are different and our feelings become more mature. In doing so, we turn into someone more kind and generous, instead of expressing our true but destructive feelings. We do it over and over again, such actions become rituals that allow behavior take precedence over feelings, and not vice versa. As time goes by, we change and become better.

See the fickleness of the world

Any roundabout ways - casual conversations, impressions, communication - nourish life.

Often considering himself as a stable person, a person sees the world as permanent. Of course, we understand that life can change, but at the same time, we tend to assume that the world as a whole is predictable and we need to determine how we fit into it. If we consider ourselves strong in mathematics, then we continue to follow this academic path; if we consider ourselves unpredictable, then we are looking for a life partner who will join our adventures.

Mencius, a representative of the Confucian tradition, who lived at the end of the 4th century BC, saw the world as fragmented and impermanent. He would suggest working with change in a roundabout way - using casual conversations, impressions and communication to expand life. Mencius approach means not make plans for life, but set the trajectory in motion.

Stop making decisions

When you're contemplating big changes, it's easier to make a decision if you try new experiences first.

You know what's wrong with life? When you plan your life, you make decisions for your future personality based on the personality you are today.

When making important decisions, Mencius would advise approaching them through small and achievable steps. When you're thinking about a career change, it's easier to solidify or reject a decision if you first get new experiences on a small scale. Pay attention to your reaction to the impressions received, it is she who will lead you in a new direction.

Be weak

Notice interconnectedness in the world instead of division and difference, then you can harmonize with others.

Statue of Laozi, founder of Taoism, in Luoyang, China. Photo: Sipa/Rex/Shutterstock

Another common hypothesis: the strongest wins. We are told to be strong and confident in what we want. But Lao Tzu in the treatise Tao Te Ching stands for strength of weakness over apparent strength. Often people think that this means the need to harmonize with nature. Some students, upon first encountering the teachings of Lao Tzu, go for walks in the forest to merge with the majesty of the natural world. But passivity is not quite what he meant. The philosopher said that we should notice how everything in the world is interconnected, and not divided and different. This understanding helps to harmonize with others.

Attunement allows you to exercise various kinds of influence. Without using open force, you see how to skillfully change the situation, so that people will not notice the dominant in you.

Don't play to your strengths

Live your life as a series of breakthroughs because it changes you over time.

We are encouraged from a young age to discover and hone our skills and talents. If you are athletic, then join the football team; if you constantly bury yourself in books, then you study literature. As a person grows older, these natural tendencies develop until they become part of his personality. But if you get carried away with this way of thinking, you can stop doing everything else.

Our philosophers would encourage you not to focus on what you think of yourself, but to break prejudice. If you think you're clumsy, take up dancing. If you are not strong in languages, sign up for French lessons. The goal is not to be the best in a new field, but to live life as a series of breakthroughs, because this is what changes us over time.

Drop awareness

The principles of mindfulness in a broad sense are the opposite of its true purpose.

We've been hearing a lot lately about the importance of mindfulness. It should help a person to achieve peace and tranquility at a fast pace of life. It is even touted as a productivity and efficiency tool in business schools, corporations, and the military.

The widely accepted principles of mindfulness—including looking into yourself and accepting what you find with equanimity and nonjudgment—are the opposite of what mindfulness was meant to be. Buddhism, after all, adheres to the doctrine of the non-existence of the individual "I". Confucian cultivation is different. It's about interacting with the world and nurturing yourself through every encounter and interaction. It professes an active rather than a passive way of self-education in order to become the best version of itself.

Rethink traditional and modern

The modern attitude to everything assumes that you have freed yourself from the oppressive traditional world and live your life, making your own choice. But if you define the traditional world as one in which people passively accept everything as it is and try to fit into a stable, pre-established order, then you are a traditionalist. The knowledge we hold and believe to be true limits our possibilities.

Philosophical thoughts about the meaning of life this is the result of work on oneself and the level of not only knowledge, but also a great life experience. A person without experience will not be able to think and dream philosophically, because there is not enough experience and knowledge. Every sane person, strive for success, happiness and prosperity. In the process of development and achievement of goals, a person himself becomes a philosopher without noticing it.

The mistake of many is that everyone is used to thinking that a philosopher is a person who simply reads a lot. But it's not. The philosopher, of course, reads, but only in order to find out the necessary information for self-development. The fact that he puts into practice the knowledge gained from the books he has read makes a philosopher out of a person. Of course, there are wrong people who talk and consider themselves philosophers, although they themselves do not understand what they are talking about and advising other people. If you want to achieve the highest height in life, read the article to the end, psychologists have prepared for you the most important and effective methods for developing philosophical thinking. Apply the knowledge gained here as a real philosopher, and the world will open up to you before new opportunities.

What are you thinking about

Before developing philosophical thoughts about the meaning of life , you need to first examine your thoughts and emotions. A real philosopher or thinker, attaches more importance to the experience that he received in the process of achieving goals. The philosopher goes deep into any problem or question until there are several answers and solutions. You need to realize right now what you think about every day, and most importantly, how you think. Every person has problems, but there are more solutions to these problems in the world. Write down during the week all your changes in thoughts. Write simply the thought that is strongly rooted in your mind and how you think about it. At the end of the week, you need to find out if you are thinking big or small. All thoughts that make sense should be as large and deep as possible. You also need to learn to discard all negative thoughts and emotions, and all thoughts that do not make sense from your head. Don't waste your energy and creativity.

The subconscious influences your life

To develop philosophical thoughts in yourself and be able to use them correctly, you need to learn more about the power of the subconscious. Do you think what is happening to you now is the result of your thoughts or is it just fate. In fact, fate and everything connected with it is the power of thought. Scientists have long proved, but someone did not believe, all our thoughts are material, always and everywhere. Everything that happens to you today is the result of your past thoughts, and what you think about today will affect your future.

This is not science fiction as everyone used to think, this is a scientific fact, which was confirmed with the help of people who decided to try these methods in practice. The results did not keep them waiting. You can check it yourself today by remembering your old friend or friend, whom you haven’t seen for a long time, and to your surprise, someone will remind you of him, or he will call you, or you will cross somewhere. It does not matter that the power of thought exists and with its help you can do great things, but for this you need to know what it is and how to use it in order to develop the power of thought to an indefinite level. It all seems simple enough, it is, but it takes time and attention of your rooted thought for it to give a great effect and power.

read books

To develop philosophical thoughts about the meaning of life, you need to read what you need in life. Undoubtedly, the philosopher is more interested in experience than knowledge, but without knowledge, it is impossible to start doing something. Decide on your life goals, and start looking for as many sources of information related to your questions and problems as possible. When there is enough knowledge and you are confident in yourself, start acting, but without fear of mistakes and failures, since everyone must have them and will always meet on your way until you study your mistakes sufficiently. You also need to choose the right book, not just look at the title of the book and a beautifully designed design. First of all, it is necessary to review the content, open several chapters, and find out who the author of the book is and what he has achieved in life, whether he wrote books on life experience or reprinted the thoughts of other people. There is no need to say that books do not give anything useful, because this is not true, and if you start reading, you will see for yourself what benefits it all brings.

Our mistakes and failures

have always been and will be associated precisely with mistakes, problems and failures. Experience is taken precisely from defeats than from victories, since a person who feels defeat will draw more conclusions than when he wins. Such a person will think about what he did wrong, what needs to be done in order to win next time. without wasting your creativity, time and energy on unnecessary and meaningless things. Any mistake that was made on the way to a dream or goal will only benefit you, but this is if you correct it. If not, it will continue to come across in your life and bring new mistakes with it until you stop this process and decide to correct your life mistakes. Psychologists have noticed that a person learns from mistakes when he does not run away from them, but decides as soon as they appear.

A smart person can avoid mistakes by taking advantage of the experience and knowledge of the best representatives of previous generations. Why reinvent the wheel and learn from your mistakes how to live right? After all, you can use the invaluable knowledge of thinkers and philosophers of previous eras.

In this article, we will consider their main views and learn 3 important wise advice on how to live correctly.

You and I live in a fussy, we have very little time to create new, our thoughts. This is largely due to the fact that we do not have time for contemplation at all.

Unlike us, the philosophers of Ancient Greece devoted almost their entire lives to contemplation, and thanks to this they formulated so many new, relevant thoughts in our time.

Tip number 1. In any situation, it would be better to remain silent than to speak!

Socrates made a brilliant discovery of philosophy when he said: A person does not completely convey in a word the reality that he names..

We are afraid of silence and therefore constantly involved in the speaking process. We produce so many words that their awareness almost drowns in them. Most of the spoken words don't mean anything. We simply drown out the silence with them, since we associate silence with death.

Phrase from the book "Mrs. Dalloway" Virginia Woolf is a perfect illustration of Socrates' thought: "Mrs. Dalloway always throws parties to drown out the silence!"

So, the advice of the ancient Greek sages: If something annoys you, causes negative emotions, it is best to keep silent, as silence equalizes everything.

Tip number 2. It is important to keep the world at arm's length and look at it not from the inside, but from the outside!

Our consciousness is constantly involved in some processes, we are inside and we do not see the whole picture from above.

But in order to see and understand the world correctly, and in the end, to live correctly and make the right decisions, one must strive not for an ordinary, but for a philosophical worldview. The main principle of the philosophical worldview is the parallelism of existence with the world.

The philosopher keeps the world at arm's length and thereby ensures the independence of his judgments about the world as a whole and about a particular situation in particular.

Tip number 3. Keep in life the golden mean, in particular, avoid extreme poverty and extreme wealth.

This truth of the ancient Greek philosophers essentially meant peace . We constantly take everything too personally and suffer from it. People get sick and often die too early due to many negative external influences, constant troubles, worries and experiences.

When the disciples asked Epicurus how he felt about the blows of fate, he replied : “You need to live inconspicuously, avoid extremes, because lightning always strikes the tallest trees. Need to keep peace, tranquility and harmony with yourself!”

So, the 3 main tips of the philosophers of Ancient Greece, which will help us live correctly:

It is always better to remain silent than to speak!

Always look at the world from the outside, not from the inside!

Always keep the golden mean and be in harmony with yourself!

Clever thoughts come only when stupid things have already been done.

Only those who make absurd attempts can achieve the impossible. Albert Einstein

Good friends, good books, and a sleeping conscience are the ideal life. Mark Twain

You can't go back in time and change your start, but you can start now and change your finish.

Upon closer examination, it generally becomes clear to me that those changes that seem to come with the passage of time are, in fact, no changes at all: only my view of things changes. (Franz Kafka)

And although the temptation is great to go along two roads at once, you can’t play with the same deck of cards with both the devil and God ...

Appreciate those with whom you can be yourself.
Without masks, omissions and ambitions.
And take care of them, they are sent to you by fate.
After all, in your life there are only a few of them

For an affirmative answer, only one word is enough - “yes”. All other words are invented to say no. Don Aminado

Ask a person: "What is happiness?" and you will find out what he misses the most.

If you want to understand life, then stop believing what they say and write, but observe and feel. Anton Chekhov

There is nothing in the world more destructive, more unbearable than inaction and waiting.

Turn your dreams into reality, work on ideas. Those who laughed at you before will begin to envy.

Records are there to be broken.

Don't waste time, invest in it.

The history of mankind is the history of a fairly small number of people who believed in themselves.

Did you push yourself to the limit? Don't you see the point in living anymore? So, you are already close ... Close to the decision to reach the bottom in order to push off from it and decide to be happy forever .. So do not be afraid of the bottom - use it ....

If you are honest and frank, then people will deceive you; still be honest and frank.

A person rarely succeeds in anything if his occupation does not give him joy. Dale Carnegie

If at least one flowering branch remains in your soul, a singing bird will always sit on it. (Eastern wisdom)

One of the laws of life says that as soon as one door closes, another one opens. But the whole trouble is that we look at the locked door and do not pay attention to the opened one. André Gide

Don't judge a person until you talk to them in person, because everything you hear is hearsay. Michael Jackson.

First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win. Mahatma Gandhi

Human life is divided into two halves: during the first half they strive forward to the second, and during the second back to the first.

If you don't do anything yourself, how can you be helped? You can only drive a moving car

All will be. Only when you decide to do it.

In this world, you can look for everything except love and death... They will find you when the time comes.

Inner satisfaction in spite of the surrounding world of suffering is a very valuable asset. Sridhar Maharaj

Start now to live the life that you would like to see it in the end. Marcus Aurelius

We must live every day as if it were the last moment. We do not have a rehearsal - we have a life. We don't start it from Monday - we live today.

Every moment of life is another opportunity.

A year later, you will look at the world with different eyes, and even this tree that grows near your house will seem different to you.

Happiness does not need to be sought - it must be. Osho

Almost every success story that I know of started with a man lying on his back, defeated by failure. Jim Rohn

Every long journey begins with one, the first step.

Nobody is better than you. Nobody is smarter than you. They just started early. Brian Tracy

The one who runs falls. He who crawls does not fall. Pliny the Elder

It is enough just to understand that you live in the future, as soon as you find yourself there.

I choose to live rather than exist. James Alan Hetfield

When you appreciate what you have, and not live in search of ideals, then you will truly become happy ..

Only those who are worse than us think badly about us, and those who are better than us are simply not up to us. Omar Khayyam

Sometimes one call separates us from happiness… One conversation… One confession…

By admitting one's weakness, one becomes strong. Honre Balzac

He who humbles his spirit is stronger than he who conquers cities.

When an opportunity presents itself, you must seize it. And when you grabbed it, achieved success - enjoy it. Feel the joy. And let everyone around suck your hose for being goats, when they didn’t even give you a penny. And then go away. Beautiful. And leave everyone in shock.

Never despair. And if you have already fallen into despair, then continue to work in despair.

A decisive step forward is the result of a good kick from behind!

In Russia, you have to be either famous or rich to be treated the way anyone in Europe is treated. Konstantin Raikin

It all depends on your attitude. (Chuck Norris)

No reasoning can show a man the path he does not want to see Romain Rolland

What you believe in becomes your world. Richard Matheson

It's good where we're not. We are no longer in the past, and therefore it seems beautiful. Anton Chekhov

The rich get richer because they learn to overcome financial hardship. They see them as an opportunity to learn, grow, develop, and prosper.

Everyone has their own hell - it's not necessarily fire and tar! Our hell is a wasted life! Where Dreams Lead

It doesn't matter how hard you work, the main thing is the result.

Only mother has the most affectionate hands, the most tender smile and the most loving heart ...

Winners in life always think in the spirit: I can, I want, I. Losers, on the other hand, focus their scattered thoughts on what they could have, could do, or what they could not do. In other words, winners always take responsibility for themselves, and losers blame circumstances or other people for their failures. Denis Waitley.

Life is a mountain climbing slowly, descending quickly. Guy de Maupassant

People are so afraid to take a step towards a new life that they are ready to close their eyes to everything that does not suit them. But it’s even scarier: to wake up one day and realize that everything is not right, wrong, wrong ... Bernard Shaw

Friendship and trust cannot be bought or sold.

Always, in every minute of your life, even when you are absolutely happy, have one attitude towards the people around you: - In any case, I will do what I want, with or without you.

In the world, only one can choose between loneliness and vulgarity. Arthur Schopenhauer

One has only to look at things differently, and life will flow in a different direction.

The iron said to the magnet: most of all I hate you because you attract, not having enough strength to drag you along! Friedrich Nietzsche

Know how to live even when life becomes unbearable. N. Ostrovsky

The picture you see in your mind will eventually become your life.

“The first half of your life you ask yourself what you are capable of, but the second - and who needs it?”

It's never too late to set a new goal or find a new dream.

Control your destiny or someone else will.

see beauty in the ugly
to see rivers in the streams…
who knows how to be happy on weekdays,
he really is a lucky man! E. Asadov

The sage was asked:

How many types of friendship are there?

Four, he replied.
There are friends, like food - every day you need them.
There are friends, like medicine, you look for them when you feel bad.
There are friends, like a disease, they themselves are looking for you.
But there are such friends as air - they are not visible, but they are always with you.

I will become the person I want to be - if I believe that I will become one. Gandhi

Open your heart and listen to what it dreams about. Follow your dream, because only through the one who is not ashamed of himself will the glory of the Lord be manifested. Paulo Coelho

To be refuted is nothing to fear; one should be afraid of another - to be misunderstood. Immanuel Kant

Be realistic - demand the impossible! Che Guevara

Don't put off your plans if it's raining outside.
Don't give up on your dreams if people don't believe in you.
Go against nature, people. You are a person. You are strong.
And remember - there are no unattainable goals - there is a high coefficient of laziness, a lack of ingenuity and a stock of excuses.

Either you create the world, or the world creates you. Jack Nicholson

I love it when people just smile. You go, for example, on a bus and you see a person looking out the window or texting and smiling. It feels so good to the soul. And I want to smile too.

Good afternoon, dear readers! Each of us thinks about how to be happy. On a subconscious level, we strive to achieve harmony in life. It turns out it's not difficult at all. In this post, we decided to publish the advice of the sages about life, which will help streamline the chaos of thoughts, ideas and emotions on this topic in your head.

Where to get the truth?

Few people know how to properly organize their lives in order to become happy and harmonious individuals. Those who know these secrets go step by step to the goal that they clearly imagine in detail. And, as a rule, they manage to build their life exactly the way they dream of.

The majority of the population needs the advice and tips of the ancient sages. Mostly they are representatives of oriental culture. As a rule, their formulations in a slightly modified form are passed on by mankind from generation to generation. And they remain more than relevant today.

• Accept yourself the way you are. You are inimitable and unique. Love yourself with all the flaws and virtues.
• Train your body and spirit. During regular sports activities, we train not only muscles. As proven by scientists, sports training makes the brain more active, and thoughts more clear.
• Speak only when necessary. Excessive talkativeness never did anyone any good. On the contrary, people in their desire to appear sociable and friendly, as a rule, give out a lot of personal, useless information, thereby often putting themselves in an uncomfortable position. And often after that they have to regret what was said. But remember that time does not come back. Therefore, it will become a good habit to speak when we are asked about something or there is an urgent need for it. In all other situations, it is better to remain silent.
• Give up bad habits. As soon as you do this, you will immediately notice how the quality of life has improved. In addition to health and saving money, you will look independent in the eyes of other people. After all, any bad habit is an addiction. And addiction is a weakness. Take this step and you will grow at least in your own eyes.
• . A good complexion and strong immunity, we provide ourselves with a good sleep. And no matter how many things have piled up, you need to sleep enough. Even if you do not get enough sleep one night, the next you need to catch up on missed hours.
• Come to terms with the injustice of life. We are all born different in hair color, weight, height, social status. But it does not matter, because everyone has a chance to succeed. It is important to understand what you are doing and know exactly the purpose of these actions.
• You won't change direction along the way, you need to stop for that. Don't be afraid to stop. Perhaps this is a chance to direct your movement for the better.
• Try not to borrow. Remember, first you need to sow, and only then harvest. It's the same with shopping - first earn money, and then spend it. After all, a loan is not only moral worries and obligations on your part, it often causes inconvenience for the person who lends you money. Recommended with tips from billionaires.
• Deliberately fill your life with bright and joyful moments. Remember that if you don't, it will fill up on its own, and usually with something else.
• Each of us at some point pays for everything. And most of all, inaction costs us the most. Just imagine how much time you have already lost because of your indecision. And it was better to try and fail than to spend half your life thinking and calculating risks. Don't forget that all is not lost yet, and start acting right now!
• Never complain. We attract into our lives those events and people that we need to learn certain lessons. But if we run away from them, then the fee is likely to increase several times.
• Formulate your desires and plans clearly and clearly, try to present the future result in detail. And if you yourself do not know what you want, or constantly change your desires and intentions, the result of this will be chaos in life.
• Every day take at least a small step in the intended direction. Only in this way can any result be achieved. And if you think and dream every day, without doing anything, most likely you will not get anything.
• Change despite the stereotypes. After all, they are the main obstacles to change. Don't wait for the right moment, start now.
• Gain and loss are, in fact, absolutely one phenomenon, contemplated from different angles. When we acquire something, we lose the ability to choose. And in case of loss, on the contrary, we gain it. Don't be afraid of losses.
• Resolve issues promptly. After all, when you leave it for later, they multiply and accumulate like a snowball, gradually knocking a person out of a rut.
• Don't try to please everyone. This is impossible. Let the golden rule for you in any act be alignment with your own conscience.
• The environment is neutral. It is our thoughts that make it good or bad. Try to find something positive in every event.
• Don't get angry and don't take revenge. Hatred is too heavy a feeling that makes our thoughts gloomy. Let go and forgive. The best punishment for the offender will be the contemplation of your success. Work on yourself and achieve your goals.
• We come into the world from nowhere and we go there. You must try to live life as your conscience tells you. Having solved all the tasks set before us, we can move to a new level.

Conclusion

There is a lot of truth and justice in Chinese proverbs and sayings of philosophers of other nations. If we learn to follow them at least a little, we will soon notice that our life becomes meaningful, correct, harmonious.

Organize your life thoughtfully, efficiently and conscientiously, following the advice of the sages. May harmony and prosperity surround you!