"He is a slave." His soul, however, may be that of a freeman. "He is a slave." But shall that stand in his way? Show me a man who is not a slave; one is a slave to lust, another to greed, another to ambition, and all men are slaves to fear. I will name you an ex-consul who is slave to an old hag, a millionaire who is slave to a serving-maid; I will show you youths of the noblest birth in serfdom to pantomime players! No servitude is more disgraceful than that which is self-imposed.
-Seneca
As true today as when it was written.
Most of the examples are accessible and I’d like to expound a bit on the matter of all men being slaves to fear, for I think it would be easy to gloss over that. To me, that is the most powerful element of the equation.
How much of our behavior is motivated out of anticipation of future pain, whether that be physical harm or something less intense like feeling disliked or unwanted?
What forms of servitude do you impose upon yourself?
How would your life be different if you were able to stop doing that?
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[–] FullSemiAutomatic [S] 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Heads-up, I'll be out most of next week.
Please feel free to continue the series in my absence.
[–] TrialsAndTribulation 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Thanks for the update. I read every single one of these posts and find them very enlightening and useful. Much appreciated.
[–] FullSemiAutomatic [S] 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
REALLY appreciate the words of encouragement, goat!
I love this community and it's my pleasure to be of service.
[–] King_Leopold_II 1 point 1 point 2 points (+2|-1) ago
I was a slave to alcohol and complacency.
I'm doing much better about both.
[–] FullSemiAutomatic [S] 0 points 2 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago
Good on you for taking care of yourself!
Personally, I noticed a HUGE improvement in my life when I stopped drinking regularly. Like I had more to give.
Now, on the occasions when I do drink, it's more of a novelty since I'm not doing it all the time.
Did you find that the two went hand-in-hand? Like less drinking freed up more of your generative energies for other pursuits? That was certainly the case for me.
[–] King_Leopold_II ago
Yes and no.
Before I even went sober I think I was tired of being so complacent and recognized that my alcoholism was a major obstacle to where I wanted to be.
I've not turned the corner fully just yet, but am taking strides to becoming a good man, not boy. I'd like to get married and have kids, lots of them, and everything that comes with the territory.
Sorry my reply took so long, just got back from a vacation myself.