Be A Productive Thinker

One of our greatest strengths as conscious beings is the ability to not only think, but to refine our thinking. We've been endowed with the ability to decide what we do with a barrage of inputs, should we be compelled to do anything at all.

Productive thinking—the autonomous processing of inputs in a manner that yields benefit—requires the acknowledgement of the natural tension that follows when the rational meets the seemingly irrational, or any external factor not apparently aligned to our intent. It requires the observation of the obvious signs and an awareness of the ever-present role of any number of indifferent factors.

In Discourses and Selected Writings, slave-turned-teacher Epictetus encourages “counter[ing] temptation by remembering how much better will be the knowledge that you resisted.” Here he describes the future joy that can be drawn upon when one chooses a thoughtful response in the moment (“temptation,” in this sense, representing the unchallenged acceptance of our initial thoughts).

Our aim in the pursuit of elevated thinking is is to remain focused on the choosing, engaging our faculty of discernment to determine how we’re going to interpret and respond to any occurrence.

A rejection can be a symbol of your unworthiness, or a reminder of the indelible roles of timing, preference, and alignment and of the opportunity to remain ready for when these factors converge. An accident can be the world conspiring against you, or simply another act in the unbiased chaos of life from which you’ll arise with deepened appreciation.

We temper the blow of chaos when we accept it as our companion, choosing, in all things, to adopt the useful view.

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