"Love everything and everyone in your life and in what is close to it. Do not listen to the negative comments that others make. Help the needy in your community, because you will bring happiness to your soul. And your soul will be good, if you put in practice your good virtues. As Socrates' philosophy of good in life taught: "If you follow good morals, your soul will live a life of good." There are several ways to practice the virtue of love in your community. For example, keeping the place where you live clean and encouraging others to do so, or bringing harmony to families or the neighborhood by bringing people together to celebrate together on certain occasions. Likewise, Marcus Aurelius in his philosophy made this reflection: "Always do something useful for humanity and let this generosity become a pleasure for you, without forgetting the respect for God." Helping the sick people who live in your neighborhood, I don't know you will put your good virtues into practice, but you will also take pleasure in doing it and you will recognize God as a gift of life."
If you want to live a life that is great, healthy, pleasant and full of affection in the light of the reflection offered by ethical philosophy, follow these steps.
Steps
Step 1. Enjoy the company of your neighbors and those in your life
Worry about constructive criticism. Learn to have patience and tolerance towards others and respect their ideas, even if you disagree. Help your community so you will be happy with yourself. Appreciate the little things in life. Help keep the place you live clean and encourage others to do the same. By feeling good in your environment, you will feel good in the other aspects of your life. Provide comfort and companionship or help your neighbors - whether it's visiting an elder every week or maybe helping out with yard work - a little love can go a long way. Knowledge must actually be for the good of all. Each individual can be guided by the collective decisions of the community, so be willing to follow the advice you receive. You can also gather others to celebrate together on certain occasions - it's nice and you'll earn friends in the meantime. "A sincere friend is a person who loves or appreciates another person for the sake of the latter" (Aristotle). Build real friendships that last a lifetime. As Epicurus said in his Maxims Capitals: "Of all the means that wisdom uses to ensure lifelong happiness, friendship is by far the most important."
Step 2. Live life to your full potential
Have you always wanted to try rock climbing? Do it. Write a list of 50 things you want to do. Life is full of adventures. Commit and never give up. Whenever you get a chance to try something new, do it! Epicurus taught us that "pleasure is the absence of pain". This concept is important, because by neglecting the things we are passionate about, we risk losing our mental, emotional and even physical balance, drawing pain from it. Living a healthy and happy life means taking care not only of our immediate needs, but also of what we desire. So, push back the remorse and grasp these aspects in a life full of opportunity. Live with passion. Remember that we live life day to day preparing for moments of pleasure and grasping these moments even when they are not foreseen. However, also keep in mind to practice moderation. Extremes can lead to an unbalanced life. Learn to prioritize and not sacrifice virtues for passing pleasures - it won't be worth it in the long run.
Step 3. Maintain a healthy and active lifestyle
The famous philosopher, Marcus Aurelius, teaches us that our emotions are the result of our judgment. Then, in order to control emotions, we must strive to produce a better judgment. Life itself can cloud our judgment. Physical activity, however, is not only healthy for the body, it is also beneficial for the mind, and can, in turn, help us balance our emotions. When you are healthy, you are happy. Work out a training program that fits your lifestyle and stick to it. Studies show that those who are healthier are also happier. Eat only healthy things. Avoid junk food whenever you can. Aristotle said that we, as human beings, must find the happy medium and not eat too much or too little. He said that, by acting with excellence or virtue, one encounters propitious consequences. Be physically active and start playing sports. This way you will enjoy life, keeping you fit both mentally and physically.
Step 4. Guide and mental attitude
Guide someone. If you are young, find a guy who needs a role model and be a good example for him. By doing so, you can help change his life, bringing satisfaction to both him and yourself. As the Stoic philosophers used to say, make philosophical reasoning and discussions a part of your daily life. It is not enough to improve the health of the body, because we must also keep the mind healthy. Therefore, keep it healthy by reflecting on your life and taking note of all your emotions - a bit like Marcus Aurelius did when he wrote his Meditations.
Step 5. Try to love, or at least appreciate, everything and everyone in life, in the world and in the universe
Smell the flowers, hug a tree, give all the love you can. Befriend your enemies. Enjoy the little pleasures in life. Often, we fail to notice these "little" things, which are actually beautiful. We are so immersed in everyday life that we fail to appreciate what we have in front of us. If something is wrong, try to learn a lesson from that situation. Do your best to maintain a positive attitude in difficult times and be optimistic. Others will notice and benefit from it. Stay focused on what's good, instead of dwelling on what's not. Marcus Aurelius said that one must go beyond one's individual perspective and use that of the world. Realize that simple things are a gift and don't take anything for granted, such as showering after a tiring day, wind blowing through your skin, and mountains in the distance. Know that you have to be aware of everything we have because in the meantime other people are struggling with a variety of difficulties.
Step 6. Treat others with respect and always as an end and never as a means
Recognize humanity in other people and don't try to use them as stepping stones to achieve your goals. On the contrary, realize that others have their own intrinsic value and are ends in themselves. In doing so, your relationships will be more positive and lead to a happier life. Among the different philosophical systems, the Socratic one constitutes a valid way to live life. It can be applied to anyone, regardless of their situation or origin. It is very logical to think that a virtuous life begins with cultivating the typical qualities of a good soul. If more people with good souls around the world applied the Socratic method of seeking the truth to live a healthy and happy life, I believe that the influence of thoughts and actions would lead bad souls to reflect on how they act. In conclusion, it is hoped that they will strive to start looking for a more virtuous way of living and that they will help others to oppose each other's destruction.
Step 7. Fulfill your wishes to connect with others
Whether it's friends, family, pets, associations, or your life partner, look for those who don't make you feel alone. It is also important to find a person with whom to share your ethical horizon. Without the common sense of the virtues, we risk easily misunderstanding each other and compromising relationships. A person's soul can enrich you more than his bank account. Don't be with someone simply because they give you material wealth, status, or some other tangible good. Join the people you like to contribute by fulfilling your desire for relationships or, to use Kant's words, be a "person of good will", that is, an intentionally good person, with no ulterior motives. Epicurus places a high value on friendship and love, associating them with happiness and pleasure. Realize that beautiful friendships are rare in life, and to keep them strong, Aristotle recommends spending a lot of time with the other person, doing activities together and engaging in beneficial behavior for both of you. Epicurus says, "Of all the means that wisdom uses to ensure lifelong happiness, friendship is by far the most important." When it comes to the life partner, wealth and beauty aren't the only things that matter, but enjoying the presence of the other is essential. However, what if you are an introverted person who is not looking for company? Maybe you prefer to be alone and away from people, because this is what makes you happiest. It is not a question of whether it is more wrong to have friends and acquaintances or not to have them, but simply that one might be better than another depending on the person. This argument marries Aristotle's thesis that "There are differences of opinion about what is best for human beings, and to take advantage of ethical research we need to resolve this disagreement … The difficult and controversial question arises when we ask whether some of these goods are more desirable than others. Aristotle's pursuit of the good is the pursuit of the highest good. The philosopher assumes that the highest good, regardless of what comes into being, has three characteristics: desirable because of another good and all other goods are desirable because of him. " So, if you don't want to relate, it may be wise to focus on other tips featured in this article.
Step 8. Start pursuing a hobby
For example, sign up for a dance, football, art or music class. Life is more pleasant when you spend it doing what you like (Aristotle). It is not enough to sit on the sofa all day to eat, to watch TV, to see others having fun. The more skills you acquire, the better it will be. Improve your skills by practicing the ones you already have. The more you improve something, the more pleasant it becomes (Aristotle). Befriend people who have the same hobbies and skills as you. Often these friendships can turn into lasting relationships. Learn from them and teach. According to Plato, the meaning of life comes from getting lost, so if there is something you truly love to do and are passionate about, do it and don't stop.
Step 9. Be selfless in relation to a cause, to nature, to humanity, to animals
Find out about a cause, study it and put all your energy into making your contribution. "We must consider both the ultimate goal and all the clear sensory evidences, to which our opinions refer, because otherwise everything will be filled with uncertainty and confusion" (Epicurus). By donating our time, money or talent, we can live a life of goodness. "Isn't that too heavy a burden to keep from rejecting it? … I enjoyed giving all my life … And Holly battled depression until she got into effective altruism and is now one of the happiest people she knows" (Peter Singer, Effective Altruism). People, animals and the environment can all be helped in different ways. Adopt a pet, adopt a path, get involved in something. Respect nature every day and try to help make it flourish, instead of undressing it. Show your love for the planet by staying active in protecting the environment. Remember that we do not own the Earth, but we are its custodians. By being part of nature, you will be able to show how many things you have to experience. Know that there is something greater in the universe and seek the truth to find meaning in things that are difficult to understand. Do not fear death, because it is part of the life we all live. Make every moment important.
Advice
- Love everything and everyone.
- Learn to be alone and listen to yourself.
- Educate yourself and others. As Aristotle said, the responsibility for providing education should be removed from the hands of individuals and made it a matter of common concern.
- Make sincere friendships that last a lifetime. As Epicurus said in the Maxims Capitals: "Of all the means that wisdom uses to guarantee happiness throughout life, friendship is by far the most important."
- Another important thought regarding love for everything and everyone is to learn and demonstrate kindness and good humor in both good times and bad times. We are all part of one world and we must remember that we are not on Earth as a function of ourselves, but to be of service to others.
- Do not be discouraged if you cannot understand the true meaning of love, because even the great philosopher Socrates did not understand it, as he said to Diotima: "Tell me, then, the cause of this and other mysteries of love".
- In addition to being in touch with nature, it is important to have faith in a higher power, no matter what religion you belong to or the God you recognize. Faith can overcome fear and allow you to grow and move forward. Have faith in yourself and your neighbor.
- Item or Step 4: Love everything and everyone in life, in the world and in the universe. Smelling the flowers, exploring the outdoors and living among animals and plants are important gestures to be at one with Nature and, therefore, with the universe, but also to find harmony in life. This is one of the precepts of the Stoic philosophy and of the teachings of Epictetus.
Warnings
- In the meantime, don't worry about being an easy going person.
- Learn from stoicism. Don't worry and don't stress yourself about things that are out of your control.
- Don't worry about dying, instead as Thomas Nagel said in DEATH, "believe in some form of immortality".
