[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":78},["ShallowReactive",2],{"stoicism-article-10/22":3},{"path":4,"stem":5,"title":6,"description":7,"meta":8,"body":24},"/stoicism/10/22","stoicism/10/22","It's Easy To Get Better. But Better At What?","Meditation for October 22, 2021",{"quotes":9,"last_updated_at":15,"tags":16,"categories":20,"changeFreq":22,"backgroundImage":23},[10],{"quote":11},{"content":12,"author":13,"source":14},"So someone's good at taking down an opponent, but that doesn't make them more community-minded, or modest, or well-prepared for any circumstance, or more tolerant of the faults of others.","Marcus Aurelius","Meditations, 7.52","2021-10-22T07:37:00",[17,18,19],"stoicism","virtue","kindness",[21,17],"meditation","never","/7tTiI7WqSX-3EkBr3qX2yg.jpg",{"type":25,"value":26,"toc":75},"minimark",[27,31,34,46,53],[28,29,30],"p",{},"Reading the words of Marcus Aurelius, I was struck by how much this statement seemed to mirror our current political\natmosphere. I recognize that supporters of both major parties appear to have a constant need to \"take down\" the\nopponent. What makes this particular cycle deplorable is that everyone is following the lead of the President.",[28,32,33],{},"We don't look to help our neighbors, or if we do, it is only the neighbors who reflect us. Our hubris causes us to feel\nbetter than everyone else whom do not reflect us. We are becoming short-sighted when looking at the effect of our\ncurrent actions. We have become biased and believe the faults of others are egregious while not contemplating our own\nfaults.",[28,35,36,37,41,42,45],{},"While we may try to better ourselves with noble intentions, we can easily be steered towards more self-absorbed\nintentions. About a year ago I started a journey to improve my health. The intention was to be more fit in order to\nenjoy a better lifestyle as I grew older. After nearly a year progressed, I slowly started to notice some physical\nchanges. One negative item I noticed was my ",[38,39,40],"em",{},"love handles",". My intention was never to ",[38,43,44],{},"look better"," but to feel\nhealthier. It was scary how my narcissism looked to take over my goal so easily.",[28,47,48,49,52],{},"The author of ",[50,51],"daily-stoic",{}," had the simplest summary of this that is very fitting.",[54,55,56,68],"block-quote",{},[28,57,58,59,63,64,67],{},"Let's not confuse getting better at ",[60,61,62],"strong",{},"stuff"," with being a better ",[60,65,66],{},"person",".\nOne is a much bigger priority than the other.",[69,70,72],"template",{"v-slot:author":71},"",[28,73,74],{},"Ryan Holiday",{"title":71,"searchDepth":76,"depth":76,"links":77},2,[],1793716907374]