Time Doesn’t Make Everything Better...It Just Makes Them What They Are
The Daily Stoic25 Loka 2018

Time Doesn’t Make Everything Better...It Just Makes Them What They Are

When we get dumped or we fail or we lose someone, we often hear that “Time heals all wounds” or some such remark, all of it in consolation. Obviously this is meant well, but it’s also frustrating--if only because it’s trite...and way too simple.

As Rilke wrote, “Time does not ‘console’ as people say superficially; at best it puts things in their place and it creates order.” There is a Zen story about a man whose horse ran away. People said it was bad luck. Then the horse came back, which people thought was good luck, and then his son broke his leg while falling off it and people thought that was bad luck come round again. But because his leg was broken, the man’s son was saved from fighting and dying in a war, and the cycle went on and on.

Time doesn’t make things better or worse, it simply makes them what they are. That’s why the Stoics talk about not rushing to judgment about anything, about waiting and seeing. Because we don’t know. Just giving something time isn’t automatically going to make it better--but it does at least give things a chance to shake out, for us to see the full picture. If there is one aphorism about time that we CAN rely on, that the Stoics would agree with, it's that 'time will tell.'

That’s the moral of the Zen story too. Trying to label things as good luck or bad luck is shortsighted. It assumes that all the facts have been entered into evidence. It’s better to hold off on forming an opinion, because fate is constantly unfolding around us, and today’s bad luck may very well be setting up tomorrow’s good luck (and vice versa).

Time isn’t a panacea, but it is a form of truth. So watch for it. Time will, in fact, tell.


See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jaksot(2885)

This Answers The Great Unanswered Question | Make Honesty Your Only Policy

This Answers The Great Unanswered Question | Make Honesty Your Only Policy

Those that don’t, or those that think they can go it alone, almost always fail.📖 Preorder the final book in Ryan Holiday's The Stoic Virtues Series: "Wisdom Takes Work": https://store.dailystoic.com/...

14 Loka 202511min

Didn’t They Know Better? | Revenge Is A Dish Best Not Served

Didn’t They Know Better? | Revenge Is A Dish Best Not Served

They knew the costs of ego. They knew that happiness was never about externals. Yet they did chase it, didn’t they?📕 Books Mentioned: The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday: https://store.dailystoic.com/Con...

13 Loka 20258min

The First Person to Say NO to Ryan Holiday’s Book Recommendations

The First Person to Say NO to Ryan Holiday’s Book Recommendations

After recording their episode for The Daily Stoic Podcast, Ryan took Pete Holmes on the usual post-interview tour of The Painted Porch. Let’s just say Pete had some thoughts about a few of Ryan’s book...

12 Loka 202520min

Pete Holmes on Why Laughter Is the REAL Path to Enlightenment (PT. 2)

Pete Holmes on Why Laughter Is the REAL Path to Enlightenment (PT. 2)

Comedian Pete Holmes is back for Part 2 and in full philosopher mode. He and Ryan dive into success, psychedelics, and why it’s not egotistical to say you’re “one of the greats.” They talk about how t...

11 Loka 202541min

You Can’t Afford To Be This | How 300 Spartans Saved Western Civilization

You Can’t Afford To Be This | How 300 Spartans Saved Western Civilization

When we react emotionally, we rarely make things better. When we get angry? We always make things worse—for ourselves and others.📖 Preorder the final book in Ryan Holiday's The Stoic Virtues Series: ...

10 Loka 202514min

Older But Never Wiser | Ask Daily Stoic

Older But Never Wiser | Ask Daily Stoic

There is no wisdom without experience. But experience does not necessarily translate into wisdom, does it?📖 Preorder the final book in Ryan Holiday's The Stoic Virtues Series: "Wisdom Takes Work": ht...

9 Loka 202510min

BONUS | If You’re Feeling Anxious Right Now, Listen To This

BONUS | If You’re Feeling Anxious Right Now, Listen To This

Feeling anxious lately? In this bonus episode, Ryan and author Chris Guillebeau break down what your anxiety is really trying to tell you, why fighting it makes it worse, and how to finally feel calm ...

9 Loka 202510min

Don’t Be This Kind of Friend

Don’t Be This Kind of Friend

We’ve all known these people. They say one thing and do another. They virtue signal but act without virtue. 👉 Support the podcast and go deeper into Stoicism by subscribing to The Daily Stoic Premium...

8 Loka 20252min

Suosittua kategoriassa Liike-elämä ja talous

sijotuskasti
mimmit-sijoittaa
psykopodiaa-podcast
rss-rahapodi
rss-rahamania
ostan-asuntoja-podcast
juristipodi
pomojen-suusta
rss-seuraava-potilas
rss-lahtijat
rss-myyntikoulu
rss-draivi
taloudellinen-mielenrauha
leadcast
rahapuhetta
asuntoasiaa-paivakirjat
rss-startup-ministerio
rss-sisalto-kuntoon
oppimisen-psykologia
lakicast