Day 3: Study Philosophy

Mental Health Pillar: Mastery

by Kacee Must, Citizen Yoga Owner + Founder

We have three equipments: body, mind and intellect. It is simple to write these three on a page and feel like we have a grasp on what they are and how they function, however, we are complicated. Our minds are extremely vast and full of varying desires. The intellect is often not strong enough to direct the mind, and our bodies do not need fixing, they need maintenance and reorganization. If we are to execute meaningful change in our lives, it is important to start at the foundation. 

The foundation of any great leader is core values. We have a specific post on core values later this week, but this list is a helpful starting place to sort through your top values.  

Studying philosophy is a means of developing the contemplative self. The contemplative self is an important part of our identity because over time it helps us recognize unconscious patterns, make more conscious choices, and keeps us on a path of greater clarity. 

Philosophy is not religion, though some philosophical texts may be used in some religions. It is a more rational and objective investigation into truth and eternal ethics. Over time, I have found it to expand the type of texts we use for contemplation. These texts range from books on Zen Buddhism, poetry, Bhagavad Gita, or Light on Life by B.K.S. Iyengar. 

If you incorporate some quiet time for reading and contemplation, it helps to define and refine your core values, examine long held beliefs, offer tools for reframing relationships and experiences, and put you on a clearer path of action for the day ahead. 

Today: 

⁃ Select 3 core vales

⁃ Reflect on the higher ideal that backs the daily action in your life

⁃ Take 15 min to write about a long held belief