In today's guided meditation, we reflect on the lesson of Greek / Stoic philosophy that says that everything that's happening in your life, is happening FOR you, not TO you...

​Imagine that you are a fire-without logs being thrown into the fire, the fire dies. We need these challenges, to bring out the best in us, to practice Virtue ('Arete' in Greek). Marcus Aurelius's note to himself summarises it beautifully, "The impediment to action advances actions. What stands in the way, becomes the way."

For philosophers, the REAL purpose of our life is not to be "successful" (as an end in itself) , but to flourish and be fulfilled ('Eudaimonia' in Greek), and this can only be done through practicing Arete

In today's guided meditation, we focus on the ancient Greek method for remaining calm and confident, no matter what you are challenged with: When undertaking the fulfillment of any goal, Stoics apply a very clever technique called "Hupexairesis" (meaning 'Exception' in Greek). The "Reserve Clause", as it is known, means adding the caveat “Fate permitting” or "God permitting" to our plans to achieve a certain goal.

This can help you in many ways:
1. You avoid disappointment if your plans don't work out.
2. You maintain equanimity (a balanced spirit) in the face of adversity so you can think more clearly, and find solutions.
3. Although you pursue your goal with passion, at the same time, you are inwardly free of the result, and this cultivates self-confidence and long-lasting happiness.
4. When you're free, it sometimes actually attracts what you want to you, rather than you pushing or forcing something to happen.

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Yo-Yo MA, the world renowned cello player, organized a unique event at Athens, in the summer of 2019 together with the Heritage Management Organization and Baumstrasse and this organization was hosted in the gardens of the Athens Observatory.
Other speakers included professor Andreas Papandreou Jr. and former minister of culture of Greece Lydia Koniordou.

The theme was democracy, focusing on the Funeral Oration. (The speech was delivered by Pericles, an eminent Athenian politician, at the end of the first year of the Peloponnesian War (431–404 BCE) as a part of the annual public funeral for the war dead. (The Funeral Oration is significant because it differs from the usual form of Athenian funeral speeches. David Cartwright describes it as "a eulogy of Athens itself...".The speech glorifies Athens' achievements, designed to stir the spirits of a state still at war.

​In this week's guided meditation, we reflect on the the Stoic art of Acquiescence; Accepting and loving whatever is happening, by focusing on a a quote by famous Stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius, " Oh world, I am in tune with every note of the great harmony. For me nothing is early, nothing late, if it be timely for Thee. Oh Nature, all that thy seasons yield is fruit for me."

My meditations are filmed in beautiful, healing GREECE. To listen to more like this ,go to my website, in menu, under "GUIDED MEDITATIONS" or Subscribe to my youtube channel, 'alkistisTV' ​"

My deeply relaxing guided meditations based on Greek Philosophy & alpha wave technology will help you to move from fear to freedom effortlessly, in your sleep."

DOCTORS RECOMMEND daily practice of a deeply relaxing inner state, to help us manage stress and anxiety. Scientific Studies have proven that in relaxed state, the mind is more than ​200% more receptive to suggestions, than in ordinary, conscious state. In addition, when we introduce a 'positive mission statement' during this practice, it can bring on positive powerful changes in our life.

THE 7 BENEFITS of a GUIDED MEDITATION: ​
1. CALMS YOUR STRESS & RELAX
2. CULTIVATES SELF-INDUCED RELAXATION AT WILL
3. INCREASES MINDFULNESS & INTUITION
4. CONNECTS YOU WITH YOUR DEEPER WISDOM
5. RELIEVES MIGRAINES & PSYCHOSOMATIC SYMPTOMS
​6. DEEPENS POSITIVE AFFIRMATION FOR PERSONAL & PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS​ 7. ATTUNES YOURSELF TO WHAT YOU TRULY WANT IN YOUR LIFE

​“Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it.” - Epictetus 
​
American philosopher Henry David Thoreau conveyed the problem of modern western philosophy in his book Walden, Life in the Woods.

“There are nowadays professors of philosophy, but not philosophers. To be a philosopher is not merely to have subtle thoughts, [. . .] but to so love wisdom as to live according to its dictates, a life of simplicity, independence, magnanimity, and trust. It is to solve some of the problems of life, not only theoretically, but practically."

In other words, modern philosophy has become a discourse about philosophy. 

Philosophy is a practice not a theory.

The Askesis cultivate Prosochē (attention, focus - discussed at the end of the section on Ethos, “Words to live by”). 

"When you relax your attention for a while, do not fancy you will recover it whenever you please, but remember this, that because of your fault of today your affairs must necessarily be in a worse condition in future occasions". -Epictetus (Discourses 4.12.1)

In time, as you develop and deepen the attitude and practice of prosochē, you will become a prokoptōn (one who is making progress).

​The practice of self-observation, does not demand perfection. It demands that one does it. Prosoche requires attention and focus. The goal of the prokoptōn is continual progress - “Ever to excel” (Greek: “Αιέν αριστεύειν”)

NOTE: THIS IS AN EXCERPT FROM MY BOOK "FROM FEAR TO FREEDOM"