Mabadiliko kwenye maisha yetu ni matokeo ya hatua tunazochukua na siyo maneno au mipango tuliyojiwekea. Hata kama mipango ni mikubwa kiasi gani, hata kama tunaweza kuielezea na kubishana kiasi gani, hakuna matokeo tutakayoyapata kama hakuna hatua tunayochukua. Nakukumbusha hili rafiki, ili kila mara ujue wapi pa kupeleka nguvu zako kama (more…)
“Let’s pass over to the really rich—how often the occasions they look just like the poor! When they travel abroad they must restrict their baggage, and when haste is necessary, they dismiss their entourage. And those who are in the army, how few of their possessions they get to keep (more…)
Unahitaji nguvu ile ile kufanya kazi kama unayotumia kutoroka kufanya kazi. Watu wengi wamekuwa wanatumia nguvu zao siyo kwenye kufanya kazi, bali kutoroka kufanya kazi. Wanapanga vizuri ni hatua zipi watakazochukua, lakini inapofika wakati wa kuchukua hatua, hawakosi kuwa na dharura. Na hata wanapoanza kufanya na wanakutana na ugumu, wanaacha (more…)
“I will keep constant watch over myself and—most usefully—will put each day up for review. For this is what makes us evil—that none of us looks back upon our own lives. We reflect upon only that which we are about to do. And yet our plans for the future descend (more…)
Watu wengi huwa hawapendi kujiwekea viwango vyao vya utendaji, kwa sababu wanaona wakishindwa kuvifikia basi watakuwa wamefeli kwenye maisha yao. Ni kama ambavyo baadhi ya watu wamekuwa hawapendi kuweka malengo kwa sababu wasipoyafikia basi watajiikia vibaya. Faida ya kujiwekea viwango vyako vya utendaji kwenye maisha siyo kufikia viwango hivyo, bali (more…)
“Ask yourself the following first thing in the morning: What am I lacking in attaining freedom from passion? What for tranquility? What am I? A mere body, estate-holder, or reputation? None of these things. What, then? A rational being. What then is demanded of me? Meditate on your actions. How (more…)
Mwandishi mmoja amewahi kuandika kwamba zama hizi ambazo mtu unaweza kufanya kila kitu mwenyewe, zimekuwa zama ambazo ubora wa kazi umeshuka sana. Akitumia mfano wa sanaa na uandishi, anasema zamani msanii aliweka nguvu zako kwenye kutengeneza sanaa yake, na kazi ya masoko na kusambaza ilikuwa kazi za watu wengine, hasa (more…)
“Your principles can’t be extinguished unless you snuff out the thoughts that feed them, for it’s continually in your power to reignite new ones. . . . It’s possible to start living again! See things anew as you once did—that is how to restart life!” —MARCUS AURELIUS, MEDITATIONS, 7.2 Hongera (more…)
Tumekuwa hatupati tunachotaka na wakati huo huo tunakuwa haturidhiki na maisha tuliyonayo. Na hii siyo kwa sababu wengine wanapata wanachotaka au wana maisha bora sana kuliko sisi, bali kwa sababu tunajua tunajikwamisha wenyewe. Tumekuwa tunajikwamisha sisi wenyewe pale ambapo maneno yetu hayaendani na matendo yetu. Tunasema na kuweka mipango mikubwa, (more…)
“A podium and a prison is each a place, one high and the other low, but in either place your freedom of choice can be maintained if you so wish.” —EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 2.6.25 Ni siku nyingine nzuri na ya kipekee sana kwetu rafiki, Tumeipata nafasi nyingine nzuri sana kwetu kwenda (more…)