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Friday Apr 14, 2023
Friday Apr 14, 2023
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Dear Meditator,
One of the things that I really love about Stoicism is that it is practiced in "real life." Stoic philosophers were never secluded but, on the contrary, active citizens. I have always struggled with the notion of going somewhere alone in a retreat or in a cave in the mountain to seek "the truth." I have always found that the "me, alone to focus" is often too Ego driven. It is contrarian to Nature. We, humans, are meant to live in packs, in tribes, in communities. Yes, sometimes it is good to get out of the craziness of big cities, but most importantly, it is essential to find peace and serenity within ourselves, no matter where we are. It is too easy to be peaceful and calm alone in a cabin on top of the mountains in the middle of nowhere. But can you find the same peace in your car stuck in traffic? Can you find the same peace during your kid's loud birthday party? Can you find the same peace while facing adversity?
Epictetus says in his Discourses:
"For a person shifts their caution to their own reasoned choices and the acts of those choices, they will at the same time gain the will to avoid, but if they shift their caution away from their own reasoned choices to things not under their control, seeking to avoid what is controlled by others, they will then be agitated, fearful, and unstable."
You see? You can be in control of your serenity, your calm, and your inner peace. Because it depends on your actions, on your decisions, not on your environment.
Yesterday in my private coaching practice, one of my students told me: I skipped meditation this week because we had visitors and it was too loud. My answer was to go the other way - precisely because your peace is disrupted, you must practice serenity. If you always need to avoid chaos to be content, you will never be successful. Think of a superhero; what would he be if he was super strong, heroic, and virtuous, but ONLY when things are easy. Remember that courage is not the absence of fear, but virtuous action DESPITE fear or IN THE FACE of adversity.
Homework:
When have you made excuses for yourself because of what is around you instead of focusing on what is within you?
Practice one meditation today in a place that is not ideal.
Let me know how it goes!
LOVE + SOUL HUGS
Raphael
Friday Apr 14, 2023
Friday Apr 14, 2023
FREE TRANSCENDENT MEDITATION COURSE:
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https://www.raphaelreiter.com
If you would like to support the channel, you can buy me a coffee via:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/raph
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Daily Meditations:
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By following this deep transcendent guided meditation, you will get the opportunity to get in touch with who you are at your highest potential, at your most natural state of being. Release your expectations and allow yourself to experience this transcendental experience of pure consciousness.
Thursday Apr 13, 2023
Thursday Apr 13, 2023
FREE TRANSCENDENT MEDITATION COURSE:
https://www.mindbodyheartspirit.com/freecourse
Subscribe here to my FREE Weekly letter, directly in your inbox (+ bonuses!)
https://www.raphaelreiter.com
If you would like to support the channel, you can buy me a coffee via:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/raph
Connect with me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/raphael.reiter
Daily Meditations:
https://www.patreon.com/raphaelreiter
By following this deep transcendent guided meditation, you will get the opportunity to get in touch with who you are at your highest potential, at your most natural state of being. Release your expectations and allow yourself to experience this transcendental experience of pure consciousness.
Wednesday Apr 12, 2023
Wednesday Apr 12, 2023
FREE TRANSCENDENT MEDITATION COURSE:
https://www.mindbodyheartspirit.com/freecourse
FREE WEEKLY LETTER BY RAPHAEL:
https://www.raphaelreiter.com
Subscribe here to my FREE Weekly letter, directly in your inbox (+ bonuses!)
https://www.raphaelreiter.com
If you would like to support the channel, you can buy me a coffee via:
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Connect with me on Instagram:
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Daily Meditations:
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Dear Meditator,
Before we start on today's message, thank you for all the beautiful responses I received yesterday. It was an immense joy to read all of your Homework, and I have tried to respond to as many of you as possible. I also loved your celebration ideas.
If you have missed yesterday's episode, you can watch it on Youtube here, and in the description below the video, you will find the transcript too.
If your life feels like it is "Out of control", do this...
We have all been there - maybe you are there right now. A feeling of overwhelm, a sense of anxiety, a feeling that life is out of control. It happens, but the good news is there is a way out. Even if you are in a situation that feels hopeless to you, there is ALWAYS a way out.
When we feel everything is out of control, it usually means that we focus on what we cannot control - and so, indeed, our perception that everything is out of control becomes quasi-factual. What we need to do in these situations is to break the pattern. Break the sensation of hopelessness to start building ourselves back up.
How do we do that? We try our best to focus only on what we can control. It can be something minimal at first. When you wake up, you can influence the decision of your next move. Let that move be something easy and controllable. For example, make your bed. Or sit and meditate for a few breaths, or even turn on one of our many guided meditations.
I have quoted the Serenity Prayer so many times. Still, I will repeat myself because I feel it is crucial:
"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference."
That prayer has been attributed to different people accrosse times and cultures, but it is the core foundation of many philosophies, including, or especially Stoicism.
You've heard me talk about it before, but I have a set of protocols for the morning, the midday and the evening. Then, when I feel my life lacks control, I reinforce those protocols, meaning I dig deeper and ensure I follow them to the letter. Indeed, routine is a great way to regain control of our perceptions and start building hope and joy again.
Within my morning protocol, I have a set of reminders that I read and tick every day. One of them is a quote by Epictetus, who says:
"From the very beginning, make it your practice to say to every harsh impression, 'You are an impression and not at all what you appear to be.' Next, examine and test it by the rules you possess, the first and greatest of which is this—whether it belongs to the things in our control or not in our control, and if the latter, be prepared to respond, 'It is nothing to me.' "
And so here is your Homework for today. And since we had such lovely responses yesterday, I thought we could switch things up a little. If you want to be featured in our next podcast, send me your Homework in a small video or audio (30 seconds to 1 minute). That way, I can feature it on the podcast. Of course, if you answer me in written format, I will consider your answer, as always, completely confidential.
Here are the questions I would like you to answer:
What have you been focusing on that you would better let go of, because it is not in your control?
What are 3 easy tasks that you can do where you can have total control TODAY?
What have you been holding from your past that has been hurting you? Maybe you need to forgive someone, forgive yourself, or simply take a nice big deep breath and let go.
As always, I am looking forward to your answers
LOVE + SOUL HUGS
Raphael
Wednesday Apr 12, 2023
Wednesday Apr 12, 2023
FREE TRANSCENDENT MEDITATION COURSE:
https://www.mindbodyheartspirit.com/freecourse
Subscribe here to my FREE Weekly letter, directly in your inbox (+ bonuses!)
https://www.raphaelreiter.com
If you would like to support the channel, you can buy me a coffee via:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/raph
Connect with me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/raphael.reiter
Daily Meditations:
https://www.patreon.com/raphaelreiter
By following this deep transcendent guided meditation, you will get the opportunity to get in touch with who you are at your highest potential, at your most natural state of being. Release your expectations and allow yourself to experience this transcendental experience of pure consciousness.
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
FREE TRANSCENDENT MEDITATION COURSE:
https://www.mindbodyheartspirit.com/freecourse
FREE WEEKLY LETTER BY RAPHAEL:
https://www.raphaelreiter.com
Subscribe here to my FREE Weekly letter, directly in your inbox (+ bonuses!)
https://www.raphaelreiter.com
If you would like to support the channel, you can buy me a coffee via:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/raph
Connect with me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/raphael.reiter
Daily Meditations:
https://www.patreon.com/raphaelreiter
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
Tuesday Apr 11, 2023
FREE TRANSCENDENT MEDITATION COURSE:
https://www.mindbodyheartspirit.com/freecourse
Subscribe here to my FREE Weekly letter, directly in your inbox (+ bonuses!)
https://www.raphaelreiter.com
If you would like to support the channel, you can buy me a coffee via:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/raph
Connect with me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/raphael.reiter
Daily Meditations:
https://www.patreon.com/raphaelreiter
By following this deep transcendent guided meditation, you will get the opportunity to get in touch with who you are at your highest potential, at your most natural state of being. Release your expectations and allow yourself to experience this transcendental experience of pure consciousness.
Monday Apr 10, 2023
Monday Apr 10, 2023
FREE TRANSCENDENT MEDITATION COURSE:
https://www.mindbodyheartspirit.com/freecourse
Subscribe here to my FREE Weekly letter, directly in your inbox (+ bonuses!)
https://www.raphaelreiter.com
If you would like to support the channel, you can buy me a coffee via:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/raph
Connect with me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/raphael.reiter
Daily Meditations:
https://www.patreon.com/raphaelreiter
By following this deep transcendent guided meditation, you will get the opportunity to get in touch with who you are at your highest potential, at your most natural state of being. Release your expectations and allow yourself to experience this transcendental experience of pure consciousness.
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
Sunday Apr 09, 2023
FREE TRANSCENDENT MEDITATION COURSE:
https://www.mindbodyheartspirit.com/freecourse
Subscribe here to my FREE Weekly letter, directly in your inbox (+ bonuses!)
https://www.raphaelreiter.com
If you would like to support the channel, you can buy me a coffee via:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/raph
Connect with me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/raphael.reiter
Daily Meditations:
https://www.patreon.com/raphaelreiter
By following this deep transcendent guided meditation, you will get the opportunity to get in touch with who you are at your highest potential, at your most natural state of being. Release your expectations and allow yourself to experience this transcendental experience of pure consciousness.
Saturday Apr 08, 2023
Saturday Apr 08, 2023
FREE TRANSCENDENT MEDITATION COURSE:
https://www.mindbodyheartspirit.com/freecourse
Subscribe here to my FREE Weekly letter, directly in your inbox (+ bonuses!)
https://www.raphaelreiter.com
If you would like to support the channel, you can buy me a coffee via:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/raph
Connect with me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/raphael.reiter
Daily Meditations: https://www.patreon.com/raphaelreiter
By following this deep transcendent guided meditation, you will get the opportunity to get in touch with who you are at your highest potential, at your most natural state of being. Release your expectations and allow yourself to experience this transcendental experience of pure consciousness.