It Is what It is

Through the course of our lives we will go through different experiences.  Some good and some bad.  While not everything will go according to our initial plan, we must push forward toward the light at the end of the tunnel.  If one door closes, another may open.  

As a huge MMA fan, this sort of thing plays out over and over again when a fighter has to pull out of a fight due to an injury, making room for another fighter to step up.  Most recently, on Sunday April 1st (April Fool’s Day), I heard the unfortunate news that Tony Ferguson, the current UFC Interim Lightweight Champion, had to withdraw from his title fight with the undefeated Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov in Brooklyn this Saturday.  It was a freak, non-training injury (i.e., he basically tripped over some TV cables and torn up his knee).  Many briefly thought it was an April Fool’s joke, because this will be the fourth time their fight was cancelled due to injury.

While this is horrible for Tony, a door opened for another fighter, Max Holloway (the current UFC Featherweight Champion), to challenge “The Eagle” for the 155 pound strap.   

Things may happen for a reason, but that reason is not always the one we want.  Not everything in life is meant to be.

As my fellow Hawaiian Max Holloway would say:

“At the end of the day, it is what it is.”

Stay sharp.  Stay positive.  Stay Strong.

Grace and peace to you,

Seneca Esai

Envy

“I have no hate for any man that is on the same journey as me.”

~Conor McGregor

No matter what path life brings us down, we will find ourselves amongst others traveling on a similar road.  As with all avenues, life’s thoroughfare does not come without divots and imperfections.  One of the many roadblocks of life comes in the form of envy.  Whether it be at the workplace, among friends, at school, or somewhere else, we will find envy in some way, shape, or form. 

So the question is:  Why are people envious?  The simple answer:  Because it is human nature.  It is in our blood. 

While we should understand that no one is perfect, we all can strive to be the best version of ourselves; not just in our actions of glory, wealth increase, or status improvement, but in our actions towards other individuals.  By helping others we help ourselves develop in maturity, humility, and wisdom. 

Remember, friendly competition is not always bad, but sabotaging another human being for personal gain is.  So the next time you see success from another person on the same road as you, applaud, be happy, be joyful, and work so you may gain that triumph for yourself one day.  Don’t shy away from competition due to unfounded insecurities.  Instead, plod forward.  Doubt is removed by action. 

Now in my parting words I would like to extend a hand and invite you on this journey of self development.  While we may never be perfect, we can endeavor towards that goal everyday.  Be hungry, be helpful, be humble.

Grace and peace to you,

Seneca Esai

On Groundless Fears: Lessons From a Stoic

Letter 13:  On Groundless Fears (by Seneca the Younger aka Lucius Annaeus Seneca)

We often defeat ourselves mentally with groundless fears, causing us to freeze and run away from challenges.  Below are some excerpts from this letter to Lucilius from the Stoic, Seneca the Younger, that can help us move forward and face our fears:

[EXCERPTS]

For our powers can never inspire in us implicit faith in ourselves except when many difficulties have confronted us on this side and on that, and have occasionally even come to close quarters with us. It is only in this way that the true spirit can be tested—the spirit that will never consent to come under the jurisdiction of things external to ourselves. 

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This is the touchstone of such a spirit; no prize fighter can go with high spirits into the strife if he has never been beaten black and blue; the only contestant who can confidently enter the lists is the man who has seen his own blood, who has felt his teeth rattle beneath his opponent’s fist, who has been tripped and felt the full force of his adversary’s charge, who has been downed in body but not in spirit, one who, as often as he falls, rises again with greater defiance than ever. 

Until next time,

Seneca Esai