Cut the string that pull your mind

“Understand at last that you have something in you more powerful and divine than what causes the bodily passions and pulls you like a mere puppet. What thoughts now occupy my mind? Is it not fear, suspicion, desire, or something like that?”

— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 12.19

When we talk about temptation we are often referring to that surrounding lust or self indulgence. Yet, all of us fight temptations and distractions with a far greater pull, and often they are subtle and difficult to identify. They will appear to us as things that require our attention, and they might, which is why it can be hard to discard them out of hand.

These last few days, I have been struggling to keep myself focused and undistracted. In that, I have not been doing my work, or not all my work anyways. I have been fighting the demons of distraction, as well as insecurities of inadequacy around some personal projects. They pull constantly, and if allowed can pull me from my efforts.

I took some time to assess, and took steps forward once more. So, I see where these strings can halt a lot of progression forward. I hadn’t framed it like that, but if we are not conscious about it they will guide us instead of our own determinations.