Every year, I always set 1 resolution that is the same with previous years. “Learn something new”. 2 years ago, I learned how to write and read Javanese script. A year ago I learned how to climb. This year, thanks to the pandemic, I learn new things more than usual.
The first thing I learn this year, that really really help me to strive during this pandemic, is stoicism. According to Wikipedia, the path to eudaimonia (happiness, or blessedness) is found in accepting the moment as it presents itself, by not allowing oneself to be controlled by the desire for pleasure or fear of pain, by using one’s mind to understand the world and to do one’s part in nature’s plan, and by working together and treating others fairly and justly. To be honest it’s a very hard thing to be learned, but we can always start with one thing : focus only to things that we can control. We’re in control of our best effort, we’re in control of our way on diet and exercise, but we’re not in control of how the results are in people’s minds. So, after reading about it, all my energy is focusing on doing best things. I make myself to believe that it’s the process that matters. It’s the process that makes us being our true and best self.
Stoicism also taught us on how to treat others fairly. I train myself to stop thinking negatively to people around me. I try to put myself in other’s shoes. I try to understand their thinking, by set aside my ego and assumption. Remember that assumption leads to disappointment, and nothing good comes from too much ego. World is facing a global issue that leads us to anxiety, trust issue and hopeless feeling. Maybe, just maybe, if we start to treat people around us justly, we can help the world with this small positive vibrant 🙂 .
There are a lot of things still need to be learned from stoicism. I’m still in the process tho. At least, it helps me to make peace with myself. It helps me to be more focused and calm. It helps me to finally learn something I’m afraid to learn before; painting. I was so afraid to do it earlier because I always thought that painting is not for me. When I was 5 years old, I was told blatantly that my drawings were so bad that I wouldn’t be able to master drawing at all. It haunted me. I really wanted to be able to draw, or sketch, or paint, but, all I could think is that the result will be disappointing. So, yeah, thank you stoicism. It really saves me from my traumatic childhood.
It’s not that I only learn how to draw. Drawing or painting itself teaches me a lot. It teaches me how to appreciate art and the artist even more. It teaches me to always think outside the box (especially the moment when you stroke your brush mistakenly that you needed to find a way to disguise it hahaha!). It teaches me to let loose. To choose colors with no further thinking. To express myself by providing my own safe zone. Most importantly, drawing or painting gives me serenity. It’s indeed a therapeutic activity. It gives me time to know myself.
Again, I’m writing this not to brag on how much I’ve learned in this past 6 months. Instead, I want to ask you. To not giving up with the conditions. To not stop learning. To never stop loving yourself by giving yourself what you deserve. You deserve the positivity. The serenity. You deserve the freedom of fear and pain from other’s thinking about you.
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