Five Great Ideas From Aristotle

It was Socrates who said that the purpose of philosophy is to help each of us become "an excellent human". That seems like a respectable and reasonable big-picture goal for every person on the planet.

But what about the specifics? How do we become excellent humans? How can we use philosophy in our everyday lives to help us succeed in this most important goal as homo sapiens?

The surprising thing about philosophy is that it is incredibly user-friendly if you take it in small doses. For thousands of years, thoughtful individuals have contemplated the meaning of life. Many of the greatest philosophers spoke eloquently about the challenges we all face today in words that are easily understood and truly inspiring.

Don't believe it? Let's start with a few thoughts from Aristotle. The student of Plato, who was the student of Socrates, Aristotle lived in the third century B.C. But don't hold that against him! Aristotle was full of interesting ideas, and he had quite a sense of humor as well. He's a guy you could imagine sitting in your kitchen, engaging in a memorable conversation over a shared bottle of wine. Think of him as a really wise friend, and use his ideas to help you TODAY to become a more excellent human.

Aristotle believed that everything had a purpose. He stated that our purpose as humans is to think in order to live a good life. That's it. As long as we continue to contemplate the universe and our role in it, we are fulfilling our purpose.

So, to help you contemplate the universe today, here are five inspiring thoughts from our friend, Aristotle:

Thought #1:

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit."

What is it that you repeatedly do? Greet people on the street, let another car into a busy street in front of you, leave nice tips for frazzled waitpersons, read to your children, phone your elderly aunt? What do your habits say about you? Is that the message you want to send?

How can you change your habits or adopt new ones to reflect your desire to become more excellent? What excellent acts can you do repeatedly so that they become a habit? What can you do TODAY to intentionally start a habit that will lead to excellence? Pick something simple and just get started.

Thought #2:

"Education is the best provision for old age."What are you learning these days?

How are you spending your free time? Take a look at how you are including learning in your daily life. Do you read? If so, are you learning from it? Do you watch television? Yes, it can be educational, but seriously analyze your viewing habits and see if you can't incorporate more learning and less vegetating.

Don't pick something boring. Choose ways to learn that excite and inspire you. A cooking class through your local community college? A new sport? A stack of library books on a country you're hoping to visit someday? Pursue your interests with a passion, and you will always continue learning. Promise yourself you'll always have interesting things to talk about when you are old-and this doesn't mean ailments and treatments! Learn now how to ignite your own curiosity and pursue learning as a lifelong adventure.

Thought #3:

"It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

We all do it--we hear an idea, and we immediately attach ourselves to an opinion about it without really giving it the time it takes to form a reasoned conclusion. The problem with smart people is that we tend to use our intelligence to argue in defense of our chosen opinions. We'd be a whole lot wiser if we did less arguing and more thinking!

The next time someone makes a suggestion you don't like or states an opinion you disagree with, try this: Wait three minutes before denouncing it. Now, this doesn't that you should just sit there, fuming or smug or disinterested. Instead, "entertain" the thought. Ask questions. Show interest. Be open, engaged and nonconfrontational. When your three minutes are up, you can feel free to express your original opinion. More often than not, your original opinion will have changed a bit because you have spent some time holding a thought without attacking it.

The trick here is to separate the thought from the thinker. Are you sure you don't dislike the thought because you dislike the thinker? We all have people in our lives who push our buttons. Take the high road. Entertain the thought. Your eventual rebuttal will be more easily accepted after you've shown that you have carefully considered the concept. Try this at work, try it with your friends, try it with your family. This is a surefire path to excellence.

Thought #4:

"What lies in our power to do, also lies in our power not to do."

Ah, yes. Those bad habits? You can change them. If you had the initiative at some point to do something, you can choose to stop doing it. This goes for overeating, smoking, drinking too much, and all the usual bad habits.

It also hold true for things we don't even think of as habits anymore-watching too much television, driving instead of walking, reading nothing but celebrity magazines, gossiping, spending too much time shopping, etc. If you haven't always done it, you don't have to continue doing it. You do have the power to make changes.

Thought #5:

"Well begun is half done."

We all understand that setting a goal, doing the research, and making a plan will increase the likelihood that our chosen task will be successfully completed. Whether it's a home improvement project, a vacation schedule, or a tricky new recipe, proper preparation will save us a lot of time and effort.

Start using Aristotle's ideas today to help you become an excellent human. Make your best acts your best habits. Learn something new each day. Entertain contrary thoughts. Begin to undo bad habits. Prepare yourself for excellence.

Aristotle would be so proud.

About The Author

Maya Talisman Frost is a mind masseuse. Her course, Massage Your Mind!: Defining Your Life Philosophy, has inspired thinkers in over 70 countries around the world. She is the publisher of the Friday Mind Massage, a free weekly ezine serving up a satisfying blend of clarity, comfort and comic relief. To learn more, visit http://www.massageyourmind.com or http://www.mindmasseuse.com.

maya@massageyourmind.com

---

Its Not Your Fault

Have you ever wondered what's really holding you back from... Read More

Why Now Is The Perfect Moment For You To Succeed

Let´s discover the importance of balancing preparation, timing and momentum.... Read More

7 Hot Tips for Self Improvement Part 1

Have you ever imagined that life could be a lot... Read More

Its Never Too Late To Start

Many people never start anything because they think the bus... Read More

L-I-V-E-- 12 Steps to Living Your Life

Many of us only inhabit our lives- we do not... Read More

Are You in Touch With Your Inner M?

"M" is for Motivation.What motivates you to do a good... Read More

Live Life with Gusto

Life is a gift; live it with gusto everyday. Don't... Read More

Motivation To Change, Why Is It So Hard?

We encounter constant changes throughout our life; it could be... Read More

Self Determination - Making the Most Out of You

Breaking the mold of being a child is difficult. The... Read More

Maintaining Your Motivation

I recently spoke to a group of sales professionals at... Read More

Why are You Living?

It was 4,O'Clock in the morning, my regular time to... Read More

How Are You Feeling? Its More Of A Brain Question Than You Think

How you respond to How are You reveals a great... Read More

Motivation: 3 Powerful Quotes from Golfer Tiger Woods

I am not a golfer, unless you count an occasional... Read More

A Special Q & A - All About Passionately Soaring in Life

1. How do I discover my passion?This is one of... Read More

The Untold Truth About Mentors, and Why You DONT Need One

I think there is a misconception about what a mentor... Read More

How Self-Made Millionaires Overcome Procrastination

Do you want to know how the super successful overcome... Read More

12 Reflections on Personal Responsibility

Responsibility means being accountable for what we think, say, and... Read More

Make Fear a Nine Day Wonder - Motivate Yourself with Fun!

Have you heard something referred to as a "nine day... Read More

9 Great Ways To Change Your Life By Changing Your Motivation Style

If you are not as productive as you'd like or... Read More

Moving Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Many professionals have attained a high level of competence in... Read More

Universal Alignment

When the Universe is aligned, all things are possible. Kismet,... Read More

Face Your Fears

Yes, that's me up there! Interestingly enough, I used to... Read More

Ever Feel Like Your Elevator Is Stuck Between Floors?

What do you do when you make a big mistake?... Read More

Your Growing Edge

You've probably heard the term "leading edge" used to refer... Read More

What Makes You Special?

Many people are too busy today trying to fit themselves... Read More

Motivation, Your Core Resource

Your motivation is one of the core resources you have... Read More

How to Overcome Procrastination in 4 Simple Steps

If procrastination is holding you back in life, these 4... Read More

A Turning Point

19 years ago, I was a young working mother at... Read More

Achieving Your Dreams

While most people spend most of their lives struggling to... Read More

Mastering Emotions: Taking Your Life To The Next Level

Hello,How is your day coming along? Better, I am sure,... Read More

Resolution Revolution: 3 Tips For Creating Real Change in the New Year

'Tis the season once again for parties, champagne, noisemakers...and of... Read More

Why Holding A Vision Magnetizes Great Achievement

The only reason some people enjoy success while others fail... Read More

How To Be Motivated To Create The Life Of Your Dreams

When it comes to motivating yourself to be a better... Read More