Learning to Become Better at the Art of Living

Having acquired my undergraduate degree in Advertising, I have always liked short, pithy, memorable advertising slogans. Such a slogan is, “Things go better with Coke.” They don’t say what things, just things. Ask someone, anyone, “Where’s the beef?” and they will answer, “At Wendy’s. Another advertising gem is Nike’s motivational —“Just do it!” A classic for me is the six word line from the United Negro College Fund ad, “A mind is a terrible thing to waste.” Too bad that so few people remember that slogan and even fewer heed the implied suggestion: Don’t be wasteful, use your mind.

“A rubber band once stretched” wrote an unknown author, “never returns to its original size; it's always a little longer. The same is true for you and me. Once we stretch our minds, we never return to the same mental person we were; we've grown.

One way to stretch your mind is through reading. Books lay the world of knowledge at the feet of the reader. Obviously there are some books not worth reading and some more difficult to read and understand than others.

There are some historical writings, that when written were easily understood but today are hard to master. The King James Translation of the Bible is hard to read and difficult to understand. Any of Shakespeare’s writings are difficult for most of us to read and understand. Then there is Beowulf—I never understood Old English nor grasped the significance of this Scandinavian Warrior and his battle against the monster Grendel. But then, I am the one on trial not Beowulf.

Yet, there are some historical writings that were practical and easily understood when they were written and are still practical and easily understood today. Some months ago while at Barnes and Nobles looking for a book to read, I came across such a book, “The Art of Living.” The book reveals the wisdom and sayings of Epictetus a Greek Stoic philosopher (A.D. 55 – A.D. 135).

The book jacket advertizes the book to be, “The Classic Manual on Virtue, Happiness, and Effectiveness” — three classic Hog Nation values.

Sharon Lebell, whose interpretation of “The Art of Living” I read, writes that Epictetus, “dedicated his life to outlining the simple way to happiness, fulfillment, and tranquility, no matter what one’s circumstances happened to be.” This 2,000 year old wisdom is as relevant today as the latest motivational Best Seller. Here are a few gems to consider:

• “See things for what they are. When something happens, the only thing within your power is your attitude toward it; you can either accept it or resent it. Things and people are not what we wish them to be or what they seem to be. They are what they are.” Hogs know this as, “What is, is!”

• “Events don’t hurt us, but our views of them can. It is our attitude and reactions that give us trouble. We can not choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them. Discriminate between events themselves and your interpretation of them.” Hogs know that they are solely responsible for their attitude and Hog Professionals choose to have Positive Attitudes.

• “Avoid adopting other people’s negative views. Other people’s views and troubles can be contagious. Don’t sabotage yourself by unwittingly adopting negative, unproductive attitudes through your associations with others.” Hogs don’t associate with “swine” i.e. negative thinking individuals.

• “All advantages have their price. You will never earn the same rewards as others without employing the same methods and investment of time as they do.” (Compare to The Law of Causality and The Law of Cause and Effect; for every effect there is a cause).

• “Stay the course, in good weather and bad. Regardless of what is going on around you, make the best of what is in your power, and take the rest as it occurs.” Hogs sleep good knowing they gave the day their best. They know they will never have to “back up” to the pay window.

• “Every habit and faculty is preserved and increased by its corresponding actions: The habit of walking makes us better walkers.” The habit of selling makes us better salespeople. Hogs know that good habits are hard to break; so are bad ones.

The more we open our minds to the writings, teachings and philosophy’s of great authors, thinkers and philosophers, the more we can clearly see success is a personal thing. The core rules of success are the same for every age. And the ultimate success goal, though it predates Epictetus, is as relevant as today:“What matters most,” Epictetus stressed, “is what sort of person you are becoming, what sort of life you are living.”

Henry David Thoreau makes the same point when he wrote, “What you get by achieving your goals is as important as what you become by achieving your goals.”