Skip to main content

What can I change? - Leo Tolstoy via The Artist's Way -

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.

Widely attributed to Leo Tolstoi (or Tolstoy):  Author, Activist



Another misquote.  Sigh.  The above quote is actually from The Artist's Way at Work : Riding the Dragon (1999)


The actual Tolstoi quote is:  

There can be only one permanent revolution — a moral one; the regeneration of the inner man.
How is this revolution to take place? Nobody knows how it will take place in humanity, but every man feels it clearly in himself. And yet in our world everybody thinks of changing humanity, and nobody thinks of changing himself.


Now, don't get me wrong.  I love the The Artist's Way.  I journal three pages every morning (fingers crossed).  And since Tolstoi wrote in Russian, maybe The Artist's Way translation is accurate.  

Anyway.  Today's blog entry is about change.  I was writing in my journal all of the bitchin' and moanin' that is bouncing around in my head to get it out (About one-third of it is whining).  I wish this was different.  Why does he do this?  This is not right.  ARGH.

But really, I have control over some things ( cue the Serenity Prayer) 





I can change my actions, modify my habits, and control my reactions.  What happens after that, when all the other stuff ( non-controlled variables for us sciency people ) combine with it is to be seen.  Like the butterfly effect.  Or more eloquently put:

I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.

(attributed widely to Mother Teresa, but couldn't find the source).

Also, I understand that the internet loves short sound bites.  But one category of these droplets irk me.  It follows something like this:  "Only you can change yourself."  This is a load of crap.  All life today is the result of millions of years of the environment changing individual members of a species.  

And by "environment," I mean "biotic" (living) and "abiotic" (non-living).  Disease, shootings, natural disasters, governments, education, heart attacks, health care, stock manipulation, etc.  

And then, for sentient creatures, we have the thoughts that bounce around in our minds.  And even those thoughts can be influenced by the environment.  Fake news, philosophy, inaccurate speaking and misinterpretation, art, drugs, torture, cults, brain-washing, entertainment, etc.

So, what to do?  Strategically change something.  Flex your power.  Or:  

“If you do not change direction, you may end up where you are heading.”

Sigh.  Another fake quote attributed to Lao Tzu and Buddha.  But it does provoke thought.





Gratitudes:  paint, soap, fried chicken.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

We shape our buildings - Winston Churchill - Be in action

We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us. from:  Winston Churchill, Painter , Political Survivor, Orator , and Nobel Prize for Literature Winner So much negativity in the world and in my thoughts.  Originally, I was looking for a quote about the benefits of having positive thoughts.  Sigh.  There are many quotes like that out there, but the ones I found where either by celebrities or self-help gurus.  Not that what they are saying is not useful, it is just I wanted elegant, powerful bon mots from a profound source. So, Churchill. I'd written down in my notes about this quote.  It was made in a speech to rebuild the House of Commons after a bombing raid.  I noted the quote because it agrees with my belief that architecture influences those who encounter it, whether for good or bad.  But in this case, I am presenting it to my gentle readers as a metaphor.  Like:  "You reap what you sow," or "You've made your ...

Never Lose Enthusiasm - Aldous Huxley - Secret of Genius

The secret of genius is to carry the spirit of the child into old age, which means never losing your enthusiasm. attributed to:  Aldous Huxley First, I am a little uncomfortable with using this quote.  Normally, I research the origin of a quote for assurances of correctness.  However, after ten minutes of weeding through google results of pinterest, twitter, and the huge quotation cites, I could not find the context of this quote nor conformation that it was Huxley.  Sigh.   If any of my gentle readers have the citation and context of this quote, it would be greatly appreciated.   Second, I decided just to get on with the blog.  What is important?  Spending time verifying a quote (which is not the main purpose of the blog) or crystallizing my idea in writing.  And then to get on living life.   Enthusiasm.  This is what attracted me to this quote.  When things were dark for me, I didn't even have the en...

Keep at it - JK Rowlings - Listen to your teachers

You've got to work. It's about structure. It's about discipline, It's about these deadly things that your teacher told you you needed. JK Rowlings:  Author  , Teacher , and Scribe Fighting Evil . So today I have a choice.  It is my one day off during the week from my day job.  Do I work on my book ideas or do I relax.  I've printed out my schedule for the week and I do see at the day job I have massive amounts of time during the day as I don't work until 3pm.   Or do I read . Argh.  Some people say that being being is hard - long hours, stress, crazy parents and students.  But then, anyone who deals with the public has learned most people are reasonable and nice.  Sales clerks, apartment supers, restaurant workers, hotel staff, and health-care providers can tell you tales.  There are always a few who are bonkers or have agendas that include diminishing, demeaning, or degrading someone else or the establishment to get som...