Chapter 83
Why Logic Fails Against Real Vice
1.You bid me give you an account of each separate day, and of the whole day too; so you must have a good opinion of me if you think that in these days of mine there is nothing to hide. At any rate, it is thus that we should live,—as if we lived in plain sight of all men; and it is thus that we should think,—as if there were someone who could look into our inmost souls; and there is one who can so look. For what avails it that something is hidden from man? Nothing is shut…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Strip Away the Complexity
Think of a current problem in your life that feels complicated or overwhelming. Write it down exactly as you usually think about it, with all the complex factors and considerations. Then rewrite it as simply as possible, in one clear sentence that gets to the heart of what's really happening. Finally, write what the simple truth suggests you should actually do about it.
Consider:
- •Notice if you feel resistance to simplifying - that resistance often points to what you're avoiding
- •Ask yourself: Am I making this complex because the simple version is uncomfortable?
- •Remember that simple doesn't mean easy - it just means clear
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone gave you advice that was perfectly simple and clear, but you ignored it because you preferred a more complicated approach. What happened, and what did you learn?
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