All That You Have Is Your Soul
My daily stoic reading reminded me that worrying about things we can’t change
is irrational; it is a waste of mental energy.
And consider the idea that it is not things or events that bother us,
but our thoughts or judgments about events or things.
Furthermore, stoicism teaches that ...
External things are transient and passing, and any satisfaction their possession or enjoyment confers could soon pass; likewise, any distress caused by adverse incidents will pass soon too.
Other people may be less worthy of our trust and faith than we had hoped and we need to develop ways of dealing with insults and slander, if we are to be happy.
The pursuit of fame is like the flower on the lemon tree, very pretty ...
but if we should pick the fruit, the taste is sour when we bite into it.
Whatever else misfortune can take away from us, it cannot take away our capacities to not become hateful, but to strive to be generous, better people.
All this is so well expressed by Tracy Chapman:
(I have an essay REALITY 2)
All That You Have Is Your Soul
Tracy Chapman
click to watch on YouTube
Oh my mama told me
'Cause she says she learned the hard way
She say she wanna spare the children
She say don't give or sell your soul away
'Cause all that you have is your soul
So don't be tempted by the shiny apple
Don't you eat of a bitter fruit
Hunger only for a taste of justice
Hunger only for a world of truth
'Cause all that you have is your soul
Well I was a pretty young girl once
I had dreams I had high hopes
I married a man he stole my heart away
He gave his love but what a high price I paid
All that you have is your soul
So don't be tempted by the shiny apple
Don't you eat of a bitter fruit
Hunger only for a taste of justice
Hunger only for a world of truth
'Cause all that you have is your soul
Why was I such a young fool
Thought I'd make history
Making babies was the best I could do
Thought I'd made something that could be mine forever
Found out the hard way one can't possess another
And all that you have is your soul
So don't be tempted by the shiny apple
Don't you eat of a bitter fruit
Hunger only for a taste of justice
Hunger only for a world of truth
'Cause all that you have is your soul
I thought, thought that I could find a way
To beat the system
To make a deal and have no debts to pay
I'd take it all, I'd take it all, I'd run away
Me for myself first class and first rate
But all that you have is your soul
So don't be tempted by the shiny apple
Don't you eat of a bitter fruit
Hunger only for a taste of justice
Hunger only for a world of truth
'Cause all that you have is your soul
Here I am, I'm waiting for a better day
A second chance
A little luck to come my way
A hope to dream, a hope that I can sleep again
And wake in the world with a clear conscience and clean hands
'Cause all that you have is your soul
So don't be tempted by the shiny apple
Don't you eat of a bitter fruit
Hunger only for a taste of justice
Hunger only for a world of truth
'Cause all that you have is your soul
Oh my mama told me
'Cause she say she learned the hard way
She say she wanna spare the children
She say don't give or sell your soul away
'Cause all that you have is your soul
All that you have
All that you have
All that you have
Is your soul