Just Use It

“A writer–and I believe, generally all persons–must think that whatever happens to him or her is a resource. All things have been given to us for a purpose and an artist must feel this more intensely. All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments, all is given to us as raw material, as clay, so that we may shape our art.” -Jorge Luis Borges

“A blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it.” -Marcus Aurelius

The essence of Stoic teaching is that we can’t control what happens to us, we can only control our response. If we can look at everything that happens to us–especially suffering–as fuel for our art, as something we can use, as a way to help others, then we will endure and come out stronger. We can have the GOOD mindset. We can be like Thomas Edison who at 67 while watching his factory burn down, told his son to enjoy the fire, and was genuinely excited about the prospect of starting over.

Whatever happens, use it.

Use it to create.

Use it to help.

Use it to inspire.

Use it to strengthen.

Use it to love.

Just use it.