Reflections on a Problem ©1998 NICOLEA
The Siren by John William Waterhouse (circa 1900)
Public Domain
We call a problem anything that happened to turn you away from your goal, anything that delayed it, anything that diluted it, and anything that led you to give up your goal.
a) Now that you have reflected on this idea of a goal, would you please review what you have written and identify what you would now consider as your goals?
b) Please make sure that you have added to your list some goal that is significant to you that you have not achieved, one that you may be working on.
c) What comes to your mind as you reflect on the problems you might encounter in achieving those goals you just listed?
d) Is it likely that unless you resolve these problems you are likely to encounter some of the same problems when you seek, once again, to achieve your higher goals?
e) Consider, isn't it likely that completing this workbook would count as one of your goals?
f) What do you imagine you will learn about yourself if you decide to do your best completing this workbook-that is with excellence?
May we preserve these philosophical beauties, and exhibit them to others. May this web site expand their elegance by the enlivening rays of the philosophic fire; and by the powerful breath of genius, scatter abroad in this virtual world these latent but copious seeds.
If some sparks of this celestial fire shall animate the reader, consider yourself as well rewarded for this laborious undertaking. Ancient philosophy has been, for centuries, the only study to break the shackles of ignorance; and in which one finds an inexhaustible treasure of intellectual wealth, and a perpetual fountain of wisdom and delight.
Presuming that such a pursuit bestows the highest benefit, I, Webmistress, desire no other reward than the wealth of wisdom, and Reason as my constant Guide. If successful, may I see the praise of the liberal; and if not, I expect no defense for failure, other than the decision of the candid, and discerning few, thus the opportunity to learn, and purgation by philosophic fire.