Reflection & Introspection: Quotes for the End, Beginning & Present Moment

Every year at this time, as the hustle and bustle begins to wind down, my thoughts straddle between looking back and looking forward.  While I try to stay in the present moment as much as possible, the end of a year and the beginning of a new one has more weight on my mind than just the passing of any other moment, any other day, or any other month during the year.

Reflection is a healthy thing to do at any time; but since most people, and probably most of you reading this, tend to be more reflective this time of year, I thought a post with quotes on reflection would be useful for you in some way. 

As you read and reflect, keep in mind that reflection is not just a "looking back" -- it is giving mindful attention to lessons learned from experience and applying them to future growth and well-being -- it is a reinforcement -- a looking inward -- an introspective inquiry with oneself.

After reflection and introspection, go back to living in the present moment.  Perhaps you won't need any New Year's Resolutions this year!

"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest." ~ Confucius 

"Education begins the gentleman, but reading, good company and reflection must finish him." ~ John Locke

"I love those who can smile in trouble, who can gather strength from distress, and grow brave by reflection. 'Tis the business of little minds to shrink, but they whose heart is firm, and whose conscience approves their conduct, will pursue their principles unto death." ~ Leonardo da Vinci

"The perfect man uses his mind as a mirror. It grasps nothing, it rejects nothing. It receives but does not keep." ~ Chuang tzu

"People usually fail when they are on the verge of success.  So give as much care to the end as to the beginning; Then there will be no failure." ~ Lau Tzu

"What the butterfly calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly." ~ Richard Bach

"Between the conception / And the creation / Between the emotion / And the response / Falls the Shadow." ~ T.S. Elliot

"We must be the change we wish to see in the world." ~ Mahatma Gandhi

"What is to give light must endure burning." ~ Viktor Frankl

"Without accepting the fact that everything changes, we cannot find perfect composure. But unfortunately, although it is true, it is difficult for us to accept it. Because we cannot accept the truth of transience, we suffer." ~ D.T. Suzuki

"Only this actual moment is life.  Don't be attached to the future.  Don't worry about things you have to do.  Don't think about getting up or taking off to do anything.  Don't think about departing." ~ Thich Nhat Hanh 

Thanks for joining me in 2009 -- I'll be back early in 2010!

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Related: Quotes Pages

Comments

[Mark Richards]

The Richard Bach quote is close...

Should be:

“What the caterpillar calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly.”

All beautiful sentiments!

[Chip Dickey]

I have enjoyed your posts. I just found your site. I look forward to reading more in 2010. Happy Holiday and Have a Very Happy New Year!

[Kent @ The Financial Philosopher]

Mark & Chip:

Thank you for adding life to the post with your comments. I look forward to hearing from you in 2010...

Kent

[Kent @ The Financial Philosopher]

If you get a chance, this post from The Kirk Report is well worth a read for a warm, wonderful reflection of life and virtue:

http://www.thekirkreport.com/2009/12/merry-christmas-.html

Cheers to all...

Kent

[Jeffrey Jones]

Hi Kent,

I discovered the site randomly (via The Big Picture, I think) in early November and have been following it since. I remember reading the post on Viktor Frankl and man’s search for meaning. It really stuck with me.

We’ve managed a family of hedge funds for about 25 years now. We’re relatively small, only about $100 million under management, a lot of which is our own and families’ money. But over the years we’ve found that the investors who have been with us for the longest are – like us – people who truly understand who they are as an investor and have similarly unique wants and needs from an investment.

Of course, as a hedge fund, we are really restricted in marketing and communication. But back in July we finally launched a public newsletter as a way to extend certain aspects of that investment conversation beyond our tightly-knit network of clients. Our newsletter is not explicitly focused on “financial philosophy”, but upon reflection, I notice that has indeed been a mild undercurrent in many of our newsletters.

Whenever I talk to people about investing or what I do for a living, I always find myself suggesting that they first embark on a process of self discovery and introspection rather than giving specific recommendations on what to buy or sell. Only after understanding oneself can one even begin to consider the type of investing to pursue. In most of these conversations I get the sense that the person I’m talking to walks away unsatisfied, disappointed, or even baffled, but every so often I find someone that really responds to that type of discussion about investing.

Your recent post on where to invest in 2010 reminded me of a newsletter (linked below) which I wrote back in September where I really felt like I asked many more questions than I answered. I was worried it would turn our readers off, but instead I received a bunch of positive feedback from the article and was thrilled that there were people receptive to that message.

Discovering your website has been something of an inspiration, a reminder to not lose sight of that theme. It’s something of a goal of mine for 2010, to balance the useful practicality of our commentary with encouraging investors to continue down that path toward existential meaning and self-understanding.

Keep up the great work,

Jeffrey D. Jones
theDraconian.com

http://thedraconian.com/2009/09/22/the-elephant-in-the-room/

[Kent @ The Financial Philosopher]

Jeffrey:

Thanks for the thoughtful comment and generous compliment!

It is certainly a challenge for an Adviser to give investors what they really NEED as opposed to what they think they WANT. The greatest clients are those that appreciate an Adviser's candor and guidance.

Self-knowledge is by far the greatest knowledge, although it is the most difficult to teach. Self-discovery is exactly as it sounds -- discovery of (and by) the self. With that said, however, anything that is not in motion must first be moved by something else. The Adviser is the "first mover" and the client must then pursue self-acquaintance. In fact a psychologist can often be a wonderful means of beginning this self-discovery.

Thanks again...

Kent

[How to Relieve Stress]

I thought the quote about the butterfly had and error as I had read it somewhere else before, so am glad that you corrected it to be the caterpillar, not the butterfly. It's a beautiful quote anyway.

One of my favorites is Gandhi's about being the change we want to see in the world. That is powerful.