It’s the time of year to be grateful for the many blessings in our lives, big and small. As we prepare to give homage to all that fills us with gratitude, I’d like to remind you all of a very important factor to consider. The factor I reference may not be visible to the eye (such as the presence of our loved ones or the safety provided by shelter if we are privileged enough to have these two). Instead, it is an abstract, yet powerful mental construct that pulls us toward our higher goals. Our charioteer!**
Our charioteer is constantly at work -- directing, driving, and steering the bright and dark horses within us. Rightfully so, the charioteer will occasionally run out of energy and give into the sweet and persuasive suggestions of the dark horse (crème brûlée after the 5th round of turkey?).
Regardless of its apparent flaws, our charioteer is at work day in and day out and that alone qualifies it for recognition as we give our thanks.
The best versions of ourselves are out there. As we strive and work towards meeting them, let’s remember to embrace our charioteers. While our bright and dark horses are pure, vital sources of energy that inspire our drive, desire to achieve, and "potencia," our charioteers give balance and direction to these forces and with enough training, steers us towards a brighter future.
I’m thankful to be on this journey of personal development and goal achievement with you all (and of course the relentless triad that's within us all).
Happy Thanksgiving!
**Plato’s allegory of the Chariot suggests that we each have a bright horse, a dark horse, and a charioteer inside us, driving us towards our higher goals. The charioteer represents reason, the bright horse our virtues, whilst the dark horse—the focus of Tamed—is our self-indulgent, impulsive, instinctive self.As we set our chariot towards our goals, the impulsive, dark horse repeatedly tries to derail us, by succumbing to immediate gratification.