Mindfulness meditation must simultaneously rate as both one of the most powerful and also one of the most underrated things that anyone can do to get on top of life’s challenges.
Contrary to the misplaced stereotype, mindfulness is not about burning essential oils and throwing on Enya (although that certainly works for some people). Rather, the objective of mindfulness is to remain “in the present” – so that one may in turn remain undisturbed or at least less susceptible to adversity, distractions, distress and the damaging effects of intrusive and unwanted thoughts.
Mindfulness – when applied correctly – can be incredibly effective. Many mental health practitioners recommend it. Numerous elite-level athletes at the highest level of competition do it. Even various militaries – organisations that train people to operate under extreme stress – are trying it.
Mindfulness and fictional characters
One of the most effective mindfulness tools that I’ve come across is this 18-minute mindfulness meditation from Donald Robertson. This recording is comparable to many other guided meditations in that it gently steers the listener into a relaxed state so that they may keep a clearer mind, manage distress, act virtuously and improve one’s character.
This particular guided meditation is based around Stoic philosophy. I estimate that I’ve listened to it upwards of 100 times (although if I’m pressed for time I sometimes jump to the second half). Like a familiar song, it’s a recording I’ve come to know very well. Here is one of my favourite passages concerning character:
You love virtue, excellence, and strength of character. You admire wisdom, justice, courage and self-mastery in others, and seek day by day to cultivate these virtues in your own life. You love to contemplate heroic, admirable, and praise-worthy individuals; historical figures, fictional characters and people you’ve encountered in your own life.
The line about finding inspiration in fictional characters is one that I feel touches on a universal and ancient truth. Namely, people love stories – and have done so since humans first learned to communicate.
Stories are what inspired ancient mythology and fairy tales. They are the basis of the most ancient recorded texts, such as the 4000-or-so-year-old Epic Of Gilgamesh and the even older Pyramid Texts. They are the essence of Shakespeare and other great literary works. And they are the reason why film, TV and fiction books dominate modern mass culture.
Stories stir the imagination – and imagination in turn touches something profound and deep within the human psyche. Stories today are ubiquitous, from Star Wars to Godzilla to a multitude of reality TV shows. Stories have the power to thrill, to entertain, to horrify and to enrage. A good story has the power to moves us, sometimes to the extent that it inspires real-life deeds. Whoopi Goldberg, for instance, famously wanted to become an actor after seeing Nichelle Nichols portray Lieutenant Uhura on the original Star Trek.
Naturally, a work of fiction doesn’t have to enjoy a mega-million budget just to move people. In fact, finding something a little deeper and self-reflective in lesser known works is not hard.
Warhammer 40,000 and improving one’s character
I recently came across just such an example during my fiction reading. I’m a sci-fi lover and I quite like the Warhammer 40,000 (40k) universe created by tabletop war gaming company Games Workshop and their literary arm, Black Library.
The 40k setting, if you’re unfamiliar with it, is a grimdark sci-fi universe set 40,000 years in the future. Humanity is ruled by the Imperium and is engaged in a never-ending military struggle against aliens, heretics and extra-dimensional demonic beings. The Imperium is a vast military industrial complex ruled by the God Emperor of Mankind (although he’s been immobilised in a coffin for 10,000 years) – and His finest warriors are genetically engineered super-human warriors known as the Legiones Astartes or Space Marines.
That’s the setting behind a story called The Weight Of Silver. Written by Steven B Fischer, it’s a 40k short story featured in a Games Workshop compilation called Inferno! Volume 3.
PLOT SPOILER ALERT: In The Weight Of Silver, Lieutenant Glavia Aerand is a newly appointed officer leading a veteran team of Imperial Guard (basically, the Imperium’s mass infantry) against a heretical enemy. She falls victim to a ploy that momentarily robs her of her senses, then falls into an ambush where several of her squad are killed.
She loses her confidence and the respect of her troops. Just as she’s at her lowest ebb, she encounters Tarvarius, a Space Marine from the Storm Wings chapter. She explains her thoughts and how she perceives herself to be a failure. In response, Tarvarius hands her a massive jagged chain that he carries around his neck. “This is a record of my Chapter’s failures,” he tells her. “One link for every battle we have lost. One for every mission we have failed to accomplish.”
He continues: “Your past is either a shackle or an inspiration,” he says, talking about the sacrifices that must occur in matters of military command.
He concludes: “The Emperor has no perfect servants, and so He must make do with broken ones like us.”
As the story progresses, Aerand finally redeems herself when she saves the day from another surprise attack – and in doing so, receives a commendation from the Storm Wings.
Fact versus fiction
The 40k world is of course one of fiction. And yet, as pointed out previously, life is filled with stories at every point. You might even say that stories are essential to living. Quite simply, if it weren’t for stories, there would be no Hollywood, no literature, no mythology and no religion.
In the fictional 40k universe, the Astartes are the genetically engineered creations of the God Emperor of Mankind (the fact that the Imperium is an unjust, brutal and oppressively totalitarian regime is a separate discussion). They have super-human strength, are immune to disease, and are the finest warriors in the galaxy. They are, for all intents and purposes, the most perfect humans in the galaxy, apart from their Primarchs.
And yet, as Tarvarius explains, even the Astartes are imperfect. They too have to contend with failure, adversity, defeats and setbacks. Yes, even the God Emperor’s own servants must overcome matters that are beyond their control.
The Weight Of Silver is a fictional story but it’s an apt observation on the human condition. Namely, that even the best of us must contend with failure.
It’s a lesson that carries over into real life and it’s one reason why stories are essential to living. Stories illustrate to us what it is to be human – and it is why stories of fiction are as important as those of reality.
Just as long as you know the difference.