The Autobiography of St. Ignatius
Among the presented paragraphs from autobiographies, the one from The Autobiography of St. Ignatius appeals to me most, as this is the story of a strong personality with independent thinking, the one who does not give up in the face of difficulties and dangers. The strength of the spirit is what leads to inner freedom (Ferucci, 2015). An excerpt from an autobiography of St. Ignatius clearly shows it. There is such a concept: fortitude, or steadfastness: it can be said about a person who consistently realizes the once chosen ideal, turning its achievement into the meaning of life (West, 2019). A person with a firmness of mind will not stop in front of difficulties and hard life situations. He/she will perform all actions according to the criteria of honor, dignity, justice, truth, regardless of what others say or demand. To achieve success in the extreme rhythm of the modern world, one must first of all learn to control self and control own actions in various, sometimes very difficult, situations. Sometimes, these situations are critical, and in this case, the independence of thinking and freedom from stereotypes helps to stay afloat and not give up even in cases that seem hopeless.
Undoubtedly, fortitude can be both innate and acquired with experience. Various difficulties allow developing strength of mind; overcoming obstacles, a person gains experience and knowledge, ‘temper’ himself/herself. Thus, the simplest example of upbringing fortitude is military service, which is clearly seen in The Autobiography of St. Ignatius. This autobiography also points to the need to cultivate critical independent thinking. Most people understand that it is necessary to train the body in order to keep it in shape. However, not everyone comprehends that thinking also requires effort and training, that it implies effort, choice, weighing evidence. If this process is not sufficiently developed, then people have difficulty in thinking independently.
References
Ferucci, P. (2015). Your inner will: Finding personal strength in critical times. TarcherPerigee.
West, S. (2019). Critical thinking and self-awareness: How to use critical thinking skills to find your passion: Plus 20 questions you must ask yourself. Steven West.