The Daily Stoic summary

Chapter 1: Stoics cultivate awareness of

The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman 2016 What's in it for me? Refresh your approach to modern life with lessons from the classical world. Life can sometimes be a bit of a grind. It can be difficult to know how to motivate yourself, or even figure out if you're having a positive influence on those around you.

If only there was some sort of wisdom or guidance that could provide answers. As with many things, the Greeks got there first. Schools of philosophy have been with us for almost 2,500 years. Many philosophies tie themselves in knots considering pointless questions, such as how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, or the Platonist Plutarch's infamous which came first, the chicken or the egg.

But Stoicism is a different sort of philosophy. This school of philosophy was founded in Athens in the early 3rd century BCE, and dealt with the struggles of everyday life. What we know about Stoicism is based on the surviving texts of three great intellectuals in the Roman Empire, who were versed in the original Greek theories. There are the meditative essays of the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius, the personal letters of playwright and philosopher Seneca the Younger, and the handbooks and lectures of the slave-turned-renowned teacher Epictetus.

Join the authors as they lead you through these classical texts, sifting out the fundamentals of Stoicism and answering that eternal question, how best should I live? Chapter 1 Stoics cultivate awareness of both themselves and others. We often think of philosophy as a bookish pursuit, or perhaps as the lifestyle choice of bearded old men living ascetically in caves. But Stoicism isn't like that—it's for the real world.

If you're going to be a Stoic, you'll have to be plugged in and aware of yourself and those around you. The first precondition of any philosophy is clear thinking. And for Stoicism, that means beginning with self-examination. The great Stoic teacher of the 2nd century CE, Epictetus, got to the heart of the matter in his discourses.

He stated that we become philosophers the moment we first examine our preconceived notions and ask questions about our emotions, beliefs, and even the words we use each day. By this process, we become attuned to the possibility of analyzing our own minds. It's no easy task, of course. Ego and self-deception impede learning.

No one is going to learn anything new if they think they know everything already. That's why honest and truthful self-assessment is critical. The downside to this is that you'll have to take a good hard look at your weaknesses. It might be scary to admit you have them and that you might have been thinking too highly of yourself all along.

On the other hand, it's just as dangerous to undersell yourself. Try to remember those moments in life when you've risen to the occasion. Aside from self-reflection, it's also important to be aware of those around you. The people with whom you choose to spend your time will ultimately influence the kind of person you become.

If you're around people who push you to be better, you'll improve. Of course, the opposite dynamic is true. People may try to bring you down to their level. The Roman playwright and philosopher Seneca, who was a generation older than Epictetus, advised that we should each keep someone in mind whom we respect and admire.

Their presence in our mind is sure to guide better judgments and actions. The 18th-century economist Adam Smith was of a similar mind and even had a name for it, the indifferent spectator. For Smith, it didn't even have to be a real person. The mere thought that someone is witnessing and sympathetically judging our behavior will help us.

The general principle of these two points is clear. If we get to know ourselves and others better, we'll be able to see our own actions in a clearer light.

Chapter 2: Stoics manage their attention

Stoics manage their attention spans by seeking clarity in their thoughts. Modern life is overwhelming. Messages bombard us. Work is all-pervasive and politics is one big roller coaster.

It's no wonder so many of us end up getting constantly distracted. But we don't have to give in to distraction; it is possible to maintain focus. Take Bill Belichick, the coach of the New England Patriots, an American football team. He gets his players to block out interference and noise through a simple instruction: "Do your job.

" It's a reminder to the players to reduce their focus to the task in front of them. Everything extraneous to the immediate situation can and must be blocked out. The Roman emperor and adherent to Stoicism, Marcus Aurelius, had another way of putting it. He advised that we approach each task as if it were our last.

Work like that and you'll find that external distractions will quickly dissipate. You can also heed another of Marcus Aurelius's excellent suggestions. Create your own mantra. Something like, "I am able to keep out anything that might disturb me.

I can see things for what they are and not give them undue attention" might do the trick. But your mantra can be anything you want. Use whatever words feel natural to you, just remember their purpose. They're there to shut down anything that might lead you astray.

There's another way you can keep your focus. If you recognize and accept that some things are simply beyond your control, you'll ensure that your attention is fixed only on what's important. For the Stoics, the mind is the only thing you can truly control. In contrast, you may think you have control over your body, but it's going to get sick or injured whether you like it or not.

And it's a good thing to realize your limits, as this will help lift the burden of responsibility. The only thing you need to worry about is your mind and the choices and actions that are the consequences of its reasoning. Practically speaking, you can use this knowledge to create a useful daily routine. In the morning, take a minute to remind yourself of what you can and cannot control.

Focus only on the former. At midday, remind yourself that the only ability you really possess is the capacity to make choices. And before you turn in for the night, think again how much is outside of your control. You can sleep easy knowing that, as Epictetus taught, those matters can be left for God and fortune.