Stoicism is designed to be a daily practice because it requires diligence, repetition, and concentration to fully understand and integrate into one's life. It’s not something that can be grasped at a soul level by reading it once; it’s a lifelong pursuit that involves continuous engagement and reflection.
Marcus Aurelius deeply valued Epictetus’ teachings, often quoting him from memory in his work 'Meditations.' He treated Epictetus’ 'Discourses' like a Bible, returning to it repeatedly for guidance, especially as he faced immense responsibility and challenges as a Roman emperor.
'The Daily Stoic' has sold millions of copies in over 30 languages and has spent more weeks on bestseller lists than any other book on Stoicism. It’s one of the most read books on Amazon, with readers consistently picking it up daily, often rereading it for nearly nine years.
The page-a-day format in 'The Daily Stoic' is designed to provide one important idea or lesson each day, encouraging readers to fully digest and reflect on it. This format aligns with Stoic practice, emphasizing daily engagement and repetition to internalize the philosophy.
The story of the boy and the starfish illustrates that even small acts of kindness or justice can make a significant difference to individuals. While global change may seem overwhelming, helping one person or addressing one issue at a time still matters deeply to those affected.
Ryan Holiday advises meeting hostility with kindness and empathy, understanding that the other person may be struggling. He emphasizes that not reacting negatively preserves one’s character and prevents the situation from ruining their day.
Stoicism teaches that while life is inherently unfair, individuals can strive to be fair in their actions and treatment of others. Fairness is about how one treats others, not what one receives, and it’s rooted in the golden rule of treating others as one would want to be treated.
Ryan Holiday stresses that complaining without taking action makes one complicit in the problem. By taking responsibility and addressing issues directly, individuals empower themselves to create positive change rather than passively allowing problems to persist.
Stoicism advises against borrowing suffering from the future. Instead, one should focus on being present and taking action in the moment. Suffering before it’s necessary only increases unnecessary pain, so it’s better to address challenges as they arise.
'The Daily Stoic' promotes journaling as a way to create a personal collection of Stoic insights, or a 'commonplace book,' that can be revisited daily. This practice helps individuals internalize Stoic principles and apply them consistently in their lives.
Stoicism is designed to be a daily practice, part of our daily routines. It’s not a philosophy you read once and magically understand at the soul-level.
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