Ryan Holiday, an esteemed author known for his works on Stoicism, dives into the transformative power of stillness. He discusses how historical figures like JFK and Churchill harnessed calm during chaos, and shares practical tips on achieving mental clarity through journaling and limiting media distractions. Ryan challenges the myth that relationships hold you back, revealing how they can promote achievement and inner peace. He also emphasizes the necessity of hobbies for balance, making a compelling case for stillness in all aspects of life.
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insights INSIGHT
Stillness for Engagement
Ryan Holiday's book, Stillness Is the Key, explores stillness for better engagement with the world.
It emphasizes inner and outer peace, not withdrawal.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Holiday's Stoic Journey
Ryan Holiday initially overlooked the Stoics' emphasis on stillness, focusing on overcoming obstacles and controlling ego.
As he matured, he realized the unsustainable nature of constant intensity and rediscovered stillness in their teachings.
insights INSIGHT
Stillness as Equanimity
Stillness isn't just meditation; it's about slowing down and finding equanimity.
It's about avoiding being controlled by internal or external forces.
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In 'Stillness is the Key', Ryan Holiday explores the concept of inner stillness as a universal principle across different philosophical and religious traditions, including Stoicism, Buddhism, Epicureanism, and more. The book is divided into three sections: stillness of the mind, stillness of the spirit, and stillness of the body. Holiday argues that cultivating stillness allows for better decision-making, increased focus, and a more fulfilling life. He uses anecdotes from historical figures and contemporary examples to illustrate the importance of moderation, patience, and self-awareness in achieving this state of stillness[2][3][5].
According to my guest today, many of the world's most eminent leaders, thinkers, athletes, and artists have one thing in common: they cultivate stillness in their lives.
His name is Ryan Holiday and in his latest book, Stillness Is the Key, he highlights how great individuals have used stillness to do great things. We begin our discussion with how Ryan describes stillness, what it means to find stillness in mind, body, and soul, and how an individual can have stillness in one of these areas, but chaos in another. Ryan shares what we can learn about stillness of mind from JFK's handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis and how journaling and limiting media inputs can help us foster our own mental stillness. We then discuss the myth that relationships hold you back in life, and how they can in fact help you find both greater achievement, and stillness of soul. We also discuss what we can learn from Winston Churchill on how to find physical stillness, and why having hobbies is so important to finding balance in life.
The Art of Manliness 
