Perennial Wisdom

On the Shortness of Life | Sundays with Seneca

Jun 16, 2024

Dive into the timeless wisdom of Seneca, who highlights how easily we squander our limited time on trivial pursuits. Discover the profound link between life and time, urging us to reclaim our moments and live authentically. Reflect on the urgency of mortality and the importance of prioritizing meaningful actions over societal expectations. Seneca encourages a focus on philosophy as a guide for living well and preparing for life's inevitable end, creating a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to truly use our time wisely.

16:09

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Quick takeaways

Seneca emphasizes that life is not inherently short; rather, it's our poor choices and distractions that lead to a diminished existence.

He advocates for dedicating our limited time to meaningful pursuits and philosophical study, encouraging a proactive approach to time management.

Deep dives

The Perception of Time

Many people lament the brevity of life while failing to recognize that it is not the duration that is short, but rather their choices that lead to a seemingly shortened existence. Seneca emphasizes that life is ample for those who manage it wisely, yet too often, it is squandered on trivial pursuits, excess, and unproductive labor. Instead of mourning the limited years allotted, individuals should focus on maximizing their time by dedicating it to meaningful projects and philosophical study. This perspective encourages a shift from a victim mentality to an empowered approach to time management.

Intro

3min

The Cost of Wasted Time: A Reflection on Life's True Purpose

9min

Reflections on Mortality and the Value of Time

4min

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Welcome back to another episode of In Search of Wisdom. As I mentioned in yesterday’s episode, there will be a few changes to the podcast and newsletter. One change is that I’ll be sharing a few more episodes each week, one being our Sundays with Seneca series that we’ve been running exclusively for Perennial Meditations members. If you get any value from the podcast and some of these additional episodes, I ask that you consider becoming a Perennial Meditations member.

We’re going to begin with a selected reading from Seneca’s essay “On the Shortness of Life,” where he explains the ways we tend to waste the short time we have on unnecessary and immoral pursuits. He urges us to focus on the study of philosophy instead, which is the best preparation for living and dying well. I’m excited to share our Sundays with Seneca series with In Search of Wisdom listeners. I believe that you’ll find Seneca’s writing is a source of wisdom for modern life.

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