#419: Ryan Holiday — How to Use Stoicism to Choose Alive Time Over Dead Time

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Apr 9, 2020

Ryan Holiday dives into Stoic philosophy, revealing how ancient wisdom can help navigate today's uncertainties. He discusses practical Stoic exercises and reflects on managing emotions like anger and fear during crises. The conversation touches on personal growth strategies, including a 21-day no-complaint experiment. Holiday encourages listeners to transform adversity into opportunity and emphasizes the significance of self-reflection and community support. His insights combine historical context with modern challenges, making Stoicism accessible and relevant.

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ANECDOTE

Seneca Bust

Tim Ferriss keeps a bust of Seneca, the Stoic philosopher, in his view as a reminder.
This helps him strive to emulate Seneca's resilience, though he acknowledges Stoicism as an ideal, not a pass-fail test.

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ADVICE

Premeditation of Evils

Rehearse worst-case scenarios, visualizing how they would feel, not just look.
Combine this with fear-setting exercises to decrease the likelihood and damage of negative events.

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ADVICE

Historical Reminders

Surround yourself with reminders of history's resilience.
Consider how past generations endured challenges like epidemics and wars, recognizing that life continues.

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Navigating Uncertainty Through Stoic Philosophy

04:00 • 4min

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Navigating Uncertainty with Stoicism

07:54 • 17min

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Navigating Emotions: Anger and Fear in Crisis

24:34 • 29min

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Stoicism and Epicureanism: A Guide Through Uncertainty

53:43 • 10min

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Supporting Relief Efforts and Personal Growth Strategies

01:03:13 • 4min

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Transforming Time in Adversity

01:06:54 • 5min

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Practical Stoic Exercises and Useful Resources

In *Ego Is the Enemy*, Ryan Holiday delves into the concept of ego and its detrimental effects on personal and professional success. The book is divided into three sections: Aspiration, Success, and Failure, each offering valuable lessons and perspectives. Holiday draws on a vast array of stories and examples from literature, philosophy, and history, featuring figures such as George Marshall, Jackie Robinson, Katharine Graham, Bill Belichick, and Eleanor Roosevelt. These individuals achieved great success by conquering their own egos, and their strategies and tactics are presented as models for readers. The book emphasizes the importance of staying grounded, continually learning, and embracing a mindset of growth rather than letting ego hinder development.

The Daily Stoic

366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living

Ryan Holiday

Stephen Hanselman

This book provides 366 meditations on Stoic wisdom, featuring new translations of passages from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and other Stoic philosophers. Each day, readers are presented with a Stoic lesson explained in modern language, along with advice on how to apply these lessons in everyday life. The book is organized temporally and thematically across the twelve months of the year, making it a daily resource for practicing Stoicism.

Stillness is the Key

Ryan Holiday

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.

Macbeth

Imdad Hussain

William Shakespeare

Macbeth is a tragedy that explores themes of power, ambition, and the consequences of sin. The play follows Macbeth, a Scottish nobleman, and his wife Lady Macbeth as they navigate a complex web of prophecy, murder, and political intrigue. The witches' prophecy sets off a chain of events that leads to the downfall of Macbeth and the restoration of order in Scotland. The play is known for its dark and haunting atmosphere, its exploration of the human psyche, and its commentary on the nature of tragedy and the human condition.

The obstacle is the way

Ryan Holiday

In 'The Obstacle Is the Way', Ryan Holiday presents a framework for turning obstacles into successes. Drawing from the philosophy of Stoicism and the writings of Marcus Aurelius, Holiday outlines three disciplines: perception, action, and will. He illustrates these principles with historical anecdotes from figures such as John D. Rockefeller, Amelia Earhart, Ulysses S. Grant, and Steve Jobs. The book emphasizes the importance of perception in shaping one's response to obstacles, the need for intentional and creative action, and the cultivation of will to persist through challenges. Holiday argues that by adopting these Stoic principles, individuals can transform their obstacles into opportunities for growth and success.

Cato

A Tragedy

Joseph Addison

Written in 1712, 'Cato: A Tragedy' by Joseph Addison explores themes of individual liberty, government tyranny, and personal integrity through the story of Marcus Porcius Cato Uticensis. The play was highly influential during the American Revolution, symbolizing virtue and patriotism. It weaves Stoic philosophy throughout its narrative, highlighting Cato's unwavering commitment to his principles.

In 'Mastery', Robert Greene argues that mastery is not an innate talent but a skill that can be developed through a rigorous process. The book outlines several key stages: finding your life's task, undergoing an ideal apprenticeship, finding the right mentor, acquiring social intelligence, and fusing intuitive with rational thinking. Greene draws on the lives of historical and contemporary masters such as Mozart, Einstein, and Temple Grandin to illustrate his points. He emphasizes the importance of deep practice, self-directed learning, and the ability to read and navigate social dynamics. The book challenges the conventional notion of genius as a genetic gift and offers practical steps for anyone to achieve mastery in their chosen field.

Meditations

Marcus Aurelius

Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.

The 48 laws of power

Robert Greene

In 'The 48 Laws of Power', Robert Greene and Joost Elffers synthesize three thousand years of the history of power into 48 laws. These laws are derived from the philosophies of Machiavelli, Sun Tzu, and Carl Von Clausewitz, as well as the lives of influential figures such as Henry Kissinger and P.T. Barnum. The book provides tactics, concepts, and lessons on how to achieve and maintain power, emphasizing prudence, confidence, and self-preservation. Each law is illustrated with historical examples and is designed to help readers understand and navigate the dynamics of power in various aspects of life, including work, social hierarchies, and politics.

The Black Swan

The Impact of the Highly Improbable

Nassim Nicholas Taleb

David Chandler

Nassim Taleb

The Black Swan is a landmark book by Nassim Nicholas Taleb that investigates the phenomenon of highly improbable events with massive impacts. These events, termed Black Swans, are unpredictable, have a significant impact, and are rationalized after the fact to appear less random. Taleb argues that humans are hardwired to focus on specifics rather than generalities, leading to a failure to consider what we don’t know. The book delves into cognitive biases, the limitations of mathematical models, and the importance of robustness and antifragility in navigating a world filled with uncertainty. The second edition includes a new essay, 'On Robustness and Fragility,' offering tools to navigate and exploit a Black Swan world.

Moral Letters to Lucilius

Seneca

Seneca's "Moral Letters to Lucilius" is a collection of personal letters offering guidance on Stoic philosophy and practical living. The letters cover a wide range of topics, including virtue, happiness, death, and the pursuit of wisdom. Seneca's writing style is engaging and accessible, making complex philosophical ideas understandable to a wider audience. The letters offer both theoretical discussions and practical advice, making them a valuable resource for those seeking self-improvement. Their enduring relevance lies in their timeless wisdom and their focus on living a meaningful life.

Ryan Holiday — How to Use Stoicism to Choose Alive Time Over Dead Time | Brought to you by LegalZoom and Trello.

"Anger is often what pain looks like when it shows itself in public." — Krista Tippett

Ryan Holiday (@RyanHoliday) is one of the world’s foremost thinkers and writers on ancient philosophy and its place in modern life. He is a sought-after speaker and strategist and the author of many bestselling books, including The Obstacle Is the Way, Ego Is the Enemy, and The Daily Stoic. His books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold more than two million copies worldwide. He lives with his family outside of Austin, Texas. You can subscribe to receive his writing at RyanHoliday.net and DailyStoic.com. Ryan was also the fourth-ever guest on the podcast in the very beginning, and he has written multiple popular guest posts for my blog, which you can find at tim.blog.

His latest book is Stillness Is the Key, which was an instant #1 New York Times bestseller and Wall Street Journal bestseller.

This episode focuses on Stoic philosophy and how to apply it in our current uncertain times.

Please enjoy!

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