The Minimalists 511 | Holding On
33 snips
Oct 27, 2025 
Ryan Holiday, a best-selling author and modern champion of Stoicism, shares profound insights on how to navigate sentimental attachments and the nature of regret. He discusses the Stoic perspective on keeping sentimental items, the importance of storytelling in creating value, and the potential burdens of passing belongings to heirs. Ryan advises on the minimal effective dose of memory and when it’s virtuous to hold on. He emphasizes curiosity as a driver of wisdom while managing others' expectations and the clutter of identity.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Meaning Is Projected, Not In Objects
- The item itself isn't sentimental; you project meaning onto it.
- Epictetus: "It's not things that upset us, it's our opinion about things."
Boxes From Parents Can Become Burdens
- Ryan describes getting parents' boxes of childhood items sent to him and feeling overwhelmed.
- He jokes about dying "under all this stuff" as a cost of clinging.
Avoid Storage As A Way To Preserve Sentiment
- Don't hide sentimental items in a storage locker as a mausoleum for stuff.
- Letting go frees money and creates more value from the few items you actually keep.
