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Be Your Own Hero: Take Risks, Face Your Fears and Choose Courage – Ryan Holiday with Dave Asprey : 868

Oct 19, 2021

Ryan Holiday, a philosopher and author renowned for his work on stoicism, dives into the transformative power of courage in confronting fear. He shares how fear's grip can be weakened through exposure, and emphasizes that personal growth often lies just beyond our comfort zones. Holiday discusses historical examples, from the Spartans to Rosa Parks, illustrating moral courage’s vital role in society. He also explores the importance of diverse role models and the ethical dilemmas surrounding personal autonomy, particularly in today’s challenging environment.

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INSIGHT

Courage and Fear

Courage requires fear; without fear, there's no opportunity for courage.
Fear is a constant in the human experience, present in various forms.

ANECDOTE

Florence Nightingale's Courage

Florence Nightingale defied societal expectations by pursuing nursing.
She overcame 16 years of fear to answer her calling.

ADVICE

Managing Fear

Train yourself to distinguish between the initial "scared" reaction and the lasting "afraid" feeling.
Repeated exposure to fear-inducing situations lessens their impact.

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IN THIS EPISODE OF BULLETPROOF RADIO... you’ll discover what it takes to be courageous and heroic in your own life.

The Spartans used to build temples to fear. They did so to keep fear close, see its power and ward it off. Modern-day philosopher Ryan Holiday is here to tell you how to do that in your own modern life by using courage to overcome fear.

“You can have that reaction [to fear], but then you also realize, if you don't act on it, if you push through, there's often something on the other side of it,” Ryan says. “Or you realize that the more you expose yourself to it, the less scary it is each time and the less perhaps even that you feel that thing.”

Everyone experiences fear, but those who can learn to go beyond it will find room for courage. His most recent book, Fear is Calling: Fortune Favors the Brave is compelling and empowering. It breaks down what it means to confront fear, courage and heroism in order to discover your own grace and wisdom.

We talk about how to transform fear into courage and the power of choosing the relationship you have with fear.

“Man, people get really uncomfortable when something that they were told by their parents, or their church, or their society, or their social media, and all of a sudden, they face profound evidence that it's not true,” Ryan says.

Pulling stories from some of the greatest humans in history he talks about how heroism can change the world, and how history can help guide you through contemporary phenomena rooted in fear, like cancel culture and government mandates.

This is the first book in Ryan’s new series on the four virtues of the ancient world: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom.

Don’t miss Ryan’s previous visit to Bulletproof Radio and the discussion about stoicism and ego: Modern Stoicism & Crushing your Ego: Ryan Holiday #527

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