The Daily Stoic2 Loka 2019

How To Always Be Well

In one of his letters, Seneca tells us of an old Roman pleasantry that friends would exchange when greeting each other: “If you are well,” one would say after inquiring how someone was doing, “it is well and I am also well.”

It’s a nice little custom, isn’t it? If you’re good, I’m good, and everything is good. Nothing else matters.

But of course, because this is Seneca, he couldn’t just leave it there. In fact, telling us about this old expression was just a device to make a point. A better way to say it, he writes, is “‘If you are studying philosophy, it is well.’ For this is just what ‘being well’ means. Without philosophy the mind is sickly, and the body, too, though it may be very powerful, is strong only as that of a madman or a lunatic is strong.”

The point is that to the Stoics, the practice and study of philosophy was the only way to make sure all was well, no matter what was happening in the world. At war like Marcus Aurelius? Study philosophy in your tent at night. Unable to submit to Caesar’s tyranny like Cato? Read a little Socrates before your dramatic suicide. Shot down over Vietnam like James Stockdale? Say to yourself, as he did, “I am leaving the world of technology and entering the world of Epictetus.” As in…even in a POW camp, I can still practice and pursue philosophy…and be well for it!

Nobody knows what the day or the week has in store for us. As much as we take care of ourselves and eat well, so much of our health is outside of our control. But the one way we can make sure that we are always well, that we are always getting better (mentally, spiritually, if not physically) is by the books we read, the questions we ponder, and the conversations we have.

Now get studying!

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(3128)

You Need To Learn How To Be Better At This | Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself

It’d be wonderful if every great novel was easy to get into, if every philosophy was made accessible, if every history tome was readable and clear. Sadly, they are not.Turn the words into works 👉 Rea...

10 Syys 8min

How To Forgive When They’re Not Sorry | It’s Not a Principle Unless It Costs You Something

It would be nice if they got it. If they understood why they did it. How they hurt us. What it meant to us. And maybe they will…someday.-- 🎥 Watch the full episode with Codie Sanchez here: https://ww...

9 Syys 25min

You Must Read To Lead | 10 Stoic Strategies To Deal With Anxiety

Not all the Stoics were leaders, but all of them were readers.Turn the words into works 👉 Read to Lead: A Daily Stoic Reading Challenge | Over five weeks, Ryan Holiday walks you through not only th...

8 Syys 14min

BONUS | 3 Life-Changing Lessons From Seneca in 3 Minutes

Seneca lived through illness, exile, and the brutal reign of Nero. In today’s episode, Ryan shares three of the most powerful ideas Seneca learned from those experiences and why they can change the wa...

7 Syys 2min

You’re in a Hurry and Don’t Know Why | A Hard Winter Training

Slow down. Pause. Take a breath. Because one day, you’ll realize you rushed through too much of your life, too much of your loved ones’ lives. 🎟️ DAILY STOIC LIVE | Ryan Holiday is coming to a city n...

7 Syys 7min

The Moment Ryan’s Italy Trip Went Sideways

Ryan thought running 50 kilometers through Rome would be the hard part of the family trip to Italy but he was wrong. In today’s episode, he shares how the rest of the trip went completely off the rail...

6 Syys 30min

The Stoic Reminders Hiding All Over Rome

In Rome, Ryan could barely go for a run without passing a place connected to Stoic history. In today’s episode, he shares moments from his family trip, from visiting the places where the Stoics lived ...

5 Syys 30min

Don’t Let It Keep Slipping Away | The Philosopher's School Is A Hospital

It’s already Labor Day weekend. What happened? 📘 The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday: https://store.dailystoic.com/🎟️ DAILY STOIC LIVE | Ryan Holiday is coming to a city near you! Grab tickets here | h...

4 Syys 6min