Study The Real Secret of Greatness
The Daily Stoic20 Sep 2019

Study The Real Secret of Greatness

When we think of greatness, we think of success. We think of strength. We think of influence. We think of the man or woman exerting their will over the universe, or dominating on the athletic field, or dazzling us with their creative brilliance. We think of the trappings of this greatness: ornate mansions, peak physical conditioning, confidently strolling the halls of power.

Is this really greatness, though? What if the person who has it is actually miserable? If every minute they’re awake they’re driven by demons or insecurities or the need to control and beat other people? How great is greatness if it is constantly on the edge of destroying itself through overreaching or over-doing?

Seneca said that “nothing is great unless it’s also at peace.” What he meant was that stillness and greatness—true greatness, that is—are impossible to separate. It’s stillness that allows us to be great, on the court or in the public sphere or on the page. No one is able to push the bounds of accomplishment if they are distracted or disorganized. At the same time, it’s stillness that allows us to enjoy our accomplishments. What good is becoming a billionaire if all you can think about is how much more there is left to earn? If you’re just comparing yourself to richer people?

Stillness is the key to greatness and the key to happiness (and it’s the title of Ryan Holiday’s new book!). There is little hope and little point to life without it. Stillness is what Stoicism seeks to instill in us—so that we can be better at our jobs, at our responsibilities, and in our quiet moments alone.

Without stillness, we have no greatness. We have only franticness and insatiableness.

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

Avsnitt(2887)

Lincoln’s Secret Weapon (It Wasn’t Power)

Lincoln’s Secret Weapon (It Wasn’t Power)

How do you hold a country together when it’s tearing itself apart? In this episode, Ryan sits down with Pulitzer Prize–winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin to talk about Abraham Lincoln’s self-educa...

25 Feb 47min

This is The Math That Losers Do | What Virtue Is This Moment Asking of You?

This is The Math That Losers Do | What Virtue Is This Moment Asking of You?

The past is gone, and no amount of calculation will bring it back or make it fair. What we do have is agency right now.🎥 Watch the video of today's episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1zgK...

24 Feb 10min

This is How You Win the Day | Circumstances Have No Care For Our Feelings

This is How You Win the Day | Circumstances Have No Care For Our Feelings

We have a duty. Our nature—justice—demands something from us. It demands that we get up, get after it, and wear ourselves down doing it.📘 Grab a copy of The Daily Stoic here: https://store.dailystoic...

23 Feb 8min

Simple Stoic Rules That Actually Change Your Life

Simple Stoic Rules That Actually Change Your Life

Life is a lot. It moves fast. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by what to do, what not to do, and whether you’re even focusing on the right things. In today’s episode, Ryan shares simple Stoic rules to l...

22 Feb 18min

The Case for History (Before It Repeats Itself) | Kenny Curtis

The Case for History (Before It Repeats Itself) | Kenny Curtis

If you think history is boring, irrelevant, or just not your "thing", this episode is for you. In today’s episode, Ryan sits down with Kenny Curtis, host of the new podcast History Snacks, to make the...

21 Feb 28min

You’ve Gotta Make Them Work For It | The Presidential Biographies You Can’t Afford to Skip

You’ve Gotta Make Them Work For It | The Presidential Biographies You Can’t Afford to Skip

It’s discouraging. It’s distracting. All the stuff that’s happening in the world. But you know what you can’t do? You can’t give up your work, your freedom of thought, your freedom of choice pre-empti...

20 Feb 11min

What A Wonderful Thing to Measure | Stoic Strategies for Becoming More Resilient

What A Wonderful Thing to Measure | Stoic Strategies for Becoming More Resilient

We should pride ourselves on our ability to put up with these people, to be able to be nice to people who are not nice, to be able to turn the other cheek and not be made bitter and cynical.👉 Support...

19 Feb 14min

BONUS | This Stoic Idea Will Reset Your Week

BONUS | This Stoic Idea Will Reset Your Week

The Stoics knew that wanting less increases gratitude, just as wanting more obliterates it. "Freedom isn't secured by filling up on your heart's desire but by removing your desire." - Epictetus 📓 Pic...

18 Feb 4min

Populärt inom Business & ekonomi

badfluence
framgangspodden
varvet
rss-jossan-nina
rss-svart-marknad
rss-borsens-finest
uppgang-och-fall
avanzapodden
fill-or-kill
lastbilspodden
svd-tech-brief
rss-inga-dumma-fragor-om-pengar
bathina-en-podcast
dynastin
borsmorgon
rss-veckans-trade
rss-dagen-med-di
24fragor
rss-kort-lang-analyspodden-fran-di
rss-borslunch