The Daily Stoic15 Okt 2019

This is How Dumb Anger Is

Seneca wrote eloquently about how absurd the need to “get even” is. No one would think to return a bite to a dog or a kick to a mule, he writes, but when someone hurts us or pisses us off, that’s exactly what we do. We smile and laugh at this clever analogy. He’s right, we think, no one would bite a dog.

Except anger actually does do stuff that dumb to us all the time—or worse! Who hasn’t thrown a television remote that wasn’t working or smacked a vending machine that took your money? Who hasn’t banged on their keyboard when it froze or kicked a child’s toy across the room after painfully stepping on it in the middle of the night? Who hasn’t shouted obscenities at their headphones when your hand gets caught in the cord and you accidentally rip them off your head while walking through an airport or getting into a car? Who hasn’t had to resist the urge to throw their smartphone in the ocean or their golf club into a lake when these objects refuse to do what you have directed them to?

If there weren’t plenty of reasons to be suspicious of anger already, the fact that it compels you to try to physically punish inanimate objects is a pretty good one. The fact that, in anger, we often break or damage our own property—essentially punishing ourselves to send a message to something that by definition cannot receive it—tells us everything we need to know about anger.

Mainly, that it’s blinding, that it’s hard to control, and that it’s shamefully stupid.

So avoid it as much as you can.

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

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(3122)

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 Sep 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 Sep 6min

What Ryan Holiday Would Ask Marcus Aurelius

If Ryan could sit down with Marcus Aurelius and ask him one question, it wouldn’t be about Meditations or Stoic philosophy. In today’s episode, Ryan poses the question to Professor William O. Stephens...

3 Sep 19min

You Need To Hit The Road

It might even be easy to use some of the Stoic teachings to tell yourself that travel is exotic, or even frivolous. But it isn’t. It’s essential.📚 The Four Virtues Boxed Set: https://dailystoic.com/v...

3 Sep 2min

You Fought The Wall and the Wall Won | When Self-Discipline Becomes a Vice

“Why should we get angry at the world,” Marcus Aurelius writes, “as if the world would notice?”Ryan Holiday is coming to a city near you! Grab tickets here | https://www.dailystoiclive.com/🇺🇸 USA d...

2 Sep 17min

BONUS | 7 Books AI Can't Replace

In this bonus episode, Ryan shares seven books that will help you think more clearly, use AI wisely, and become harder to replace.🎥 WATCH THIS EPISODE | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeBuZjNq8u0📚 ...

1 Sep 5min

As Above, So Below | How Seeing Earth From Space Changes You (with Astronaut Mark Kelly)

We need to take a step back from problems, arguments, and frustrations. To look at the bigger picture. Watch the full episode with Senator and Astronaut Mark Kelly here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

1 Sep 8min

This is What You Do With Your Freedom? | A Strong Soul Is Better Than Good Luck

People have, since Prometheus, developed technology that frees us from backbreaking drudgery and toil. And what do you do with this freedom, this incredible bounty?🎟️ DAILY STOIC LIVE | Ryan Holiday ...

31 Aug 6min