The ability to pause and respond, rather than react, is the single most powerful skill one can develop. Essential to living a compassionate life - something which has become very important to me. In learning to hold space for our own emotions, and that of the person (or people) standing opposite us, we can sift through the 'sound and fury' and uncover understanding. Fortunately, it really does get easier with practice 🙌. Happy New Year, Rob. May 2023 see you measure your good health, peace, and inspiration in bucketfuls 🥰
Events are not good or bad, they are - and Hegel added because they are, they have to be rational. Everything that happens happens for a reason, just because it happens. That helps put things in perspective ;-) Thanks for the great post!
I also follow a daily practice of reading a short, inspirational passage, prayer (sometimes) and meditation (sometimes). I also write a page or so in a journal (even less often than prayer and meditation). I agree that simply having a morning ritual starts my day off in a positive way. Thanks for sharing, Rob.
This is terrific, Rob Schwartz. Stoicism is a wonderful daily practice and a generative lifelong habit. As you know, I believe in acquiring habits with the "stick" - the commitment crisis - in mind. Here's the main reason stoicism doesn't stick: The ability to pause, rather than react, puts you at odds with others. To keep your head about you while all others are losing theirs is, historically speaking, a good way to lose your head. People will think you are not taking situations seriously enough, or not taking them themselves seriously, or underestimating the danger or urgency of things. To live as a stoic/mature adult amongst others requires even more stoicism and maturity than living philosophically in a philosopher's cave. But you will be so valuable, and especially so in emergencies. Even better, you will prevent untold emergencies that you and others will never know you prevented. So, you can be philosophical about that too.
The ability to pause and respond, rather than react, is the single most powerful skill one can develop. Essential to living a compassionate life - something which has become very important to me. In learning to hold space for our own emotions, and that of the person (or people) standing opposite us, we can sift through the 'sound and fury' and uncover understanding. Fortunately, it really does get easier with practice 🙌. Happy New Year, Rob. May 2023 see you measure your good health, peace, and inspiration in bucketfuls 🥰
Thanks for reading, Carolyn. Best to you and yours for a healthy, happy and prosperous 2023!
Ryan’s got a podcast too. Guess what it’s called. ;)
"Epic Stuff From Epictitus?" ;)
Events are not good or bad, they are - and Hegel added because they are, they have to be rational. Everything that happens happens for a reason, just because it happens. That helps put things in perspective ;-) Thanks for the great post!
Sounds very intriguing. Thanks for sharing Rob!
Sounds very intriguing. Thanks for sharing Rob!
I also follow a daily practice of reading a short, inspirational passage, prayer (sometimes) and meditation (sometimes). I also write a page or so in a journal (even less often than prayer and meditation). I agree that simply having a morning ritual starts my day off in a positive way. Thanks for sharing, Rob.
I love this, I subscribe to his daily emails but now must order the book.
This is terrific, Rob Schwartz. Stoicism is a wonderful daily practice and a generative lifelong habit. As you know, I believe in acquiring habits with the "stick" - the commitment crisis - in mind. Here's the main reason stoicism doesn't stick: The ability to pause, rather than react, puts you at odds with others. To keep your head about you while all others are losing theirs is, historically speaking, a good way to lose your head. People will think you are not taking situations seriously enough, or not taking them themselves seriously, or underestimating the danger or urgency of things. To live as a stoic/mature adult amongst others requires even more stoicism and maturity than living philosophically in a philosopher's cave. But you will be so valuable, and especially so in emergencies. Even better, you will prevent untold emergencies that you and others will never know you prevented. So, you can be philosophical about that too.