8 Stoic Habits for Becoming Your Best Self

Summary

The video explores how Stoic philosophy emphasizes the importance of habits and routines in achieving a meaningful life. Drawing from ancient Stoics like Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius, it highlights practices such as waking up early, journaling, working with focus, reviewing the day, and embracing challenges. The concept of 'amor fati' or loving one's fate is central, as is the idea of negative visualization to prepare for adversity. The speaker also stresses the importance of living fully in the present and not postponing personal growth or important tasks.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Life is a reflection of your daily habits and choices; consistency in good habits moves you forward.
• 📅 The Stoics emphasized routine and discipline, starting with waking up early and journaling.
• 📝 Reflecting on the day's actions and considering improvements is key to personal growth, as Seneca advises.
• ⏳ Marcus Aurelius reminds us of the brevity of life, urging humility and a focus on good character and service to others.
• 💡 Walks are not just physical but mental exercises, allowing for gratitude and relaxation.
• ❤️ Amor Fati, or the love of fate, is about embracing challenges as opportunities to grow, not as misfortunes.
• 🛠 The Stoics recommend preparing for negative outcomes to mitigate their effects, rather than expecting everything to go perfectly.
• 🎯 Winning the morning helps you win the day: wake up early, avoid distractions, and prioritize important tasks.
• 📚 You always have time to read if you prioritize it—Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus found time despite their busy lives.
• ⏱ Stop procrastinating; if something matters, do it now. The present is all you can truly count on.

Q & A

What does Epictetus mean by 'if you want to be beautiful you have to make beautiful choices'?

Epictetus means that living a beautiful life is a result of making good choices and developing good habits consistently. Our day-to-day actions and decisions shape who we become.

How do habits impact our lives according to the script?

Habits define our lives by creating a structure and routine that guide our daily actions. Consistently following positive habits helps us move forward, while abandoning them can lead to regression and setbacks.

What daily practices do the Stoics recommend?

The Stoics recommend waking up early, spending time with a journal, focusing on creating value for others, concentrating fully on the task at hand, working for the common good, and reviewing your day to reflect on improvements.

What is the significance of 'memento mori' for the Stoics?

'Memento mori' reminds us of the inevitability of death and encourages us to live with purpose and urgency. It helps keep our priorities in check and prevents us from taking life too seriously or getting caught up in trivial concerns.

How does Marcus Aurelius view fame and importance?

Marcus Aurelius views fame and importance as fleeting and ultimately insignificant. He reminds himself that both great figures like Alexander the Great and ordinary people end up in the same place after death, emphasizing the importance of humility.

What does Bertrand Russell's quote about the importance of work suggest?

Bertrand Russell's quote suggests that believing one's work is incredibly important can lead to stress and potential burnout. It promotes a healthy perspective on one's role and contributions, fostering balance and mental well-being.

Why does the script emphasize the importance of walking?

Walking is emphasized as a way to rest the mind, connect with nature, spend time with loved ones, and practice gratitude. It serves as a form of physical activity that also provides mental and emotional benefits.

What is 'amor fati' and how is it applied in the script?

'Amor fati' is the love of fate, embracing whatever happens as a part of life's journey. The script applies this by suggesting that challenges and setbacks are opportunities for growth and should be welcomed rather than avoided.

What role does negative visualization play in Stoic philosophy?

Negative visualization involves contemplating potential challenges and setbacks to prepare for them mentally and emotionally. It helps mitigate the impact of these events when they occur and fosters resilience.

How does the script suggest winning the morning to win the day?

Winning the morning involves waking up early, avoiding distractions like the phone, engaging in reflective practices such as journaling, spending time with family, and tackling the most important tasks first. This sets a positive tone for the rest of the day.

What advice does the script give for making time to read?

The script advises prioritizing reading by making time for it intentionally. It emphasizes that everyone, regardless of how busy they are, can find time to read if they choose to prioritize it.

What is the script's message about procrastination?

The script's message about procrastination is to stop putting things off and take action now. It encourages doing important tasks immediately rather than delaying them, as the present is the only guaranteed time we have.

How does the script define the practical application of philosophy?

The script defines philosophy as a practical tool designed to improve one's life. It is not meant to be abstract or theoretical but should provide actionable wisdom to help individuals live better and more fulfilling lives.

Outlines

00:00

🌱 The Power of Habits and Stoic Discipline

The speaker emphasizes the importance of forming beautiful habits in life, inspired by Epictetus's philosophy. These habits shape who we are day to day, and when adhered to, they help us progress. Conversely, abandoning them leads to regression. Drawing from years of study on ancient philosophy, the speaker encourages the cultivation of strong routines and highlights how habits are integral to self-improvement, touching on insights shared with professional athletes in the NBA and NFL.

05:00

📝 Stoic Daily Practices for a Meaningful Life

This section delves into the routines advocated by the Stoics, stressing the importance of structure in daily life. The Stoics encourage waking up early, journaling, focusing on the greater good, and reflecting at the end of the day. Marcus Aurelius and Seneca both stress living purposefully and viewing each day as a gift. By embracing gratitude and acting for the common good, the Stoics believed in making each day meaningful.

⏳ The Value of Time and Life’s Impermanence

The speaker discusses Marcus Aurelius's reflections on the fleeting nature of life. Aurelius, one of the most powerful men in the world, constantly reminded himself of his insignificance and the inevitability of death. By carrying a 'Memento Mori' coin, the speaker draws on this Stoic concept to stay grounded and keep perspective, viewing life not as a monument to ego but as an opportunity for humility. Bertrand Russell’s quote about the dangers of overestimating the importance of one’s work further reinforces this philosophy.

🚶‍♂️ The Importance of Walking and Reflection

Here, the speaker shares his daily habit of taking walks, inspired by Nietzsche and Seneca’s praise of wandering as a way to clear the mind. Walking becomes a form of mental rest, a chance to spend time with family, and a practice of gratitude. It’s framed as an essential daily ritual, not for exercise, but for reflection and mental peace, serving as a reminder to disconnect from distractions and focus on mindfulness.

💪 Amor Fati: Embracing Challenges with a Stoic Mindset

This paragraph explores the Stoic concept of 'Amor Fati,' or the love of fate, encouraging people to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. The speaker reflects on how Stoicism teaches individuals to see adversity not as misfortune but as a personal challenge meant to build resilience. Whether facing technical difficulties or everyday frustrations like traffic, Stoicism offers a way to tackle them with acceptance and strength.

🧠 Visualization and Preparation for Life's Trials

The speaker explains the Stoic practice of negative visualization, the act of mentally preparing for potential setbacks. By anticipating difficulties, one can mitigate their impact. This preparation is compared to positive visualization, but the Stoics argue that thinking about worst-case scenarios helps you remain resilient when faced with them. Drawing on Seneca’s wisdom, the speaker emphasizes that true readiness comes from acknowledging the harsh realities of life.

🌅 Mastering the Morning Routine to Win the Day

The speaker outlines his morning routine as a foundation for a successful day. Waking up early, avoiding distractions like phones, and prioritizing creative work are central to his process. Family time, journaling, and mindful preparation are also emphasized. This disciplined structure is designed to 'win the morning,' setting the tone for the rest of the day by staying focused and purposeful in one's actions.

📚 Making Time for Reading and Personal Growth

Addressing the common excuse of not having time to read, the speaker emphasizes the importance of making time for self-improvement, regardless of one's schedule. He references Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus as examples of individuals who found time to read despite their busy lives. The message is clear: it’s not about lacking time but about prioritizing reading as a critical habit.

⏰ Stop Procrastinating: Take Action Now

In this section, the speaker urges immediate action, quoting Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus on the dangers of procrastination. He argues that delaying important tasks is rooted in arrogance, assuming there will always be time later. Instead, he stresses the importance of doing things now, as the future is uncertain. The Stoic mindset encourages living with urgency and demanding the best from oneself today.

📖 Stoicism 101: Applying Ancient Wisdom to Modern Life

The closing paragraph introduces a course titled 'Stoicism 101,' aimed at applying ancient Stoic teachings to modern challenges. It offers lessons to help individuals become better versions of themselves by embracing Stoic philosophy in daily life. With practical insights and challenges, the course is designed to guide participants through real-world applications of Stoic wisdom, helping them live with greater purpose and resilience.

Keywords

💡Habits

Habits are repeated actions or behaviors that define a person's daily life. In the video, the speaker emphasizes that our lives are shaped by the habits we cultivate. For example, waking up early, journaling, and avoiding distractions like excessive screen time are habits that contribute to personal growth and progress. Abandoning these habits leads to regression.

💡Stoicism

Stoicism is a philosophy that teaches the development of self-control, discipline, and mental resilience in the face of life's challenges. The video introduces Stoic figures such as Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius, showing how they used their philosophy to manage emotions, focus on good character, and act for the common good. Stoicism's core ideas influence many of the habits discussed.

💡Memento Mori

Memento Mori is a Latin phrase meaning 'Remember you will die.' In the video, this concept reminds the viewer to live each day as if it were their last, making meaningful decisions and focusing on what truly matters. Marcus Aurelius emphasizes the impermanence of life, encouraging a sense of humility and urgency in one's actions.

💡Amor Fati

Amor Fati translates to 'Love of fate,' a Stoic idea that encourages embracing whatever happens in life, including the challenges. The video discusses how Stoics, instead of avoiding difficulties, see them as opportunities for growth. When the speaker faces setbacks, like losing work, they approach it as a challenge specifically chosen for them.

💡Routine

Routine refers to a regular, structured way of living, which the Stoics believed was essential for a purposeful life. In the video, the speaker shares a Stoic-inspired daily routine that includes waking up early, journaling, and focusing on important tasks first. By following this routine, one can create consistency and avoid the 'erratic' nature of life without design, as Seneca warns.

💡Negative Visualization

Negative Visualization is a Stoic practice of imagining worst-case scenarios to mentally prepare for challenges. The video highlights how this practice helps mitigate negative outcomes by planning for them in advance. Instead of manifesting negativity, it enables better handling of potential difficulties, such as job loss or personal setbacks.

💡Common Good

Working for the common good refers to actions that benefit society rather than just the individual. Marcus Aurelius stresses that the 'fruit of this life is good character and acts for the common good.' The video suggests that Stoic leaders believed contributing to the well-being of others is a fundamental aspect of a meaningful life.

💡Ego

Ego, in this context, refers to an inflated sense of self-importance. The video warns against letting ego take over, as Marcus Aurelius did when reminding himself of the fleeting nature of fame and power. By keeping ego in check, individuals can maintain humility and focus on what really matters, instead of being consumed by status or accomplishments.

💡Gratitude

Gratitude is the practice of appreciating the positive aspects of life, which the Stoics believed helped foster contentment. In the video, the speaker mentions practicing gratitude during daily walks, reflecting on the good in life, even in the face of challenges. Gratitude allows a person to see life as 'bonus time,' appreciating every moment.

💡Procrastination

Procrastination is the act of delaying tasks or putting off important actions. The video urges viewers to stop procrastinating and 'do it now,' emphasizing that waiting for tomorrow is a mistake. The speaker quotes Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, who both highlight the danger of assuming that future opportunities will always be available.

Highlights

Epictetus emphasizes that if you want to be beautiful, you must make beautiful choices, referring to the importance of habits.

The speaker reflects on how following best practices and habits, such as waking up early and eating right, helps in making progress, while abandoning them leads to regression.

The Stoics advocate for establishing routines, with Seneca emphasizing that 'life without design is erratic.'

A daily Stoic practice includes waking up early, journaling, thinking about value creation for others, and reviewing the day’s actions.

Marcus Aurelius stresses focusing on the present moment, as if the task you’re doing is the last thing you’ll ever do.

At the end of the day, the Stoics recommend putting the day up for review, reflecting on what could have been improved and the difference made.

Stoic philosophy encourages gratitude by viewing each day as 'bonus time,' reminding oneself that life is short and uncertain.

Marcus Aurelius reminds himself of life’s brevity, stating that both Alexander the Great and his mule driver ended up buried in the same ground, highlighting the futility of posthumous fame.

The speaker carries a 'memento mori' coin with Marcus Aurelius’ words: 'You could leave life right now,' as a reminder to live with purpose and humility.

The speaker finds daily walks essential, quoting Nietzsche’s idea that only thoughts formed during walks are of value and how Seneca believed wandering walks refresh the mind.

Stoic practice includes 'amor fati,' the love of fate, seeing challenges as opportunities to grow and improve, even when things don’t go as planned.

Marcus Aurelius states it’s not unfortunate that challenges happen, but fortunate they happen to us because we have the tools to handle them better than others might.

In dealing with life’s challenges, Stoics advocate embracing love rather than reluctance or resignation, turning hardships into growth.

The Stoics promote 'negative visualization,' preparing for potential hardships to avoid being unpleasantly surprised when they happen.

The speaker emphasizes the importance of a morning routine, advising to wake up early, avoid phones for the first 30 minutes, and start the day with reflective tasks to 'win the morning.'

Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus urge us not to put off self-improvement, with Epictetus asking, 'How much longer are you going to wait to demand the best from yourself?'

Transcripts

epictetus is that if you want to be

beautiful you have to make

beautiful choices i think what he's

talking about are habits

what habits define your life who are you

day in and day out

we're a product of our habits we're a

product of our day-to-day choices

i know that when i follow the best

practices when i wake up at the right

time when i eat right when i

do things in the right order when i

discipline about

you know screen time when i do the

practices or the habits that have made

me who i am i move forward

when i abandon those habits that's when

i regress and fall back

i've been writing about ancient

philosophy habits becoming your best

self

more than a decade now i've talked to

everyone from the nba to the nfl

so in today's video we'll give you a

bunch of great habits from the ancient

stoics that you should integrate in your

life

not tomorrow not in the future but right

now

[Music]

we know the stoics were big on routine

seneca says life without design

is erratic so some daily practices from

the stoics that everyone can use

wake up early spend some time with a

journal think about

value you can create for other people

for the world

concentrate like a roman marcus really

says like the thing you're doing

is the last thing you're doing in your

life work for the common good

he says the fruit of this life is good

character and acts for the common good

and then seneca talks about putting your

day up for review at the end of the day

stop and think

what could i have done better what can i

improve what difference did i make

how did i improve myself and then as we

go to bed the stoics say think about

that this was your last day on earth

your life is over

and then when you wake up the next day

you're grateful because it's

all bonus time it's all extra you're

playing with house money

and that's how the stokes go through

life

[Music]

i carry this coin in my pocket just says

momento mori on it and on the back

from marcus aurelius uh he says you

could leave life right now

let that determine what you do and say

and think

so marcus aurelius is the most powerful

man in the world and when you read

meditations what is he talking about

over and over again

how short life is how unimportant he is

how quickly he's going to be forgotten

after he dies you know he says alexander

the great and his mule driver both died

they're both buried in the same ground

the same thing happens to both

he says what good is posthumous fame

you're not going to be around for it

he's reminding himself that these things

don't say anything about you as a person

and that if you start to get too high on

your own supply

you're taking life too seriously and

you're lying to yourself

the philosopher bertrand russell has a

line that i remind myself

of when i start to get stressed when i

feel that ego creeping up when i get

really

the belief that your work is terribly

important is the first

sign of an impending nervous collapse

having some humility about what you do

about your place in the world to me is a

sign of healthy

well-adjusted maturity realizing that

this is not a grand monument to yourself

we're all playing the game of life and

business

and obviously you want to be a winner at

it obviously you want things to go your

way

but none of this changes really anything

and none of us know

how long we're going to be here

[Music]

i do this one thing every single day and

you can see i'm a little sweaty right

now i just

went on a long walk with my kids this is

the property there but we just went on

this long walk

around our property we talked we threw

sticks we told stories we were just

outside you know there's this great

expression from nietzsche he says

only ideas had when walking have any

worth and i think that's right even

seneca talks about how the mind must be

given over to wandering walks

and so this is really important for me

walking is physical activities it is

exercise

but it's really about letting my mind

rest i leave my phone at home

i leave my thoughts at home i leave my

work at home and i just go outside and i

walk and i don't even consider it

exercise it's exercise for my mind

it's time i spend with my family it's

time i spend on my property it's time i

spend outdoors

it's time i spend practicing gratitude

and appreciation

this is a thing i do every day without

fail whether it's in a parking lot or on

a beautiful beach somewhere

i'd go outside and take a walk and so

should you

the stoics have this concept of amor

fati a love of fate you can

hope nothing bad ever happens to you or

you can get to a place where you almost

you almost enjoy the challenge of things

going sideways

i love what i do whether it's in a

pandemic or a time of peace like i wake

up in the morning

and i i look at this as something i get

to do not something i have to do

and i see the challenges for what they

are which is a chance to get better

a chance to grow a chance to improve

that's the sort of stoic mentality

to to bring you back to that quote from

marcus realize he's saying

no it's not unfortunate that this

happened it's fortunate that it happened

to me and not someone else

he's saying because somebody else would

have been wrecked by it right somebody

else would have been

knocked on their ass by it somebody else

wouldn't have had the tools to deal with

it

that i have when the computer eats the

manuscript of the book i'm working on i

don't go oh this is the best

but i try to get to a place where i go

this is a challenge

this was chosen for me i'm going to

choose to deal with it and i'm not going

to let it break me

the primary emotion that you want to

bring to covet

to traffic in the morning to that

horribly long staff meeting all the

things that we face in life

is not reluctance not even resignation

not even tolerance but love right that's

what amor fati is

positive visualization is important if

you don't think you can do something if

you don't think something's possible

it's probably not going to happen you're

not going to win if you don't think you

can win but the stoics

also think that this positive

visualization has to be paired with

negative visualization

thinking about the bad things that could

happen the stoics know that

the law of attraction is horseshit right

you're not manifesting anything in your

life by

thinking about bad things that can

happen you're actually mitigating the

bad things

by thinking about them by preparing

seneca says war

exile torture shipwreck all the lots of

the human condition

all the potential things that could

happen they have to be in our mind so we

can prepare for them so we

have a plan for them the stoics would

rather be pleasantly surprised that the

thing you negatively visualize didn't

happen

then unpleasantly surprised when it does

happen so the stoic prepares they do

the pre-meditation they prepare for the

thing in advance

and the last year coven 19 has been a

great example of what happens when

people don't think

about what could happen you get

well begun is half done as they say so

my morning routine i think it's all

about winning the morning that's how you

win the day so my morning routine is

really simple

i wake up early i don't touch my phone

for the first

30 minutes that i'm awake minimum i go

for a long walk with my kids

then i spend a few minutes in a journal

i pack my lunch for the day

i don't eat until 11 o'clock i go to

work and i do my most important creative

tasks

first and only then do i eat handle

administrative stuff

check email get into all that so for me

it's

wake up early make before you manage

don't get sucked into the phone

spend some reflective time in the

journal and of course some time with

family and that's how i win

the morning to win the day

you say you don't have time to read but

you're watching this video you do have

time you're just

choosing not to make time there are

people

way busier than you marcus aurelius made

time to read epictetus was a slave

he managed to read you have time to read

you just have to make

time to read i read a lot i promise i am

almost certainly busier than you

i make time for it if you want to read

you have to make

time for it right it's not that we have

a little bit of time seneca says it's

that we waste a lot of it

and you're wasting it right now put the

phone down

and go read if you want to read then do

it

make the time

[Music]

you have to stop putting stuff off right

you just

have to stop putting stuff off marcus

aurelius says

you could be good today but instead you

choose tomorrow

epictetus asks how much longer are you

gonna wait to demand the best from

yourself

stop putting stuff off there's this

great latin expression

it just translates to do it if you're

gonna do it it's like the the nike

slogan

just do it don't put it off if it

matters if it's worth doing do it now

because the truth is now you have for

certain you don't

you don't know that you have tomorrow

it's arrogant to think that you can get

to this

next year it's arrogant to think you'll

do that when you retire

now is now do it now don't put it off do

it now

vain is the word of the philosopher that

does not heal

the suffering of man back in the ancient

world philosophy wasn't abstract it

wasn't theoretical

it was designed to help you live the

best life in stoicism 101

ancient wisdom for your actual life we

have a two-week

course that will introduce you into

philosophy that will make you a better

person

there's interviews with me daily lessons

that will challenge you to be better

give you new ways of thinking tackling

the problems of life

epictetus says how much longer are you

going to wait to demand the best for

yourself

check out our new course stoicism 101 at

dailystoke.com

101.