Stoicism's Tips For Solving Problems With People
Summary
TLDRThis video script delves into the philosophy of Stoicism, emphasizing the importance of being good and patient despite the flaws of others. It discusses the teachings of Stoic philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus, who advise on handling the negative behaviors of people around us without letting them affect our inner peace. The script also touches on the importance of self-reflection, empathy, and focusing on doing what is right rather than seeking external validation. It encourages viewers to embody Stoic principles in daily life, to improve themselves and positively influence their community.
Takeaways
- đ Stoicism is not an escape from reality but an active engagement with everyday life, emphasizing practical wisdom and virtue.
- đ Philosophers like Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus advocate for self-improvement and maintaining one's integrity, regardless of others' actions.
- đ€ The importance of introspection is highlighted, urging individuals to consider their own actions before judging others, fostering empathy and understanding.
- đ The script challenges the pursuit of external validation, suggesting that personal principles and self-assessment are paramount.
- đ± It emphasizes the Stoic practice of focusing on what is within one's control, such as one's actions and reactions, rather than external outcomes.
- đ€ The value of treating others with kindness and empathy is underscored, even when they may not reciprocate, as a means of personal virtue.
- đ The concept of 'memento mori' is introduced, reminding us of the impermanence of life and the importance of cherishing relationships and moments.
- đ« The script discourages envy and the comparison with others, advocating for contentment with what one has and focusing on one's own path.
- đĄ Stoicism encourages the embodiment of philosophy through actions, not just words, to inspire and improve the lives of others.
- đ It suggests that happiness and fulfillment come from doing good and being good to others, rather than seeking external approval or fame.
Q & A
What is the main theme of the video script?
-The main theme of the video script is the application of Stoic philosophy to everyday life, focusing on how to deal with the negative aspects of human behavior and how to improve oneself and others through understanding and empathy.
According to the script, what is the role of a philosopher in Stoicism?
-In Stoicism, a philosopher is not someone who retreats into a world of ideas but is actively engaged in everyday life, dealing with people and applying philosophical principles to improve their interactions and personal growth.
What advice does Mark Cerulli give regarding people's behavior?
-Mark Cerulli advises to be good to people and patient with them, recognizing that people are the proper occupation of a philosopher and that one should focus on their own principles and actions rather than seeking external validation.
Why does the script mention that people care about the opinions of those they will never meet?
-The script mentions that people care about the opinions of future generations to highlight the irrationality of seeking posthumous fame and validation, emphasizing that what truly matters is one's own self-assessment and actions.
What does Marcus Aurelius suggest when encountering difficult people?
-Marcus Aurelius suggests that when encountering difficult people, one should not let their negative traits affect you. Instead, remain honest and true to yourself and try to understand them without being implicated in their behavior.
How does the script interpret the concept of 'people suck'?
-The script interprets 'people suck' as a harsh truth about human nature, acknowledging that people can lie, cheat, and steal, but also emphasizes the Stoic perspective that the focus should be on doing what's right and being good despite these challenges.
What is the Stoic approach to dealing with others' mistakes or misbehavior?
-The Stoic approach is to not take others' mistakes personally, to empathize with them as you would with yourself, and to remember that everyone, including oneself, makes mistakes and is not defined by them.
What is the significance of 'memento mori' in Stoic philosophy as discussed in the script?
-In the script, 'memento mori' is a reminder of the impermanence of life and the importance of valuing the present moment and the people in it. It encourages one to act with kindness, forgiveness, and appreciation towards others, as life is short and uncertain.
How does the script relate the concept of self-improvement to Stoic philosophy?
-The script relates self-improvement to Stoic philosophy by emphasizing the importance of doing what's right, being good, and setting an example for others. It suggests that by embodying Stoic principles, one not only makes others better but also finds personal happiness and fulfillment.
What does the script suggest as a way to combat negative emotions like envy?
-The script suggests using thought exercises to combat negative emotions. For instance, it recommends considering how others might envy you and how you would feel if you were in their position, which can help to cultivate contentment and gratitude for what you have.
Outlines
đ§ Stoic Wisdom for Dealing with People
This paragraph emphasizes the idea that people can be difficult, often behaving in deceitful or selfish ways. However, the Stoic approach, as highlighted by figures like Marcus Aurelius, encourages engagement with people and the world rather than retreating into isolation. The author shares their journey of learning from ancient philosophy and speaking to various audiences, demonstrating that philosophy is deeply connected to everyday life. The main Stoic lesson here is to not let others' annoying or hurtful behavior affect you, but instead focus on your own actions, principles, and values. The narrative touches on the futility of seeking external validation and the importance of being true to oneself.
đ Focus on Doing the Right Thing
This paragraph draws on the example of the Stoic Cato, who lived as though he were in an ideal world, unaffected by the corruption and challenges around him. The message is to remain steadfast in doing the right thing regardless of external circumstances. Marcus Aurelius's advice is highlighted: do what is right, and ignore what others are doing or saying. The Stoics are not unfeeling; rather, they advocate for putting love and kindness into the world, as noted by Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. The passage encourages maintaining personal integrity and affection, regardless of external chaos or negative influences.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄStoicism
đĄPhilosopher
đĄEngagement
đĄPatience
đĄSelf-reflection
đĄEmpathy
đĄSelf-discipline
đĄMemento Mori
đĄEnvy
đĄValidation
đĄPrinciples
Highlights
People often lie, cheat, and steal, driven by trivial motivations.
A philosopher, especially for the Stoics, is engaged in everyday life and interactions with people.
Mark Cerulli suggests being good to people and patient with them, considering them our 'proper occupation'.
Stoic lessons can help maximize the positive aspects of people around you and minimize their negative impact.
We care about the opinions of future generations, who will be as flawed as us, yet we forget this when seeking posthumous fame.
The importance of valuing our own principles and actions over external validation and results.
Marcus Aurelius advises preparing for encounters with difficult people without letting their behavior affect you.
When wronged, reflect on similar actions you may have taken, fostering empathy and understanding.
Epictetus emphasizes not taking things personally and practicing empathy, even towards those who wrong us.
Stoicism involves accepting the reality of flawed people and using it as an opportunity to practice virtue.
Cicero's joke about Cato living as if in a perfect world, regardless of the corruption around him, illustrates Stoic focus on doing what's right.
Seneca advises that if you want love, you must give love, emphasizing the energy you put out into the world.
The Stoics encourage thought exercises to combat envy and promote contentment with what you have.
Memento mori, a Stoic practice, reminds us of life's brevity and the importance of cherishing the present and our relationships.
The importance of not taking people or time for granted, and the value of forgiveness and appreciation in the present moment.
Stoicism is not about being unfeeling; it's about being a role model and inspiration by embodying good principles.
Transcripts
people suck it's harsh but it's true
they lie and cheat and steal and
are motivated by silly ridiculous things
it's true people suck
a philosopher isn't someone who just
retreats to their books that lives in
a fantasy world of ideas a philosopher
to the stoics
was engaged in everyday life was around
people mark cerullis says he says be
good to people
be patient with them he says people are
our proper occupation i've now written
10 books about ancient philosophy i've
been lucky enough to speak to everyone
from the nfl to the nba
sitting u.s senators and the u.s special
forces there's no
separating philosophy from people from
people big and small
so in today's episode i wanted to give
you some stoic
rules some stoic lessons for getting the
most out of the people around you
and not letting other people in the
crazy annoying things they do
get to you
it's strange we not only care about
other people's opinions
we care about the opinions of people in
the future who we will never meet
marxist really says you know people who
long for
posthumous fame they forget not only are
they not going to be around to enjoy it
but the people in the future will be as
just as dumb and silly and ridiculous
and obsessed with fads and
valuing the wrong things as people right
now
so what matters is what you think he
says we love ourselves more than other
people but we care about their opinion
more than our own
it's insane you know what's right you
know what you value
you know what's important you know what
your principles are that's what you have
to measure yourself
against what you're capable of what
you're trying to do
external approval external validation
external results
that's secondary how many views this
does that's not important did i say what
i wanted to say did i do what i wanted
to do
did i bring my best self to it that's
what matters
marcus aurelius he says when you wake up
in the morning tell yourself who you're
going to meet
you know the the cunning and the
deceitful and the and the
and the frivolous and the jealous and
the ridiculous he says you're going to
meet them
but you can't let them implicate you and
their ugliness he says
you have to figure out how to be honest
and true to yourself and to them
even though that's the furthest thing
from what they're capable of doing
she said the most important thing is to
be good in a world where there are so
many
bad people
[Music]
when someone hurts you or says something
rude or screws something up or does
something bad
the question to ask marx really says is
when have i done that when have i
acted like that because you probably
have right we all do things
what do you think about that and why did
you do it most of the time it was
because you didn't know
most of the time you were trying your
best and even
when it was a real mistake something you
you know you shouldn't have done the
reality is
you understand that that doesn't make
you a bad person
and so when people hurt us when people
screw us over when people mess up
we have to remember that they are like
us to grab the other handle as epictetus
is that we're not going to take it
personally we're not going to blame them
we're not going to write them off
we're going to give them empathy the
same empathy that we regularly give
ourselves
people suck it's harsh but it's true i
mean work surrealist
opens meditations with music on how much
people suck
how they lie and cheat and steal and are
motivated by silly
ridiculous things it's true people suck
but he also says in meditations look
the only thing that's not worthless in
this life
is to do what's right is to be good
and then he says to be patient with
those
who aren't that's what we're doing
people do suck people are problematic
people do
present countless obstacles to us and
yet that
is an opportunity to practice stoicism
to practice
self-discipline to practice fairness
even in the face of unfairness
so a stoic takes reality as it is
unflinchingly
and it doesn't change what they believe
their obligation is
in this world
happy is he who makes others better i
think that's what a stoic is also
not just a role model but an inspiration
someone who makes others better by the
example that they set
by the work that they do by the good
they do for their community
that's what stoicism is about epictetus
is don't talk about your philosophy
embody it
you make others better by being your
best self
but this is the benefit you also make
yourself
happy because you see the good that
you're doing
in the world in the people around you
and this is
why the stoics are working so hard all
the time
cicero jokes about cato that cato lived
as if he was inside plato's republic
rather than living in the dregs of
romulus meaning that cato lived as if he
was in a perfect world as if everyone
was good
as if being good was the only thing that
mattered he didn't care that the people
around him were corrupt he didn't care
that nobody else had any hope
he didn't care that things were bad or
falling to pieces what he cared about
was what was right
and that he he ignored what was going on
outside
and so when we look at at all the things
that are happening in the world all the
things that can make us give up hope
all the things that can break our hearts
all the things that can make us despair
all the things that contempt us we do
what a stoic does which is that we tune
them out
we focus on what's right as marx really
said just that you do the right thing
the rest doesn't matter and that
includes what other people are doing
what prevailing opinion is
all the other stuff is irrelevant just
do the right thing ignore what's
happening outside
you might think that the stoics are kind
of these unfeeling people and and i get
that but it's actually not true at all
seneca says if you want love in your
life he says then love
marcus really says that he learns from
one of his mentors to be free of
passions
yes but full of love do you have
affection for other people if you want
to feel good
if you want to be loved by other people
it's about what you put out in the world
as the beatles say it's about
the energy you put out in the world
because ultimately that's what you
control
if you want to feel better don't go
expecting other people to validate you
other people to give you what you want
give what you want marcus rio says if
you want to feel good
do good if you want to feel loved put
love out in the world put affection out
in the world
see everyone you meet as seneca says as
an opportunity to practice kindness
and the rest will take care of itself i
promise
there's a great line comparison is the
thief of joy comes to us from from
theodore roosevelt when you compare
yourself to others you feel like you
have less
feel like you are less and in
meditations marcus says
you know think about how silly it is
that we envy people without really
thinking about who they are and what
their lives are like
and then he says think about all the
people that are envious if you think
about how you yourself would be
envious of yourself if you suddenly
didn't have
what you have and you were someone else
right the idea for the stoics is to do
these kind of thought exercises
to combat these emotional impulses or
temptations we have or
destructive thought patterns like you
don't need to be jealous of other people
first off because other people are
probably jealous of you and you'd be
jealous of yourself if your situation
was different so
the idea of just being satisfied with
what you have of accepting what you have
of letting what you have be enough
that's everything as epicurus says
quoted by seneca
enough will never be enough for the
person to whom enough
is too little
my friend emailed me on a friday i saw i
told myself i was going to respond on
monday
and by sunday he was gone he'd fallen
dead of a heart attack
this is why the stoics practice memento
mori life is short you can go at any
moment
but also they said the people who are
precious to you you do not possess
them you can't take them for granted you
can't assume they're going to be here
forever
you can't assume you're always going to
have them you don't have them now
they're here on loan they are here under
shaky status at best so you can't take
people for granted
you can't take time for granted you
can't go to bed angry as they say you
can't hold on to grudges
be with them now while you can forgive
them now while you can
appreciate them now while you can
enjoy them now while you can that's the
only thing we can do
memento mori you could leave life right
now they could leave life
right now let that determine what you do
and say and think
particularly with the people who matter
most to you
thanks for watching every day i send out
a philosophy inspired email
ancient wisdom for your actual life you
can sign up totally for free at
dailystock.com
Voir Plus de Vidéos Connexes
This PHILOSOPHY Changed my LIFE
Bagaimana Isi Pemikiran Penguasa Terbaik Roma? | Marcus Aurelius | Philosopher #3
STOIKISME: Panduan Hidup Tenang dan Bahagia | Audiobook Ringkasan Buku Filosofi Teras
The Rarest Woman in the World: Possesses These 8 Virtues | Stoicism
50 Stoic Rules For A Better Life
How Stoics deal with jerks, narcissists, and other difficult people
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)