The Daily Stoic - How To Remain Calm | 9 Tips From The Stoics

Episode Date: March 3, 2024

In today's weekend episode of the Daily Stoic Podcast, Ryan reminds us How To Remain Calm When The Rest Of The World Is Freaking Out: 9 Tips From The Stoics by the way of voice actor Michael Reid. The article delves into specific Stoic practices, such as mindfulness, self-reflection, and the deliberate contemplation of worst-case scenarios, to empower individuals to confront challenges with equanimity. Additionally, it highlights the importance of maintaining perspective, recognizing the impermanence of external events, and reframing hardships as opportunities for personal development. Overall, the article serves as a practical guide for applying Stoic philosophy in modern times, offering readers a timeless toolkit to remain composed and centered when the world around them seems to be unraveling.✉️ Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Check out the Daily Stoic Store for Stoic inspired products, signed books, and more.📱 Follow us: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, FacebookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Welcome to the weekend edition of The Daily Stoic. Each weekday we bring you a meditation inspired by the ancient Stoics, something to help you live up to those four Stoic virtues of courage, justice, temperance, and wisdom. And then here on the weekend we take a deeper dive into those same topics. We interview Stoic philosophers. We explore at length how these Stoic ideas can be applied to our actual lives and the challenging issues of our time. Here on the weekend, when you have a little bit more space, when things have slowed down, be sure to take some time to think, to go for a walk, to sit with your journal, and most importantly to prepare for what the week ahead may bring. Hey, it's Ryan. Welcome to another weekend episode of The Daily Stoog Podcast. Got an

awesome episode for you today. Michael Reed, who does a lot of our voiceover stuff when I am saving my voice, or I feel like it needs something a tad more inspiring or aspirational. We did the piece over on DailyStoke.com. There's some productivity advice, life advice, and just some interesting little anecdotes. I hope you like this episode.

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Audible is there for you. Explore bestsellers, new releases and exclusive originals. Listen now on Audible. How to remain calm when the rest of the world Listen now on Audible. Rattling in the Middle East, China is ascendant, North Korea is a rogue state with nuclear capabilities, the oceans are rising, rhetoric grows more hateful and more divisive. It was also sudden too. Just two months ago the economy was near and all time high, we had travel plans and we thought we had a pretty good idea what the rest of the year held. Now many of us are unemployed,

stuck at home indefinitely, or both. It's enough to make even the strongest among us panic, and this is natural. The Stoics wrote that fear is an initial reaction that is out of our control, but that staying afraid is a choice. Using 2,000 year old wisdom, we put together this guide to help you remain calm so you can make better decisions and hopefully come out on the other side better than you were before. Accept what's outside of your control.

Get to work on what is. Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle. Some things are within our control and some things are not. It is only after you have faced up to this fundamental rule and learned to distinguish between what you can and can't control that inner tranquility and outer effectiveness become possible. Epictetus, the art of living. For many of us, the worst part of this crisis is the helplessness we feel in the face of

it. If you own a business, chances are that your sales have suffered, or you've had to temporarily close down, if not worse. If you live with an elderly or at risk person, you're likely doing your best to isolate them but still living with the fact that, ultimately, it may not be enough. In the face of so much we can't control, so many things that won't change no matter how hard we try, it's easy to forget how much we can do, even if it doesn't feel like much. In The Art of Living, Epictetus continues, Within our control are our own opinions,

aspirations, desires, and the things that repel us. These areas are quite rightly our concern because they are directly subject to our influence. We always have a choice about the contents and character of our inner lives. For today, we can add to this using our time wisely, not panicking, and doing what we can to slow the spread of the virus. Outside of our control is how long the pandemic will last and the coming ramifications that it will bring on the world. For now, do your best to always keep your mind focused on what it can do and do it. The rest is out of our control.

Focus on the smallest thing you can do right now. Concentrate every minute like a Roman, like a man, on doing what's in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice, and on freeing yourself from all other distractions. Yes, you can, if you do everything as if it were the last thing you were doing in your life and stop being aimless. Stop letting your emotions override what your mind tells you. Stop being hypocritical, self-centered, irritable. Marcus Aurelius, Meditations. In Atomic Habits, James Clear talks about the

importance of becoming just 1% better every day. This may not seem like much, but he writes, The difference a tiny improvement can make over time is astounding. Here's how the math works out. If you can get 1% better each day for one year, you'll end up 37 times better by the time you're done. None of us know how long the crisis will last or how long we're going to be stuck at home. But we are in control of what we do to improve during this time. Don't be fooled.

The version of you that comes out of quarantine can be much better than the person that went in, if you make tiny positive changes every single day. Xeno said it best, well-being is realized by small steps, but it is no small thing. Examine the costs of panicking or emotional reaction. How much more harmful are the consequences of anger and grief than the circumstances that arouse them in us.

Marcus Aurelius The astronaut, Chris Hadfield, has said about space travel, that there is no problem so bad you can't make it worse. The same concept applies to everyday life. All you have to do is think back. Have you ever been proud of anything you did out of anger? Have you ever had to endure the shame of having to see the same damaged hole in the wall for weeks and months after your emotions have come and gone? Anger

has never helped you before, so why would it help you now? History is full of examples of people who made decisions they regretted their whole lives under its influence. Understand, all giving in to panic or fear or anger will do is take away from your ability to keep a cool head and do what needs to be done right now. When things are falling apart, it's natural for our first reaction to be emotional. It can't be helped. But just because it's natural doesn't mean it's a good idea. According to the Stoics, human beings are endowed with the power of reason precisely

to protect us from these reactions. It's why Seneca said that the best remedy for anger is delay. And Marcus advised, quickly return to yourself and do not continue out of tune longer than the compulsion lasts. Remember, nothing is made better by panicking. Don't feed your emotions. Instead, try and constantly bring your mind back to a place of stillness. A place from where it can make better decisions and be better equipped to handle whatever gets thrown at it. Seek stillness. Nothing, to my way of thinking, is a better proof of a well-ordered mind than a man's ability to stop just where he is and

pass some time in his own company. Seneca If you're reading this, chances are that where you live is either on lockdown or actively encouraging people to stay home to stop the spread of the virus. It's not convenient, but it doesn't matter. It's what everybody has to do to stop the spread of the virus and protect the people that can't protect themselves. Being stuck at home may be anxiety inducing.

Our roommates may not be easy to live with. But what if instead we saw this time as a unique opportunity to slow down? To recalibrate our priorities. It's definitely a lot easier to do this now when you know everybody's in the same boat. So why not spend this time getting to know yourself, spending some time alone and just observing your thoughts? You certainly couldn't do this when you were constantly surrounded by other people, and even if you're worried about what the future holds, would it really hurt if you made it a point to stop worrying

for at least a small portion of the day? How much better could you be if instead you used some of this time to learn a new skill or adopt a new hobby? Don't forget that the person who comes out of quarantine can be better than the person who went in. You can be more thoughtful, considerate, and helpful to others if you resolve to make the best use of this time while you have the opportunity. And if it's hard at first, keep in mind what Seneca wrote to his friend Lucilius.

You have to persevere and fortify your pertinacity until the will to good becomes a disposition to good. Stillness isn't easy to find, it's a constant practice, and the search for it can often be more frustrating than not. But it's a skill that nobody will be able to take from you no matter what happens. This message comes from Viking, committed to exploring the world in comfort, journey through the heart of Europe on an elegant Viking longship with thoughtful service, destination focused dining and cultural enrichment on board and on shore. And every Viking voyage is all-inclusive with no children and no casinos.

Discover more at Viking.com. I'm Afwa Hirsch. I'm Peter Francopern. And in our podcast, Legacy, we explore the lives of some of the biggest characters in history. This season, we delve into the life some of the biggest characters in history. This season, we delve into the life of Michael Gorbachev. This season has everything. It's got political ideology. It's got nuclear Armageddon. It's got love story. It's got betrayal. It's got economic collapse.

One ingredient that you left out, legacy. Was he someone who helped make the world a better place, saved us all from all of those terrible things, or was he a man who created the problems and the challenges of many parts of the world today? Those questions about how to think about Gorbachev, was he unwitting character in history, was he one who helped forge and frame the world?

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Marcus Aurelius As we've said, we have no control over how long the pandemic is going to last, but nothing changes that, whether we want to or not. We all have to go through it. Marcus writes elsewhere in his meditations, a blazing fire makes flame and brightness out of everything that is thrown into it. This, coming from a man who during his time as emperor, had to lead his people through a crisis much like the one we're facing now.

Except with almost none of the benefits of modern medicine, seems particularly fitting now. Remember Epictetus' words, the true man is revealed in difficult times, so when trouble comes, think of yourself as a wrestler whom God, like a trainer, has paired with a tough young buck. For what purpose? To turn you into Olympic-class material. Both of these men knew that there's no use in bemoaning the obstacle in front of us.

And that's more than anything, these obstacles provide the necessary fuel to make us stronger, better, and more resilient. Remember what Marcus said to comfort himself during the Antonine Plague, to bear in mind constantly that all of this has happened before and will happen again. The same plot from beginning to end, the identical staging. If we stop and look at those that came before us, those that faced unimaginable hardship and yet still not only overcame it, but became better for it, we can gain the necessary perspective to know that we are capable of doing the same thing.

And by doing so, we can inspire others to do the same. Have confidence in your ability to make the best of anything. Limit your news consumption. Do the things external which fall upon you distract you. Give yourself time to learn something new and good and cease to be whirled around. Marcus Aurelius. There's no doubt that whatever impact COVID-19 has had on the place we live has made even the best of us at least a little anxious. So what do we do to deal with this anxiety? We go on Twitter, We go on Twitter, we watch the news, we check out what's going on 5000 miles away from us. There's a reason that the first principle Epictetus gives us for living a happy life in the art of living is to distinguish between what you can and can't control. It helps you see what you can actually improve on.

But what do all these things have in common? We're going out of our ways to focus on the exact opposite of this. There's nothing wrong with being updated on what's going on. It's important. But deliberately choosing to make most of what you expose yourself via negative? Not only can you do nothing about the majority of what you see on the news, but it takes time away from actively making a positive difference in your own life. Hundreds of thousands may be living in homeless shelters, sick, in the need of help. But how

many of us can afford to help hundreds of thousands of people? Now, how many of us can help one or two people? The point is that most of what we call being informed not only has little to no relevance to our own lives, but it takes us away from leading the good life, from putting all of our attention and effort into becoming better and making a difference where we can. Understand, it's most important to remain calm in times of crisis when chaos seems to reign supreme, and peace can only come from being centered, from doing what's in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice, and on freeing yourself from all other distractions.

So during this time of social isolation, find something that you can do to help yourself, even if that something is just learning to manage your emotions. This situation may be awful, but doing at least one thing right is much better than feeling helpless in the face of something so much bigger than ourselves. Limit your inputs. Stick to a routine. In many circumstances, we do not deal with our affairs in accordance with correct assumptions, but rather we follow thoughtless habit. Mussonius Rufus No matter what was going on in the Empire, Marcus Aurelius made sure to carve out some time for quiet reflection every morning. It's what eventually left us with his meditations.

Seneca reflected similarly every evening, considering this reflection one of the most essential parts of his day. Both of them understood that when times are at their most chaotic is when it's most important to create some semblance of order for ourselves. A routine gives us a sense of certainty about our days. No matter what else happens, we know we'll go for a walk in the morning or sit down to read for 30 minutes after lunch. Routines also have a calming effect. They let our brains start the morning off on the right foot or power down to get a good night's sleep. Fred Rogers, the beloved children's television show host, woke up at the same time every

day for an hour of prayer and meditation before going for a swim. This routine helped set the tone for his days and allowed him to maintain his trademark demeanor even when dealing with the most difficult of people. It also allotted him the proper amount of reflection that's necessary for the flourishing of any human being. Understand a routine is something you can control. In the calm of morning before the kids are awake, whether or not the job market is exploding, you can stick to the rituals you know will bring you peace.

And this, in turn, will let you approach your daily obstacles not with the frenzy of fear and anxiety, but from a better place. A place of calm and stillness. Take care of your relationships. I can lay down for mankind a rule and short compass for our duties and human relationships. All that you behold, that which comprises both God and man, is one. We are the parts of one great body. Nature produced us related to one another, since she created us from the same source

and to the same end. She engendered in us mutual affection and made us prone to friendships. Seneca. Epictetus wrote that our duties are revealed through our relationships with one another, and that, once you know who you are and to whom you are linked, you will know what to do. Marcus similarly said, Men exist for the sake of one another. Teach them then, or bear with them. Elsewhere in the meditations he even told himself, when you wish to delight yourself, think of the

virtues of those who live with you, for nothing delights so much as the examples of the virtues when they are exhibited in the morals of those who live with us, and present themselves in abundance as far as is possible. Although stoicism is a philosophy that stresses independence and strength, moral rectitude, and inner life, it's essential that we don't mistake this as a justification for isolation or loneliness. We are not islands, we are social animals. Only the beasts can get through this alone. We need community, we need friends. We get something out of giving, and we are made better for caring and being cared for. That's what the idea of sympathy is really about. The warm, snug feeling of knowing you're a part of a larger whole.

Relationships make life worth living. It is key to a good life. Do not neglect them. So, as you go through this difficult time, remember this. It's both your duty and your obligation to be there for those you love, even if it's just by giving them someone they can talk to and confide in. This is what makes life worth living and gives us a sense of purpose. It's why Victor Frankel wrote, I understood how a man who has nothing left in this world still may know bliss, be it

only for a brief moment in the contemplation of his beloved, after his experience being held prisoner in a series of German concentration camps. In the worst possible moments, love is what sustains us and gives life a sense of meaning and purpose when nothing else can. Take care of your relationships. Dead time or a live time? Just because we're stuck indoors doesn't mean that this time has been taken from us. We don't have to sit around watching Netflix or refreshing our news feeds the whole day.

Instead, we can use this time to learn new skills, hone our critical thinking skills, and learn to manage our emotions so we can be as productive as possible, no matter what the circumstances are. We created the Daily Stoic Alive Time Challenge to help you do just that. The 14 actionable challenges are designed to help you make sure that the person who steps out of social isolation is better than the person who went in. It comes with access to a group Slack channel for accountability, over 10,000 words of exclusive content and a daily audio companion from author Ryan Holiday.

Plus, we're giving five dollars of every sale to Feeding America. We hope you'll check it out. Hey Prime members, you can listen to the Daily Stoic early and add free on Amazon Music, download the Amazon Music app today, or you can listen early and add free with Wondery Plus and Apple Podcasts. Experience basketball like never before with BetMGM, an authorized gaming partner of the NBA. Ready to shoot your shot? We've made the Bet MGM experience more immersive and fun for all types of basketball fans.

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