The Daily Stoic - This Has Been Passed Down To Us

Starting point is 00:00:00 Wondery Plus subscribers can listen to The Daily Stoic early and ad free right now. Just join Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple Podcast. and wisdom, everyday life. Each one of these passages is based on the 2000 year old philosophy that has guided some of history's greatest men and women. For more, you can visit us, dailystoic.com. So why do they do it? Why do thousands of people all over the world sign up for the Daily Stoic New Year, New You Challenge? Maybe it seems crazy to you.

Starting point is 00:00:48 Maybe it doesn't make any sense. It's like, oh, I could do without it. I could do it by myself. Well, I thought maybe I'd just let you hear it in their own words. Here are some folks that signed up for the Daily Stoic New Year, New You Challenge over the years.

Starting point is 00:01:00 I'm really loving the challenge and everyone I'm talking to about it is really kind of enjoying hearing about it. So just want to say thank you for everything. This was a really cool way to start the year. Thank you. About three years ago, I discovered youth. So I've been through Ego is the Enemy fairly recently. And of course, this year's challenge, I've been doing the challenge for three years. I'm kind of a real life embodiment of some of the stuff my wife passed from cancer, but just learned that it's day by day process kind of cliche. I'm kind of a real-life embodiment of some of the stuff my wife passed from cancer but just learned that it's day-by-day process kind of cliche. I have been reading the Stoics and participating in your challenges the

Starting point is 00:01:32 past few years. And look I'll give you one testimonial on top of that. It's worked really well for me. I get something out of making the challenge but I also do it alongside all of you. It's one of my favorite things. It kicks off the year right for me. So if you want to kick the year off right with a challenge, well join us in the Daily Stoic New Year, New You Challenge. You can sign up right now at dailystoic.com slash challenge. It's going to start on January 1st. Why don't you challenge yourself right now to stop procrastinating and do it. And I will see you in there. Over 2000 years ago, one of the world's greatest philosophers was born.

Starting point is 00:02:12 He came of age under the Roman empire and spread a message of kindness and mercy and doing one's duty. He taught millions how to live and how to die over the course of his life and his legacy, how to better themselves and treat their neighbors too. But eventually this wisdom grew controversial, a threat to the state,

Starting point is 00:02:29 and his death came at the hands of the centurions they sent for him. And yet even during the very public agony and humiliation of his death, he asked his loved ones and followers to stay strong, to forgive the excesses of an emperor who did not know what he was doing. In those brave final moments,

Starting point is 00:02:48 he immortalized himself forever. This is the story of Jesus, who people all over the world celebrate today on Christmas. But just as well, this is the story of Seneca. Remarkably, Seneca and Jesus lived nearly parallel lives. Not only that, but they were born, according to many sources, in the same year. No one can confirm for certain the exact birth date for either, but it is indisputable that two of history's greatest philosophers walked the earth at the same time.

Starting point is 00:03:18 More incredible is just how much their teachings overlap, and it's worth taking some time on this Christmas morning to consider those similarities. Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. That's Jesus. Wherever there is a human being there is an opportunity for kindness. That's Seneca. If someone strikes you on the right cheek then turn to him the other also. That's Jesus. It is a petty and sorry person who will bite back when he is bitten. That's Seneca. We can rejoice too when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance and endurance develops strength of character. That's Jesus.

Starting point is 00:03:55 Constant misfortune brings this one blessing to whom it always assails and eventually fortifies. That's Seneca. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye but do not consider the plank in your own eye? That's Jesus. You look at the pimples of others when you yourself are covered with a mass of sores. That's Seneca. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. That's Jesus. Two elements must therefore be rooted out once and for all,

Starting point is 00:04:29 the fear of future suffering and the recollection of past suffering, since the latter no longer concerns me and the former concerns me not yet. That's Seneca. Ultimately, both these men lived on far beyond their deaths. According to scripture, Jesus, he would rise from the dead after three days.

Starting point is 00:04:47 And Seneca, through his writings, feels as alive to us as he would have to many Romans. So on this Christmas day, we can simply marvel at this near miracle, that two wise men were alive at the same time and through their sufferings and teachings, a great legacy has been passed down to us. Which one of them we choose to rely on most heavily is an individual decision, but that we should do something with their teachings, that's a gift we would all be wise to receive this Christmas. Anyways, Merry Christmas everyone. I love putting this together, these Christmas messages every year, and it's been my privilege and honor to do this now every Christmas since 2016. Thank you for subscribing. Thank you for giving me the opportunity, giving me the platform, for making me better by allowing me to write this to you.

Starting point is 00:05:36 I hope to see you all in the Daily Stoic New Year New Challenge which is going to start in just a few days. You can join there at dailystoic.com slash challenge. And now I'm gonna go be with my family and I hope you do the same. If you like the Daily Stoic and thanks for listening, you can listen early and add free right now by joining Wondery Plus in the Wondery app or on Apple podcasts. Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. And before you go, would you tell us about yourself by filling out a short survey on

Starting point is 00:06:18 Wondery.com slash survey.

The Daily Stoic - This Has Been Passed Down To Us

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.