📚 A&B #139

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Thank you for your support everyone and I hope you enjoy this week's newsletter! 🤓

👋 Hey everyone,

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📚 Book Summary:

This week's book is "The Daily Stoic" by Ryan Holiday.

This book holds 366 days of Stoic insights and exercises that will help you become calmer, wiser, and live a better life. If you want to get into Stoicism or are already a fan of it, this book is for you.

Here are 3 key lessons from the book:

📖

1) Get Active In Your Own Rescue

"We cry to God Almighty, how can we escape this agony? Fool, don't you have hands? Or could it be God forgot to give you a pair?" –Epictetus

The world is unfair. The game is rigged. Some people got lucky and live an easier life. Maybe all the above is true, but practically speaking–what good does complaining about things do for you?

Making a fuss about getting a parking ticket, feeling sorry for yourself for not getting a promotion, or acting like a victim, all of this accomplishes nothing–nothing except sapping you of the energy and motivation you need to do something about your problems.

Right now we all have a choice: Do we focus on the ways we've been wronged OR do we use what we have and get to work?

So the next time you find yourself in a negative situation, remember this phrase from the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, "get active in your own rescue" and get to work.

📖

2) Take More Walks

"We should take wandering outdoor walks, so that the mind might be nourished and refreshed by the open air and deep breathing." –Seneca

The ancient city of Rome was notoriously loud. It was filled with the noises of horses and wagons, vendors shouting, blacksmiths hammering weapons, and crowded marketplaces.

The city also had a putrid smell that came from the poor sewage and sanitation. So to clear their heads and get fresh air, philosophers went on a lot of walks in nature.

In fact, this is a common trait among many of the world's most famous philosophers, writers, and inventors. Fredrich Nietzsche once said, "It is only ideas gained from walking that have any worth."

This advice still rings true today. If you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed, take a walk. When you have a tough problem to solve or a decision to make, take a walk. When you want to be creative, take a walk. If you have a call to take, take a walk. If you've spent all day behind a desk or computer, take a walk.

It's a simple action that if done often, can transform your life.

📖

3) You Can Be Critical Without Being Cruel

"Philosophy calls for simple living, but not for penance–it's quite possible to be simple without being crude." –Seneca

Read any of the stoic writings and you'll come across a lot of self-criticism but no self-loathing or self-flagellation. You don't hear the stoics call themselves worthless pieces of crap nor do they punish themselves when they make a mistake.

Instead, they focus on constructive criticism and reflect on how they can better themselves without using guilt or punishment. The big takeaway here is that you can hold yourself to a high standard while also forgiving yourself when you make a mistake.

So be critical of yourself, but don't be cruel to yourself.

✅ Actionable Advice:

1) Go for a long walk today:

• Leave your phone at home, grab your keys, and go for a long walk in nature.

• Reflect on how you feel afterwards.

2) Be critical without being cruel:

• When talking to yourself, give constructive feedback on what you can do to improve without insulting or talking-down to yourself.

3) Quotes worth reflecting on:

• “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

• “It may take some hard work. But the more you say no to the things that don’t matter, the more you can say yes to the things that do.”

• “You don’t control the situation, but you control what you think about it.”

• “A degree on a wall means you’re educated as much as shoes on your feet mean you’re walking. It’s a start, but hardly sufficient.”

• “Everything is change. Embrace that. Flow with it.”

📖 Reading Lesson:

It's okay to...

⭐️ Weekly Quote:

"If you don't prioritize your life, someone else will."

–Greg McKeown

Thank you for your support everyone, I'll see you next Sunday!

Read on,

Alex W.