Stop trying to be perfect at everything. Try, fail, and learn like those crazy kindergarteners who smoked the competition in the Spaghetti Problem. And I do mean literally; a study showed that we're more creative when we think like a kid. We don't like to admit it, but often we really don't know what we want. — Eric Barker(resource) Barking Up the Wrong Tree
June 12th: A trained mind is better than any script
Ryan Holiday, The 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
In this way you must understand how laughable it is to say, "Tell me what to do!" What advice could I possibly give? No, a far better request is, "Train my mind to adapt to any circumstance"... In this way, if circumstances take you off script... you won't be deperate for a new prompting. —Epictetus, Discourses, 2.2.20b-1;24b-25a
Ryan Holiday, The 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Philosophy isn't a parlor trick or made for show. It's not concerned with words, but with facts. It's not employed for some pleasure before the day is spent, or to relieve the uneasiness of our leisure. It shapes and builds up the soul, it gives order to life, guides action, shows what and shouldn't be done — it sits at the rudder steering our course as we vacillate in uncertainties. Without it, no one can live without fear or free from care. Countless things happen every hour that require advice, and such advice is to be sought out in philosophy. — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 9.26
Ryan Holiday, The 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
It is said that if you would have peace of mind, busy yourself a little. But wouldn't a better saying be do what you must and as required of a rational being created for public life? For this brings not only the peace of mind of doing few things, but the greater peace of doing them well. Since the vast majority of our words and actions are unnecessary, corralling them will create an abundance of leisure and tranquility. As a result, we shouldn't forget at each moment to ask, is this one of the unnecessary things? But we must corral not only unnecessary actions but unnecessary thoughts , too, so needless acts don't tag along after them. — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, 4.24
Ryan Holiday, The 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
You must stop blaming God, and not blame any person. You must completely control your desire and shift your avoidance to what lies within your reasoned choice. You must no longer feel anger, resentment, envy, or regret.— Epictetus, Discourses, 3.22.13
Ryan Holiday, The 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
We should take wandering outdoor walks, so that the mind might be nourished and refreshed by the open air and deep breathing. —Seneca, On Tranquility of Mind, 17.8
August 6th: There is always more room to maneuver than you think
Ryan Holiday, The 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living
Apply yourself to thinking through difficulties — hard times can be softened, tight squeezes widened, and heavy loads made lighter for those who can apply the right pressure. — Seneca, On Tranquility of Mind, 10.4b
