The Goal of This Post
This post is an excerpt from the book The Daily Stoic, by Ryan Holiday.
In this post, I share some of my favorite passages from the month of March, with a focus on Awareness.
March: Awareness
March 1st: Where Philosophy Begins
“An important place to begin in philosophy is this: a clear perception of one’s own ruling principle.”
“One becomes a philosopher when they begin to exercise their guiding reason and start to question the emotions and beliefs and even language that others take for granted.”
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March 2nd: Accurate Self-Assessment
“Above all it is necessary for a person to have a true self-estimate, for we commonly think we can do more than we really can.”
“Cultivate the ability to judge yourself accurately and honestly. Look inward to discern what you’re capable of and what it will take to unlock that potential.”
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March 6th: Don’t Tell Yourself Stories
“In public avoid talking often and excessively about your accomplishments and dangers, for however much you enjoy recounting your dangers, it’s not so pleasant for others to hear about your affairs.”
“Live in what’s real. Listen and connect with people, don’t perform for them.”
March 12th: Seeings Things As The Person At Fault Does
“Whenever someone has done wrong by you, immediately consider what notion of good or evil that had in doing it. For when you see that, you’ll feel compassion, instead of astonishment or rage. For you may yourself have the same notions of good and evil, or similar ones, in which case you’ll make an allowance for what they’ve done. But if you no longer hold the same notions, you’ll be more readily gracious for their error.”
“Nobody does wrong willingly. How much more tolerant and understanding would you be today if you could see the actions of other people as attempts to do the right thing?”
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March 14th: Self-Deception Is Our Enemy
“Zeno would also say that nothing is more hostile to a firm grasp on knowledge than self-deception”.
“Ego is the sworn enemy of our ability to learn and grow.”
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March 15th: The Present Is All We Possess
“Were you to live three thousand years, or even a countless multiple of that, keep in mind that no one ever loses a life other than the one they are living, and no one ever lives a life other than the one they are losing. The longest and the shortest life, then, amount to the same, for the present moment lasts the same for all and is all anyone possesses. No one can lose either the past or the future, for how can someone be deprived of what’s not theirs?”.
“Notice how often you look for more. Wanting the past to be more than what it was or wanting the future to unfold exactly as you expect. When you do this you’re neglecting the present moment.”
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March 16th: That Sacred Part Of You
“Hold sacred your capacity for understanding. For in it is all, that our ruling principle won’t allow anything to enter that is either inconsistent with nature or with the constitution of a logical creature. It’s what demands due diligence, care for others, and obedience to God.”
“Take a little time today to remember that you’re blessed with the capacity to use logic and reason to navigate situations and circumstances. This gives you unthinkable power to alter your circumstances and the circumstances of others.”
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March 18th: Impossible Without Your Consent
“Today I escaped from the crush of circumstances, or better put, I threw them out, for the crush wasn’t from outside me but in my own assumptions.”
“Someone can’t frustrate you, work can’t overwhelm you – these are external objects, and they have no access to your mind. What we assume, what we willingly generate in our mind, that’s on us.”
March 19th: Timeless Wisdom
“For there are two rules to keep at the ready – that there is nothing good or bad outside my own reasoned choice, and that we shouldn’t try to lead events but to follow them.”
“Remember, each individual has a choice. You are always the one in control. The cause of irritation – or our notion that something is bad – that comes from us, from our labels or our expectations. Just as easily, we can change those labels; we can change our entitlement and decide to accept and love what’s happening around us.”
March 21st: The Best Retreat Is In Here, Not Out There
“People seek retreats for themselves in the country, by the sea, or in the mountains. You are very much in the habit of yearning for those same things. But this is entirely in the trait of a base person, when you can, at any moment, find such a retreat in yourself. For nowhere can you find a more peaceful and less busy retreat than in your soul – especially if on close inspection it is filled with ease, which I say is nothing more than being well-ordered. Treat yourself often to this retreat and be renewed.”
“Wherever you go, there you are. We can find a retreat any time by looking inward.”
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All content credit goes to the author. I’ve shared the bits I’ve enjoyed the most and found most useful.
Cheers ’till next time! Saludos!
Alberto
Beto's Blog 