The Daily Stoic

Having the courage to make the ultimate sacrifice. Going beyond the call. This is the story of the Battle of Thermopylae.

Journaling allows us to release our thoughts and feelings, but shadow work journaling takes it to a much deeper level. Shadow work is based on Carl Jung's idea that we all have a “shadow self” which holds our repressed thoughts, feelings, and experiences. This side of us is hidden in our subconscious, but impacts how we show up in all areas of life. Keila Shaheen, author of the viral sensation The Shadow Work Journal, joins Ryan to talk about what shadow work is, why shadow work journaling reveals hidden aspects of yourself, and how the Stoics spoke about the benefits of journaling. Keila also talks about navigating the unexpected viral success after self-publishing The Shadow Work Journal and what she has personally discovered about her own “shadow self”. 

What we see in Meditations is not the finished product of a philosopher but the process of philosophy—we are watching Marcus philosophize to himself. It’s like we get to eavesdrop on one of the world’s greatest singers giving the most earnest performance of their lifetime, totally to themselves.

You could build castles out of the bricks they threw at Cato. But Cato didn’t need to build castles with those bricks because he had something better - an inner citadel. Ask DS:Looking at Cato’s life, does he stick to his plan of justice too much sometimes?If Ryan could ask Marcus Aurelius one question, what would it be?What are Ryan's tips or tricks to know if you’re hitting the golden mean?Why is justice a common thread between Friedrich Nietzsche’s work and the Stoics?

Patrick Dempsey and Ryan’s conversation continues in today’s episode, talking about the ethical decisions made each day, how the entertainment world is impacting society, prioritizing being of service, contributing positively to communities, and how Patrick has embraced Stoicism in his life. Patrick Dempsey is an actor, race car driver, and founder of the Dempsey Center. He is most known from his role as Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd from the series Grey’s Anatomy. Patrick has also starred in Enchanted, Sweet Home Alabama, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Made of Honor, The Art of Racing in the Rain, Ferrari, and more. 

It doesn’t matter that times are dark or violent or uncertain. We must be grateful, we must seize this gift we’ve been given while we have it. 

There are going to be moments of life that make you question just how much a person can possibly take. But there is that inner-citadel within you as well. Cultivate it now, reinforce it and it will be even stronger and more dependable when you need it.

We need to make the virtues commonplace again—they are, as Marcus Aurelius said, “touchstones of goodness.” And we must start with the only thing we control: Our own decisions, motivations and actions.

Today's episode is an excerpt from The Tao Of Seneca produced by Tim Ferriss’ Audio. In this letter, Seneca writes about how true philosophy requires acting in accordance with one's principles, advocating for consistency between one's inner life and outward behavior.Go to tim.blog/seneca to get the PDF for free. Listen to more of The Tao of Seneca:

The 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris are officially here! To kick off the Olympics, Ryan talks to gold medalist Dominique Dawes, Michael Phelps’ coach Bob Bowman, and legendary basketball coach George Raveling. Dominique Dawes is one of only three US women to compete at three Olympics, and has won four Olympic medals. In the 1996 Summer Olympic Games in Atlanta, Dominique earned a gold medal as a part of the “Magnificent Seven”, as well as an individual bronze medal in the floor event. She also earned team bronzes in 1992 and 2000 and is a member of the International Gymnastics and USA Olympic Halls of Fame. 

You’ll never be happy or feel good if your sense of worth is tied up in always being well-received, if you can’t handle the injustice of being misunderstood or unfairly criticized.

Marcus Aurelius put his words down in Greek over 1,850 years ago. They have not changed. But each time a new translator has looked at them, they’ve found something different.Ask DS:Does leadership equal sacrifice? How do you stay motivated, present, and fulfilled while also keeping Memento Mori in mind? 

After the recent assassination attempt of former President Trump and the heightening political divide, it’s important to learn from history and turn to what we can control amidst the chaos. There’s no better time to revisit Ryan Holiday’s conversation with Mike Duncan, author of Storm Before the Storm and podcast host of The History of Rome, to talk about the historical parallels between Roman history and today’s political turmoil. They debate the normalization of political violence and the consequences of ignoring systemic issues, as well as talk about how to use Stoicism to navigate today's political chaos and the need for introspection and corrective action within political systems.

A Stoic is invulnerable. A Stoic is tough. A Stoic is emotionless. A Stoic can't cry...right?You’re only human. So be human and let yourself feel.

The Stoics didn’t just stand before kings, they came to them as equals and in some cases, towered over them, their virtue putting them above any kind of worldly power.

“Waste no more time arguing what a good man should be,” Marcus Aurelius says. “Be one.”Don't follow breaking news. Don't let it change who you are. Don't let it rattle your equilibrium.

When you feel that voice inside you creeping up, the one that makes you feel entitled, the one that makes you feel superior, the one that makes you aghast that anyone would try to be telling you what to do, that child-like voice, that's ego. Listen in to Ryan Holiday differentiate between ego and confidence, explain how ego gets in the way of success, tips to combat ego, and more by using examples from his personal life as well as people like Kanye West and Sam Bankman-Fried.

You may know Patrick Dempsey as “McDreamy” from Grey’s Anatomy or from one of his many leading roles in films like Enchanted, Sweet Home Alabama, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, The Art of Racing in the Rain, Ferrari, and countless others. In addition to being an incredible actor, Patrick is also a competitive race car driver and founder of Dempsey Racing. His first competitive race back on the track since 2015 was actually on the same day he came to the Daily Stoic studio! Patrick talks to Ryan about how he applies Stoicism for both of his passions, emotional control, being adaptable in high-pressure situations, and more. He shares how he discovered Stoicism, how The Obstacle is the Way has helped him reframe difficult situations, and the mental training that he’s used to build resilience. Connect with Patrick Dempsey on Instagram &  X: @PatrickDempseyLearn about the Dempsey Center at https://www.dempseycenter.org/

Embrace who you really are. Embrace what makes you unique. Embrace your weirdness. Because chances are it’s special.

If you read the news, it feels like the world is falling apart. Zoom out. Take a sideways glance. Get the outside of the issue, the problem, the day’s events. Seek perspective.Ask DS:How do we know when we are sticking to our values versus leaving them behind? What can we learn from President Carter’s campaigning versus his leadership while in office? Does Ryan Holiday think there are any major pitfalls or flaws in Stoicism?