<p><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="color: #000000;">Ryan Holiday, bestselling author</span><span style="color: #201f1e;"> and author of Daily Stoic, discusses</span><span style="color: #000000;"> practical ways to find stillness and apply the insights of stoic philosophy</span><span style="color: #201f1e;"> in the midst of COVID-19 chaos</span><span style="color: #000000;">. Ryan discusses the importance of taking back a feeling of control, the benefits of structure and routine, and the </span><span style="color: #201f1e;">idea of</span><span style="color: #000000;"> being prepared for anything.</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /> <br /></span><span style="color: #000000;">We discuss:</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></p> <ul> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Using times of adversity to evaluate and reflect how you've set up and prioritized your life [2:30];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">What insights might the famous stoics provide amidst this COVID-19 pandemic? [8:15];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">The possible consequences of the socially isolating nature of a pandemic (and why we need good leaders) [13:00];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Stoicism—what it means and how to apply it [18:45];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Lessons taken from the life of Winston Churchill—stillness, structure, routine, hobbies, empathy, forward thinking, and more [23:30];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Alive time vs. dead time—taking control of your time and making it count [38:45];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Auditing how the world (and its leaders) are handling the COVID-19 pandemic through the lens of stoic philosophy [44:15];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Asserting control and using routine to find stillness in an environment not conducive for it [52:15];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">Why you should find a way to exercise, especially now [58:30];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">How to find purpose during this time—goal setting, having a project to work on, and the benefits of keeping a journal [1:02:00];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">What is Ryan most optimistic about and what is he most concerned about over the next few months? [1:08:45];</span><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">How can you follow Ryan's work and messages about stoicism and stillness? [1:17:45].</span></li> <li><span style="color: #000000;">And more.</span></li> </ul> <p><span style="color: #000000;">Learn more: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/">https://peterattiamd.com/</a><br /> <br /> Show notes page for this episode: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/ryanholiday2">https://peterattiamd.com/ryanholiday2</a><br /> <br /> Subscribe to receive exclusive subscriber-only content: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/">https://peterattiamd.com/subscribe/</a><br /> <br /> Sign up to receive Peter's email newsletter: <a href="https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/">https://peterattiamd.com/newsletter/</a><br /> <br /> Connect with Peter on <a href="http://Facebook.com/PeterAttiaMD"><u>Faceboo</u></a><u>k</u> | <a href="http://Twitter.com/PeterAttiaMD"><u>Twitter</u></a> | <a href="http://Instagram.com/PeterAttiaMD"><u>Instagram</u></a>.<br /></span></p> <p> </p>
Actionable Insights
1. Focus on What You Control
Direct your energy towards the things you can immediately influence, such as your responses and decisions, rather than dwelling on external events beyond your control.
2. Cultivate Intentional Growth
View dramatic setbacks or adversity as opportunities to see things differently and emerge wiser and better at what you do, rather than just passively enduring them.
3. Establish Daily Routines
Create and maintain consistent daily routines and rituals, like waking up early or making your bed, to assert agency and provide structure amidst chaos and powerlessness.
4. Prioritize Detachment & Hobbies
Make dedicated time each day for moments of detachment, stillness, or engaging in hobbies (like painting or golf) to disconnect from work, gain perspective, and protect yourself from constant reactivity.
5. Journal for Self-Affirmation
Use journaling as a daily practice to remind yourself of how you want to be, reiterate what’s important to you, and internalize desired mindsets, much like practicing scales on an instrument.
6. Exercise Daily
Commit to daily physical activity, even if it’s just 20 minutes with body weight, to strengthen self-discipline, improve physiological and psychological well-being, and assert control over your body.
7. Re-evaluate Life & Goals
Utilize periods of disruption to question assumptions about your life, decisions, businesses, and long-term goals, allowing for experimentation with new approaches and priorities.
8. Prepare for Worst-Case Scenarios
Go beyond preparing for minor setbacks and actively plan for situations where ‘shit really hits the fan,’ considering how to adapt to massive, interconnected problems affecting everyone simultaneously.
9. Limit Unproductive Worry
Consciously check your worrying to ensure it remains productive, motivating you to action rather than paralyzing you; focus instead on what is present and actionable.
10. Avoid Blame, Focus on Progress
Shift your focus from assigning blame or lamenting misfortune to actively identifying how you can move forward and solve problems in your immediate purview.
11. Practice Saying No
Learn to decline non-essential commitments and activities, recognizing that many ’non-negotiables’ are actually flexible, allowing you to free up time and energy.
Actively limit exposure to anxiety-inducing social media platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, while selectively using them for creative output rather than passive consumption.
13. Prioritize Family & Connection
Make a point to spend quality time with your family every day, expressing gratitude for their presence, and engage in long, meaningful conversations with others to calm the mind and maintain connectivity.
14. Seek Redeeming Qualities
Even in difficult situations, actively look for small positives and marginal improvements across different aspects of your life that can lead to lasting benefits.
15. Share Resources Effectively
If you have resources or access to things others lack, consider how you can share them responsibly and effectively to help those in less ideal situations.
16. Study History for Perspective
Gain a deeper understanding and perspective on current unprecedented events by looking at historical precedents and how past generations navigated similar challenges.
17. Cultivate Self-Discipline & Altruism
Practice tempering personal desires, limiting oneself, and prioritizing the needs of other people, especially during times of widespread crisis.
Find ways to contribute and do good in your community, such as making masks, to find purpose and escape from feelings of resentment, anger, or boredom.
19. Re-evaluate Leadership
Reflect on the qualities of effective leadership and the importance of character in those in charge, aiming to learn from past mistakes in selecting leaders.
20. Prioritize Financial Decisions
Make sound financial decisions to ensure your family’s stability and prepare for potential economic challenges or income disruptions.
Watch the news to know what local authorities are telling you to do, such as specific directives or guidelines for the day.