Logo

The Time Is Now | Ask Daily Stoic

en

January 30, 2025

1Ask AI

In the latest episode of the Daily Stoic Podcast, titled “The Time Is Now,” Ryan Holiday discusses the importance of seizing the moment instead of dwelling on past missed opportunities. This episode sheds light on Stoic philosophy and presents practical advice on how to implement it in daily life.

Embracing Imperfection

  • Marcus Aurelius' Wisdom: The episode begins with a reference to Marcus Aurelius, who reminds us that everyone, including himself, makes mistakes. The essential lesson is to focus on the action we take after realizing our errors.
  • Action Over Regret: Instead of getting caught up in regret over decisions not made or opportunities missed, we should redirect our energy towards making positive changes now.

The Importance of Timing

  • Plan for the Future: The adage states, "The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second best time is now." This emphasizes the notion that while earlier actions could yield better results, it's never too late to begin anew.
  • Motivation to Change: Ryan urges listeners to not procrastinate on their self-improvement goals. Whether it’s forming new habits or breaking old ones, the moment to start is now, no matter the time of year.

The New Year New You Challenge

  • Introduction of the Challenge: To facilitate this journey of self-improvement, the Daily Stoic has relaunched its New Year, New You Challenge, open until February 1st. This challenge invites participants to engage in 21 Stoic exercises, promoting accountability and communal support.
  • Community Support: The collective aspect of the challenge allows participants to learn and grow together, sharing experiences and insights, thereby enhancing personal resolve.

Overcoming Procrastination

  • Battling Revenge Bedtime: Ryan talks about the concept of “revenge bedtime,” where individuals sacrifice rest for personal time, leading to exhaustion and regret. He shares how setting a proper bedtime helped him feel more rejuvenated and capable of tackling daily responsibilities.
  • Focus on Sleep: The conversation highlights the significance of managing sleep schedules as part of a broader challenge to enhance productivity and overall well-being.

Leadership and Influence

  • Influence Over Control: A participant in the Q&A segment raises an intriguing question about the balance between leadership and influence. Ryan discusses Stoicism's take on control, emphasizing that while we cannot control others' actions, we can influence them through leadership.
  • Effective Leadership Strategies: Ryan provides practical advice, stating that the key lies in selecting the right people to lead, creating an environment where they feel motivated and valued. He draws a parallel between Stoic literature and real-world leadership challenges.

Personal Reflection and Growth

  • Self-Awareness in Leadership: Ryan shares his own journey with personality traits that have impacted both himself and those around him. This vulnerability opens the floor for discussions on recognizing strengths and weaknesses as a vital component of leadership.
  • Valuing Communication: On a broader scale, effective communication is highlighted as a critical strength in facilitating understanding and leading teams. Ryan aims to articulate complicated Stoic concepts clearly and practically.

Choosing a Word of the Year

  • The Power of Intentionality: A listener asks Ryan about his word of the year, to which Ryan responds with "initiative." This term underlines the importance of being proactive in achieving goals and counteracting tendencies towards procrastination.
  • Finding Balance: Ryan advises listeners to find a balance in how they embody their chosen virtues, suggesting that understanding when and how to demonstrate initiative is crucial in achieving success.

Conclusion

The insights shared in this episode serve as a powerful reminder that it is never too late to start anew. By embracing accountability, engaging with the community, and focusing on what we can control, we can navigate life’s complexities with Stoic wisdom.

Ryan’s reflections encourage listeners to understand that our actions today define our future, and the best time to act is always now.

Was this summary helpful?

Recent Episodes

Matthew McConaughey LIVE at The Painted Porch

Matthew McConaughey LIVE at The Painted Porch

The Daily Stoic

How does Matthew McConaughey deal with difficult people? What’s his approach to dealing with life’s red lights? And what advice does he offer to someone considering a major career change? In a live conversation at The Painted Porch, McConaughey answers these questions and more, while also clearing up some confusion on his viral tuna salad recipe. Matthew McConaughey has starred in Interstellar, A Time to Kill, The Wolf of Wall Street, Dallas Buyers Club, and more. McConaughey also works as a producer and spokesperson, and is the bestselling author of Greenlights. He also founded and runs the Just Keep Livin Foundation to help kids lead active and healthy lifestyles. To receive weekly wisdom from Matthew McConaughey, you can sign up to his brand new newsletter at lyricsoflivin.com.You can follow him on Twitter @McConaughey, Instagram @officiallymcconaughey, and YouTube at Matthew McConaughey, and you can find his Roadtrip course at artoflivinevent.com/roadtrip📚 Grab a paperback copy of Greenlights by Matthew McConaughey at The Painted Porch: https://www.thepaintedporch.com/🎙️ Don’t forget to listen to Matthew McConaughey’s interview with Ryan at The Daily Stoic Podcast studio before the Q&A on Apple Podcasts and Spotify 🎥 Watch Matthew McConaughey’s previous interviews on The Daily Stoic: Matthew McConaughey and Ryan Holiday on Stoicism and the Power of Doing LessMatthew McConaughey On The Art Of Livin’🎙️ Follow The Daily Stoic Podcast on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoicpodcast🎥 Watch top moments from The Daily Stoic Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@dailystoicpodcast✉️ Want Stoic wisdom delivered to your inbox daily? Sign up for the FREE Daily Stoic email at https://dailystoic.com/dailyemail🏛 Get Stoic inspired books, medallions, and prints to remember these lessons at the Daily Stoic Store: https://store.dailystoic.com/📱 Follow us:  Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok, and FacebookSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

February 01, 2025

Does It Measure Up? | Philosophy As Medicine Of The Soul

Does It Measure Up? | Philosophy As Medicine Of The Soul

The Daily Stoic

Re-opened for February: Sign up for the 2025 challenge at DailyStoicStore to achieve and make a mark on the universe.

January 31, 2025

BONUS: Finding Stillness Amidst The Chaos | Ryan and Samantha Holiday

BONUS: Finding Stillness Amidst The Chaos | Ryan and Samantha Holiday

The Daily Stoic

In this bonus episode of The Daily Dad podcast, Ryan and his wife Samantha discuss finding stillness while balancing parenting and business responsibilities. They explore different perspectives on what 'stillness' means to them and how they cultivate it in their daily lives.

January 31, 2025

Have You Tried Asking For This?

Have You Tried Asking For This?

The Daily Stoic

The Daily Stoic Podcast discusses Epictetus's advice about accepting reality instead of desiring it to be different.

January 29, 2025

AI

Ask this episodeAI Anything

The Daily Stoic

Hi! You're chatting with The Daily Stoic AI.

I can answer your questions from this episode and play episode clips relevant to your question.

You can ask a direct question or get started with below questions -

Sign In to save message history