Jan 27, 2020
In this episode, Ryan Holiday, author of Stillness is the Key, shares the profound impact that stoic philosophy has had on his personal life and his career as a successful writer. Ryan stresses the importance of stillness in a modern world set up to encourage the opposite and lays out the best strategies to develop stillness in your life. He also explains the destructive nature of being driven by ego, as well as the perils of jealousy and anger, and provides practical steps you can take to avoid those harmful states.
We discuss:
- Has a more connected world
improved or worsened our lives? [2:15];
- Consequences of an overly secure
life, living in the present, & the misconception of unlimited time
[5:45];
- Stoicism 101: The definition and
origins of stoic philosophy [15:45];
- Ryan’s career transition into
writing, and his take on what makes a book or business successful
[26:45];
- Storytelling—The upside and downside of telling stories and self-narrative [36:15];
- Does achieving success have to
come from a place of craving and proving others wrong? And what are
the costs of building a legacy? [38:45];
- Ego—confusing ego with
confidence, signs your ego is showing, & antidotes to the negative
effects of ego [52:45];
- Ryan’s advice to Peter about
writing (and finishing) his book [1:06:30];
- Stillness—what it is, how it
compares to meditation, & the obstacles to achieving stillness
[1:10:30];
- Ryan’s morning routine,
relationship with his smartphone, and how he avoids falling victim
to the trappings of technology and a hyperconnected world
[1:17:40];
- The perils of jealousy and envy
[1:24:15];
- How to live in the moment in a
modern world not designed for stillness
[1:32:15];
- How the idea of “dying well” can
help you live better [1:36:00];
- How has fatherhood impacted
Ryan’s philosophies on stillness and living in the moment?
[1:39:45];
- How to make your favorite day
your every day [1:42:00];
- The most reliable strategies for
developing stillness [1:47:30];
- Anger—what the stoics say about
anger, outrage in politics, & why more anger isn’t the solution
[2:02:00];
- How to follow Ryan’s work
[2:12:00]; and
- More.
Learn more: https://peterattiamd.com/
Show notes page for this episode: https://peterattiamd.com/ryanholiday
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