Logo

    It Helps To Write It Down | How To Journal Like The Stoics

    enJuly 09, 2024
    Who are some ancient figures associated with journaling?
    What are the benefits of consistent journaling practice?
    How can journaling contribute to personal growth?
    Why did Walter Isaacson emphasize physical journals?
    What types of journaling can beginners start with?

    Podcast Summary

    • Journaling practiceRegular journaling practice provides clarity, peace, and insight through self-exploration and growth, best achieved by making it a consistent routine

      Journaling, as practiced by ancient philosophers like Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Anne Frank, can provide clarity, peace, and insight. This practice, which involves reflecting on one's thoughts and emotions, can be done in various ways and with different tools. The act of writing down thoughts, even if they are later crossed out, creates a safe space for self-exploration and growth. The benefits of journaling come from the consistent practice of making time for it and being vulnerable enough to engage in the process. Whether you wake up early, spend time outside of your daily routine, or find another way to fit it into your life, the key is to make journaling a regular part of your routine.

    • Journaling and StoicismDaily journaling, inspired by Stoicism, can enhance personal growth and development through self-reflection, exploring daily prompts, and practicing gratitude.

      Consistent journaling, as practiced by Ryan Holiday and many other successful individuals, can significantly enhance personal growth and development, particularly when combined with the philosophical principles of stoicism. Holiday shares that he's been journaling on and off throughout his life, but it wasn't until he visited his friend Casey Neistat and saw his extensive collection of journals that he was inspired to make it a daily habit. This simple act of writing down thoughts and reflections each day has become an essential part of Holiday's morning routine and has played a significant role in his personal and professional growth. Stoicism, a philosophy centered on living in harmony with nature and focusing on what is within one's control, is closely intertwined with journaling for Holiday. He emphasizes the importance of using journaling as a tool for self-reflection, exploring daily prompts to gain insights, and practicing gratitude. By incorporating these practices into your journaling routine, you too can unlock the benefits of this powerful habit.

    • Journaling habitStart small, be consistent, and maintain the journaling habit for personal growth and future reference. Begin with a manageable practice like a one-line or five-minute journal.

      Journaling is a simple yet powerful practice that can be started with just a few minutes and one sentence a day. Don't stress about tools or time, just begin. Walter Isaacson's experience with Steve Jobs' old journals illustrates the importance of building the habit and consistency in journaling, rather than worrying about length or frequency at first. Start with a manageable practice, such as a one-line journal or a five-minute journal, and gradually build the skill and willpower to maintain the habit. Even individuals with great resources and abilities, like Steve Jobs, can struggle to access old documents and journals, emphasizing the importance of starting and maintaining the practice for oneself.

    • Journaling for personal growthJournaling is a tool for personal growth and self-improvement that involves ongoing engagement with ideas, as emphasized by Walter Isaacson. Physical journals can last for centuries and serve as a record for history, but their primary value lies in personal reflection.

      Journaling is an important and ongoing process of engaging with ideas, rather than a one-time event. Walter Isaacson emphasized the significance of physical journals, as they have the potential to last for centuries, unlike digital files. He also highlighted the importance of journaling for personal growth, quoting Epictetus' advice to keep thoughts at hand. Marx's journals, which have survived to this day, serve as an example of this ongoing engagement with ideas. Journaling is not just about recording thoughts for history, but also for personal reflection and self-improvement. It's a tool, a weapon, that helps us revisit and reinforce the ideas that shape our lives.

    • Writing as therapyWriting down thoughts and emotions can provide relief, clarity, and insight, acting as a form of therapy. Anne Frank and Marcus Aurelius used this practice to gain perspective and manage complex feelings.

      Expressing our thoughts and emotions through writing can provide us with a sense of relief and clarity. Anne Frank's quote, "paper is more patient than people," emphasizes the importance of putting down our thoughts on paper instead of keeping them bottled up. This practice allows us to gain perspective and distance from our emotions, helping us to better understand and manage them. Furthermore, the act of writing can serve as a form of therapy, allowing us to process complex feelings and gain insights that we might not have otherwise recognized. Marcus Aurelius' private writings, now known as his Meditations, illustrate the power of this practice for ancient Romans, including the most powerful man in the world. His personal reflections were not intended for publication but have survived to this day and continue to inspire and resonate with readers. So, take a cue from Anne Frank and Marcus Aurelius, and consider the benefits of putting pen to paper to help make sense of your thoughts and emotions.

    • Active philosophy practiceEngaging in dialogue with oneself through creative practices like journaling or morning pages can help clear the mind, process thoughts, reduce stress, and improve performance during high-pressure situations, as demonstrated by President Kennedy's use of journaling and drawing during the missile crisis.

      Philosophy is not just a passive pursuit, but an active practice that involves engaging in dialogue with oneself. This can be achieved through various creative practices, such as journaling or morning pages, which help to clear the mind, process thoughts, and reduce stress, even during high-pressure situations. The example of President Kennedy during the missile crisis illustrates the value of this practice, as he used journaling and drawing as outlets to manage his emotions and work through complex decisions. By incorporating such practices into our daily lives, we can improve our performance and well-being, especially during challenging times. For those interested in exploring stoic philosophy further, a free daily stoic email is available at dailystoic.com/email.

    • Celebrity Gossip PodcastNew podcast 'Wonderies' explores behind-the-scenes stories and obscure celebrity news details, available May 22nd on Wondery Plus, Apple Podcasts, or Amazon Music.

      The new podcast, "Wonderies," hosted by Hunter Harris and Peyton Dix, offers listeners an in-depth look into the world of gossip and celebrity news. They aim to provide not just the latest news, but the behind-the-scenes stories and obscure details that fans crave. Listeners can tune in starting May 22nd, and can access ad-free content by joining Wondery Plus or through Apple Podcasts or Amazon Music. Harris and Dix describe themselves as truth-seekers and connoisseurs of pop culture, promising to help listeners stay informed on the latest celebrity happenings. So, if you're a fan of all things gossip and celebrity, tune in to "Wonderies" for the juiciest details and deepest cuts.

    Recent Episodes from The Daily Stoic

    Richard Dawkins’ Perspective on Faith, Philosophy, and the Layers of Human Existence

    Richard Dawkins’ Perspective on Faith, Philosophy, and the Layers of Human Existence

    Commonly known as the most famous atheist in the world, Richard Dawkins is a British evolutionary biologist, zoologist, and author of The Selfish Gene and The God Delusion. Today, Ryan asks Richard why he describes himself as a "cultural Christian", what the biggest misunderstandings of his work are, why individuals teeter between faith and reason, and his concept of humans as 'books of the dead,' a metaphor for the evolutionary history encoded in our genes.

    Pre-order Richard's latest book The Genetic Book of the Dead - out September 17, 2024.

    Richard is heading out on his last tour! Grab tickets here: https://richarddawkinstour.com/

    You can check out Richard’s work and tour dates on his website richarddawkins.com or you can follow him on X @RichardDawkins


    ✉️ 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 Facebook


    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    It’ll Keep You Waiting

    It’ll Keep You Waiting

    Wisdom tells us that things are as they always have been…and always will be. So don’t take it all so personally.


    🎟 Ryan Holiday is going on tour! Grab tickets for London, Rotterdam, Dublin, Vancouver, and Toronto at ryanholiday.net/tour


    ✉️ 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 Facebook


    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    You Must Go Toward The Oxygen | 10 Stoic Stories That Will Leave You Speechless

    You Must Go Toward The Oxygen | 10 Stoic Stories That Will Leave You Speechless

    When we say Amor Fati, when we say The Obstacle is the Way, we’re not talking about just sitting there, being provided with fuel. We’re talking about surging forward, pulling ourselves towards the oxygen–going towards the fuel, towards the next thing, never stopping, using all of it.


    🪙 Get your own Amor Fati medallion, as a reminder to treat each and every moment—no matter how challenging—as something to be embraced, not avoided. So that like oxygen to a fire, obstacles and adversity become fuel for your potential

    Check it out at https://store.dailystoic.com/


    📚 Check out Fire Weather by John Vaillant


    ✉️ 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 Facebook

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Come Back To This Later

    Come Back To This Later

    Take your much deserved break today. We are human beings after all, not human doings. So go out and live today. Rest from your labor. Come back better for it. Come back improved and sharper for it.


    📓 Pick up a signed edition of The Daily Stoic Journal: 366 Days of Writing and Reflection on The Art of Living: https://store.dailystoic.com/


    ✉️ 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 Facebook

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Marcus Aurelius' Letters to Fronto

    Marcus Aurelius' Letters to Fronto

    Get an inside look at the relationship between Marcus Aurelius and his rhetoric teacher, Fronto, through this narration of their letters. Fronto was focused on preparing him for political life and public speaking and through these letters you will learn the deep impact he had on Marcus.

    These letters were first edited and translated into English by C. R. Haines.


    🎟 Ryan Holiday is going on tour! Grab tickets for London, Rotterdam, Dublin, Vancouver, and Toronto at ryanholiday.net/tour


    ✉️ 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 Facebook


    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    The New Age of Media Manipulation | Renée DiResta

    The New Age of Media Manipulation | Renée DiResta

    How information (and misinformation) spreads online continues to change with the media landscape. Renée DiResta and Ryan continue their conversation on the role of podcasts as a medium, the pitfalls of audience capture, and the dynamics of social media silos. They talk about the ethical responsibilities of influencers and podcasters, the influence of personal relationships in media, and the impact of counter speech. 


    Renée DiResta is a technical research manager at Stanford Internet Observatory and has briefed world leaders, advised Congress, the State Department, and a myriad of organizations on how online manipulation can take different forms. 


    🎙️ Don't forget to listen to Part 1 of Renée's interview! Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & Wondery


    Renée's book, Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality, is all about the virtual rumor mill and how niche propagandists can shape public opinion.


    You can follow Renée on X @noUpside, or check out her website reneediresta.com

    She was also featured in Netflix’s documentary, The Social Dilemma which came out in 2020.


    📚 Grab a copy of Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com


    📕 Trust Me I’m Lying by Ryan Holiday | https://www.thepaintedporch.com


    📚 Grab a copy of The Brass Check: A Study of American Journalism by Upton Sinclair | https://www.thepaintedporch.com/


    ✉️ 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 Facebook


    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    You Meet Them Where They Are | When You Feel Lazy

    You Meet Them Where They Are | When You Feel Lazy

    Don't forge ahead hoping that someone will come along and relieve you of this task you don't want to do. Don't be the person who says yes with their mouth but no with their actions.


    Read the full Daily Stoic entry for today: https://store.dailystoic.com/


    🎟 Ryan Holiday is going on tour! Grab tickets for London, Rotterdam, Dublin, Vancouver, and Toronto at ryanholiday.net/tour

    • London — November 12
    • Rotterdam — November 13
    • Dublin — November 15
    • Vancouver — November 18
    • Toronto — November 20


    ✉️ 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 Facebook

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    This Isn’t How You’ll Be Measured | Ask DS

    This Isn’t How You’ll Be Measured | Ask DS

    We know that ultimately lives are not measured by superficial or materialistic things…yet we spend so much of our lives focused solely on that.

    Ask DS:

    How can we move past feeling guilt or shame?

    What did the Stoics say about losing loved ones?

    How can we get better at saying no?

    + More!


    📚 Grab a copy of Die With Zero by Bill Perkins | https://www.thepaintedporch.com/


    🎙️ Listen to Bill Perkins' interview | Apple Podcasts, Spotify, & Wondery


    🎟 Ryan Holiday is going on tour! Grab tickets for London, Rotterdam, Dublin, Vancouver, and Toronto at ryanholiday.net/tour


    💡 The Wealthy Stoic: A Daily Stoic Guide to Being Rich, Happy, and Free explores how stoic ideas can be applied to personal finance, wealth-building, financial mindset, and how it can help you overcome common financial obstacles and challenges


    Get The Wealthy Stoic: A Daily Stoic Guide to Being Rich, Happy, and Free & all other Daily Stoic courses for FREE when you join Daily Stoic Life | dailystoic.com/life


    ✉️ 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 Facebook


    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Attention Wars: How Lies Spread Online Have Real-World Consequences | Renée DiResta

    Attention Wars: How Lies Spread Online Have Real-World Consequences | Renée DiResta

    “If you make it trend, you make it true” is a terrifyingly real quote across the cover of Renée DiResta’s book, Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality. Renée DiResta studies the many ways that people attempt to manipulate or target others online, similar to what Ryan talks about in his first book, Trust Me, I’m Lying. In this episode, Renée and Ryan talk about the shift from traditional journalism ethics to the new realm of social media influence, the psychological impact of online engagement, and the societal consequences of misinformation.

     

    Renée DiResta is a technical research manager at Stanford Internet Observatory and has briefed world leaders, advised Congress, the State Department, and a myriad of organizations on how online manipulation can take different forms. 


    Renée's book, Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality, is all about the virtual rumor mill and how niche propagandists can shape public opinion.


    She was also featured in Netflix’s documentary, The Social Dilemma which came out in 2020. You can follow Renée on X @noUpside, or check out her website reneediresta.com


    📚 Grab a copy of Invisible Rulers: The People Who Turn Lies Into Reality  at The Painted Porch | https://www.thepaintedporch.com


    📕Trust Me I’m Lying by Ryan Holiday | https://www.thepaintedporch.com


    📚 The Harder They Fall by Budd Schulberg | https://www.thepaintedporch.com


    ✉️ 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 Facebook

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    It’s Tragic But Helpful

    It’s Tragic But Helpful

    The Stoics were not so insensitive as to believe that it was good that someone died. That’s not what they meant by “opportunity”—what they meant was that there was always something to learn, always some virtue we could practice in light of a tragedy that would make us better, teach us something, help us see something.


    🪙 Designed with the intention of carrying them in your pocket, our Memento Mori Medallion is a literal and inescapable reminder that “you could leave life right now.”

    Check it out at https://store.dailystoic.com/


    🎟 Ryan Holiday is going on tour! Grab tickets for London, Rotterdam, Dublin, Vancouver, and Toronto at ryanholiday.net/tour


    ✉️ 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 Facebook

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Related Podcasts

    4 MB ZINDAGI

    4 MB ZINDAGI
    ‘4MB Zindagi’ is a series of Radio City exclusive podcasts narrating intimate and heart-felt tales. It aims to deliver relatable and authentic experiences depicting the journey of life, relationships with family, friends and emotional stories that leave an everlasting impact. Click here to listen now.

    By: Radio City

    Total Episodes: 101

    Topics:society & culturephilosophy

    How in God's Name Should I Vote?

    How in God's Name Should I Vote?
    How in God's Name Should I Vote? Podcast We Australians can be a funny bunch, and when it comes to politics we're often more interested in the quality of our democracy sausage than the quality of our democracy. Combine politics with faith and then you've really got something combustible. The ultimate no-win, conversation-killing, relationship wrecking social sin. Over 5 half-hour episodes, we'll bust open this social phobia. We'll talk to with key influencers from all sides of politics, we won't tell you who to vote for, but we will explore some of the most compelling questions Christians should be thinking about:
    • Shouldn't I just vote for the Christian guy?
    • What does it mean to use my vote for others?
    • One issue voting
    • Civility in conversations and how is social media influencing me?
    • Getting engaged after the elections and the role of protest and activism

    Subscribe

    Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on Spotify
    Guests include:
    • Jim Wallis, American author of 'God's Politics' and Editor of Sojourners Magazine
    • Tim Costello, Executive Director of Micah Australia and former CEO of World Vision
    • John Dickson, Founding Director of Centre for Public Christianity
    • Max Jeganathan, Asia Pacific Director for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries and former policy advisor to Bill Shorten
    • Brooke Prentis, Common Grace's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Justice Team's Spokesperson
    • Carolyn Kitto, Director Stop the Traffik
    • John Anderson, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia and leader of the National Party
    • Mike Frost, author and theologian, Head of Missiology Department at Morling College
    • Mark McCrindle, award-winning social researcher, best-selling author, and influential thought leader
    • Ruth Powell, Director of National Church Life Survey (NCSL)
    • Peter Martin, Former Economics Editor of The Age newspaper
    • Martyn Iles, Managing Director of the Australian Christian Lobby
    • Jo Knight, National Advocacy Coordinator for TEAR Australia

    By: Hope Media

    Total Episodes: 12

    Topics:religion & spiritualitychristianityphilosophy

    De la ética a la bioética: de la bioética a la ética

    De la ética a la bioética: de la bioética a la ética
    uliana González (Ciudad de México, 1936), filósofa mexicana. Realizó estudios en la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la UNAM, bajo la influencia de profesores españoles exiliados en México que arribaron a este país por causa de la Guerra Civil Española; entre ellos, el catalán Eduardo Nicol, de quien fuera discípula y miembro de su Seminario de Metafísica por más de dos décadas. Ha escrito varios libros y coordinado y participado en muchos más. De 1990 a 1998 se desempeñó como directora de la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la UNAM. Ha recibido, entre otras distinciones, el Premio Nacional de Ciencias y Artes (2004) y el Premio Universidad Nacional en Investigación en Humanidades (2007). Actualmente es directora del Seminario de Investigación de Ética y Bioética de la UNAM. De la ética a la bioética: de la bioética a la ética es el título de la conferencia magistral impartida por la doctora Juliana González, la cual tuvo verificativo el 2 de mayo de 2012 e inauguró el ciclo de conferencias “Temas de Bioética” en el Aula Magna de la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras de la UNAM. Agradecemos a la División de Educación Continua de la Facultad de Filosofía y Letras su apoyo para la obtención y publicación de este material. D.R. © UNAM 2012

    By: UNAM

    Total Episodes: 1

    Topics:philosophy

    Brīvības bulvāris

    Brīvības bulvāris
    Iespējams, ka tā ir liktenīga nejaušība, ka Rīga ir dzimis viens no 20. gadsimta lielākajiem brīvības filozofiem Jesaja Berlins, kura domas un idejas par brīvību noteica 20. gadsimta filozofisko domāšanu. Berlins bija tas, kurš aicināja brīvību nejaukt ar laimi vai kaut ko citu un kurš cita starpā ir teicis, ka totalitāra vara vispirms iznīcina pirmos brīvas apziņas un ideju cilvēkus. Raidījums “Brīvības bulvāris” reizi nedēļā piedāvās tikšanās un sarunas ar cilvēkiem, kuru domas un idejas liek varbūt mums pašiem kļūt gudrākiem.

    By: Latvijas Radio

    Total Episodes: 109

    Topics:philosophy