The Daily Stoic - Now, More Than Ever, You Have To Find This

Episode Date: November 26, 2020

"On this day of American Thanksgiving, we’re supposed to make time to give thanks, to actively think about that word which has become almost cliché in wellness circles: gratitude. But what is gratitude? Some people think of it as being thankful for all the good things you have in your life. Others see it as the act of acknowledging what people have done for you or what you appreciate about others. While the Stoics would have agreed that all of what those interpretations encompass is important, they practiced a slightly different form of gratitude."Find out what that different form of gratitude is, and how you can practice it, on today's Daily Stoic Podcast.***If you enjoyed this week’s podcast, we’d love for you to leave a review on Apple Podcasts. It helps with our visibility, and the more people listen to the podcast, the more we can invest into it and make it even better.Sign up for the Daily Stoic email: http://DailyStoic.com/signupFollow Daily Stoic:Twitter: https://twitter.com/dailystoicInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailystoic/Facebook: http://facebook.com/dailystoicYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/dailystoicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Hey, prime members, you can listen to the Daily Stood Podcast early and add free on Amazon Music. Download the app today. Hi, I'm David Brown, the host of Wundery's podcast business wars. And in our new season, Walmart must fight off target. The new discounter that's both savvy and fashion forward. Listen to business wars on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts. music or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to the Daily Stoic. For each day we read a short passage designed to help you cultivate the strength, insight, wisdom necessary for living good life. Each one of these passages is based on the 2000-year-old philosophy that has guided some of history's

greatest men and women. For more, you can visit us at dailystowach.com. Now more than ever, you have to find this. On this day of American thanksgiving, we're supposed to make time to give thanks, to actively think about that word which has become almost cliche in wellness circles, gratitude. But what is gratitude? Some people think of it as being thankful for all the good things you have in your life.

Others see it as the act of acknowledging what other people have done for you and what you appreciate about others. While the Stokes would have agreed that what those interpretations in Compass was all important, They practiced a slightly different form of gratitude. It was more inclusive and counterintuitive. It wasn't about acknowledging or being thankful just for the good, but for all of life. Convince yourself that everything is the gift

of the gods. Sound Marcus really has put it, that things are good and always will be. The first word there is everything. The other key word is convinced, meaning you have to tell yourself that it's all good. Even the so-called bad stuff. Is it possible to be grateful for a year that has been as difficult as 2020? A pandemic that's claimed the lives of nearly 1.5 million people across the globe that has produced layoffs and lockdowns. then there are the wildfires, the hurricanes, contested elections, civil unrest and horrible moments of inhumanity, seemingly everywhere you turn. We didn't create these problems, but they did happen. And while they weren't our fault, it's up to us what we do with them, what we turn them into, how we manage to become better for them. And it's that glimmer of light,

especially with the passage of time that will allow us to find something to be grateful for in the darkness of these times. In discourses, Epic Tita says, it is easy to praise provenance for anything that may happen if you have two qualities, a complete view of what has actually happened in each instance, in a sense of gratitude. On the surface, view of what has actually happened in each instance in a

sense of gratitude. On the surface, much of what we're upset about or wish hadn't occurred is so objectionable that gratitude seems impossible. But if we can zoom out for that more complete view, understanding and appreciation can emerge. First off, you're alive. That's the silver lining of every shitty situation should not be forgotten. But second, everything that has happened and is happening

is bringing you to where you are. It's contributing to the person you have become. And that is a good thing. This understanding, Epictida said, helps you see the world in full color in the color gratitude. The Stokes believe that we should feel gratitude for all the people and events that form our lives. We shouldn't just be thankful for the gifts we receive or our relationships with friends and family. We should also be aware of and grateful for the setbacks and the

annoyances for the difficult co-workers and the nagging in-laws for the stress they put on us and whatever other difficulties we might be experiencing. Why? Because it's all of those things interconnected and interdependent that made you who you are and what you are today. It's only by seeing the totality of these things

good and bad that you gain the understanding necessary to be truly grateful. It could be a terrible relationship that imploded spectacularly, but which led you to meet the love of your life. It could even be the passing of a relative, something that caused you great sadness, but which also spurred you to build stronger relationships with your loved ones who are still with you. It could be the failure of your industry, which for all the loss and difficulty forced you to finally get serious about that dream you have long deferred. All of these things are sad and they may not even lead to happy endings,

but they still define the course of your life and it wouldn't be you sitting here right now without them. As you celebrate this Thanksgiving or Christmas or any other festive gratitude focused holiday, virtually, safely remembering our obligations to the common good in the middle of this pandemic, of course. Make sure you take the time to appreciate the moment and give thanks for all the obvious and bountiful gifts that moment presents. Look for the good within the bad, but be sure to be thankful for everything in your life, even the things you never would have wished for, because it's in seeing the full picture, in seeking to understand it it that you gain the ability to express true gratitude now and forever. And I want to say thank you all for subscribing to

the Daily Stove. For listening to this podcast, it's been an honor and a privilege, it's been a crazy year. Who knows what the next week, month or year will bring us, but I hope we can continue pursuing and exploring and studying this philosophy together. It's in the pleasure of my life. I appreciate it. Be well, enjoy your family. Please be safe, smart, take this thing seriously, and I'll see you on the other side. Hey, Prime Members, you can listen to the Daily Stoic early and ad-free on Amazon Music,

download the Amazon Music app today, or you can listen early and ad-free with Wondery Plus in Apple Podcasts. Ah, the Bahamas. What if you could live in a penthouse above the crystal clear ocean working during the day and partying at night with your best friends and have it be 100% paid for? FTX Founder Sam Bankman Freed lived that dream life, but it was all funded with other people's money, but he allegedly stole. Many thought Sam Bankman Freed was changing the game as he graced the pages of Forbes

in Banity Fair. Some involved in crypto saw him as a breath of fresh air, from the usual Wall Street buffs with his casual dress and ability to play League of Legends during boardroom meetings. But in less than a year, his exchange would collapse. An SPF would find himself in a jail cell, with tens of thousands of investors blaming him for their crypto losses. From Bloomberg and Wondery, comes Spellcaster, a new six-part docu-series about the meteoric rise and spectacular fall of FTX

and its founder, Sam Beckman-Freed. Follow Spellcaster wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, Prime members, you can listen to episodes ad-free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today. Download the Amazon Music app today.