The Daily Stoic - Why You’re The Luckiest Person In The World

Episode Date: August 27, 2018

“It’s unfortunate that this happened,” Marcus says in one of his imaginary dialogs. Then he corrects himself: “No. It’s fortunate that this has happened and I’ve remained unharmed by it--not shattered by the present or frightened of the future. It could have happened to anyone. But not everyone could have remained unharmed by it.” This is the conversation we need to have when “bad” things happen. That car accident. That bad turn of the market. That messy breakup. Sure, we’d have rather none of it happened. But in a way, isn’t it better that it happened to us--someone as strong and well-trained as us--rather than to someone more vulnerable? Better another straw on your back than a back-breaking one for someone else. If you can start to think this way, you’ll realize just how lucky you are, even in the middle of so-called “misfortune.” Not everyone has what you have. Not everyone has the ability to rebuild like you do. Not everyone has the perspective to see the bigger picture. Not everyone has the philosophical insight to realize that we’re only truly harmed if we decide that we are, if we decide to label what happens as negative or unfair or insurmountable. Remember that today. It’s not unfortunate that this happened. It’s fortunate that it happened to you. Because you’ve got what it takes to get through it. Not everyone else is so lucky. See 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 Stoke podcast early and add free on Amazon music. Download the app today. Welcome to the Daily Stoke. For each day, we read a short passage designed to help you cultivate the strength, insight, wisdom necessary for living the good life. insight, wisdom necessary for living the 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 dailystoic.com. Why? You are the luckiest person in the world. It's unfortunate that this has happened.

Marcus says in one of his imaginary dialogues, then he corrects himself. No, it's fortunate that this has happened and I've remained unharmed by it, not shattered by the present or frightened of the future. It could have happened to anyone, but not everyone could have remained unharmed by it. This is the conversation we need to have when bad things happen. That car accident, that bad turn of the market, that messy breakup. Sure, we'd have rather none of it happened. But in a way, isn't it better that it happened to us, someone as strong and well trained as us, rather than to someone more vulnerable, better another straw on your back than a backbreaking one for someone else.

If you can start to think this way, you'll realize just how lucky you are, even in the middle of so-called misfortune. Not everyone has what you have. Not everyone has the ability to rebuild like you do. Not everyone has the perspective to see the bigger picture. Not everyone has the philosophical insight to realize that we're only truly harmed if we decide that we are, if we decide to label what happens as negative or unfair or insurmountable. Remember that today. It's not unfortunate that this has happened. It's fortunate that it happened

to you because you've got what it takes to get through it. Not everyone else is so lucky. Hey, prime members, you can listen to the Daily Stoke early and add free on Amazon music, download the Amazon music app today, or you can listen early and add free with Wondery Plus in Apple podcasts.