The Daily Stoic - You Are Blessed

Episode Date: March 24, 2021

“It’s easy not to feel blessed. We look readily for what we don’t have rather than what we do. We see people who are taller, who look better, who have more and feel deprived. Why couldn’t I have been born rich? Why couldn’t my company have gotten that contract? Why can’t I play in the NFL?”Ryan discusses why your perception of your life defines your true wealth, 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. on music or wherever you get your podcasts. Welcome to the Daily Stoic Podcast, where each day we bring you a passage of ancient wisdom designed to help you find strength, insight, and wisdom every day life. Each one of these passages is based on the 2,000-year-old philosophy that has guided some of histories, greatest men and women,

for more you can visit us at alistair.com. You are blessed. It's not easy to feel blessed. We look readily for what we don't have rather than what we do. We see people who are taller, who look better, who have more, and we feel deprived. Why couldn't I have been born rich? Why couldn't my company have gotten that contract? Why can't I play in the NFL? But of course as we are feeling sorry for ourselves, we are not noticing the people

who were born rich, who did get the contract, who are in the NFL, are focusing too on what they do not have. Why is dad never around? Why couldn't I get paid more? Why didn't I make the Pro Bowl? Sennaka knew these feelings firsthand, seeing as how he was born to a wealthy family, achieved great things, and yet also struggled with debilitating illnesses, with exile, with comparing himself to other more successful people. For all his literary fame, for all his influence in Nero's court, for the beautiful estate he owned, tended by slaves, we can imagine him feeling frustrated, just as we are, fantasizing about a life

where things were even easier, even more rewarding. Whoever does not regard what he has as most ample wealth, he said, quoting Epicurus, is unhappy, though he may be the master of the whole world. What a miserable way to live and how unnecessary. Today you need to stop and look at what you have, not at what you lack. Count where you have been lucky. Look at what has gone your way. Consider how many people would kill to be where you are, to have the life you have been given. Unblessed is he who thinks himself unblessed.

Seneca reminded Lucilius. It's a line from some unknown poet, but it's true. You are blessed, think it, and it will become more so. You are blessed. Don't forget it. Don't be unhappy. Hey, it's Ryan. Thank you for listening to the Daily Stod podcast. I just wanted to say we so appreciate it. We love serving you. It's amazing to us that over 30 million people have downloaded these episodes in the couple years we've been doing it. It's an honor. Please spread the word, tell people about it, and this isn't to sell anything. I just wanted to say thank you. 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.