Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day ," the focus is on the idea of being mindful of our desires and not letting them control our lives. The quote from Epictetus reminds us that it's not just the desire for wealth and position that can subjugate us, but also the desire for peace, leisure, travel, and learning. The journal prompt encourages us to think about what we can stop yearning for. The host shares their personal experience of letting their desire for leisure control their decisi...
Feb 22, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 52
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day ", I reflect on my past experiences with chasing pleasures and desires that ultimately didn't bring me true fulfillment. I realized that I had let my ego take the driver's seat and pursued fame and surface level connections that weren't truly fulfilling. However, as I enter a new season in my life, I am learning to focus on more meaningful pursuits, such as improving my personal finances and setting clear goals for myself. I recognize the importanc...
Feb 20, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 51
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate the Day ", I focus on the banquet of life and how we approach it. I share the quote from Epictetus about conducting oneself at a banquet, taking a moderate helping of what's passed around and not burning in desire for what hasn't yet arrived. I then pose the question to myself: "Am I happy with my portion at the banquet of life?" I share my own struggles with burning desire and the realization that my needs are already being met. I reflect on the fact that...
Feb 19, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 50
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate the Day ," we focus on the importance of being prepared for the storms that life throws our way. As I reflect on my own life, I realize that I need to undergo rigorous training to combat false impressions. This means having a plan in place for when these impressions arise. For me, this includes practices like meditation, journaling, and cultivating self-awareness and inner peace. I've come to understand that no matter how much I try to avoid it, there will...
Feb 18, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 49
Say Hello Today's episode of " Navigate The Day " is all about happiness and how it can be the enemy of itself. I was inspired by a journal prompt that asked me to reflect on the happiness that I might be putting off and could have right now. As someone who values freedom of time, I expected to be happy on a day off from work, but instead I found myself worrying about money and feeling anxious. I realized that I had been prioritizing money over time, even though I have savings and am doing okay ...
Feb 18, 2023•5 min•Season 1Ep. 48
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day ", I am reminded of the importance of not making things harder than they need to be. The episode starts with a quote from Marcus Aurelius, encouraging me to complete my duties methodically and pay attention to each task. The journal prompt asks me to reflect on what I am making harder than it needs to be. I realize that I often fight completing necessary tasks out of fear or overthinking, making life more difficult for myself. I share personal exam...
Feb 16, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 47
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day ," we explore the power of our emotions and the importance of questioning whether they truly make sense. As I reflect on the journal prompt, I realize that I tend to rationalize any emotion, but it's essential to consider whether they are serving a purpose in the given situation. For example, anger can be useful as a warning sign that something isn't sitting right with me, and fear rarely makes sense since it doesn't change the likelihood of the fe...
Feb 16, 2023•5 min•Season 1Ep. 46
Say Hello In this episode of Navigate The Day , we delve into the importance of listening to your inner voice. As we explore the quote by Heraclitus, "For to be wise is only one thing—to fix our attention on our intelligence, which guides all things everywhere", we consider the power of our intelligence and the need to trust and cultivate it. We reflect on the importance of pausing to listen to our inner voice, especially when faced with new impressions and the risk of acting impulsively without...
Feb 14, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 45
Say Hello Greetings everyone, welcome to " Navigate The Day ". Today, we're exploring the theme of " Pleasure Can Become Punishment ". In this episode, we'll be diving into the idea that what we often perceive as pleasure can, in fact, turn into a burden and hold us back from reaching our full potential. I personally have experienced this in my own life. I used to drink frequently, but now that I have quit for the past two years, I see the negative impact that drinking had on my life, including ...
Feb 13, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 44
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day ", I reflect on how I've traded in my peace of mind for things that don't necessarily bring me fulfillment or joy. I admit to letting my fears hold me back from pursuing a career that I truly desire, and the recent breakup with my girlfriend has made me realize that my financial stress and constant complaining played a role in the end of the relationship. However, I'm grateful for the chance to communicate more openly with my girlfriend, as we both...
Feb 13, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 43
Say Hello Welcome to Navigate The Day , where we explore the ups and downs of life and find the courage to be our best selves. Today's episode is a reflection on our own behavior and the impact it has on those around us. As Seneca once said, "Our soul is sometimes a king, and sometimes a tyrant." We can either be a ruler of our emotions, or let our uncontrolled desires and impulsivity lead us into negativity and destruction. This is a reminder that we have the power to choose how we navigate our...
Feb 11, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 42
Say Hello Welcome to Navigate The Day , where we explore the complexities of our emotions and strive to find inspiration and growth in our daily lives. Today, we'll delve into the topic of anger and its impact on our lives. I know all too well the negative impact anger can have in my life. I have used anger as a way to motivate myself, to push forward, but I have come to realize that it is not the right kind of fuel. When I get angry, I often lash out at those around me, causing upset and tensio...
Feb 11, 2023•4 min•Season 1Ep. 41
Say Hello In this episode of Navigate The Day , I explore the idea of not having an opinion. Marcus Aurelius said, "We have the power to hold no opinion about a thing and not let it upset our state of mind, for things have no natural power to shape our judgments." This thought has been on my mind a lot lately, especially considering how many opinions I form on a daily basis. I ask myself what would happen if I didn't have an opinion on things that upset me or stress me out. Would I be more prepa...
Feb 10, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 40
Say Hello In this episode of Navigate the Day , we delve into the question of whether outbursts ever make things better. Through self-reflection and introspection, we come to the realization that our emotional outbursts rarely solve the problem at hand, but rather create new ones. We explore the idea that complaining and crying out when we're unhappy doesn't change the situation, and that focusing on what truly matters is more productive. By taking control of our emotions and thoughts through jo...
Feb 09, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 39
Say Hello In this episode of Navigate the Day , I delve into the topic of fear and worry and how they can hold us back from achieving our goals. Fear is a self-fulfilling prophecy, and I believe that action is the best way to conquer it before it conquers us. To overcome my fears and worries, I first identify the root cause and categorize them into things I can control and things I cannot control. I also challenge my negative thoughts by asking for evidence or looking for alternative perspective...
Feb 07, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 38
Say Hello In today's episode of Navigate The Day , we take a closer look at the concept of avoiding unnecessary conflict in our lives. I reflect on my personal experiences with seeking out strife, often driven by a fear of being still and an addiction to activity. I realize that by doing so, I'm throwing myself into conflict that I don't need to be in, and that this can compromise the quality of my work. I discuss the idea of struggle being noble, but only if it's for the right reasons. I admit ...
Feb 06, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 37
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day, " I delve into the theme of steadying impulses by exploring the idea of submitting every action to the claims of justice. The quote by Marcus Aurelius, "Don’t be bounced around, but submit every impulse to the claims of justice, and protect your clear conviction in every appearance," sets the tone for the discussion. I reflect on my own journey of trying to control my emotions and how I've been working on handling them better. I share my personal ...
Feb 06, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 36
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day ," I dive into the concept of being invincible by exploring my power to choose. The quote by Epictetus, "Who then is invincible? The one who cannot be upset by anything outside of their reasoned choice," sets the tone for my discussion. I reflect on my own journey towards cultivating invincibility and share my experiences with losing my cool and how I've been working on handling my emotions better. I also talk about the importance of identifying my...
Feb 04, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 35
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day ", we explore the source of anxiety and how to take back control from it. Epictetus, a Greek philosopher, once said, “When I see an anxious person, I ask myself, what do they want? For if a person wasn’t wanting something outside of their own control, why would they be stricken with anxiety?” I admit, anxiety often has control over me, causing me to worry about things like the weather, work, and finances. But when I think about it, I realize that s...
Feb 04, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 34
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day ", I reflect on how emotions and impulsive reactions can rob us of self-control. Drawing inspiration from Marcus Aurelius' Meditations, I examine my own tendencies to become sad, depressed, or worried when faced with negative situations. I also delve into my tendency to get into disputes rashly and become angry, which has caused rifts in my relationships with family members. I acknowledge that these negative emotions and impulsive reactions have be...
Feb 03, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 33
Say Hello Hello and welcome to Navigate The Day ! Today, we're going to dive into the topic of conquering our tempers and getting control of our emotions. As Marcus Aurelius so beautifully put it, "gentleness and civility are more human, and therefore manlier. A real man doesn’t give way to anger and discontent, and such a person has strength, courage, and endurance." And I couldn't agree more. Now, I must admit, my temper has been one of my biggest challenges in life. I've put a hole in a fridg...
Feb 02, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 32
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day ", I delve into the idea of using philosophy as medicine for the soul. Inspired by Marcus Aurelius' words in "Meditations", I encourage listeners to approach philosophy not as a task-master, but as a tool for healing and dealing with life's challenges. I reflect on my own experiences with journaling and implementing stoic practices in my daily life, and how they have helped me deal with the emotional ups and downs of my job. Despite feeling intimid...
Feb 01, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 31
Say Hello "You don’t have to stay on top of everything." That's the quote from Epictetus that inspired today's episode. The truth is, there's a lot of information and distractions in our lives that don't actually matter, and it's okay to be clueless about them. In fact, it's more than okay, it's liberating. When we free ourselves from the pressure of knowing everything, we open up more time and energy for what truly matters to us. I personally embrace being clueless about things that don't matte...
Jan 31, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 30
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day ", we take inspiration from Marcus Aurelius and his words on keeping a sturdy mind on the task at hand. We reflect on our own struggles with distractions and overthinking, and the importance of approaching each task with simplicity, dignity, and mindfulness. We remind ourselves to let go of unnecessary worries and to focus on the present moment, where our intentional focus will have the most impact. By mastering a few things, we can live an abundan...
Jan 30, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 29
Say Hello In today's episode of " Navigate The Day ," we dive into the topic of measuring ourselves against others. As Marcus Aurelius said, "Take a good hard look at people’s ruling principle, especially of the wise, what they run away from and what they seek out." It's easy to fall into the trap of comparing ourselves to others, especially those who seem to have achieved more success than us. But it's important to remember that we all have our own unique paths and goals. Personally, I've been ...
Jan 28, 2023•5 min•Season 1Ep. 28
Say Hello Welcome to "Navigate The Day", a podcast where we explore the ancient philosophy of Stoicism and how it can be applied to our daily lives. Today, we'll be discussing the three areas of training as outlined by Epictetus in his Discourses. First, we have the area of desires and aversions, which is all about making sure that we never miss the mark in our desires and avoid falling into things that repel us. Next, we have the area of impulses to act and not to act, and more broadly, duty. T...
Jan 28, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 27
Say Hello In today's episode of Navigate The Day , I delve into the power of a mantra and its potential to shape our thoughts and actions. I share my personal struggles with finding mantras that resonate with me and how I've drawn inspiration from Marcus Aurelius and Ryan Holiday to come up with my own. The mantra I've settled on is, "I have the power within to resist negative influences and maintain control over my thoughts and actions." I also discuss the concepts of responsibility and account...
Jan 27, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 26
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day ", I delve into the question of what it truly means to prize something. Marcus Aurelius's words in Meditations, specifically 6.16.2b-4a, have been ringing in my head lately. He suggests that by limiting our actions or inactions to only what is keeping with the needs of our own preparation, we will find the only thing that is truly valuable. I have always been obsessed with self-improvement and education, but I find myself feeling envious of others ...
Jan 26, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 25
Say Hello In this episode of " Navigate The Day ," we explore the concept of deep work and how it relates to personal growth and self-improvement. Through journaling, we reflect on our own experiences with deep work and how it relates to our daily lives. The journal prompt for this episode is "Am I doing deep work?" The episode starts with a quote from Marcus Aurelius, "From Rusticus…I learned to read carefully and not be satisfied with a rough understanding of the whole, and not to agree too qu...
Jan 25, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 24
Say Hello In today's episode of " Navigate The Day ", we dive into the topic of possession and its impact on our lives. As I reflect on Seneca's quote, "let's pass over to the really rich一how often the occasions they look just like the poor!", I realize that possessions don't define us as individuals. I share my own struggles with housing and how it has affected my stress levels and self-worth. I also reflect on how money and possessions cannot bring peace and true happiness in our lives. Instea...
Jan 24, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 23
