These short ancient rules will transform your life and on mindset habits, truths and more
Weekly digest of practical philosophy, psychology and productivity wisdom
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Some of the best advice on earth is thousands of years old. Roman emperors, greek thinkers, and eastern wise teachers faced the same human suffering. From the dawn of civilisation, people have sought to discover the secrets of life. From the teachings of Confucius and Plato to the wisdom of the Bible, ancient teachings have remained relevant and applicable today.
By reflecting on these timeless lessons, we can discover a path to living a life of fulfilment, purpose, and joy. Stoic philosophy stress on the importance of living in accordance with reason and virtue and accepting the struggles of life as the way forward. Stoic philosopher Seneca wrote extensively on the importance of self-control, rationality, and wisdom in the face of adversity.
He noted that wisdom is the “master of the passions” and the key to living a virtuous life. The Taoist philosophy of ancient China teaches the importance of living in harmony with the natural world, living in the present, and valuing simplicity and humility over material wealth and power. The epicurean philosophy wrote on the value of living a simple and contented life, free from fear and anxiety. “Do not spoil what you have by desiring what you have not; remember that what you now have was once among the things you only hoped for,” Epicurus said.
“The greatest wealth is to live content with little,” Plato, an ancient Greek philosopher, also said.
Epicurus believed that the good life is one of pleasure and the absence of pain. He taught many to seek pleasure in moderation and avoid unnecessary pain. The Bible, particularly the book of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, also contains many wise sayings and teachings on living a virtuous life.
“Wisdom is a shelter as money is a shelter, but the advantage of knowledge is this: Wisdom preserves the life of its possessor.” — Ecclesiastes 7:12.
Ancient wisdom also speaks of the importance of self-awareness, reflection and contemplation. “The ultimate value of life depends upon awareness and the power of contemplation rather than upon mere survival,” Aristotle said. By reflecting on our thoughts, feelings, and experiences, we can gain insight into our lives and better understand the world around us. It is only through the practice of reflection that we can learn from our mistakes and be better prepared for the future.
Seneca and Marcus Aurelius encouraged us to reflect on the important things in life. 'Ask yourself at every moment, 'Is this necessary?' says Aurelius.
“...because most of what we say and do is not essential. If you can eliminate it, you’ll have more time and more tranquillity. Ask yourself at every moment, is this necessary…” he wrote. Seneca watched people waste their lives on busyness. Meetings, obligations, social activities. All motion, no direction.
Is this necessary takes you back to the right path.
Not “is this good?”or “could this be useful?” Is this routine, habit or task necessary. Try it for a week. Ask it before you agree to something. Before you say something. Before you spend an hour on something.
Many ancient thinkers thought self-knowledge was crucial for a good life. Socrates believed that the key to a good life was self-knowledge and living in accordance with one’s nature.
“Know thyself,” he says.
Socrates believed that living an examined life, which is a life of questioning and self-reflection, is the best way to achieve a meaningful life.
“True wisdom comes to each of us when we realise how little we understand about life, ourselves, and the world around us,” Socrates said.
Aristotle believed that the good life is one of flourishing and living by reason. He thought happiness was the ultimate goal of human existence and could be achieved by cultivating virtues such as courage, wisdom, and justice. The common thread among ancient thought leaders is the emphasis on living a virtuous, meaningful, and balanced life and the importance of self-reflection and self-improvement.
“Life is an unfoldment, and the further we travel the more truth we can comprehend,” Hypatia of Alexandria said. A good life is not only enjoyable. But a life of virtue, purpose, appreciation, self-knowledge and alive time. Making the most of our short time is vital for living well.
Morgan Housel on rules
There’s a sweet spot where you grasp the important stuff but you’re not smart enough to be bored with it.
The line between bold and reckless is thin and often only visible with hindsight, so be careful who you admire and what you admire them for.
People who are exceptionally good at one thing tend to be exceptionally bad at other things, but if you’re good at one thing people will try to emulate everything you do.
“It’s very common to be utterly brilliant and still think you’re way smarter than you actually are.” – Charlie Munger
You’re not a machine, so don’t expect to always be rational. Aiming to be reasonable is the best anyone can do.
Writer Harold V. Melchert on savouring the path
“Live your life each day as you would climb a mountain. An occasional glance toward the summit keeps the goal in mind, but many beautiful scenes are to be observed from each new vantage point. Climb slowly, steadily, enjoying each passing moment; and the view from the summit will serve as a fitting climax for the journey.” — Source: The Toastmaster magazine (October 1965)
3 questions to ponder
What single habit, if implemented consistently for the rest of this year, would transform your life the most?
When you wake up, do you expect today to have many joys or many frustrations?
If you had 10x the agency you have, what would you do?
A free read on Medium
The Most Powerful Mindset Habits Right Now For These Crazy Times
The “great discontinuity.” That’s my term for these tough times. The break between what used to work and what works now. These are strange times. Tech tools are eating jobs. Geopolitical certainties are resetting. The systems you were told to trust (governments, employers, markets) are actively betraying our trust. All certainties are out of the window.
But people must still figure life out. They have to keep going. We still have to build things, solve personal problems, raise children, find meaning. And stay sane through it all. I’m relying on a few sets of mindsets that save my sanity and logic. Things that help right now.
Shortform: All lifelong learners need this
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About me: I’m Thomas. My essays cross between productivity, philosophy, psychology. I also write a Fast Company column on smarter living. My readers include intellectually curious people from Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Salesforce, LinkedIn, Apple, BBC, HubSpot and Morning Brew.
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Man, after years of self-help books, like deep dives into stoicism, being raised Christian, exploring spirituality, and many many others, I’ve come realize that simply being aware takes all these lessons and rolls them into one.
By being aware, you’re mindful of your passions. By being aware, you can look at each decision and how it ties to the larger piece. Awareness is such a vital piece but it’s something we forget daily.
By developing awareness, we pull all these lessons into one — into the applicable scenario. I’ve come to find that quite helpful but that is solely my experience