Routine: The Daily Stoic

Every day for the last couple years I read one page from Ryan Holiday’s The Daily Stoic. I have described the book as a super power. It comprises 366 quotes from stoic philosophers, each followed by a few paragraphs analyzing the quote and tying it to modern life.

I discovered that the April section on “Unbiased Thought” is especially powerful at this time. This passage stuck with me for weeks: 

“It isn’t events themselves that disturb people, but only their judgments about them.” -Epictetus    

The samurai swordsman Musashi made a distinction between our “perceiving eye” and our “observing eye.” The observing eye sees what is. The perceiving eye sees what things supposedly mean, Which one do you think causes us the most anguish?  

Maybe self-isolating with your loved ones has caused no anguish? Good for you, your holiness. But I’ve been muttering “perceiving eye, observing eye” in a corner to help me cope.

I jotted down this note from the same section of The Daily Stoic: Hear the actual words said. Not what you think the underlying meaning is. Don’t layer your opinion on top of the world. 

This wisdom conflicts with my other super power, which I like to believe is my perception and my gut instinct. This is a conundrum but I find that I have time to wrestle with it.

-Adam