Stoicism's Formula For Building Resilience

Do you want to be the artist who loses their joy for the process, who has strip-mined their soul in such a way that there is nothing left to draw upon? Burn out or fade away—that was the question in Kurt Cobain’s suicide note. How is that even a dilemma?

It’s human being, not human doing, for a reason.

Moderation. Being present. Knowing your limits. This is the key. This takes just as much discipline as pushing yourself hard.

The body that each of us has is a gift. Don’t work it to death. Don’t burn it out.

Protect the gift.

Take care of yourself out there!

#Stoicism​ #DailyStoic​ #RyanHoliday​

[JezelJordan]

I suffer from permanent injuries from shattering my pelvis in a car accident at 19. I wallowed in despair for so long, focusing on my suffering for years, but discovering Stoicism really turned things around for me. I still have the chronic pain but I'm no longer suffering

[saturatelife]

Thank you Ryan for discussing this. About a year and a half ago I sustained Traumatic Brain Injury. I pushed myself to try and go back to normal life too early despite what everyone around me suggested. I thought I was better or stronger than this. What I'm going through is an invisible disability which is hard for people to conceive of.

I've been using Stoicism to accept this is a new chapter in life. I'm not helpless, but I'm also not who I previously was. I do have limitations now, but I can also do a hell of a lot that doctors were unsure I would be able to. It's nice to have someone discuss these struggles in life. Thank you.

[warrenlieberman]

I have read some of your books and following your YouTube videos with delight. And get your weekly emails. The injury video came at the perfect moment. I will be 80 next month and the week before I will be having a total knee replacement (second one). My goal is to walk next January in the MLK March in San Antonio. I have walked it previously and have led a walking group, except have been sidelined for three years. Now starting over. Your videos are great. Thanks.

[Retro_Sean]

These weekly Friday videos are a perfect way to end my work week as I go on my walk and begin the weekend.

Shout out to all the spring forward participants!

[loganviking]

This is unbelievable timing.

I just hurt my toe my toe two hours ago (I'm pretty sure it's broken), and this video came up in my recommendations. I've been practicing Stoicism for a couple years, and I've watched a number of your videos over that time, but this is so perfectly timed and should be very helpful. My injury will be another test of my ability to apply what I believe.

I've become pretty good at not wishing for things to be other than they are, not wishing that things didn't happen, etc.
That's very difficult right now, because this almost didn't happen. I just started training jiu-jitsu about a month ago, and tonight there was a pankration class I wasn't planning to go to, but then decided I would, and that's where I got hurt.

I'm very unhappy right now. I won't be able to train until this heals, I don't know how this will effect my ability to do my job, etc. I've got a lot to deal with right now.

Thank you for this video, Ryan. I'm going to need these lessons over the coming weeks.

[darylmckay]

Wishing you a full recovery, Ryan! I rolled my ankle playing 6-a-side soccer and played for 2 more weeks in pain before I saw a physio for my shoulder, and he suggested an x-ray. It turned out I broke my fibula. You just never know...

[BlueDoginRedSoLa]

Welcome to getting old.
It's not easy.
I've ignored my body for a long time. It started screaming back at me.
Very humbling.

[ryantwigg]

Bravo on overcoming the injury, Ryan. As a running I have been there. The patience is an absolute discipline.

[BBrilliant]

At 17:34 you are refering to the Anterior mid-cingulate cortex, love it!

[louisefarber]

I’m lying here listening to this in week 4 of my broken ankle, (broke the other one in 2020) I thought it couldn’t happen again because I learned to be more mindful while walking, running, cycling, on stairs etc. but all it took was a quick turn on the edge of pavement and in one second i rolled my ankle and went full weight on the rolled ankle: I instantly knew I just changed my next 3-6 months. This time around I know to really care for it in order to be well as soon as possible and use my downtime wisely - like listening to this video!

[starlily]

Had ankle surgery in December and the recovery is taking longer than expected. Thank you for this video!

[pgutierrez]

How can I DOUBLE like this video!!? 👍👍 Perfect video for the perfect moment. Thanks!

[ramonalewis]

When I was 33. I was running to go to work. I was running for the door. Suddenly I was airborne. I land and roll. I get up, light headed and when I try to walk, I saw I hurt my ankle. I pushed a row of carts in as it was the only thing holding me up. I worked 8 hours on a bad ankle.

The next day, my ankle swelled, it was HUGE! It took a couple weeks for me to be able to walk without a limp and without hurting

[EmmanuelMapili-zeml]

I appreciate your videos . My life has changed ever since I started watching your videos.

[islandhealth]

Great video Ryan. Thanks to you I’ve been doing my best to apply Stoicism in my life for the last 8 years. I broke my left tibia a year ago snowboarding and had to have surgery. Stoicism helped me turn the time I was laid up into a positive rather then negative experience.

[am]

Haven’t been gym and football for almost 2 yrs due to an injury and kyphosis. Kyphosis being a condition is what I found months later and is still a shock to me. It’s tough but I’m going to listen to this vid

[Andy-B]

I feel the same, i get frustrated at myself for running through pain, i badly hurt one of my right calf muscles and my tendon from running, jogging and sprinting too long and running through pain instead of stopping when i hurt myself, i know the difference between good and bad pain so i know better.
Now i cant run like i like to and i need to properly rest it and train around it which ive been doing, i never let things heal long enough propperly and i know better, so this injury needs 3 to 6 months to heal and i never done that first time around and hurt it again, so this time am doing it right way and letting it heal and training around it, i can still do cardio which doesn't involve running, i rested it 3 months, no running just training around it and doing my regular exercises, body weight and weights etc plus i still get cardio from that and by using cardio machines in gym which takes weight of my legs, like stair master and cross trainers and bikes etc.
But few weeks ago being just over 3months since i hurt my calf again, i was walking back from work, and decided to slow jog home, 3 mile slow jog, and next morning it was sore again, so i know its serious injury. One of the times it went properly it caused me to instantly jump in air and off leg.
So need to rest 6mth at least by looks of it this time and ill try a wee slow jog again, if it gets sore again next time by just slow jogging am gonna book an appointment with the doctors, few injuries am nursing i could get looked at while there at same time lol, time will tell 😎👍

[Gumbier_Than]

Your timing is impeccable. Had foot surgery with ankle fusion and tendon transplant some time ago.

Recovery has been frustrating for me. I was humbled slipping on something from the bathroom and got hurt.

This reminds me that "powering through" all the time is not good. The frustration comes and goes, yet rushing through the process is just going to lead to bad things down the line.

Hope your recovery keeps rolling forth. 😊

[samimaameri]

Such a relatable guy. Love the honesty man. Such true relaysof ur experience

[john.maynard]

Appreciate how you apply Stoicism to your injury and recovery. There are always lessons to learn, insights to share. Here’s to coming back stronger 💪