I cheated.
No, not in the way that Tiger Wo....never mind.
But no. Not in a bad way. Just in the way that I put together this newsletter. If you are somewhat new, you might ask "why does Chris pick these 3 quotes?" The answer is, I don't. In true data analyst-nerd fashion, I have a random number generator in Excel selecting the quotes that I share every other week at random.
That is, until this week.
I think that the classic Stoics are a bit more into contemplating death than the more modern philosophical influencers and thinkers. Maybe they were surrounded by death more than we are. They probably sat at the deathbed of many relatives, neighbors in their close-knit, heavily-reliant-on-each-other towns and communities. We have homes and hospitals for that.
So yes, diverting from the random number generator does make my eye start to twitch but I wanted to intentionally tap into those folks that haven't been dead for more than 2,000 years. So, for today, I cherry picked the authors, but not the quotes.
And also, just thanks for reading this stuff. It is my way of holding myself accountable for taking a step back from juggling 3 monitors and various clients. I don't meditate. I don't journal. This newsletter is an olive branch to myself to get some thoughts documented. Who knows, maybe it will eventually go somewhere. But for now, just wanted to say "thanks".
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I wrote much of this newsletter before being alerted of 3 shootings on Wednesday. Control. Temperance. Awareness. Choice. deep sigh...
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With our limited senses and consciousness, we only glimpse a small portion of reality. Furthermore, everything in the universe is in a state of constant flux. Simple words and thoughts cannot capture this flux or complexity. The only solution for an enlightened person is to let the mind absorb itself in what it experiences, without having to form a judgment on what it all means. The mind must be able to feel doubt and uncertainty for as long as possible. As it remains in this state and probes deeply into the mysteries of the universe, ideas will come that are more dimensional and real than if we had jumped to conclusions and formed judgments early on.
— Robert Greene, Mastery
The endless cycles of incessant thoughts are there to serve our most basic instinct: survival. We tend to morph the truth so that our limited brain power can process it swiftly and efficiently. The original design of the human brain included features that ensured the survival of our species. Those same features have turned into blind spots that delude the way our brain operates today.
— Mo Gawdat, Solve for Happy
As I approach the next chapter of truths to cross, the only thing I know for sure is that I will recalibrate again, and that my family will be at the core when I do. As a father, I often contradict myself, and I know I could do a better job of practicing what I preach, but I've also learned that if the message is true, don't forget it, and forgive the messenger, even if he does.
— Matthew McConaughey, Greenlights
Rads Take
Well, I hope you brought your mushrooms.
Existentialism. Biology. Parenthood. What does it all mean??? Double rainbow!!!!
Yes, The Rad Stoic is like a box of chocolates. And instead of ruminating about death, we get some major introspection into cerebral analysis.
Greene's quote (paragraph?) implores us to constantly and consciously withhold judgment. Empirically documenting everything that is happening in and around just our households is a losing effort. Then, take that to the universal level, and its a complete joke. So why fret about it (which is not to say 'don't care'). He says that assigning some kind of rule or meaning to everything will lead to poor assumptions and high levels of inaccuracy. Both of those will lead to uneducated expectations which is a recipe for unhappiness.
Just let things be. Observe them as they are. Recognize that you don't control them. But also recognize where there is an opportunity to influence them for the better for yourself and those you care about.
As I have said before, yes, Stoicism is focused on individual control. But it recognizes that the individual is a building block to the larger society. But if the building block is crumbling, then that is the thing that needs to be addressed first.
One thing that doesn't come up naturally in these quotes so I will invoke them artificially here is the idea of the 4 Stoic virtues of Courage, Justice, Temperance and Wisdom. The one I come back to and reflect on its importance more than the others is Temperance. It is temperance that allows us to not rush to judgment. To take things in as they are. But at the same time, not tuning out to the world. Find that middle ground in all things.
"All things? That doesn't sound very temperate..." Shut up!
Sorry.
But you get the idea.
And going randomly here, how does Mo's quote just so happen to directly align with Robert's? Well, probably because they are smart guys that think similarly. But it's almost like Mo is saying "Yea! What he said!" He is saying that our instinct to label things around us has hindered our progress in a civilized state. So we need to be aware of our tendency, nay, instinct to apply labels to all things. Take them as they are. Observe the things. Observe your applying of the label. This is not to people, but to events. "This is a bad thing that happened." Is it, or is it a thing that happened and we need to get creative on how we can turn it to be good.
Sometimes that process takes a detour through grief, anger, sadness. But once we process that emotion (yes! Emotions are legal within Stoicism!), then we start getting creative about turning that event, which is just an event, to being good.
Speaking of emotions, another modern thinker -- yes, Matthew McConaughey is a modern thinker (to which you say, "Alright, alright, alright") speaks of his family as the one thing that really matters. When you have some clarity of thought -- and within Stoicism we aim for just that -- you recognize all that really matters is the essential things. What is essential to you? To your business? To society? It is in those essential things that we should be spending our time.
Fantasy football -- not essential. I get my kicks elsewhere these days. I intentionally cut out things that are not progressing me in some way or are not bringing me joy.
But no one is perfect. McConaughey recognizes them in himself just as we all know our true faults or perceived faults (see: imposter syndrome). Be aware of your imperfections but don't have that be your self-narrative. Be OK being a work-in-process.
Friday delivery -- a day late! Is Thursday delivery essential?.....nah.