Jan 16 2025 61 mins 4
William Irvine | Author | Stoic Practitioner |
Summary:
Want to live a better life? Ancient wisdom might have the answer. William Irvine shows how Stoicism, a philosophy from centuries ago, can help us navigate modern life and our relationship with money. Instead of chasing external success, he suggests focusing on what we can control - our reactions and emotions.
Through practices like negative visualization (imagining losing what we have), Irvine reveals how ancient wisdom can help us appreciate what we have and build resilience. Most importantly, he challenges our endless pursuit of "more" by introducing a powerful concept - "enough."
The conversation explores how having a life philosophy can be like a compass, helping us make better decisions about money and find genuine contentment in our complex modern world.
Highlights:
Understanding 'enough' is crucial for inner peace - knowing when more won't make you happier is key to contentment.
Focus on what you can control - your reactions and emotions matter more than external circumstances.
Practice negative visualization - imagining losing what you have builds gratitude and appreciation for your current life.
Build resilience through voluntary discomfort - facing challenges deliberately makes you stronger.
Money can create anxiety, but satisfaction comes from within - external wealth doesn't guarantee inner peace.
Living simply leads to greater appreciation - less complexity often means more contentment.
Quotes:
"Equanimity is the absence of negative emotions."
"Stoics embrace positive emotions, not bottle them up."
"What is it you really want?"
"You're living it, doing things that will win their admiration."
Links:
William Irvine's website and books: CLICK HERE
