It’s All In How You See It | Judge Yourself Not Others | The Daily Stoic

Intro

In this episode of “The Daily Stoic” podcast, the focus is on how our perspective shapes our understanding of philosophy and life. The host emphasizes the importance of self-reflection and self-correction rather than using philosophy as a means to judge others. Through various examples and insights, listeners are encouraged to judge themselves and find value in the principles of philosophy.

Main Takeaways

The Purpose of Craft and Education

• The aim of every craft is that what it makes should fit the purpose for which it was made.
• The exertions of education and teaching are all about limiting our action or inaction to only what’s in keeping with the needs of our own preparation.

Perspective and Interpretation

• Philosophy and life are not completely objective, it’s all in how you see it.
• Different translators can have wildly different interpretations of the same text, reflecting their time and place.

Judging Ourselves, Not Others

• Holding on to what is truly valuable will make you self-reliant, self-sufficient, and liberated from passion.
• Judge yourself, not others.
• Philosophy is a tool for self-correction, not a weapon for putting down others.
• We need to see ourselves as in the care of philosophy’s principles.
• Let philosophy scrape off your own faults rather than be a way to rail against the faults of others.
• When you see someone doing something wrong, criticize it, but don’t feel superior, try to learn from it.

Self-Reflection and Personal Growth

• Drawing on examples is essential to make work compelling.
• Some people need their rusty souls constantly scrubbed.
• Your real job is to scrub down your own rusty soul.
• We often focus on solving other people’s issues instead of our own.
• Treat yourself first, but recognize similar symptoms in others if you need to point them out.

Summary

The Purpose of Craft and Education

Crafts and education serve a purpose, and their effectiveness is measured by how well they fulfill that purpose. Whether it’s creating something or learning, the focus should be on aligning our actions with the intended outcome. Education and teaching should guide us in limiting our actions to what is necessary for our own preparation.

Perspective and Interpretation

Philosophy and life are subjective to some extent. Our perspective shapes our understanding and interpretation. Different translators can offer varying interpretations of the same text, influenced by their own time and place. It is crucial to recognize the role our perception plays in our philosophical journey.

Judging Ourselves, Not Others

Instead of using philosophy to judge and criticize others, we should focus on self-reflection and self-correction. Holding on to what truly matters enables us to become self-reliant and liberated from passion. Philosophy should be seen as a tool for personal growth rather than a means to put others down. By judging ourselves and learning from our mistakes, we can embody the principles of philosophy.

Self-Reflection and Personal Growth

Self-reflection is essential for personal growth. Drawing on examples and recognizing our own faults allows us to continually improve ourselves. While it is important to take care of our own well-being, we should also be attentive to similar issues in others, providing guidance when necessary. Our focus should be on our own self-improvement before attempting to solve the problems of others.

Conclusion

By adopting a mindset of self-reflection and self-correction, we can harness the power of philosophy to transform ourselves. Rather than judging and criticizing others, we should focus on our own personal growth. Through this approach, we can cultivate self-reliance, self-sufficiency, and a deeper understanding of the principles that guide us.