This Is A Most Dangerous Attitude | Don’t Hide From Your Feelings | The Daily Stoic

Intro

In this episode of “The Daily Stoic,” the hosts explore the dangerous attitude of pushing through obstacles without considering the consequences. They delve into the Stoic philosophy of facing and processing emotions, particularly grief and loss. The episode also highlights the upcoming Daily Stoic New Year Challenge and features a lighthearted segment called “The Grinch Holiday Talk Show.”

Main Takeaways

Perseverance and Determination

• The Stoics believed in perseverance and determination, viewing obstacles as opportunities for growth (00:01:00).
• However, this attitude can be dangerous, leading to reckless decisions and negative consequences, as exemplified by experimental aircraft (00:02:00).
• It takes courage to consider whether one should push through a problem, rather than simply if one could (00:02:00).

Facing and Processing Emotions

• The Stoic philosophy encourages facing, processing, and dealing with emotions immediately, rather than suppressing or running from them (00:03:00).
• Conquering grief is preferable to deceiving it, and while distraction may provide short-term relief, understanding and accepting emotions is better in the long term (00:03:00).
• Stoics like Seneca and Marcus Aurelius wrote about grief and loss, making their insights relatable and haunting.
• Stoics were not unfeeling but aimed to avoid being overwhelmed by emotions, as seen in Marcus Aurelius’s experiences with grief.
• Crying and grieving are natural, but it is crucial to process and confront emotions to move forward.
• Grief must be faced and dealt with to honor the person who has been lost.

The Daily Stoic New Year Challenge

• The hosts announce the upcoming Daily Stoic New Year Challenge, encouraging listeners to reflect on their New Year’s resolutions.
• Details about the challenge can be found on the Daily Stoic website.

“The Grinch Holiday Talk Show”

• A lighthearted segment called “The Grinch Holiday Talk Show” is featured in this episode.
• The show, hosted by the Grinch and Cindy Lohoo, is family-friendly and perfect for kids.
• The Grinch invites listeners to follow “Tis the Grinch Holiday Talk Show” on the Wondery app or wherever they listen to podcasts.
• Listeners can access the show early and ad-free by joining Wondery Plus.

Summary

The Danger of Unchecked Perseverance

The Stoics believed in the power of perseverance and determination, viewing obstacles as opportunities for growth. However, this mindset can be dangerous if not tempered with careful consideration. The hosts discuss the example of experimental aircraft, where pushing through difficulties without evaluating the potential consequences led to negative outcomes. They emphasize the importance of courageously assessing whether one should push through a problem, rather than simply if one could.

Confronting and Processing Emotions

The Stoic philosophy encourages individuals to face and process their emotions rather than suppressing or running from them. While distraction may provide temporary relief, it is better to focus on understanding and accepting emotions in the long run. The hosts mention Kate Boehler’s book, “Everything Happens for Reason and Other Lies I’ve been Told,” which challenges the notion of everything happening for a reason when she is diagnosed with cancer. They highlight the writings of Stoics like Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, who dealt with grief and loss, making their insights relatable and haunting. Stoics were not unfeeling but sought to avoid being overwhelmed by their emotions, as exemplified by Marcus Aurelius’s own experiences with grief. The hosts emphasize the importance of allowing oneself to cry and grieve while also actively processing and facing the emotions to move forward. They stress that there is no way out but through grief and that it is essential to deal with it in order to honor the person who has been lost.

The Daily Stoic New Year Challenge and “The Grinch Holiday Talk Show”

The hosts announce the upcoming Daily Stoic New Year Challenge, encouraging listeners to reflect on their New Year’s resolutions and visit the Daily Stoic website for more information. Additionally, they feature a lighthearted segment called “The Grinch Holiday Talk Show,” hosted by the Grinch and Cindy Lohoo. This family-friendly show is perfect for kids and invites listeners to follow “Tis the Grinch Holiday Talk Show” on the Wondery app or their preferred podcast platform. Listeners can access the show early and ad-free by joining Wondery Plus.

Conclusion

In this episode of “The Daily Stoic,” the hosts explore the potential dangers of an unchecked attitude of perseverance and determination. They emphasize the importance of courageously assessing whether one should push through obstacles, rather than simply if one could. The Stoic philosophy encourages individuals to face and process their emotions, particularly grief and loss, rather than suppressing or running from them. The hosts highlight the upcoming Daily Stoic New Year Challenge and feature a lighthearted segment called “The Grinch Holiday Talk Show.” Overall, the episode provides valuable insights into Stoic principles and the importance of emotional resilience.