Your Saturday Stoic Review — Week of October 10 - 16

​ ​ PASSAGE OF THE WEEK: All the time and money you've put into yourself is great, but if you're honest, isn't the vast majority of that directed at your career? Or your appearance? Or pleasure? Imagine what you could become–how much better the world would be–if you put that energy into true ​self-​improvement, if you put it towards improving as a parent, as a neighbor, as a citizen. — What Are You Getting Better At? (Listen) YOUTUBE TAKEAWAY OF THE WEEK: In one of the most watched videos on the Daily Stoic YouTube Channel this week, Ryan Holiday details one of the greatest stories in human history: the story of how Antoninus Pius become Marcus Aurelius' stepfather and groomed him to become who he became. Why haven't you heard of Antoninus? Ryan asks towards the end of the video… It's a good question. If he was so great, why don't you know who he is? Well in some ways, Antoninus is really a victim of his own success. First off, he is eclipsed by Marcus Aurelius. Marcus Aurelius is so beloved that he overshadows the man who trained and cultivated and protected him. If that hadn't happened Antoninus could have been remembered for all of history, if that was something that mattered to him. Think of the months August and July—these are named after Augustus and Julius Caesar. Well the Senate so loved Antoninus in his own time that they offered him the chance to name a month after him and his wife…It was utterly meaningless to Antoninus. In truth, Antoninus' real legacy was his life. There's that expression that no man is a hero to his valet. Marcus Aurelius is closer to Antoninus than his valet and yet he not just sees him as a hero, he adores him, he loves him, he worships him. Watch the full video: The Virtue That Made Marcus Aurelius So Great​ PODCAST TAKEAWAY OF THE WEEK: ​ In one of the most listened to episodes of the Daily Stoic podcast this week, Ryan Holiday interviewed billionaire businessman David Rubenstein about his new book How to Invest, his experiences working for President Jimmy Carter, how the majority of people should invest, what we can learn from what really rich people spend money on, and the strange phenomenon of people waiting until retirement to live where they might like living: It's hard to understand why people do certain things, but there's no doubt that's a phenomenon: people retire to a place they think will be enjoyable to live in—why didn't they move to some place like that earlier? Listen to the full episode: David Rubenstein on Investing and Designing the Optimal Life​ WHAT RYAN HOLIDAY IS READING: [There is] an old Zen say, 'Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water; after enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.' The enlightened are distinguished from the rest of us not by the work they do but by the manner in which they do their work. No matter how much life wisdom a person acquires, the chores of daily life remain the same. The enlightened, however, do not do their daily work as a mere means to an end: The chopping of the wood is not done for the purpose of building a fire, the carrying of the water is not done for the purpose of cooking food, because everything is done in the same state of presence, for its own sake, without goals. — The Way of Baseball: Finding Stillness at 95 mph by Shawn Green YOUR STOIC WEEKEND REMINDER: Tie your well-being to your own actions. "If you are ever tempted to look for outside approval," Epictetus said, "realize that you have compromised your integrity. If you need a witness, be your own." This was something Marcus Aurelius wrestled with more than Epictetus because he was a public person. He saw crowds cheering him in the street. People flocked to court to heap praise on him (before asking for favors). He also had to put up with their jeers and criticisms. Eventually he realized that he couldn't pay attention to any of it. He had to hold himself to his own standard—an inner scorecard—and ignore everything else. The clapping was meaningless. The boos were too. What mattered was his own integrity—he had to be his own witness. And today, so do you. It doesn't matter what other people say or think. Approval and disapproval are equally meaningless. What matters is what you know is right, and whether you do it. (For more on this idea, watch this video!) THIS WEEK'S BEST SOCIAL MEDIA POST: ​ EMAIL OF THE WEEK: ​Can You Stop? (Listen) ​ Today's newsletter is sponsored by mudwtr.com​ Your morning ritual on mushrooms. Want energy & focus without the crash & burn that comes with coffee? Add mushrooms to your morning routine. Sounds weird, but hear us out. 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