The Obstacle is The Way

Day 74 / 365

I recently finished reading the book “The Obstacle is the Way”. It’s a book about Stoic Philosophy. I had tried getting into Stoicism in the past but always found it hard. I gave this book a try and I was able to connect with it right away.

Here are some of my learnings from the book

“We are never completely powerless”

People can take away everything from you, except your choice to let things affect you. Our minds, beliefs, and reactions will always be our own.

“The art of not panicking”

If things are bad, panicking about them would never help. It will only make it worse for you to find a solution. Does getting upset provide you with more options? I guess not.

“Remember that this moment is not your life, it’s just a moment in your life”

Focus on what’s in front of you right now. And what you can do about it. Ignore what it “represents” or “why it happened to you”

“No one’s coming to help you”

We complain about our problems, but then we proceed to ignore them and distract ourselves. We expect them to go away on their own. You’ve got to act. And you’ve got to start now!