Mastering Your Mind: Ancient Stoic Disciplines for Modern Dreams

Ever wonder how ancient wisdom could propel your modern success journey? Dive deep into the transformative discipline of Stoicism—the 2,000-year-old philosophy that continues to guide today's most resilient achievers.

From Nelson Mandela to Elon Musk, influential figures throughout history have embraced Stoic principles to overcome adversity and achieve greatness. Now it's your turn. This profound exploration breaks down the three core Stoic disciplines—perception, action, and will—into practical strategies you can implement immediately.

Discover why happiness isn't waiting at the finish line of your goals but must be cultivated now. Learn to distinguish between what you can and cannot control, saving precious mental energy for what truly matters. We explore how your perceptions shape your reality and why clearing your mind of unwanted thoughts is like cleaning a window that's become clouded by others' opinions and your own doubts.

The journey continues with powerful insights about taking the right action rather than hasty ones, finding purpose in your unique gifts, and building resilience through challenges. You'll understand why positive feelings provide energy while negativity drains it, and how accepting our mortality can actually motivate us to live more purposefully.

Through the remarkable example of Nelson Mandela, who transformed 27 years of imprisonment into inner strength through Stoic resilience, you'll see these principles in action. Whether you're facing professional setbacks, personal challenges, or simply seeking a more grounded approach to life, these timeless Stoic disciplines provide the framework for lasting success and fulfillment.

Share your thoughts in the comments—which Stoic principle resonates most with your journey? Subscribe and share this episode to support others on their path to success.

Chapters

• 0:00 Stoicism's Influence on Notable People
• 1:51 Introduction to Stoic Disciplines
• 4:57 The Discipline of Perception
• 7:22 Managing Emotions and Finding Happiness
• 11:04 The Right Action and Problem Solving
• 16:27 Purpose, Virtue and Acceptance
• 20:41 Nelson Mandela: Stoicism in Action
• 22:06 Key Takeaways and Final Thoughts

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Choosing exactly the percentage of people who follow Stoicism, guys, is challenging. It's truly challenging. You know, if you compare it to other philosophies, religions, stoicism is a niche. It's a proper niche, okay.

Speaker 1: 0:22

However, many influential people have included stoic principles in their lives. For example, we have Nelson Mandela. You know Nelson Mandela, right? He often spoke about the importance of maintaining dignity and inner peace in the face of adversity, reflecting stoic concepts of resilience. Diversity reflecting stoic concepts of resilience. We have Elon Musk the crazy genius, elon Musk, right, if we consider his resilience and long-term thinking.

Speaker 1: 0:56

Ken Uryus is known for his calm and philosophical approach to life. Denzel Washington emphasizes disciplines of control, purpose, and all of which align with stoic values. In his book we have a Green Light. Matthew McConaughey shares lessons on resilience and self-reflection that reflect stoic principles. Chris Hemsworth applies stoic, stoic Discipline to his Fitness and Career. Tom Hardy has spoken about overcoming adversity and focusing on what we can control A key Stoic concept. That's very important, and so many people actually, and so on.

Speaker 1: 1:42

So today it's your turn, guys. You are the one who can understand this beautiful philosophy and apply it to achieve your dreams. Hi guys, my name is Fabio from Journey to Success, and welcome. Today we're going to talk about three important disciplines that form part of Stoicism. These are perception, action and will. But before going forward, please subscribe, okay? So I know this is the right direction to lead you guys, to drive you, to guide you towards your journey to success, and let's get started. Let's get started. So let's start by introducing the concept of Stoicism, let's discover how it can help you achieve your goals. Okay, so Stoicism first of all developed around 2000 years ago. So let's make a little bit of history here. So, developed around 2000 years ago in the Roman Empire. Developed around 2,000 years ago in the Roman Empire. Although it faded from academic circles over time, its philosophy has never truly disappeared. In fact, today, stoicism is especially popular among people focused on personal growth, mindfulness and logical thinking. This is why I want to discuss it with you today, because it can be a valuable resource for, you know, for, let's say, cultivating inner growth and reaching your success.

Speaker 1: 3:17

So first, it's important to identify the common challenges you face when you try to achieve your dreams, such as the fear of failure. You know the first one lack of motivation and overwhelming obstacles. These challenges may vary for each person. Okay, and only you know what they are. It can be actually more than them.

Speaker 1: 3:46

However, here are three important elements that can help you overcome these challenges via stoicism. So the first element is perception. Perception, so this refers to how we see and decode the world around us. The second one is right action. The right action, so these are the decisions and actions we take in response to our perceptions. Okay. And the third is the will. Will, so this is how we accept the things we cannot change, in a way to understand our place in the world. Among all these keys, we must not forget, of course, patience and emotions, awareness, impersonal thoughts, problem solving, your duties, pragmatism, fortitude and resilience, virtue and kindness, acceptance and meditation on mortality. So we're going to look at all of them today, no worries. So let's first discuss with the first one, right, so the discipline of perception.

Speaker 1: 4:57

Sometimes we can be too stubborn and try to achieve the unachievable because we want to be exactly like our heroes or idols. You know, the truth is that everyone has their pros and cons and limits, so the sooner you understand this, the faster you can achieve your goals. I firmly believe that you can achieve whatever you want to do in your life truly, but there is a fundamental factor that no one really considers guys. It is the factor of time, of course. For example, if I want to become a great podcaster but fear being labeled as Italian because of my accent, I'm not saying it's impossible to practice to achieve a clear accent, okay. However, I acknowledge that it will take time, so instead I would rather focus on improving my writing and communication skills. So when you recognize your limits, based on the time you can devote, you can work more effectively on other skills. That will accelerate your journey. Okay, of course, this was an example. Yeah, I'm very proud to be Italian.

Speaker 1: 6:17

The key point is try to avoid being too stubborn and acknowledge the evidence of the limitation that can hold you back. If you do that, you can achieve so much, but just only by acknowledging these limitations. Also, it's important to identify which aspects of your day are within your control and which are not. So once you accept this aspect, you can save your energy by letting go of what you cannot control and focus on what you can Now in order to achieve your dreams. Within the perception concept, here are four key points to remember. The first one is, of course, control your perceptions. The second is direct your actions properly. The third is accept what is outside your control. And the fourth point is clarify who you are and what you stand for.

Speaker 1: 7:23

Number two peace and stability. Peace and stability come from your own choices and good judgment, okay, not from what's happening around you. So if you try to escape challenges, stress or even difficult people, you won't find real peace, okay. However, if you learn to avoid the negative thoughts that create these problems, you will remain strong and steady no matter where you are. Number three passions and emotions. Why do you feel like you can't control your passion and emotions? Why do you think you are a puppet of your own brain? You're powerful guys. You are, and you can make any choice you want if you truly desire it. You are in control. You have to remember that. When fear, anxiety or challenges arise, remember that you have the power to manage them. Just remember most things that upset us or make us anxious come from our imagination. They're like, I would say, bad dreams with our eyes open. You know that little thing that keeps provoking you is not real. Remember that.

Speaker 1: 8:49

Another valid point is thinking that when you achieve your goals, that you will be happy. Of course, it's not true. This is actually the opposite of the truth. You need to find happiness now, in your current circumstances. Once you understand and manage these challenges, then you can find genuine happiness. Okay, you know, you may hear gurus on the internet say do you want to become the 2.0 version of yourself, reaching your dreams and making money? Blah, blah, blah. But it doesn't work like that. First you need to understand how to reach your 2.0, which means being at peace with yourself, okay. 2.0, which means being at peace with yourself Okay. Once you are at peace with yourself, then we can discuss the 3.0 version of you, the 4.0, whatever. So the one who desires some financial goal as well? Okay. But first you need to be happy. Before that, you must find inner peace and happiness, otherwise you will never be truly happy. Okay, regardless of how much money you will make or how many children you will have with your partner. Believing that external achievements can bring you true happiness is delusional. It simply doesn't work that way. Okay.

Speaker 1: 10:09

Number four awareness. Who are you when God, the universe or whatever science brought you in the world? They gave you a gift, okay, probably several gifts. So what are these gifts? Have you discovered them and how can you use them to make yourself and those around you happy. So the journey to success begins with awareness of our ability to analyze our own minds. So once we achieve this awareness, we start to understand what we want to do with our lives. Okay, self-awareness is the ability, guys, to objectively evaluate yourself. When this happens, you gain a deeper understanding of yourself and what you can donate to the world. Gain a deeper understanding of yourself and what you can donate to the world. So, before rushing into something, take time to understand what you are truly capable of, what you desire and what gives you energy. We always talk about energy in this podcast. Okay, what gives you energy?

Speaker 1: 11:08

Number five unwanted thoughts. Five unwanted thoughts. So when we were younger, we often wanted to become, you know, the next Neil Armstrong or Freddie Mercury, and our thoughts were only our own. As we grew older, external influences from family, friends, partners and our own doubts clouded our minds. So it is important to clear your mind Now. I don't remember where I read this, but imagine your dreams and goals as being visible through a window. So, as a child, that window is clear and clean, but over time, it becomes dirty with thoughts of others, okay, or on your own doubts. So you need to clear that window, guys, we have the ability to decide what information we allow into our minds. Remember that, okay, a great coping tool is to first, quickly consider your own thoughts. Second, trust your instincts but verify them. And number three, test your impressions to avoid making decisions based on false or emotional information. While it's essential to listen to other opinions and brainstorm with others because brainstorming is very important, okay but it's also important to make a filter. So you must first listen to yourself and your own intuition, okay, and then you have the ability to listen others.

Speaker 1: 12:48

Number six the right action. You often hear people on social media, you know, urging you to act now or questioning what you are waiting for to achieve your dreams, and this is very it's a very pressing situation, okay, the truth is that it is more important to act in the right way rather than just to act fastly, impulsively. So, while it is essential to test and try different approaches to learn how to take the right actions, remember that your time, as we said before, is a valuable resource. So people often underestimated the significance of time. We are not immortals. Understand that. Think of it like, like an archer, guys. All right. So at first you learn how to hold the bow and you practice a little bit, you know, but after a while, your goal is to aim better.

Speaker 1: 13:51

Another important point to consider is the pleasure you can have from your actions. The positive energy you gain is crucial for moving forward, especially during difficult moments, okay. Another point is you should take pleasure from the right actions you choose to pursue, rather than solely focusing on the results that may come from those actions. I'm going to repeat again you should take pleasure from the right actions you choose to pursue, rather than solely focusing on the results that may come from those actions, because, guys, these last ones are not going to give you the right energy to move forward so far, okay. So our ambition should not be limited to winning. It should also include finding joy in our journey. I understand, I understand it is difficult, and even if I say that, right, it is also hard for me to behave Honestly. I realized that sometimes I should enjoy my journey more. So, no worries, you and I are on the same boat, guys, but just try, try, because this is very important.

Speaker 1: 15:09

Number seven problem solving. So, on your journey to achieve your dreams, you will absolutely face various obstacles, okay. However, don't forget that you have the right tools to overcome these challenges. Now, what are these tools? They include asking for help. Another one is having a safety net, such as a job to sustain yourself while you build your future, and another one is using your passion to manage minor obstacles. I'm going to make an example. So if you feel overwhelmed by what you're trying to build, but, at the same time, you enjoy going to the gym or run, it might be the perfect time to hit the gym for some stress relief. Okay, so it is also important to surround yourself with positive people who can provide you with the right energy to move forward as well. So brainstorming with the right people can help unlock new ideas and relieve the tension. But, as I said before, guys, just remember to listen on your own thought. Okay, so that's very important.

Speaker 1: 16:24

Number eight purpose your purpose. So the Stoics believe that everything in nature people, animals and even the smallest things has a role. Okay, so find your role in the world, find your purpose. It is important to give good value to the people around you. Okay, but you can't help others if you don't take action for yourself, so if you don't help yourself first. So wake up, get to work and do your part. Think about these questions what are you truly devoted to and what are you doing and, importantly, why? So by reflecting on these questions, you can find your purpose and start living it.

Speaker 1: 17:17

Number nine pragmatism. You know, when you tell yourself I need money to achieve that, or I need the right environment to study this, or I don't know, I don't have enough tools around me to achieve that, I mean what do you mean exactly? Be honest with yourself. Okay, do you actually need what you're asking for to reach your goal? So to move forward, you need to adopt a pragmatic mindset.

Speaker 1: 17:51

Number 10, fortitude and resilience. If you spend a week or even a month experiencing poverty, hunger. Experiencing poverty, hunger, isolation or other fears, those situations may start to feel normal and you don't get scared anymore. Example you might think you can't wake up earlier to achieve your goals, right, because of lack of sleep or self-doubt. Yet if your boss changed your schedule and requires you to wake up early, yeah, of course you may complain initially, maybe on the first or second Monday after rest weekend, yes, but then you're going to be fine. You know you're going to eventually adapt. Why is that? Because we reinforce ourselves and our bodies are more resilient than we think. So if others can say what you must do, why? And then you do, of course, why cannot you do the same for yourself, okay?

Speaker 1: 18:54

Number 11, virtue and kindness. Any challenging situations can improve with love, empathy and understanding, even when you disagree with someone. Okay, so always choose love and try to see the best in people. But how can this be beneficial for your journey? Simple Love and positive feelings provide you with energy okay, good energy while hate and negativity drain you, leading you to accomplish nothing. Remember that.

Speaker 1: 19:29

Number 12, acceptance. Every event in our lives is objective. Okay, it is our opinions that decide if that event is good or bad. So accepting the opinions of others, even if you don't agree, can improve or lower your energy. So you have to be careful. Remember we cannot control external circumstances we said that before but we can control our attitudes and responses to those events.

Speaker 1: 20:02

Number 13. Meditation on mortality. Many people fear death and try to avoid thinking about it, myself included. Yeah, I fear dying, but I realize that what I truly fear is not leaving a mark on this world. However, that fear shouldn't dominate us. You know, in the end, we all share the same fate, guys. Death treats everyone equally. So every story concludes the same way, but the journey we take is something we have control over, so keep moving forward.

Speaker 1: 20:41

Now, before doing a recap, I would like to highlight an example for you Nelson Mandela's life. All right, we talked before. I just mentioned before in the beginning, and Nelson Mandela's life is a great example of how stoic ideas can help people overcome big challenges and achieve their dreams. So Mandela, when he was in prison for 27 years, he faced very difficult conditions, but instead of giving up, he stayed strong and calm. He focused on what he could control and accepted what he couldn't. He once said Courage is not absence of fear, but the victory of it over it. So Mandela also had great self-discipline. He was always on time and controlled his emotions. He believed that Africa needed discipline and wanted to be a role model. So by following these stoic ideas, mandela turned his suffering into strength and in the end, he helped bring peace and democracy to his country. So his story shows that with resilience and self-control, guys, we can overcome you know challenges and reach our goals.

Speaker 1: 22:02

Now, what did we do in this episode? Let's make a small smart recap, okay? So in this episode, we explore how stoic wisdom can help you achieve your inspiration with a stronger mindset. Here I would like to share a recap of the key ideas, resumed in four simple, short concepts, and how they empower you. So the first one is master your reactions. So you can't control everything in life okay, but you can control how you respond. So by shifting focus from external events to your own action and mindset, you can take back your power.

Speaker 1: 22:48

Number two turn obstacles into growth. So challenges and setbacks are not impediments, they are lessons. When you embrace difficulties as opportunities to grow, guys, nothing can truly hold you back. Number three detach from opinions and focus on your path. So in this case, it is more like, let's say what others think is outside your control, okay. It's more like accepting what you can control and what you cannot. So in this case, you need to be focused on your purpose, make decisions based on your values and don't waste energy on external judgments, because the external judgments are something that you cannot control. All right.

Speaker 1: 23:39

Number four take action without fear. So worrying about failure or seeking perfection slows you down, guys. Sometimes I think I'm too much perfect. I try to be too much perfect in what I do, but I also know that it slows me down sometimes. So true progress comes from consistent action, even if it's imperfect. Okay. So if you apply these principles, uh, these 13 keys, you develop a mindset that keeps you moving forward. Okay, no matter the challenges. So, instead of feeling powerless, you become the one in control.

Speaker 1: 24:25

Now I want to hear from you what stoic principle resonated with you the most guys. How will you use it to push forward in your journey? Let me know in the comments. Don't forget it, and if this episode gave you value, share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support not only helps me, as you know, but can also make a difference in someone else's life. So share it. Share it. Share it. Remember, control what you can, keep taking action and trust the process. Thanks for being part of the Journey to Success family, and see you in the next episode. Cheers.