You Always Have a Move to Make

The Daily Stoic

Daily Stoic | Backyard Ventures

Education, 694393, Daily Stoic, Society & Culture, Stoic, Stoicism, Self-improvement, Business, Stoic Philosophy, Philosophy, Ryan Holiday

4.6 • 4.7K Ratings

🗓️ 17 August 2018

⏱️ 2 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Today you might find yourself dealing with something tough. Stuck in a new situation. Hit with a situation that’s been developing for some time, but only now is bringing you pain. In tight situations like these, you need energy, creativity and above all faith in yourself. Defeatism won’t get you anywhere (except defeat). Focusing your entire effort on the little bit of room, the tiny scrap of an opportunity, is your best shot. As Seneca put it, “Apply yourself to thinking through difficulties—hard times can be softened, tight squeezes widened, and heavy loads made lighter for those who can apply the right pressure.” That’s not to say everything can magically be fixed. Seneca didn’t say that. He said hard times can be softened. A little room can be made. Blows can be blunted. But not if you give up. Not if you quit. Not if you tell yourself it’s somebody else’s fault and that it’s terribly unfair. You always have a move to make. There’s always something you can do. Even if that move is just making your peace. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, prime members, you can listen to the Daily Stoke Podcast early and add free on Amazon music. Download the app today.
0:13.6	Welcome to the Daily Stoke. For each day, we read a short passage designed to help you cultivate the strength, insight, wisdom necessary for living the good life.
0:23.3	Each one of these passages is based on the 2000-year-old philosophy that has guided some of history's greatest men and women. For more, you can visit us at DailyStoic.com.
0:37.3	You always have a move to make. Today, you might find yourself dealing with something tough. Stuck in a new situation, hit with a situation that's been developing for some time, but is only now bringing you pain.
0:50.3	In tight situations like these, you need energy, creativity, and above all, faith in yourself. Defeatism won't get you anywhere except defeat.
1:01.3	Focusing your entire effort on the little bit of room the tiny scrap of opportunity is your best shot. As Senika put it, apply yourself to thinking through difficulties. Hard times can be softened. Tight squeezes widened and heavy loads made lighter for those who can apply the right pressure.
1:19.3	That's not to say that everything can be magically fixed. Senika didn't say that. He said hard times can be softened. A little room can be made. Blows can be blunted. But not if you give up, not if you quit. Not if you tell yourself it's somebody else's fault and that it's terribly unfair. You always have a move to make. There's always something you can do. Even if that move is just making your peace.
1:49.3	Hey, Prime Members, you can listen to the Daily Stoic early and ad free on Amazon Music. Download the Amazon Music app today or you can listen early and ad free with Wondering Plus in Apple podcasts.

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