Podcast

Episode 17: Never Ruminate On The Loss (Gymchiridion 11)

August 17, 2020 by Korey Samuelson Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 20:14 — 17.1MB)

It’s human nature to focus our attention more fully on loss than on gain. We’ll work harder to avoid losing $5 than we will to earn $10.

Yet we have more opportunity to encounter loss and failure. Training ourselves to be resilient and skilled at handling loss and failure is vital.

In this episode learn how to think about these issues and get a useful definition of resilience.

For a free PDF of The Gymchiridion go to: http://gymmanual.com

And if you prefer video:

Episode 16: No Authority Higher Than Your Choice (Gymchiridion 10)

August 10, 2020 by Korey Samuelson Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 21:36 — 18.4MB)

The essence of who we are is choice–what Epictetus called our prohairesis. When it comes to our experience there is no authority higher than our own choice.

Today we explore the implications of this perspective and I introduce my simple model of the mind (i.e. The Choosing Self and The Conditioned Self). So we’ll look at our choices, the habits we have, and how they interrelate.

For a free PDF of The Gymchiridion go to: http://gymmanual.com

And if you prefer video:

Episode 15: Choose Your Experience (Gymchiridion 9)

August 3, 2020 by Korey Samuelson Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:11 — 7.5MB)

Our circumstances do not dictate our experience. It’s common to hear that traffic is frustrating or sitting on the beach is relaxing. But that’s not actually the case.

It’s our thinking that’s frustrating or relaxing. What we imagine about the circumstances creates our experience.

I introduced this concept in Episode 6: Stoic Strength – The Promise, The Price, And The Result. In today’s episode we look into this in more detail.

For a free PDF of The Gymchiridion go to: http://gymmanual.com

And if you prefer video:

Episode 14: Power Through, Not Over (Gymchiridion 8)

July 27, 2020 by Korey Samuelson Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 7:20 — 5.8MB)

Stoic alchemy is taking whatever life offers and turning it into something good. When we make this a consistent practice the circumstances we’re faced with stop being obstacles. Instead they become the perfect material with which to create excellence.

”This is the magic wand of Hermes: ‘Touch what you want’, so the saying goes, ‘and it will turn to gold.’ No, but bring me whatever you wish, and I’ll turn it into something good. Bring me illness, bring death, bring destitution, bring abuse or a trial for one’s life, and under the touch of the magic wand of Hermes, all of that will become a source of benefit.” (Discourses 3.20.12, trans. Robin Hard)

For a free PDF copy of The Gymchiridion: gymmanual.com

And if you prefer video:

Episode 13: Adapt With Fluidity (Gymchiridion 7)

July 20, 2020 by Korey Samuelson Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:46 — 7.1MB)

The faster we can accept our circumstances the faster we can adapt our approach to those circumstances.

When we try to resist what’s happening we add to the external obstacles. We become our own obstacle. It’s only by being like water, adapting immediately to changes in reality, that we can continue smoothly moving toward our target.

When we accept the reality we can take advantage of what life is offering. These are the materials with which we create our excellence.

For a free PDF of The Gymchiridion go to: gymmanual.com

And if you prefer video:

Episode 12: The Excellence Of Your Effort (Gymchiridion 6)

July 13, 2020 by Korey Samuelson Leave a Comment

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 8:00 — 6.6MB)

“Focus on the excellence of your effort. As to the excellence of your results? That is beyond your power.” – Gymchiridion 6

Our choices are up to us. The more excellent our choices, the more excellent our actions. And the more excellent our actions, the more excellent our results.

By keeping our focus on the excellence of our own effort (i.e. our choices and actions) we’re doing all we can to produce excellent results. Now we can relax about all the other details. It’s out of our hands.

For a free PDF of The Gymchiridion go to: gymmanual.com

And if you prefer video:

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