Published in Books
Published in Books
Published in Books
Ethan Wilson
Ethan Wilson
Ethan Wilson
Project Manager / Civil Engineer
Project Manager / Civil Engineer
Project Manager / Civil Engineer
June 7, 2023
June 7, 2023
June 7, 2023
Lessons from: Stillness is the Key
Lessons from: Stillness is the Key
Lessons from: Stillness is the Key
Have you ever found yourself flustered and overwhelmed? Struggling with a mood that swings wildly and an inability to make decisions? In Stillness is the Key, acclaimed author (and Stoic savant) Ryan Holiday proposes that cultivating your innate stillness is the way to restore your mind and create the peace you desire.
Have you ever found yourself flustered and overwhelmed? Struggling with a mood that swings wildly and an inability to make decisions? In Stillness is the Key, acclaimed author (and Stoic savant) Ryan Holiday proposes that cultivating your innate stillness is the way to restore your mind and create the peace you desire.
Have you ever found yourself flustered and overwhelmed? Struggling with a mood that swings wildly and an inability to make decisions? In Stillness is the Key, acclaimed author (and Stoic savant) Ryan Holiday proposes that cultivating your innate stillness is the way to restore your mind and create the peace you desire.
Have you ever found yourself flustered and overwhelmed? Struggling with a mood that swings wildly and an inability to make decisions? In Stillness is the Key, acclaimed author (and Stoic savant) Ryan Holiday proposes that cultivating your innate stillness is the way to restore your mind and create the peace you desire.
“Stillness is the key to, well, just about everything. To being a better parent, a better artist, a better inventor, a better athlete, a better scientist, a better human being. To unlocking all that we are capable of in this life.” - Ryan Holiday
Stillness is the Key is the ninth book from Ryan Holiday, the American author most well known for his work on Stoic philosophy. Although not all of his titles are on the subject. It was first published in 2019, after his incredibly successful works The Obstacle is the Way and Ego is the Enemy.
The premise of the book is that notable public figures from ancient emperors to wartime generals all focused on creating and maintaining stillness in order to make better decisions, pursue happiness and act with bravery. The author maintains that cultivating stillness has been a rare and difficult skill for all of time, but even more so in modern times. He demonstrates this through narrative from the lives of successful people from the past and present.
“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” - Blaise Pascal
The author divides his advice into three sections:
MIND. SPIRIT. BODY.
His idea is that to achieve stillness you need to maintain a balanced stillness in all three domains. Let’s look at some lessons from each.
MIND
Become present. Undistracted. Be where your feet are. This goes well with the second tenet; limit your inputs. Try to step back from the tsunami of things demanding our mind-space. Media, news, acquaintances, hobbies, the inconsequential. Be okay with not being up to date on the latest goings-on. Focus on an essential few. Empty your mind more and think more deeply on what is truly important. Holiday then goes on to recommend journaling as a way to think more deeply and clearly. Taking the time to organize your thoughts and put them down on paper. A practice recommended by countless philosophers over the centuries.
“If you wish to improve, be content to appear clueless or stupid in extraneous matters.” - Epictetus
SPIRIT
Want less. Do not be fuelled by cravings for more. Practice appreciation as a way to quiet the spirit. Those who constantly crave more are never still and never fulfilled. One of the central words in the book is “enough”. It is repeated as an almost meditative prayer. Cultivate the sense of “enough” through gratitude. Instead of focusing on earning for yourself, place an emphasis on giving. Love more. The author lets us know that we learn when we give love, learn when we receive love and become still through love.
BODY
Create a physical discipline. Being physically strong creates a foundation for our mental and emotional toughness. It is a buffer against our own frailty. When we are physically weak we are unable to focus our attentions on other, grander pursuits. We can also use physical movement to generate deep thinking. The author cites examples of great leaders who did their best thinking while walking for example. He also advocates building a daily routine. Both to create time and space for productive work, and to lessen the stresses that come with having to haphazardly navigate the day. Seeking solitude is one of the final big points in the book. Making time to be alone without being lonely.
“Solitude allows you to reflect while others are reacting.” - Ryan Holiday
If there is one way you might summarize the advice given in the book it may be this; Achieve a balanced stillness through calm, clarity, strength and minimalism. This will allow you to love more, do more, give more and achieve a more present happiness. Simple, timeless and effective advice.
Have you ever found yourself flustered and overwhelmed? Struggling with a mood that swings wildly and an inability to make decisions? In Stillness is the Key, acclaimed author (and Stoic savant) Ryan Holiday proposes that cultivating your innate stillness is the way to restore your mind and create the peace you desire.
“Stillness is the key to, well, just about everything. To being a better parent, a better artist, a better inventor, a better athlete, a better scientist, a better human being. To unlocking all that we are capable of in this life.” - Ryan Holiday
Stillness is the Key is the ninth book from Ryan Holiday, the American author most well known for his work on Stoic philosophy. Although not all of his titles are on the subject. It was first published in 2019, after his incredibly successful works The Obstacle is the Way and Ego is the Enemy.
The premise of the book is that notable public figures from ancient emperors to wartime generals all focused on creating and maintaining stillness in order to make better decisions, pursue happiness and act with bravery. The author maintains that cultivating stillness has been a rare and difficult skill for all of time, but even more so in modern times. He demonstrates this through narrative from the lives of successful people from the past and present.
“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” - Blaise Pascal
The author divides his advice into three sections:
MIND. SPIRIT. BODY.
His idea is that to achieve stillness you need to maintain a balanced stillness in all three domains. Let’s look at some lessons from each.
MIND
Become present. Undistracted. Be where your feet are. This goes well with the second tenet; limit your inputs. Try to step back from the tsunami of things demanding our mind-space. Media, news, acquaintances, hobbies, the inconsequential. Be okay with not being up to date on the latest goings-on. Focus on an essential few. Empty your mind more and think more deeply on what is truly important. Holiday then goes on to recommend journaling as a way to think more deeply and clearly. Taking the time to organize your thoughts and put them down on paper. A practice recommended by countless philosophers over the centuries.
“If you wish to improve, be content to appear clueless or stupid in extraneous matters.” - Epictetus
SPIRIT
Want less. Do not be fuelled by cravings for more. Practice appreciation as a way to quiet the spirit. Those who constantly crave more are never still and never fulfilled. One of the central words in the book is “enough”. It is repeated as an almost meditative prayer. Cultivate the sense of “enough” through gratitude. Instead of focusing on earning for yourself, place an emphasis on giving. Love more. The author lets us know that we learn when we give love, learn when we receive love and become still through love.
BODY
Create a physical discipline. Being physically strong creates a foundation for our mental and emotional toughness. It is a buffer against our own frailty. When we are physically weak we are unable to focus our attentions on other, grander pursuits. We can also use physical movement to generate deep thinking. The author cites examples of great leaders who did their best thinking while walking for example. He also advocates building a daily routine. Both to create time and space for productive work, and to lessen the stresses that come with having to haphazardly navigate the day. Seeking solitude is one of the final big points in the book. Making time to be alone without being lonely.
“Solitude allows you to reflect while others are reacting.” - Ryan Holiday
If there is one way you might summarize the advice given in the book it may be this; Achieve a balanced stillness through calm, clarity, strength and minimalism. This will allow you to love more, do more, give more and achieve a more present happiness. Simple, timeless and effective advice.
Have you ever found yourself flustered and overwhelmed? Struggling with a mood that swings wildly and an inability to make decisions? In Stillness is the Key, acclaimed author (and Stoic savant) Ryan Holiday proposes that cultivating your innate stillness is the way to restore your mind and create the peace you desire.
“Stillness is the key to, well, just about everything. To being a better parent, a better artist, a better inventor, a better athlete, a better scientist, a better human being. To unlocking all that we are capable of in this life.” - Ryan Holiday
Stillness is the Key is the ninth book from Ryan Holiday, the American author most well known for his work on Stoic philosophy. Although not all of his titles are on the subject. It was first published in 2019, after his incredibly successful works The Obstacle is the Way and Ego is the Enemy.
The premise of the book is that notable public figures from ancient emperors to wartime generals all focused on creating and maintaining stillness in order to make better decisions, pursue happiness and act with bravery. The author maintains that cultivating stillness has been a rare and difficult skill for all of time, but even more so in modern times. He demonstrates this through narrative from the lives of successful people from the past and present.
“All of humanity’s problems stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.” - Blaise Pascal
The author divides his advice into three sections:
MIND. SPIRIT. BODY.
His idea is that to achieve stillness you need to maintain a balanced stillness in all three domains. Let’s look at some lessons from each.
MIND
Become present. Undistracted. Be where your feet are. This goes well with the second tenet; limit your inputs. Try to step back from the tsunami of things demanding our mind-space. Media, news, acquaintances, hobbies, the inconsequential. Be okay with not being up to date on the latest goings-on. Focus on an essential few. Empty your mind more and think more deeply on what is truly important. Holiday then goes on to recommend journaling as a way to think more deeply and clearly. Taking the time to organize your thoughts and put them down on paper. A practice recommended by countless philosophers over the centuries.
“If you wish to improve, be content to appear clueless or stupid in extraneous matters.” - Epictetus
SPIRIT
Want less. Do not be fuelled by cravings for more. Practice appreciation as a way to quiet the spirit. Those who constantly crave more are never still and never fulfilled. One of the central words in the book is “enough”. It is repeated as an almost meditative prayer. Cultivate the sense of “enough” through gratitude. Instead of focusing on earning for yourself, place an emphasis on giving. Love more. The author lets us know that we learn when we give love, learn when we receive love and become still through love.
BODY
Create a physical discipline. Being physically strong creates a foundation for our mental and emotional toughness. It is a buffer against our own frailty. When we are physically weak we are unable to focus our attentions on other, grander pursuits. We can also use physical movement to generate deep thinking. The author cites examples of great leaders who did their best thinking while walking for example. He also advocates building a daily routine. Both to create time and space for productive work, and to lessen the stresses that come with having to haphazardly navigate the day. Seeking solitude is one of the final big points in the book. Making time to be alone without being lonely.
“Solitude allows you to reflect while others are reacting.” - Ryan Holiday
If there is one way you might summarize the advice given in the book it may be this; Achieve a balanced stillness through calm, clarity, strength and minimalism. This will allow you to love more, do more, give more and achieve a more present happiness. Simple, timeless and effective advice.
