Book Surgeon No. 12

First off, Happy Mother’s Day! I am incredibly grateful for my own momma and owe so much of my life to her. I hope everyone has an incredible day with your loved ones!

Bestselling author Ryan Holiday uses a variety of platforms–including books, a podcast, and a YouTube channel–to share the fundamental tenets of stoicism, a popular school of philosophy originating in ancient Greece. His book Stillness Is The Key is broken down into three parts: mind, body, and spirit. By prioritizing and aligning these three essential components of our lives, we can achieve quiet and peace in our rapid-paced world. As Holiday notes, the “grind of work wears us down and seems to never stop. We are overfed and undernourished. Overstimulated, overscheduled, and lonely.” In many aspects of our lives, we somehow have too much and too little at the same time, and this paradox is all around us. We are able to communicate with others all around the world, at any time of day, and yet we are in the midst of a grave loneliness epidemic. Meaningful social relationships are deteriorating, as well as our trust in others. For a National Public Radio (NPR) article, authors Juana Summers, Vincent Acovino, and Christopher Intagliata write about the dramatic decrease in physical social interaction, which is paradoxically observed alongside a proliferation of social media use: “across age groups, people are spending less time with each other in person than two decades ago. The advisory reported that this was most pronounced in young people aged 15-24 who had 70% less social interaction with their friends.” As has been a major theme in several of the last books I have read, we are social beings, and we need human connection to survive, just as we need food or water. This necessity for connection is what makes solitary confinement such a cruel and debilitating punishment. Our relationships are inextricably linked with our inner peace and satisfaction with life. As we improve the quality of our relationships, we are more capable of finding inner peace. Additionally, a positive feedback loop arises because our relationships become more meaningful when we are calm, content, and peaceful. Thus, one critical way of improving our relationships is by working on our relationship with ourselves and seeking peace with life itself. Yet, this task is much easier said than done. As Holiday notes, “history shows that the ability to cultivate quiet and quell the turmoil inside us, to slow the mind down, to understand our emotions, and to conquer our bodies has always been extremely difficult. ‘All of humanity’s problems,’ Blaise Pascal said in 1654, ‘stem from man’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone.’”

Inner stillness allows us to be in full control of our lives, making space for gratitude, achievement, and enduring joy. Finding this stillness in our lives is a journey which we must embark for the rest of our lives, requiring us to acknowledge the chaos in our lives and a desire to quell this chaos. To practice the skill of achieving harmony across our mind, body, and spirit, Holiday discusses a few tools that we can apply in our daily lives. First, to help clear our mind, for instance, we should limit the quality of information and number of inputs in our lives: “knowing what not to think about. What to ignore and not to do. It’s your first and most important job.” Just as we are aware of what we let into our bodies, we should be aware of what information we let into our minds. In turn, when we become aware of what enters and occupies our mind, we are living more presently, which allows for a deeper inner stillness. Second, start journaling. Jack London said, “keep a notebook. Travel with it, eat with it, sleep with it. Slap into it every stray thought that flutters up into your brain.” Anne Frank said, “paper has more patience than people.” From ancient stoic philosophers to modern productivity gurus, countless people have experienced and proclaimed the incredible effects of journaling. In my own life, I strive to journal each and every day, even if it is only to jot down a few thoughts about my day. I have found that writing down what I am grateful for in my life helps guide my mind to the good things in my life, which fills me with more positive energy. I love that there is no correct method of journaling, and everyone can find a process that works best for them. There is no minimum page or time length to begin journaling, so just start. Keep a journal by your bed, or by your coffee machine. Do not think too much about it, just do it. Finally, take a walk. Walking plays such a key component of my life, and I highly recommend everyone to find whatever time they can to take a walk. When we walk, we allow ourselves to disconnect momentarily from the stressors of our daily lives, helping us emerge with more energy and vitality to tackle life’s challenges. If possible, leave your phone at home and rather invite someone to join you. On your walk, try to notice and appreciate “the beauty of the world around you. Walk away from the thoughts that need to be walked away from; walk toward the ones that have now appeared.” As philosopher Friedrich Nietsche notes, “it is only ideas gained from walking that have any worth.”

Share with others if you enjoy! Thanks for reading and see you next week!