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 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. 📢 Share | ⚙️ Manage Subscription

Speaker names marked ? are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.

• 0:06Ryan Holiday?

  Welcome to The Daily Stoic, where each day we read a short passage designed to help you cultivate the strength, insight, wisdom necessary for living the good life. Each one of these passages is based on the 2,000-year-old philosophy that has guided some of history's greatest men and women. For more, you can visit us at dailystoic.com.

• 0:30Ryan Holiday?

  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. 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 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."

• 1:12Ryan Holiday?

  That's not to say that everything can be magically 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.