The View From Above

In this episode, we discuss the Stoic Exercise of “Taking The View From Above” as the Stoic Philosopher Marcus Aurelius wrote in Meditations. This exercise creates contentment in the here and now. This is how even a Roman Emperor stayed grounded and humble, despite being the most powerful man in the world at his time.

Show Notes

• It is so easy for us to miss the forest through the trees. We live in the age of the “selfie.” The widespread perspective has become warped, where everything revolves around our own perception of ourselves. This causes us to put an undue amount of significance on everything we say and do while taking everything personally.
•  One of the most valuable skills we can cultivate is self-awareness. Self-awareness is typically assumed as one’s preferences in life and “knowing yourself.” But this mentality leads more towards self-obsession. Self-awareness is cultivated by zooming out from self-obsession and seeing the nature of who you are and what you’re a part of.
•   "How beautifully Plato put it. Whenever you want to talk about people, it’s best to take a bird’s- eye view and see everything all at once— of gatherings, armies, farms, weddings and divorces, births and deaths, noisy courtrooms or silent spaces, every foreign people, holidays, memorials, markets— all blended together and arranged in a pairing of opposites.” Marcus Aurelius.
• “Consider too the lives once lived by others long before you, the lives that will be lived after you, the lives lived now among foreign tribes; and how many have never even heard your name, how many will soon forget it, how many praises you but quickly turn to blame. Reflect that neither memory nor fame, nor anything else at all, has any importance worth thinking of.” -Marcus Aurelius
•  Take a moment right now to zoom out from where you are. Observe your environment, the people in it, the country you live in, the planet. See yourself connected and part of existence. From this view how big do your problems actually feel? 
• Remember this whenever you feel lost or alone.

What is Zen Stoic Path Show?

You are here because you believe that it is better to be a warrior in a garden, than a gardener in a war.

You want to conquer your goals without sacrificing your well-being, while also enjoying the things that matter most -- like spending time with people you love and pursuing your interests without guilt.

The Zen Stoic Path will guide you along the path to unshakable inner peace. You’ll be ready to conquer any challenge life throws your way -- while being peacefully present to each moment.

This unique approach blends the timeless wisdom of Zen Buddhism and Stoic philosophies--while integrating modern techniques of emotional mastery.

As you embark upon this journey with us, you can apply thousands of years of lessons...to improve your life today.

If you’re ready to:
Walk the path of your highest contribution so you genuinely feel fulfilled
Make decisions with precision and confidence, without wavering
Have time to relax or pursue your creative gifts...guilt-free
Be fully present with the ones you love, so your connections continually grow

The Zen Stoic Podcast will give you the power to use your emotions as a compass to guide you to supreme liberation. Nearly 100,000 listeners have benefited from this wisdom, and you can too.

Create unshakeable inner peace with the Zen Stoic Path today.