1 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:17,720 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, I am Dramas and this. 2 00:00:17,760 --> 00:00:21,040 Speaker 2: Is the Street Stoic Podcast bring to your daily dose 3 00:00:21,120 --> 00:00:24,840 Speaker 2: a timeless Stoic philosophy, a remix for the hip hop generation. 4 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:28,680 Speaker 2: We are combining ancient philosophy with lyrics and quotes from 5 00:00:28,720 --> 00:00:32,159 Speaker 2: some of the greatest to ever grace a microphone. Now, 6 00:00:32,200 --> 00:00:34,519 Speaker 2: with that in mind, let's get things started with your 7 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:43,680 Speaker 2: daily shot of inspiration. Now today, we are going to 8 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:48,480 Speaker 2: be focusing all around the stoic idea of focusing on 9 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 2: what you can control, but more specifically talking about our 10 00:00:54,160 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 2: thoughts and the power of our visualizations and the things 11 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:01,640 Speaker 2: that we are constantly thinking about. A quote that always 12 00:01:02,200 --> 00:01:05,280 Speaker 2: sticks in my mind when I think about this idea 13 00:01:05,319 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 2: about you know, thoughts become things and the power of 14 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:11,520 Speaker 2: manifestation all of the above. The quote that sticks out 15 00:01:11,560 --> 00:01:14,160 Speaker 2: to me is from Nipsey Hustle, right, and he said 16 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:18,960 Speaker 2: thought is powerful in all phases, even in my career, 17 00:01:19,120 --> 00:01:23,800 Speaker 2: even in my life, things end up how I visualize them, 18 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:28,880 Speaker 2: And I think you end up attracting what you think about, right. 19 00:01:28,959 --> 00:01:31,360 Speaker 2: That's that's essentially what nip is saying here, you know, 20 00:01:31,440 --> 00:01:33,160 Speaker 2: and I think, even taking it a step. 21 00:01:32,920 --> 00:01:36,080 Speaker 1: Further, you are whoever you believe you are right. 22 00:01:36,280 --> 00:01:38,320 Speaker 2: Depending on what we choose to sort of focus on, 23 00:01:38,440 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 2: what thoughts we choose to embrace about ourselves, about the world, 24 00:01:42,319 --> 00:01:45,040 Speaker 2: about the people around us, those thoughts are going to 25 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:49,160 Speaker 2: play a very distinct role in the quality of our life, 26 00:01:49,160 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 2: and it's important for us to be cognizant of that 27 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 2: and aware of it and try and push back against 28 00:01:54,400 --> 00:01:56,960 Speaker 2: those sort of negative narratives that may pop up in 29 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,360 Speaker 2: our mind. And knowing that, you know, what we choose 30 00:01:59,360 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 2: to think about, what we choose to focus on, is 31 00:02:01,920 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 2: inevitably going to play out in some sort of way, right, 32 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:07,400 Speaker 2: And this leads to one of the quotes from one 33 00:02:07,440 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 2: of the stoic Seneca, right, and he says, your mind 34 00:02:10,160 --> 00:02:13,240 Speaker 2: will take shape of what you frequently hold in thought, 35 00:02:13,520 --> 00:02:17,840 Speaker 2: for the human spirit is colored by such impression. And 36 00:02:17,880 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 2: he's basically saying, you know, the things you think about, 37 00:02:20,840 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 2: they are inevitably going to influence what your mind ends 38 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 2: up focusing on, right. And kind of what Nip is 39 00:02:27,800 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 2: talking about here, specifically the idea of visualization and how 40 00:02:32,360 --> 00:02:34,680 Speaker 2: you know he's sort of been able to get everything 41 00:02:34,760 --> 00:02:38,239 Speaker 2: he's ever wanted in this life merely by just sort 42 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:41,919 Speaker 2: of visualizing it. Right. And I think the connection here 43 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,400 Speaker 2: is the way that your mind begins to sort of 44 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 2: pick up on cues. Right. If you are constantly focusing 45 00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:51,680 Speaker 2: on a specific goal, or a specific idea, or even 46 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 2: just a specific feeling, your mind is going to constantly 47 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:58,000 Speaker 2: keep looking for things that are related to that idea 48 00:02:58,160 --> 00:03:01,919 Speaker 2: or that thought, or that feeling, or that reinforce that feeling. Right, 49 00:03:02,360 --> 00:03:05,320 Speaker 2: And that's why it's so incredibly important to be cognizant 50 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: of where your mind is going and try and sort 51 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 2: of bombard your mind with positive things and also with 52 00:03:11,639 --> 00:03:14,440 Speaker 2: the ideas of how you want your life to end up. Right. 53 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:16,799 Speaker 2: And that's where I relate to this on such an 54 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:21,040 Speaker 2: incredibly deep level, right, because I think in general, my 55 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,639 Speaker 2: ability to visualize my goals and then sort of mentally 56 00:03:25,639 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 2: create the path to get to them has been a 57 00:03:28,840 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 2: huge reason as to why I've gotten you know, so 58 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,400 Speaker 2: many of my goals sort of checked off the list, right. 59 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 2: Like for me, I still to this day write down 60 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:40,480 Speaker 2: my goals in three months, six months, one year, three years, 61 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:44,120 Speaker 2: and five year sort of boxes, right, and I read 62 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:47,119 Speaker 2: them every single day, you know, so that I'm constantly 63 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,720 Speaker 2: aware of, like where my north star is, right, what 64 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:52,760 Speaker 2: am I constantly working towards, you. 65 00:03:52,680 --> 00:03:56,240 Speaker 1: Know, because I know that when I put these things. 66 00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:58,360 Speaker 2: Into my mind and they are burned into my brain, 67 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:00,200 Speaker 2: you know where I want to go, the idea of 68 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,240 Speaker 2: what I want my life to look like. When that's 69 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:06,120 Speaker 2: burned into my mind and I'm constantly visualizing those goals, 70 00:04:06,400 --> 00:04:08,880 Speaker 2: my mind is then automatically going to try and connect 71 00:04:08,920 --> 00:04:10,840 Speaker 2: the dots when I'm just out here living life, right 72 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 2: when I'm listening to a podcast or I'm having a 73 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:15,200 Speaker 2: conversation with somebody, when I'm out and about writing errands, 74 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 2: my mind is going to constantly keep looking for ways 75 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:21,040 Speaker 2: to connect to those thoughts that I'm constantly thinking, right, 76 00:04:21,080 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 2: those visualizations that I'm constantly having. And even you know, 77 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:28,320 Speaker 2: yesterday I found myself as inevitly is going to happen 78 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:29,840 Speaker 2: having one of those days where I was just sort 79 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:32,800 Speaker 2: of stressed. I was like a bit, you know, I 80 00:04:32,800 --> 00:04:34,800 Speaker 2: don't know, just foggy, and I feel like I couldn't 81 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:36,960 Speaker 2: find clarity on what exactly I wanted to do, what 82 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:39,440 Speaker 2: needed to get done right, And I just decided, let 83 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:41,640 Speaker 2: me sit down and just rewrite my goal list all 84 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 2: over again, right, And all of a sudden, as I 85 00:04:44,920 --> 00:04:47,440 Speaker 2: wrote them and was looking at them, you know, on 86 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 2: my iPad. I started then just seeing new pathways that 87 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:52,760 Speaker 2: I hadn't seen before. 88 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:53,279 Speaker 1: Right, all of a. 89 00:04:53,279 --> 00:04:56,720 Speaker 2: Sudden, it became clear to me what needed to be done, right, 90 00:04:56,800 --> 00:04:59,720 Speaker 2: what sort of little steps I needed to set along 91 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:02,480 Speaker 2: the way. But it's because I set that visualization, right, 92 00:05:02,520 --> 00:05:04,240 Speaker 2: because I put it down in front of me and 93 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:06,599 Speaker 2: I said, Okay, let me read my goals all over again, 94 00:05:06,680 --> 00:05:09,080 Speaker 2: let me write them again, so that my mind is 95 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:12,159 Speaker 2: now reinforcing them, and that even goes with emotions. I 96 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,320 Speaker 2: want to take that a step further, where if you're 97 00:05:14,320 --> 00:05:17,679 Speaker 2: constantly thinking life sucks, this is horrible, this is terrible. 98 00:05:17,880 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 2: Your life is going to suck. It is going to 99 00:05:19,839 --> 00:05:21,880 Speaker 2: be terrible, right, because you're going to be looking for 100 00:05:21,920 --> 00:05:25,200 Speaker 2: the bad in every situation. Right, even if something good happens, 101 00:05:25,200 --> 00:05:27,359 Speaker 2: you're going to find the caveat Yeah that was cool, 102 00:05:27,400 --> 00:05:29,320 Speaker 2: but it could have been better because of this. Right, 103 00:05:29,360 --> 00:05:31,160 Speaker 2: that's the way your mind is going to think. Where 104 00:05:31,200 --> 00:05:33,680 Speaker 2: if you are thinking to yourself, I am blessed, I 105 00:05:33,680 --> 00:05:36,640 Speaker 2: am abundant, life is incredible. Look at all the opportunities 106 00:05:36,680 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 2: being bestowed upon me. When something good happens, you're going 107 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:41,960 Speaker 2: to be far more grateful rather than actually looking for 108 00:05:42,120 --> 00:05:44,760 Speaker 2: some sort of negative way to reinforce why it's not 109 00:05:45,279 --> 00:05:47,320 Speaker 2: a good thing that happened to you. Right now, we've 110 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 2: heard from man one of the absolute greats, Nipsey Hustle. 111 00:05:50,480 --> 00:05:52,040 Speaker 1: We've heard from one of the stoics, Seneca. 112 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:54,080 Speaker 2: I've given you some insight into how this has just 113 00:05:54,120 --> 00:05:58,479 Speaker 2: been the cornerstone of my entire life. Basically, this whole 114 00:05:58,520 --> 00:06:01,840 Speaker 2: idea of focusing on what I can control, but specifically 115 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:05,279 Speaker 2: through visualizing my goals, the successes, the way I want 116 00:06:05,279 --> 00:06:08,200 Speaker 2: to feel, understanding that it all starts with my mental Now. 117 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:10,560 Speaker 1: Let's talk about how you can make that your mantra 118 00:06:10,600 --> 00:06:13,080 Speaker 1: for today. But first let's take a quick break and 119 00:06:13,120 --> 00:06:23,400 Speaker 1: then we'll be my back, all right. 120 00:06:23,320 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 2: So we're talking all about the Stoic idea of focusing 121 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,120 Speaker 2: on what you can control, right, but more specifically from 122 00:06:29,200 --> 00:06:33,960 Speaker 2: the vantage point of understanding how powerful your thoughts are 123 00:06:34,320 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 2: and how powerful it is to be visualizing where you 124 00:06:38,279 --> 00:06:41,000 Speaker 2: want to be right. And I think how you make 125 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:43,680 Speaker 2: this your monstra for today, first and foremost starts with 126 00:06:43,839 --> 00:06:46,640 Speaker 2: getting very specific on what it is that you want. 127 00:06:46,920 --> 00:06:49,240 Speaker 2: What you want for your personal life, your career, your 128 00:06:49,320 --> 00:06:51,200 Speaker 2: day to day, whatever it might be. You know, you 129 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 2: can't just sort of throw it up there a chance 130 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:56,920 Speaker 2: you can control you know what happens in your life 131 00:06:57,720 --> 00:06:59,600 Speaker 2: at least you know the for the most part, just 132 00:06:59,600 --> 00:07:01,240 Speaker 2: based up on the way that you're thinking, the way 133 00:07:01,240 --> 00:07:04,680 Speaker 2: that you're choosing to view life. Right, And then I think, 134 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,039 Speaker 2: once you've sort of narrowed down what are the things 135 00:07:07,040 --> 00:07:10,560 Speaker 2: that I want, you have to then start visualizing them. 136 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 2: And not only you know, visualizing them occasionally or you 137 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,320 Speaker 2: revisiting it every once in a while when you're feeling down, 138 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:19,440 Speaker 2: but instead you have to surround yourself with some sort 139 00:07:19,440 --> 00:07:22,440 Speaker 2: of visual reminder of what it is that you want 140 00:07:22,480 --> 00:07:24,800 Speaker 2: in this life, Like you have to have it written 141 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:27,200 Speaker 2: down right, read it each and every morning when you 142 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:29,400 Speaker 2: get up, and read it at night, right before you 143 00:07:29,440 --> 00:07:31,440 Speaker 2: go to bed. You want these things to be burned 144 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 2: into your brain. You want your subconscious to digest all 145 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:38,520 Speaker 2: of this information so that it begins working for you 146 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 2: without you even telling it. To write that you're having 147 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,960 Speaker 2: a conversation with somebody and all of a sudden, now boom, 148 00:07:44,000 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 2: that idea you've been looking forward to connect that dot 149 00:07:46,200 --> 00:07:48,320 Speaker 2: has now made itself appear in front of you. Right, 150 00:07:48,360 --> 00:07:50,520 Speaker 2: you have that clarity you've been looking for. But it 151 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:53,840 Speaker 2: all starts with sort of just beating these ideas into 152 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,760 Speaker 2: your mind and taking the time and effort to make 153 00:07:56,800 --> 00:07:59,520 Speaker 2: sure that you are very clear on exactly what it 154 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:04,040 Speaker 2: is that you want, so that life and your subconscious 155 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:06,640 Speaker 2: can begin to do the rest for you. Right. So 156 00:08:06,640 --> 00:08:09,480 Speaker 2: the recap all we're talking about today around this idea 157 00:08:09,520 --> 00:08:13,040 Speaker 2: of focusing on what you can control. As as Nip said, 158 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:16,760 Speaker 2: thought is powerful, right, and talking about his life has 159 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 2: played out almost exactly as he visualized it. Because he 160 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:23,680 Speaker 2: took the time to visualize and make a distinction as 161 00:08:23,760 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 2: to what exactly it is that he wants, those things 162 00:08:26,480 --> 00:08:30,080 Speaker 2: begin to play out for him right now. Seneca talking 163 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:32,920 Speaker 2: about the idea that your mind will take shape of 164 00:08:32,920 --> 00:08:37,600 Speaker 2: what you frequently hold in thought. Right, So whatever idea 165 00:08:38,000 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 2: you decide to frequently have, you know going on up there, 166 00:08:41,600 --> 00:08:44,120 Speaker 2: your mind is going to shape itself to that thought 167 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 2: or idea. So it's up to you to make sure 168 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:48,320 Speaker 2: that it's a positive one, that it's one that is 169 00:08:48,400 --> 00:08:52,160 Speaker 2: contributing to your happiness, and inevitably is is something that 170 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:54,560 Speaker 2: you actually want to happen, right, And when it comes 171 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:58,680 Speaker 2: to myself, I've literally manifested just about everything I've ever 172 00:08:58,800 --> 00:09:01,880 Speaker 2: wanted just because I always took the time to write 173 00:09:01,880 --> 00:09:04,280 Speaker 2: it all down. I got very specific about what I 174 00:09:04,320 --> 00:09:06,320 Speaker 2: wanted when it was going to happen. And of course, 175 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,480 Speaker 2: life isn't perfect, it's not always going to play out 176 00:09:08,720 --> 00:09:12,640 Speaker 2: exactly as planned, but eventually things end up always coming 177 00:09:12,679 --> 00:09:15,200 Speaker 2: around for me in some sort of way because I've 178 00:09:15,520 --> 00:09:19,040 Speaker 2: trained my brain to constantly look for the opportunities and 179 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:22,360 Speaker 2: to connect the dots that I can't see consciously. Right, 180 00:09:22,720 --> 00:09:24,480 Speaker 2: And with that said, thank you so much for checking 181 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:25,800 Speaker 2: out the Street Stoke Podcast. 182 00:09:26,000 --> 00:09:27,280 Speaker 1: Do your best to apply these. 183 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:30,000 Speaker 2: Concepts we've discussed today, and I will catch you next time. 184 00:09:34,720 --> 00:09:37,920 Speaker 2: The Street Stoke Podcast is a production of Iheart's Michael 185 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:41,320 Speaker 2: Tura Podcast Network.