1 00:00:15,720 --> 00:00:18,120 Speaker 1: Yes, Yes, I am Dramos and this is the Street 2 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:21,440 Speaker 1: Stoic Podcast, bring you your daily dose of timeless stoic 3 00:00:21,440 --> 00:00:25,000 Speaker 1: philosophy remix for the hip hop generation. Now, with that 4 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:27,720 Speaker 1: in mind, let's get things started with your daily shot 5 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:35,720 Speaker 1: of inspiration. Now today we are going to be focusing 6 00:00:35,720 --> 00:00:40,760 Speaker 1: all around the stoic idea of diminishing your ego. And 7 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,680 Speaker 1: today our quote doesn't come from a rapper, but comes 8 00:00:44,720 --> 00:00:49,440 Speaker 1: from the former President Barack Obama, and he says, don't 9 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,560 Speaker 1: be afraid to ask questions, don't be afraid to ask 10 00:00:52,600 --> 00:00:55,200 Speaker 1: for help when you need it. I do that every day. 11 00:00:55,680 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: Ask me for help isn't a sign of weakness, It's 12 00:00:58,280 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: a sign of strength. It shows you have the courage 13 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:04,319 Speaker 1: to admit when you don't know something and to learn 14 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:10,280 Speaker 1: something new. And I love kind of the idea of 15 00:01:10,319 --> 00:01:13,080 Speaker 1: this quote, right, because what he's saying is sort of 16 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:18,759 Speaker 1: recognizing the fact that vulnerability is courage. Because we live 17 00:01:18,760 --> 00:01:22,880 Speaker 1: in this culture that sort of views any sort of vulnerability. 18 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:24,759 Speaker 1: If you don't know the answer to something, you can't 19 00:01:24,800 --> 00:01:29,280 Speaker 1: do something, you need help, right, toxic masculinity, all the above, Right, 20 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,880 Speaker 1: that it teaches us that the idea of needing something 21 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:36,800 Speaker 1: needing help. Being vulnerable is a weakness at the end 22 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,040 Speaker 1: of the day, right, And I think anybody who knows 23 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:42,840 Speaker 1: anything or has found any sort of real healthy success 24 00:01:42,920 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: in this life understands that you putting yourself out there, 25 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:51,880 Speaker 1: you recognizing your shortcomings and doing whatever you can to 26 00:01:52,440 --> 00:01:56,640 Speaker 1: become better, that is always going to produce the best results. 27 00:01:56,800 --> 00:01:59,800 Speaker 1: And that requires a level of humility, right, It requires 28 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:03,720 Speaker 1: a level of vulnerability. And in fact, you being able 29 00:02:03,760 --> 00:02:06,840 Speaker 1: to put aside your ego is actually harder than just 30 00:02:06,880 --> 00:02:09,880 Speaker 1: pretending like you know everything. Right, That's actually far easier 31 00:02:09,919 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: to put on this brave face and nobody judges you, 32 00:02:12,240 --> 00:02:14,880 Speaker 1: nobody bothers you, but to actually be humble enough to 33 00:02:14,880 --> 00:02:16,639 Speaker 1: sit there and say I don't have all the answers, 34 00:02:16,720 --> 00:02:19,800 Speaker 1: especially somebody in a position of power like Barack Obama, right, 35 00:02:19,880 --> 00:02:23,079 Speaker 1: somebody who was president and is still asking for help, 36 00:02:23,120 --> 00:02:25,480 Speaker 1: even though he's put up on this pedestal as being 37 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,320 Speaker 1: somebody credible enough to lead what many would consider to 38 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:31,720 Speaker 1: be the most powerful country in the world. And this 39 00:02:31,840 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: leads perfectly into a very simple quote from one of 40 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:37,280 Speaker 1: the stokes, Marcus Aurelius. He says, don't be ashamed to 41 00:02:37,400 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: need help. And that probably is the most simple stoke 42 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,280 Speaker 1: quote I've ever read in my ent high life. But 43 00:02:42,320 --> 00:02:45,040 Speaker 1: it's right down to the point. There is no shame 44 00:02:45,600 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 1: in asking for a hand. If your mission is truly 45 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:53,920 Speaker 1: greatness is growth is doing things to the best of 46 00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:56,640 Speaker 1: your ability, You're gonna have to be humble enough to 47 00:02:56,800 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 1: admit that you don't have all the answers and something 48 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:03,200 Speaker 1: can be made better with the help of someone else. Right. 49 00:03:03,240 --> 00:03:05,440 Speaker 1: Doesn't mean you have to rely on somebody for everything 50 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: that you do, but for the moments where you know 51 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:09,760 Speaker 1: you're coming up a little bit short, where you don't 52 00:03:09,800 --> 00:03:12,880 Speaker 1: have all the answers, There's no shame in asking somebody 53 00:03:12,960 --> 00:03:15,520 Speaker 1: for help, for asking for a helping hand. And I 54 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:20,360 Speaker 1: think this goes for any aspect of our lives, you know. 55 00:03:20,440 --> 00:03:24,080 Speaker 1: I think obviously in career and business, but I also 56 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: think in personal life as well. I think for me 57 00:03:27,840 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 1: more recently, something I've sort of realized is the power 58 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: of the people around you and having a real support system. 59 00:03:35,560 --> 00:03:38,280 Speaker 1: You know, I think I've always been somebody who has 60 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,800 Speaker 1: been a bit guarded when it comes to expressing my 61 00:03:41,920 --> 00:03:45,080 Speaker 1: emotions to those around me, and it's the fear of 62 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: judgment it's a fear of not being a man by 63 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:53,160 Speaker 1: society standards. But the reality is, oftentimes we sort of 64 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:58,200 Speaker 1: elongate the process of going through a difficult situation because 65 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:00,560 Speaker 1: we're being too proud to ask for help. And I 66 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:03,440 Speaker 1: think back recently to something I was dealing with about 67 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:06,080 Speaker 1: a year ago. I was in a really toxic relationship 68 00:04:06,520 --> 00:04:09,360 Speaker 1: and it was one of those things that would be 69 00:04:09,480 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: up and down roller coaster ride and we would separate 70 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:13,600 Speaker 1: and get back together and this whole thing, and it 71 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: was an incredibly toxic situation. Without giving away personal details 72 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,240 Speaker 1: for the other person, but there were a lot of 73 00:04:20,360 --> 00:04:25,840 Speaker 1: really manipulative things that were happening, and for me, I 74 00:04:25,960 --> 00:04:29,679 Speaker 1: needed a support system to really do the hard work 75 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:32,040 Speaker 1: that it took to move on from that situation and 76 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: really cut that person out of my life. And I'm 77 00:04:34,720 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 1: forever grateful the fact that I had my parents around 78 00:04:37,200 --> 00:04:39,880 Speaker 1: to really be there for me on a daily basis, 79 00:04:39,920 --> 00:04:42,919 Speaker 1: to give me that strength to lean on in the 80 00:04:42,920 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: moments where I was doubting my decisions, to encourage me 81 00:04:45,520 --> 00:04:48,160 Speaker 1: to get back into something like therapy. Right where I 82 00:04:48,200 --> 00:04:51,360 Speaker 1: increased my support system by another person and they were 83 00:04:51,400 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: able to also be someone I could lean on to 84 00:04:53,880 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: give me advice and to give me guidance in a 85 00:04:56,320 --> 00:05:00,640 Speaker 1: really difficult situation. But I think when I reflect back 86 00:05:00,680 --> 00:05:03,159 Speaker 1: on my year, or reflect back on where I am now, 87 00:05:03,640 --> 00:05:05,560 Speaker 1: and I think to myself, what if I was too 88 00:05:05,600 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: proud to be honest about what was going on in 89 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,560 Speaker 1: that relationship, or too proud to ask for help, my 90 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 1: life would be a shell of what it is right now. 91 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:15,559 Speaker 1: I would be a shell of what I am right now. 92 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:21,360 Speaker 1: My personal life would be incredibly dark without that support 93 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:24,760 Speaker 1: system that only came as a result of me setting 94 00:05:24,760 --> 00:05:27,719 Speaker 1: aside my ego, admitting that I didn't have all the 95 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:30,560 Speaker 1: answers and that I needed some help, some guidance, and 96 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:35,000 Speaker 1: somebody to lean on. Now we have heard from Barack Obama, 97 00:05:35,040 --> 00:05:37,080 Speaker 1: we have heard from Marcus Aurelius. I've talked to you 98 00:05:37,240 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: about my own personal situations where I've had to really 99 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:45,840 Speaker 1: embrace the idea of diminishing my ego. Now let's talk 100 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:47,920 Speaker 1: about how you can make it your mantra for today. 101 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 1: But first let's take a quick break and then we'll 102 00:05:50,200 --> 00:06:02,880 Speaker 1: be right back. All right, So we have heard the 103 00:06:02,920 --> 00:06:05,320 Speaker 1: words of the great Barack Obama. We have heard from 104 00:06:05,320 --> 00:06:07,479 Speaker 1: one of the stoics Marcus Aurelius, I have given you 105 00:06:07,520 --> 00:06:09,960 Speaker 1: some insight into my own personal life and my own 106 00:06:10,000 --> 00:06:14,080 Speaker 1: battle and journey with the idea of diminishing my ego. Now, 107 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:16,039 Speaker 1: let's talk about how you can make it your mantra 108 00:06:16,080 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: for today. And I think, like so many other things, 109 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:24,159 Speaker 1: it starts with our thoughts and the way we view 110 00:06:24,200 --> 00:06:28,919 Speaker 1: life and redefining things and unlearning ideas that no longer 111 00:06:29,000 --> 00:06:31,000 Speaker 1: serve us, right. And in this one, it's like unlearning 112 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: the idea of strength, right, and what it really means 113 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,120 Speaker 1: to be strong. And I think we have to sort 114 00:06:36,160 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: of redefine what we view as as being strong and 115 00:06:41,480 --> 00:06:47,000 Speaker 1: recognizing words like vulnerability as actual words of strength rather 116 00:06:47,000 --> 00:06:50,000 Speaker 1: than things we look at as weakness, the idea of 117 00:06:50,279 --> 00:06:54,040 Speaker 1: embracing not having all the answers, and the idea of 118 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: being humble and recognizing the strength that it takes to 119 00:06:57,640 --> 00:07:00,600 Speaker 1: be humble and to ask for help and to ask 120 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:03,600 Speaker 1: questions and to ask for guidance. Right. A lot of 121 00:07:03,640 --> 00:07:06,479 Speaker 1: the negative habits that we have in our lives, or 122 00:07:06,520 --> 00:07:09,200 Speaker 1: the things that hold us back, are based upon really 123 00:07:09,360 --> 00:07:11,640 Speaker 1: old ideas that have been programmed in us since we 124 00:07:11,640 --> 00:07:14,200 Speaker 1: were kids. And part of the process of healing and 125 00:07:14,240 --> 00:07:17,840 Speaker 1: growing is unlearning. And I think that's where it starts 126 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:20,559 Speaker 1: today when we talk about the idea diminishing your ego, 127 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:24,000 Speaker 1: it's unlearning the things we've the toxic ideas we've been 128 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: taught about strength, and replacing them with the real definition 129 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,800 Speaker 1: of strength, right, and the real things that make us 130 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: a strong human being. Right, the idea that we can 131 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,840 Speaker 1: be vulnerable and be afraid to share something, but the 132 00:07:37,840 --> 00:07:40,400 Speaker 1: fact that we push past it and knowing that the 133 00:07:40,440 --> 00:07:42,520 Speaker 1: answers that we seek are on the other side of 134 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:44,880 Speaker 1: that fear, And that's real strength right there. And it 135 00:07:44,920 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: takes setting your ego aside and not being worried about 136 00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: how you're going to be perceived by the outside world, 137 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:54,080 Speaker 1: but understanding that the bigger picture thing, which should be 138 00:07:54,120 --> 00:07:57,200 Speaker 1: more important than anybody's opinion, the bigger picture idea that 139 00:07:57,200 --> 00:08:00,920 Speaker 1: we're all chasing, is inevitable happiness, growth and learning and 140 00:08:00,960 --> 00:08:02,960 Speaker 1: becoming better at the end of the day. Right. So 141 00:08:03,000 --> 00:08:05,320 Speaker 1: to recap all we talked about today, you have somebody 142 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: who is recognized at one point as the most powerful 143 00:08:08,520 --> 00:08:11,400 Speaker 1: man in the free world saying that he asks for 144 00:08:11,480 --> 00:08:14,960 Speaker 1: help every single day and that he views it as 145 00:08:15,000 --> 00:08:17,800 Speaker 1: a sign of strength. To me, that's a beautiful cosign 146 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: right there, for the idea of vulnerability and the courage 147 00:08:20,960 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 1: in vulnerability and Marcus Aurelius right down to the point, 148 00:08:24,320 --> 00:08:27,760 Speaker 1: don't be ashamed to need help. This is a man 149 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: who in his time was viewed as one of the 150 00:08:29,760 --> 00:08:33,240 Speaker 1: most powerful men in the entire world and leading an 151 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:36,679 Speaker 1: empire and is still saying there's no shame in needing help. 152 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:40,080 Speaker 1: And even in my own situation, I am somebody who 153 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:43,640 Speaker 1: often tries to give advice to others and is somebody 154 00:08:43,679 --> 00:08:46,920 Speaker 1: who tries to be a person of strength, they figure 155 00:08:46,920 --> 00:08:49,960 Speaker 1: of strength for his community and be a positive light. 156 00:08:50,559 --> 00:08:53,160 Speaker 1: And I don't have it all figured out. There are 157 00:08:53,160 --> 00:08:56,080 Speaker 1: times where I have to take a step back where 158 00:08:56,080 --> 00:08:57,880 Speaker 1: I need to lean on other people to be a 159 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: beacon of hope for myself, rightognizing that there is no 160 00:09:01,679 --> 00:09:04,520 Speaker 1: shame in that, right, recognizing that I become a better 161 00:09:04,559 --> 00:09:08,160 Speaker 1: person as a result of being humble enough to admit 162 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:10,360 Speaker 1: when I need help, when I'm showing up in a 163 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,760 Speaker 1: way that is not as my best self. And I 164 00:09:12,760 --> 00:09:15,680 Speaker 1: think that is the real epitome of strength. And again 165 00:09:15,760 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: it's on the other side of diminishing our ego and 166 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:22,600 Speaker 1: being humble enough to ask for the help that we need. Now. 167 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:24,319 Speaker 1: With that said, thank you so much for checking out 168 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: the Street Stoke Podcast. Do your best to apply these 169 00:09:26,760 --> 00:09:29,320 Speaker 1: concepts that we discussed into everyday life, and I'll catch 170 00:09:29,320 --> 00:09:40,040 Speaker 1: you next month. The Street Stoke Podcast is a production 171 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: of Iheart's Micoltura podcast network