1 00:00:02,840 --> 00:00:18,680 Speaker 1: Yes, Yes, I am Dramas And this is the Street 2 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,680 Speaker 1: Stoic Podcast, bringing you your daily dose of timeless Stoic 3 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:27,240 Speaker 1: philosophy remixed for the hip hop generation. Now, with that 4 00:00:27,280 --> 00:00:30,040 Speaker 1: in mind, let's get things started with your daily shot 5 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:39,000 Speaker 1: of inspiration. Today. We'll be focusing on one of the 6 00:00:39,080 --> 00:00:43,840 Speaker 1: four Stoic virtues, and that one is the idea of courage. 7 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:47,000 Speaker 1: And I wanted to start with a quote from from 8 00:00:47,040 --> 00:00:49,040 Speaker 1: one of the Stoics too, to kind of kick us off. 9 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:51,840 Speaker 1: And it comes to us from Seneca and he says, 10 00:00:52,640 --> 00:00:57,560 Speaker 1: sometimes even to live is an act of courage. And 11 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:01,959 Speaker 1: when it comes to Seneca and particular, this quote has 12 00:01:02,000 --> 00:01:05,080 Speaker 1: a personal meaning to him because he was facing illness 13 00:01:05,160 --> 00:01:08,360 Speaker 1: at the time. But reading it, you know, without that backstory, 14 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: I interpreted it a bit differently. You know. It kind 15 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:14,960 Speaker 1: of reminds me of the Nicki Minajs song Movement for Life. 16 00:01:14,959 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: And I think we've we've talked about this song before 17 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,080 Speaker 1: on the show. But when Nikki says everybody dies, but 18 00:01:20,160 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: not everybody lives, right, and and that's how I kind 19 00:01:22,720 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: of view this whole idea of living, and when he 20 00:01:25,600 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: talks about the idea to live is an act of courage. Right, 21 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:34,160 Speaker 1: the idea of simply existing doesn't actually qualify as as 22 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:36,760 Speaker 1: living to me, like so many of us are just 23 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 1: settling in life, you know. And sure we're we're getting 24 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:42,640 Speaker 1: by day to day. But I'd have to say, if 25 00:01:42,680 --> 00:01:45,360 Speaker 1: we were having a real conversation with ourselves, I'm sure 26 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,200 Speaker 1: somewhere in the back of our minds we know that 27 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: there's probably something missing or there is a part of 28 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,040 Speaker 1: us that is not being seen or heard. Right, And 29 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: it's it's not our fault, you know. The idea of 30 00:01:56,400 --> 00:01:59,760 Speaker 1: conformity is such a normal thing in society. I mean, 31 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:02,720 Speaker 1: it's what we're taught in school, right. We follow very 32 00:02:02,720 --> 00:02:05,559 Speaker 1: particular rules. We all take you know, the same standardized 33 00:02:05,600 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: testing and all the above. Right, and then as we 34 00:02:08,080 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 1: get older, we're we're taught to, you know, give up 35 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,120 Speaker 1: on childish dreams or ideas because it's, uh, you know, 36 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: it's time to grow up. Right. Even beyond that, we're 37 00:02:16,639 --> 00:02:19,240 Speaker 1: we're taught to hide, you know, parts of ourselves to 38 00:02:19,800 --> 00:02:22,240 Speaker 1: fit in with a particular group. You know, we need 39 00:02:22,280 --> 00:02:24,400 Speaker 1: to fit into a particular box if we want to 40 00:02:24,440 --> 00:02:27,240 Speaker 1: find success in our careers, you know. And the list 41 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:29,960 Speaker 1: goes on and on, and what we're doing is is 42 00:02:30,000 --> 00:02:33,880 Speaker 1: you know, suppressing our our true selves and oftentimes we're 43 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:37,560 Speaker 1: suppressing our our inner childs, right, because we are are 44 00:02:37,600 --> 00:02:40,360 Speaker 1: being told that it's time to get serious about life. 45 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,600 Speaker 1: You know, we are basically being given this laundry list 46 00:02:42,639 --> 00:02:45,600 Speaker 1: of rules on on who to be if we want 47 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:49,520 Speaker 1: to achieve what society deems to be you know, acceptable, right, 48 00:02:50,080 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: But but what about what we actually want? You know, 49 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:56,840 Speaker 1: what about who we actually are? You know, like, sure, 50 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:00,280 Speaker 1: living by by society standards, it it may make look 51 00:03:00,280 --> 00:03:05,240 Speaker 1: good on Facebook or Instagram, but are you actually living 52 00:03:05,639 --> 00:03:07,600 Speaker 1: as the person that you want to be? You know, 53 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:10,800 Speaker 1: it's it's very easy to walk this path that society 54 00:03:10,880 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: has has laid out for us, right, but it takes 55 00:03:13,600 --> 00:03:16,880 Speaker 1: real courage to forge your own path and live as 56 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:20,080 Speaker 1: your full self. And this brings me to a song 57 00:03:20,160 --> 00:03:23,880 Speaker 1: by Common called Courageous, and it features a PJ and 58 00:03:23,880 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 1: and this is the hook that PJ sings, and she says, 59 00:03:27,200 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: if you want something, be it. I'm right here in 60 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: the flesh. You can take it or not. I'm not 61 00:03:33,919 --> 00:03:38,320 Speaker 1: claiming pretending to be what I'm not. I ain't nobody's angel. 62 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:41,240 Speaker 1: When this world try to change you, who you are 63 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: just embrace it, stay courageous, and be real. And I 64 00:03:46,680 --> 00:03:51,120 Speaker 1: love how they point out the idea of being yourself 65 00:03:51,720 --> 00:03:56,720 Speaker 1: and that being real takes courage, right, that takes actual work, 66 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,960 Speaker 1: that takes standing up for something, you know. And also 67 00:04:00,120 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: when she says I ain't nobody's angel, you know, she's 68 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,320 Speaker 1: she's saying, I'm not here to abide by anyone else's, 69 00:04:06,360 --> 00:04:09,960 Speaker 1: you know, standards, but my own. And more than I 70 00:04:10,000 --> 00:04:14,040 Speaker 1: think money or more than you know, status, I think 71 00:04:14,080 --> 00:04:18,040 Speaker 1: happiness truly comes from living in accordance with what makes 72 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,240 Speaker 1: sense for you, right, And that's an incredibly personal thing. 73 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:24,440 Speaker 1: Only you can can truly know what that actually means, 74 00:04:24,520 --> 00:04:27,840 Speaker 1: right about what actually makes sense for you. And and 75 00:04:27,920 --> 00:04:30,600 Speaker 1: to be honest, this is something that I've been kind 76 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:34,040 Speaker 1: of fighting and trying to work through, you know, throughout 77 00:04:34,040 --> 00:04:36,119 Speaker 1: the course of my entire life. You know, I relate 78 00:04:36,120 --> 00:04:38,840 Speaker 1: to this on such a personal level. You know. Growing up, 79 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: my parents would compare me to my friends as a 80 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:45,159 Speaker 1: as a means of like disciplining me. You know, like 81 00:04:45,200 --> 00:04:49,880 Speaker 1: if I expressed interest in something that they didn't understand, 82 00:04:50,120 --> 00:04:53,160 Speaker 1: or I did something that they didn't approve of, they 83 00:04:53,200 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: would they would kind of rub it in my face 84 00:04:55,279 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: that you know, they don't see any of my other 85 00:04:57,520 --> 00:05:00,680 Speaker 1: friends doing that or asking for this particular thing. And 86 00:05:01,120 --> 00:05:04,640 Speaker 1: he created this notion that that there was something wrong 87 00:05:04,680 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 1: with me, right, that I should be more like those 88 00:05:07,600 --> 00:05:11,120 Speaker 1: around me, you know. And of course this played out 89 00:05:11,160 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: into the way that I interacted with my friend groups. Right. 90 00:05:13,800 --> 00:05:16,839 Speaker 1: I made myself smaller. I hid parts of myself. I 91 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 1: went along with the crowd so that I wouldn't be ostracized. 92 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:23,560 Speaker 1: You know. I adapted hobbies and an interest, you know, 93 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 1: not because I genuinely like them, but but instead because 94 00:05:26,880 --> 00:05:30,120 Speaker 1: it was deemed cool by those around me, right, it 95 00:05:30,160 --> 00:05:32,880 Speaker 1: was deemed acceptable. And that's what I was taught, you know, 96 00:05:33,080 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: that if I want something that is outside of the 97 00:05:35,400 --> 00:05:38,440 Speaker 1: norm or that the people around me don't understand, then 98 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:40,919 Speaker 1: it must be inherently wrong, right, and I should just 99 00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:43,159 Speaker 1: suppress it. I should, I should push it down. And 100 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,240 Speaker 1: then in my adult life, you know, that upbringing, that 101 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:48,320 Speaker 1: mindset that was instilled in me, you know, it's played 102 00:05:48,320 --> 00:05:51,159 Speaker 1: out in so many different ways, I mean, uh, in 103 00:05:51,200 --> 00:05:55,320 Speaker 1: the form of people pleasing or or doubting myself or 104 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: or at times having you know, incredibly low self worth. 105 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:01,200 Speaker 1: You know, those are all things, things that I still 106 00:06:01,200 --> 00:06:04,960 Speaker 1: struggle with till this day as a result of being 107 00:06:04,960 --> 00:06:08,360 Speaker 1: taught that there was something wrong with me. And I'm 108 00:06:08,360 --> 00:06:11,960 Speaker 1: fighting back, right, I'm trying to have that courage to 109 00:06:12,360 --> 00:06:15,560 Speaker 1: push back against these ideas that were instilled in me 110 00:06:15,760 --> 00:06:19,359 Speaker 1: and what has been deemed as acceptable for me. But 111 00:06:19,400 --> 00:06:22,280 Speaker 1: it's an ongoing battle, but it's one that is so 112 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:25,600 Speaker 1: incredibly necessary. Right, It's a stance that all of us 113 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:28,359 Speaker 1: have to take and has to be kind of on 114 00:06:28,400 --> 00:06:32,200 Speaker 1: the forefront of our mind if we truly want to live, 115 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:35,760 Speaker 1: you know, and not just exist on this planet. Right. 116 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 1: So we have heard the words of man. Nicki Minaj 117 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,719 Speaker 1: made a little cameo on this one. You've heard Common 118 00:06:41,920 --> 00:06:44,760 Speaker 1: and PJ. We've talked about Seneca, one of the stoics. 119 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: I've kind of let you into how I personally still 120 00:06:47,680 --> 00:06:50,600 Speaker 1: struggle with this idea, you know, till this day. Now 121 00:06:50,640 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: I want to talk about how you can make it 122 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:55,119 Speaker 1: your mantra for today, But first let's take a quick 123 00:06:55,160 --> 00:07:07,600 Speaker 1: break and then we'll be right back, all right. So 124 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:10,200 Speaker 1: we have heard the words of Seneca, one of the stoics. 125 00:07:10,200 --> 00:07:12,400 Speaker 1: We have heard Nicki Minaj, we have heard Common and 126 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:16,160 Speaker 1: PJ and I've given you some of my own insight 127 00:07:16,360 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: into the stoic virtue of courage, and now let's talk 128 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: about how how you can make it your mantra for today. Now, 129 00:07:23,840 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: I think first and foremost for any parents out there 130 00:07:27,640 --> 00:07:30,280 Speaker 1: that are listening to this, you know, or anybody planning 131 00:07:30,280 --> 00:07:33,440 Speaker 1: on having children, there's one thing I would definitely want 132 00:07:33,440 --> 00:07:35,880 Speaker 1: you to keep in mind, and I would say that, 133 00:07:35,960 --> 00:07:39,200 Speaker 1: you know, just because your your child might be into 134 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:42,720 Speaker 1: something that you don't understand, it doesn't mean that it's 135 00:07:42,760 --> 00:07:47,200 Speaker 1: inherently wrong. And and they're counting on you to really, 136 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,800 Speaker 1: you know, help them have a belief in themselves that 137 00:07:51,000 --> 00:07:53,800 Speaker 1: allows them to trust their own instincts, you know, and 138 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:56,720 Speaker 1: that is something crucial that they're going to need as 139 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: an adult in a world that loves to tear people down, 140 00:08:00,200 --> 00:08:03,360 Speaker 1: you know, so it's inherently important to encourage them to 141 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,520 Speaker 1: explore what makes them happy. I have an amazing relationship 142 00:08:06,560 --> 00:08:09,640 Speaker 1: with my parents, you know today, but there were some 143 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:12,840 Speaker 1: some rocky times and you know, of course, nobody's perfect, 144 00:08:12,840 --> 00:08:15,240 Speaker 1: but these are the things that I'm going to try 145 00:08:15,240 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: to implement when when I become apparent one day, to 146 00:08:17,680 --> 00:08:20,640 Speaker 1: make sure that you know, my children don't don't suffer 147 00:08:20,680 --> 00:08:23,120 Speaker 1: from some of these same issues that I did, you know, 148 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:27,120 Speaker 1: and then now as adults, the idea of self worth 149 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: right and showing up as your real, authentic self. I 150 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:32,640 Speaker 1: want you to keep in mind that this is going 151 00:08:32,679 --> 00:08:36,319 Speaker 1: to be an uphill battle, right, But I think it 152 00:08:36,640 --> 00:08:42,079 Speaker 1: first and foremost starts with understanding and accepting and embracing 153 00:08:42,120 --> 00:08:45,920 Speaker 1: the idea that there is no right way. No one 154 00:08:45,960 --> 00:08:48,080 Speaker 1: knows what the hell they're doing, right, We're all just 155 00:08:48,160 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: trying to figure it out in this life. There is 156 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:53,920 Speaker 1: no such thing as as the right way, you know. 157 00:08:54,040 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: I think the only thing you can truly do is 158 00:08:57,040 --> 00:08:59,520 Speaker 1: to trust your instincts right that that is what takes 159 00:08:59,520 --> 00:09:01,959 Speaker 1: you down the path that is right for you, and 160 00:09:02,679 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 1: paying attention to the things that you are naturally drawn to, 161 00:09:05,400 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: and again not looking toward the outside world to co 162 00:09:08,880 --> 00:09:11,440 Speaker 1: sign your interest. You know, if there's something you are 163 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:13,680 Speaker 1: passionate about, you are naturally drawn to something. If you 164 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:16,560 Speaker 1: have something that inherently just keeps showing up in your 165 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:19,200 Speaker 1: life that is calling you, you have to honor that. Right. 166 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:22,240 Speaker 1: There is a part of yourself, be it consciously or subconsciously, 167 00:09:22,600 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: that is starving for that thing that you are being 168 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,600 Speaker 1: drawn to, right, you have to be courageous, have the 169 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 1: courage to do what makes you happy. Now, to sum 170 00:09:31,520 --> 00:09:34,080 Speaker 1: up all that we've been talking about around this stoic 171 00:09:34,200 --> 00:09:38,199 Speaker 1: virtue of courage, you know, Seneca saying that even just 172 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,680 Speaker 1: the idea of living is an act of courage. Right, 173 00:09:41,800 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: And again that brings me to that that Nicki Minaj lyric. 174 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:47,480 Speaker 1: You know, everybody dies, but not everybody lives. But if 175 00:09:47,480 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: we truly want to live, it involves embracing who we 176 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,559 Speaker 1: are and being unapologetic about it, you know. And then 177 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: even when you talk about that that lyric from from 178 00:09:56,920 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: the Common record courageous. You know, there are so many 179 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:01,920 Speaker 1: different things that stand out to me. I mean, one 180 00:10:01,960 --> 00:10:04,560 Speaker 1: of which I ain't nobody's angel, right, I'm not here 181 00:10:04,559 --> 00:10:07,480 Speaker 1: to live by your standards, to impress you to uh, 182 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 1: you know, check some sort of box to make you happy. 183 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:12,280 Speaker 1: You know, either you you like me for who I 184 00:10:12,320 --> 00:10:14,920 Speaker 1: am or not, you know. And the last thing that 185 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: they say in that record stay courageous and be real. Remember, 186 00:10:18,920 --> 00:10:23,040 Speaker 1: you know, being authentic, as as crazy as it sounds, 187 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:27,000 Speaker 1: is something that takes a lot of work. It takes courage. 188 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: Right to be in a room and to go against 189 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:32,760 Speaker 1: the grains. It's going to be uncomfortable, but but you 190 00:10:32,800 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 1: have to be willing to accept that and also recognize 191 00:10:36,000 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 1: that that discomfort is a sign that you are moving 192 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,400 Speaker 1: in the right direction. Right. You are are challenging yourself 193 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: to find a path that makes sense for you, right 194 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:48,160 Speaker 1: and that courage that you are are putting on display 195 00:10:48,320 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: is essential to truly living in this life. And if 196 00:10:52,120 --> 00:10:55,680 Speaker 1: you still need some more inspiration after today's show, a 197 00:10:55,679 --> 00:10:58,200 Speaker 1: little shameless plug here. I wrote a book. It's all 198 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,480 Speaker 1: about finding presence and inspiration in life. It is called 199 00:11:01,720 --> 00:11:05,800 Speaker 1: just B. So if you're interested, Just b dot NYC. 200 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:08,040 Speaker 1: That's the website where you can pick it up. Now, 201 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:10,200 Speaker 1: with that said, we'll see you next time for your 202 00:11:10,280 --> 00:11:14,079 Speaker 1: daily shot of inspiration, your daily dose of ancient Stoke 203 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:19,000 Speaker 1: philosophy mixed with hip hop lyrics and inspiration. And until then, 204 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,400 Speaker 1: I am Dramas And this is the Street Stoke Podcast. 205 00:11:26,160 --> 00:11:29,440 Speaker 1: The Street Stoke Podcast is a production of Ihearts Michael 206 00:11:29,480 --> 00:11:31,000 Speaker 1: Bura Podcast Network