1 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:18,800 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, I am dramas And this is the Streets 2 00:00:18,840 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: Soap Podcast, bringing your daily dose of timeless stoic philosophy 3 00:00:23,200 --> 00:00:26,319 Speaker 1: remix for the hip hop generation. Now, with that in mind, 4 00:00:26,400 --> 00:00:29,960 Speaker 1: let's get things started with your daily shot of inspiration. 5 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:38,919 Speaker 1: Now today we are going to be focusing all around 6 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: the idea of diminishing your ego. And today I pulled 7 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:47,640 Speaker 1: a quote from Chance the Rapper. Now, he says, something 8 00:00:47,680 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 1: I try to instill in others is to just be 9 00:00:50,520 --> 00:00:54,520 Speaker 1: a good person. It's a decision you make a million 10 00:00:54,760 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: times a day. But if you just keep trying, good 11 00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:02,320 Speaker 1: stuff comes to you in an ordained way. And I 12 00:01:02,360 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: think what Chances talking about here is the idea of 13 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:08,800 Speaker 1: like good karma, right, And I think beyond the idea 14 00:01:08,959 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: of good things sort of being attracted to you or 15 00:01:11,680 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: coming your way as a result of you being a 16 00:01:15,120 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 1: good person. And I think when we talk about the 17 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,920 Speaker 1: idea of your ego at times, it means having your 18 00:01:20,959 --> 00:01:24,039 Speaker 1: ego take a bit of a back seat, right, that 19 00:01:24,120 --> 00:01:26,720 Speaker 1: it's not all about you, that the world doesn't revolve 20 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:29,880 Speaker 1: around you, and not saying that you should give up 21 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: your happiness or your fulfillment at the end of the day. 22 00:01:33,640 --> 00:01:37,440 Speaker 1: But I think it's also something, No, there's something incredibly 23 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:43,039 Speaker 1: beautiful about putting others first at times, or prioritizing other 24 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:45,279 Speaker 1: people's feelings at times, right, And it could be something 25 00:01:45,600 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: as as simple as waiting and holding the door for 26 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:51,480 Speaker 1: somebody behind you. Right in that instance, you could have 27 00:01:51,520 --> 00:01:54,800 Speaker 1: probably gotten to your destination quicker if you didn't take 28 00:01:54,840 --> 00:01:57,760 Speaker 1: the time to stop and hold that door open for 29 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:00,760 Speaker 1: that other person. Right, But you, being a good person, 30 00:02:00,800 --> 00:02:03,320 Speaker 1: you may have just made their day a little bit better. 31 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:05,480 Speaker 1: Maybe they're having a rough day, they hate humanity at 32 00:02:05,480 --> 00:02:07,680 Speaker 1: that time, and you just instilled a bit of kindness 33 00:02:07,720 --> 00:02:10,400 Speaker 1: by holding the door open for them. Right now, This leads, 34 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:13,160 Speaker 1: you know, perfectly into a quote from Seneca, one of 35 00:02:13,200 --> 00:02:15,880 Speaker 1: the Stoics, where he says we should give as we 36 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: would receive, cheerfully, quickly and without hesitation, for there is 37 00:02:20,280 --> 00:02:24,799 Speaker 1: no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers. 38 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:28,040 Speaker 2: And I love this idea of. 39 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: Him talking about a benefit that sticks to the fingers. Right, 40 00:02:30,960 --> 00:02:33,200 Speaker 1: We all, I think, at times, hold on to and 41 00:02:33,320 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 1: grasp all that we have so tightly, thinking that if 42 00:02:36,800 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: we give anything to anyone that it automatically diminishes, you know, 43 00:02:41,520 --> 00:02:45,160 Speaker 1: our accomplishments or it empties from our cup right. 44 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:46,840 Speaker 2: And I think you see this oftentimes. 45 00:02:46,880 --> 00:02:49,799 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, with highly motivated people who are 46 00:02:49,800 --> 00:02:52,400 Speaker 1: stepping on others to get what they want, right, they 47 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,440 Speaker 1: are under the impression that if they slow down for 48 00:02:55,480 --> 00:02:57,600 Speaker 1: a second, or if they extend a hand to help 49 00:02:57,639 --> 00:03:00,200 Speaker 1: pull somebody else up, that it's going to make them, 50 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:02,280 Speaker 1: you know, lose a bit of their own. 51 00:03:02,120 --> 00:03:04,280 Speaker 2: Success or possibility for success. 52 00:03:04,400 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 1: Right. And I think at the end of the day, 53 00:03:06,639 --> 00:03:10,600 Speaker 1: you're going to always be the beneficiary of more opportunities 54 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: if you are humble enough to want to, you know, 55 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:15,760 Speaker 1: give back to. 56 00:03:15,760 --> 00:03:18,480 Speaker 2: Others just as much as you'd like to receive, right. 57 00:03:18,800 --> 00:03:22,359 Speaker 1: And this is something I relate to on a deep 58 00:03:22,440 --> 00:03:24,239 Speaker 1: level because it's sort of the foundation I feel like 59 00:03:24,280 --> 00:03:25,960 Speaker 1: of a lot of my success and my career as 60 00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:29,959 Speaker 1: a whole. And ironically, you know, when I think about 61 00:03:30,120 --> 00:03:33,840 Speaker 1: many of the people that I've encountered along my journey, 62 00:03:33,880 --> 00:03:35,880 Speaker 1: which you know, I was looking at old pictures, I 63 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: was ranting on Facebook, and like an old you know 64 00:03:38,960 --> 00:03:42,080 Speaker 1: memory popped up on my timeline for me djaying like 65 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: thirteen years ago, right, you know, one of my first 66 00:03:44,600 --> 00:03:47,640 Speaker 1: gigs and you know when I think about the course 67 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: of my career and the various people that I have 68 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:53,720 Speaker 1: met along the way. There are many people who, yes, 69 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:58,520 Speaker 1: found success while not necessarily being a person of sound morals. 70 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:01,600 Speaker 1: But when we zoom and I look at their career 71 00:04:01,680 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: from a broader sense, I realize many of those people 72 00:04:05,760 --> 00:04:09,839 Speaker 1: are finding maybe some sort of success monetarily, but they're 73 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:14,400 Speaker 1: always sort of shrouded in some sort of conflict or controversy, right, 74 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:17,320 Speaker 1: be it controversy around things that they've done in the 75 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:19,680 Speaker 1: past that are now being dug up. Be it a 76 00:04:19,680 --> 00:04:22,320 Speaker 1: conflict that they're having in their personal lives with their 77 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:25,719 Speaker 1: significant others or their family, right, and all that is 78 00:04:25,760 --> 00:04:28,800 Speaker 1: sort of shrouded in some sort of turmoil, right, Like, 79 00:04:29,080 --> 00:04:31,440 Speaker 1: it's very obvious and clear for me to see that 80 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,280 Speaker 1: while many of these people did find some of these 81 00:04:34,320 --> 00:04:37,440 Speaker 1: success they were looking for, it came at a great cost, right, 82 00:04:37,480 --> 00:04:40,400 Speaker 1: And it came at them having to constantly look over 83 00:04:40,440 --> 00:04:44,080 Speaker 1: their shoulders and sort of living with the idea that 84 00:04:44,160 --> 00:04:46,200 Speaker 1: the next shoe is going to end up dropping at 85 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:50,279 Speaker 1: some point. Right And for me personally, while maybe I 86 00:04:50,320 --> 00:04:53,679 Speaker 1: haven't gotten to the level that I hope for as quickly, 87 00:04:54,160 --> 00:04:57,640 Speaker 1: it's been a far more enjoyable ride, to not have 88 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:00,760 Speaker 1: to worry about those skeletons in the closet, right, to 89 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:02,960 Speaker 1: not have to look over my shoulder, to know that 90 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:05,159 Speaker 1: at the end of the day, I've done my best 91 00:05:05,200 --> 00:05:08,920 Speaker 1: with people right, and nobody can can hold anything of 92 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:10,800 Speaker 1: real substance over my head. 93 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:14,799 Speaker 2: Right. I've tried, and I feel like I've successfully. 94 00:05:14,200 --> 00:05:16,919 Speaker 1: You know, as much as one could acted in accordance 95 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:20,280 Speaker 1: with just being a good person on my journey. Right Now, 96 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:23,320 Speaker 1: with that said, we have heard from chance the Rapper, 97 00:05:23,320 --> 00:05:26,200 Speaker 1: you've heard from Seneca myself. Now let's talk about how 98 00:05:26,360 --> 00:05:28,960 Speaker 1: you can make this idea of diminishing your ego, how 99 00:05:28,960 --> 00:05:31,320 Speaker 1: you can make it your mantra for today. But first 100 00:05:31,320 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 1: to take a quick break and then we'll be all right. 101 00:05:43,080 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: So today, on this conversation of diminishing your ego, we've 102 00:05:46,680 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: heard from Chancellor Rapper, we have heard from Seneca, one. 103 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 2: Of the Stokes. 104 00:05:49,920 --> 00:05:52,720 Speaker 1: I've given you some insight into my own life and 105 00:05:53,520 --> 00:05:56,400 Speaker 1: how I try to operate from a place of just 106 00:05:56,520 --> 00:05:59,320 Speaker 1: being a good person right and not allowing my ego 107 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,600 Speaker 1: to rule me. Now, let's talk about how you can 108 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,200 Speaker 1: make this your mantra for today. I think at the 109 00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:06,320 Speaker 1: end of the day, I think we have to sort 110 00:06:06,320 --> 00:06:10,520 Speaker 1: of change what we prioritize when it comes to the 111 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:11,800 Speaker 1: definition of success. 112 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:12,160 Speaker 2: Right. 113 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:14,799 Speaker 1: Of course, we all want to be able to enjoy 114 00:06:15,040 --> 00:06:17,719 Speaker 1: comfortable life, to not have to worry about money, to 115 00:06:18,200 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 1: be able to enjoy all of the materialistic things that 116 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 1: we deserve, and the peace of mind that comes with 117 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,440 Speaker 1: having money in the bank and comes with having a 118 00:06:29,760 --> 00:06:32,560 Speaker 1: successful career that we can count on to continue to 119 00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:34,240 Speaker 1: provide for us and our family. Right. And I'm not 120 00:06:34,279 --> 00:06:37,839 Speaker 1: diminishing the importance of those things, my point being we 121 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:41,240 Speaker 1: can't allow them to be sort of the guiding north. 122 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:42,400 Speaker 2: Star of our life either. 123 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:46,680 Speaker 1: Right. I think that it's oftentimes more important how you 124 00:06:46,720 --> 00:06:49,640 Speaker 1: make your money rather than the amount of money that 125 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,160 Speaker 1: you make. And again not saying you sacrifice your quality 126 00:06:53,160 --> 00:06:56,200 Speaker 1: of life, but I think you can have it both ways. Right. 127 00:06:56,240 --> 00:06:59,480 Speaker 1: You can be a good person who treats others with kindness, 128 00:06:59,520 --> 00:07:03,000 Speaker 1: who doesn't believe they are superior to anyone, right, who 129 00:07:03,080 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: believes that you can operate morally, And you can be 130 00:07:06,680 --> 00:07:10,760 Speaker 1: that person while still finding the monetary and career success 131 00:07:10,800 --> 00:07:13,400 Speaker 1: that you need to lead a comfortable and peaceful life. 132 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:15,760 Speaker 1: I don't think it's one or the other. And I 133 00:07:15,760 --> 00:07:19,320 Speaker 1: think that's sort of the problem with the capitalistic society 134 00:07:19,320 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: that we exist in. 135 00:07:20,280 --> 00:07:20,520 Speaker 2: Right. 136 00:07:20,760 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: It makes it seem as if you can only be 137 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:25,720 Speaker 1: concerned with yourself and you have to be selfish and 138 00:07:25,760 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: that anybody else's success. 139 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:28,760 Speaker 2: It sort of takes. 140 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:31,520 Speaker 1: Away from your own or your own potential to find success. 141 00:07:31,720 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: And to me, all of that is is nonsense, and 142 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:37,920 Speaker 1: it's a recipe for living a life of turmoil and 143 00:07:38,040 --> 00:07:41,440 Speaker 1: having a complete lack of fulfillment at the end of 144 00:07:41,440 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: the day. And I think those are all the results 145 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 1: of a life led by ego rather than one led 146 00:07:48,160 --> 00:07:51,960 Speaker 1: by someone who's prioritizing being a good person and a 147 00:07:52,000 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: good citizen co occupying this place that we call planet Earth. 148 00:07:56,000 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 2: Now a recap all. 149 00:07:56,720 --> 00:07:59,560 Speaker 1: That we've been talking about today, you have chance the 150 00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,000 Speaker 1: rapper or you know, talking about trying to instill in 151 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: others to be a good person, right, and all the 152 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,640 Speaker 1: decisions that you make each and every day being conscious 153 00:08:08,680 --> 00:08:11,040 Speaker 1: of that and against the idea that karma is real. 154 00:08:11,200 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 1: You don't want to be somebody who has to look 155 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: over your shoulder constantly because you've made a series of 156 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:21,280 Speaker 1: questionable decisions. And what Seneca talks about right that if 157 00:08:21,320 --> 00:08:24,080 Speaker 1: you are hoping to receive, you have to be willing 158 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:27,360 Speaker 1: to give in the same exact way, in the same amount. 159 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:29,280 Speaker 2: That you are looking to receive. Essentially right that you 160 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:29,840 Speaker 2: have to be. 161 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:34,160 Speaker 1: Happy to extend a hand to others, you are quick 162 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: to do so right without any hesitation, understanding that you 163 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:41,080 Speaker 1: giving to others doesn't take away from from yourself. At 164 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:42,920 Speaker 1: the end of the day, you being a good person 165 00:08:43,320 --> 00:08:46,040 Speaker 1: and looking out for other people doesn't take away from 166 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: any opportunities or blessings you potentially could have. 167 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:50,160 Speaker 2: Actually, it's quite the opposite. 168 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: It opens the door for more potential opportunities and blessings. 169 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:56,280 Speaker 1: And even me in my career again thinking about many 170 00:08:56,280 --> 00:08:57,960 Speaker 1: of the people that I came up with or people 171 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:01,479 Speaker 1: that I met along a way who did eventually find success, 172 00:09:01,800 --> 00:09:05,079 Speaker 1: but sort of did it in a moral way. They 173 00:09:05,240 --> 00:09:07,920 Speaker 1: constantly are having to put out fires in their life. 174 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:11,280 Speaker 1: They never have real peace or real fulfillment because there's 175 00:09:11,400 --> 00:09:13,880 Speaker 1: always some other skeleton that is being found in their 176 00:09:13,880 --> 00:09:16,600 Speaker 1: closet as a result of the way that they chose 177 00:09:16,640 --> 00:09:20,280 Speaker 1: to gain success in this life and how they prioritized 178 00:09:20,559 --> 00:09:24,920 Speaker 1: quick monetary success over first and foremost being a good person. Right, 179 00:09:25,080 --> 00:09:28,559 Speaker 1: and again, I think your ego will always be looking 180 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: for the quickest, easiest pathway towards validation and the superficial 181 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:37,160 Speaker 1: success that we all crave internally. Right, if you allow it, 182 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:39,400 Speaker 1: your ego is going to get you there as quickly 183 00:09:39,400 --> 00:09:42,800 Speaker 1: as possible. But along the way, there are going to 184 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:47,720 Speaker 1: be a series of tragic events and carnage and wreckage 185 00:09:47,800 --> 00:09:51,280 Speaker 1: along the way that you are not cognizant of in 186 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: the moment, but eventually you will have to answer for. 187 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:55,960 Speaker 1: Right now, with that said, thank you so much for 188 00:09:56,040 --> 00:09:58,480 Speaker 1: checking out The Street Stoke podcast. Do your best to 189 00:09:58,520 --> 00:10:00,880 Speaker 1: apply these concepts that we discuss into your everyday life, 190 00:10:00,920 --> 00:10:11,000 Speaker 1: and I will catch you next time. The Streets Though 191 00:10:11,120 --> 00:10:15,120 Speaker 1: podcast is a production of Iheart's micro Dura podcast network.