1 00:00:15,760 --> 00:00:18,480 Speaker 1: What Up? I am Dramas and this is the Street 2 00:00:18,640 --> 00:00:22,759 Speaker 1: Stoic Podcast, bringing you your daily dose of timeless stoic 3 00:00:22,800 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: philosophy remix for the hip hop generation. We are combining 4 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:32,120 Speaker 1: ancient philosophy with lyrics and quotes from something greatest, who 5 00:00:32,159 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: ever grace a microphone. Now, with that mind, let's get 6 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:44,360 Speaker 1: things started with your daily shot of inspiration. All right. 7 00:00:44,400 --> 00:00:47,080 Speaker 1: So the stoic principle that we're focusing in on today 8 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:50,760 Speaker 1: is the idea of gratitude. And this one I'm gonna 9 00:00:50,840 --> 00:00:54,040 Speaker 1: gonna start off with some bars from Big Sean and 10 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:57,000 Speaker 1: Drake write the song Blessings, and this is actually from 11 00:00:57,080 --> 00:00:59,639 Speaker 1: Drake's verse. The messaging that he puts in here so 12 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:02,639 Speaker 1: beneficial and kind of lends itself to all that we're 13 00:01:02,640 --> 00:01:04,600 Speaker 1: talking about with the idea of gratitude. But I think 14 00:01:04,640 --> 00:01:08,399 Speaker 1: also looking at gratitude a bit differently and kind of 15 00:01:08,400 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: seeing the opportunities that come about when you do live 16 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:15,919 Speaker 1: a life of gratitude. Right. So in that song, Drake says, quote, 17 00:01:16,680 --> 00:01:20,319 Speaker 1: I cannot see heaven being much better than this. Yeah, 18 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: blessings and blessings from me and my guys from the 19 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 1: six look at what we did. Then he goes on 20 00:01:26,560 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: to say, stop worrying about whoever is next. I'm just 21 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,960 Speaker 1: worried about my mama. Worrying less. I think I'm famous enough. 22 00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: I don't need any more press. And I think Drake 23 00:01:38,680 --> 00:01:40,960 Speaker 1: is saying so many different things in that that kind 24 00:01:40,959 --> 00:01:43,920 Speaker 1: of lend itself to this idea of gratitude, right. I 25 00:01:43,920 --> 00:01:46,120 Speaker 1: think first and foremost, he's talked about taking the time 26 00:01:46,160 --> 00:01:49,760 Speaker 1: to stop and appreciate how far you've come, Right, I 27 00:01:50,040 --> 00:01:52,920 Speaker 1: think we all get so lost up in the hustle 28 00:01:53,080 --> 00:01:56,240 Speaker 1: and and chasing after things, you know, and it's really 29 00:01:56,360 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 1: easy to not see how how far we've we've pushed 30 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 1: ourselves and how far we've been able to, you know, 31 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:05,720 Speaker 1: make strides in our our goals and our dreams. And 32 00:02:05,760 --> 00:02:07,760 Speaker 1: I think that that's a part of of the idea 33 00:02:07,760 --> 00:02:10,480 Speaker 1: of fulfillment happiness, is taking that time to be present 34 00:02:10,680 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: and to pat yourself on the back, because we're all 35 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 1: so guilty of a lot of negative self talk, you know, 36 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 1: where our own worst critics, our own worst enemies. We 37 00:02:18,040 --> 00:02:20,639 Speaker 1: speak to ourselves oftentimes in a way that we would 38 00:02:20,720 --> 00:02:23,680 Speaker 1: never speak to anybody else. Right, So I think taking 39 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 1: the time to you know, smell the roses for lack 40 00:02:25,680 --> 00:02:29,600 Speaker 1: of better phrasing is an incredible sort of component to 41 00:02:29,800 --> 00:02:32,480 Speaker 1: positive mental health when it comes to this never ending 42 00:02:32,560 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: chase for dreams and goals. Right. And I think a 43 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:37,919 Speaker 1: lot of what he's talking about as well is also 44 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: embracing the peace that comes from appreciation. Right. I think 45 00:02:43,680 --> 00:02:46,560 Speaker 1: there is this level of just peace that comes over 46 00:02:46,639 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 1: you when you appreciate and are truly happy with all 47 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:51,919 Speaker 1: that you have in the current moment. Right. And again 48 00:02:51,960 --> 00:02:55,160 Speaker 1: I love these lines from Drake. Right He's focusing on 49 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,200 Speaker 1: making sure his mom is good. Right, He's saying that 50 00:02:58,520 --> 00:03:02,440 Speaker 1: his time is more important than doing some interview that 51 00:03:02,520 --> 00:03:05,160 Speaker 1: might keep his name in the headlines. Right. Like, he's 52 00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: literally hitting on so many different things, you know, prioritizing 53 00:03:08,600 --> 00:03:11,959 Speaker 1: his family and also understanding that being the most famous 54 00:03:12,040 --> 00:03:14,200 Speaker 1: person in the world or being more famous than he is, 55 00:03:14,360 --> 00:03:17,880 Speaker 1: you know, during the time of recording that isn't what's important. 56 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,680 Speaker 1: And this relates, you know, perfectly to a quote from 57 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:24,120 Speaker 1: Marcus Aurelius where he says, quote, most of what we 58 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:28,600 Speaker 1: say and do is not necessary, and it's a mission 59 00:03:28,880 --> 00:03:33,320 Speaker 1: would save both time and trouble. And I think the 60 00:03:33,400 --> 00:03:36,240 Speaker 1: idea of gratitude and being grateful and content with what 61 00:03:36,320 --> 00:03:39,560 Speaker 1: you have and where you are. Allows you to distinguish 62 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:44,040 Speaker 1: between what is important and what is essential and quite frankly, 63 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:47,280 Speaker 1: what is not right. The reality is the easier you're 64 00:03:47,320 --> 00:03:50,440 Speaker 1: able to say no to things and distinguish between what 65 00:03:50,640 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: actually matters right, that results in more time doing the 66 00:03:54,680 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 1: things that you love with the people that you care 67 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: about the most. And for me, our to this on 68 00:04:01,240 --> 00:04:03,400 Speaker 1: an incredibly deep level, because I think that this has 69 00:04:03,440 --> 00:04:05,960 Speaker 1: been the journey that I've personally been on over the 70 00:04:05,960 --> 00:04:08,760 Speaker 1: course of this last year. You know, I've definitely taken 71 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:11,800 Speaker 1: a step back in my life, you know, in a 72 00:04:11,840 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: way that allows me to focus more on the things 73 00:04:14,360 --> 00:04:18,039 Speaker 1: that really matter right, rather than trying to accumulate more 74 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:21,680 Speaker 1: money for money's sake, or trying to increase my notoriety. 75 00:04:21,960 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: You know, for me right now, at this point in 76 00:04:23,560 --> 00:04:26,280 Speaker 1: my life, I say this with such great satisfaction that 77 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:28,840 Speaker 1: you know, I see my parents at least once a week. 78 00:04:28,960 --> 00:04:32,280 Speaker 1: My weekends are reserved for my girlfriend and my close friends. 79 00:04:32,320 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: You know, my life is set up in a way 80 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:38,360 Speaker 1: that values my freedom rather than another paycheck. Right, my 81 00:04:38,680 --> 00:04:41,120 Speaker 1: stress level is down. I don't waste time, you know, 82 00:04:41,160 --> 00:04:43,839 Speaker 1: commuting an hour back and forth anymore. And the reality 83 00:04:43,880 --> 00:04:45,440 Speaker 1: is it wasn't always like that for me. You know, 84 00:04:46,080 --> 00:04:48,000 Speaker 1: at one point, my life was set up in a 85 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,440 Speaker 1: way that you know, even my social interactions were business 86 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:54,200 Speaker 1: related in some way, right, Like, even my my friends 87 00:04:54,200 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: that hung out with for the most part, we're all 88 00:04:56,120 --> 00:04:58,479 Speaker 1: people that I worked with, Right the times that we 89 00:04:58,520 --> 00:05:01,760 Speaker 1: went out, it was most you know, industry related events 90 00:05:01,760 --> 00:05:04,280 Speaker 1: where I can get some networking done or that raised 91 00:05:04,279 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 1: my my status in the industry whatever, Right Like that 92 00:05:07,360 --> 00:05:10,400 Speaker 1: was by design. My social life, by design, was still 93 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:13,360 Speaker 1: something that was supposed to help out my career. And 94 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,160 Speaker 1: you know, personally, I I ignored my health and had 95 00:05:16,240 --> 00:05:19,600 Speaker 1: terrible sleeping habits, and you know, I ate terribly because 96 00:05:19,640 --> 00:05:21,640 Speaker 1: I was always on the go, you know, and I 97 00:05:21,680 --> 00:05:24,040 Speaker 1: didn't know how to say no to things because I 98 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 1: feared I might miss out on an opportunity, you know. 99 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:30,160 Speaker 1: And of course that resulted to my friends and family 100 00:05:30,200 --> 00:05:33,000 Speaker 1: back home and becoming an afterthought. And then even when 101 00:05:33,000 --> 00:05:36,200 Speaker 1: I would achieve a goal, you know, I would immediately 102 00:05:36,240 --> 00:05:38,320 Speaker 1: replace it with another one, right and that would just 103 00:05:38,880 --> 00:05:42,640 Speaker 1: inevitably leave me feeling empty and unfulfilled. Right. I can't 104 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 1: say that, don't work hard anymore. I don't think that 105 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,680 Speaker 1: that's true, right, And I'm still kind of trying to 106 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:51,400 Speaker 1: master this idea of balance. But I know for sure 107 00:05:51,680 --> 00:05:54,159 Speaker 1: I've made great strides, you know, and I'm now able 108 00:05:54,200 --> 00:05:57,400 Speaker 1: to be far more present and and grateful for where 109 00:05:57,440 --> 00:06:00,720 Speaker 1: I am and reward myself for that hard work with 110 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:03,440 Speaker 1: boundaries that that make me happy, right. And I think 111 00:06:03,480 --> 00:06:06,520 Speaker 1: I've also tried to take the time to be grateful 112 00:06:06,560 --> 00:06:10,000 Speaker 1: for an accomplishment and then celebrated. I think for me, 113 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:14,920 Speaker 1: I've learned that the appreciation and celebration of an achievement 114 00:06:15,400 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 1: is just as important, if not more important, than the 115 00:06:19,279 --> 00:06:22,080 Speaker 1: achievement itself. And on this journey, you know, over the 116 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:23,800 Speaker 1: last year, and quite frankly, it's kind of been going 117 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:25,720 Speaker 1: on a little bit longer that, but I think being 118 00:06:25,920 --> 00:06:28,840 Speaker 1: truly focused on it this this last year, I think 119 00:06:28,920 --> 00:06:31,160 Speaker 1: one of the kind of moments that sort of woke 120 00:06:31,279 --> 00:06:33,760 Speaker 1: me up to a lot of this was last summer 121 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:35,960 Speaker 1: about a year ago. At this point, you know, where 122 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:40,520 Speaker 1: I was working multiple jobs. You know, I was literally 123 00:06:40,520 --> 00:06:44,040 Speaker 1: probably putting in eighteen hours a week, and I had 124 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: my girlfriend staying with me, right and the ree hot 125 00:06:47,320 --> 00:06:50,359 Speaker 1: he is, you know, my my girlfriend lives far away, 126 00:06:50,400 --> 00:06:52,960 Speaker 1: she's in law school, right, and the moments that we 127 00:06:53,000 --> 00:06:54,800 Speaker 1: have are few and far in between. And to have 128 00:06:54,839 --> 00:06:57,919 Speaker 1: an entire summer together, you know, should have been a blessing. 129 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,080 Speaker 1: But I allowed it to kind of pass me, i 130 00:07:00,600 --> 00:07:02,360 Speaker 1: you know, until the very end of the summer, and 131 00:07:02,400 --> 00:07:05,200 Speaker 1: so I realized, wow, like I didn't make the time 132 00:07:05,279 --> 00:07:07,960 Speaker 1: to be present with this person I love so much. 133 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:10,640 Speaker 1: And when she woke me up to that and and 134 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:13,200 Speaker 1: show me the type of person that I was being, 135 00:07:13,320 --> 00:07:16,640 Speaker 1: and essentially, you know, pointed out that if I don't 136 00:07:16,680 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: begin to correct some of these mindsets and these ideas 137 00:07:20,600 --> 00:07:23,280 Speaker 1: that I have in this obsession with what's next, I'm 138 00:07:23,320 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: going to be one of those people who is you know, eventually, 139 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: when I have kids or I'm married, it's gonna be 140 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:30,760 Speaker 1: like that absentee parent who's just always constantly working and 141 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: isn't a part of a kid's life. Right, because I'm 142 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:36,120 Speaker 1: not valuing my my present life, I'm not valuing my 143 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:38,560 Speaker 1: present moment. The people around me, right, my loved ones. 144 00:07:38,760 --> 00:07:40,840 Speaker 1: I'm taking them for granted and thinking that they're just 145 00:07:40,880 --> 00:07:44,120 Speaker 1: going to stick around and support me on this journey 146 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:47,880 Speaker 1: as I chase this never ending success, right, because you know, 147 00:07:47,880 --> 00:07:49,720 Speaker 1: there's always gonna be more money, There's always gonna be 148 00:07:49,760 --> 00:07:52,600 Speaker 1: more opportunities, more things, more goals. So if you don't 149 00:07:52,600 --> 00:07:55,280 Speaker 1: begin to set those boundaries and understand that your personal 150 00:07:55,320 --> 00:07:57,880 Speaker 1: life needs to be just as important as your career, 151 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:01,120 Speaker 1: you're gonna end up living if a toxic life that 152 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:04,360 Speaker 1: will probably lead to to one where you, unfortunately end 153 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:06,440 Speaker 1: up alone. And I recognize that that's not what I 154 00:08:06,480 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: wanted for my life, and that created kind of this 155 00:08:08,560 --> 00:08:10,480 Speaker 1: whole journey that I've been on over the last year 156 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: or so. Now, with that in mind, we've heard from 157 00:08:13,000 --> 00:08:16,239 Speaker 1: Marcus a really is right, we have heard from Big 158 00:08:16,240 --> 00:08:19,080 Speaker 1: Sean and Drake are more specifically Drake. I've also given 159 00:08:19,120 --> 00:08:21,520 Speaker 1: you my story of my journey of how I've kind 160 00:08:21,520 --> 00:08:24,600 Speaker 1: of come to tackle this, this whole idea of gratitude. 161 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,320 Speaker 1: So with all that in mind, let's talk about how 162 00:08:27,400 --> 00:08:30,640 Speaker 1: you can make this your mantra for today. But first 163 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,000 Speaker 1: let's take a quick break and then we'll be right back. 164 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:44,760 Speaker 1: All right, So we have heard the words from Drake, 165 00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:47,920 Speaker 1: we have heard words from Marcus aureally is on this topic. 166 00:08:48,000 --> 00:08:50,320 Speaker 1: I've also spilled my heart out to you a bit 167 00:08:50,840 --> 00:08:53,400 Speaker 1: today's show. So were all of that in mind, Let's 168 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:57,360 Speaker 1: talk about how you can make this your mantra for today. Now. 169 00:08:57,640 --> 00:09:01,800 Speaker 1: Obviously this topic of gratitude and allowing it to to 170 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:04,160 Speaker 1: kind of make you slow down and be more president 171 00:09:04,240 --> 00:09:06,200 Speaker 1: to all the things that you currently have. You know, 172 00:09:06,360 --> 00:09:10,400 Speaker 1: of course, this is a privileged conversation, right. It is 173 00:09:10,480 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: one that is not easy to have if you are 174 00:09:12,800 --> 00:09:15,360 Speaker 1: currently in the struggle, if you are currently in the 175 00:09:15,400 --> 00:09:18,920 Speaker 1: building phase of your life. Right. But I still think 176 00:09:19,000 --> 00:09:22,719 Speaker 1: it's an essential one on your path towards achieving your 177 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 1: dreams because it's it's allowing you to kind of prepare 178 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:28,320 Speaker 1: for the future and understand that you have to at 179 00:09:28,360 --> 00:09:31,360 Speaker 1: some point give yourself some sort of an out right, 180 00:09:31,559 --> 00:09:35,640 Speaker 1: you have to have some sort of finite measurement of success, 181 00:09:35,720 --> 00:09:38,840 Speaker 1: you know, be it a number of lifestyle whatever it is, right, 182 00:09:39,160 --> 00:09:43,400 Speaker 1: break down your ideal life into specifics, right, I think 183 00:09:43,679 --> 00:09:46,640 Speaker 1: you know it's setting certain milestones. You know, maybe once 184 00:09:46,720 --> 00:09:50,360 Speaker 1: you reach this goal, you allow yourself to work less hours, right, 185 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:53,600 Speaker 1: or you'll sort of make these, uh, you know, non 186 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:56,920 Speaker 1: negotiable commitments in your personal life. Whatever it is, right, 187 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,240 Speaker 1: you know, make sure you're you're kind of setting these 188 00:09:59,360 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: levels and one to achieve that milesome. You know, what 189 00:10:01,800 --> 00:10:03,160 Speaker 1: are you getting out of it? You know, what are 190 00:10:03,200 --> 00:10:06,439 Speaker 1: you giving to yourself? What are you rewarding yourself with? Right? Then, 191 00:10:06,520 --> 00:10:10,200 Speaker 1: have a more grand goal right where you're thinking towards 192 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,560 Speaker 1: like the ultimate pinnacle of what you deem to be 193 00:10:12,679 --> 00:10:16,560 Speaker 1: success in your life, and maybe you dedicate yourself to 194 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:20,080 Speaker 1: your work right now and and figure out whatever that 195 00:10:20,280 --> 00:10:23,720 Speaker 1: end goal is that you know, that's when you begin 196 00:10:23,800 --> 00:10:26,800 Speaker 1: to sort of divide your time and your work evenly. 197 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:29,600 Speaker 1: I think it's about getting to a point where you 198 00:10:29,640 --> 00:10:33,880 Speaker 1: feel comfortable being able to divide your time equally between 199 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:37,120 Speaker 1: your your family and your personal life as well as 200 00:10:37,160 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: your career. You know. And again this is all going 201 00:10:39,400 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 1: to be different for each and every one of us. 202 00:10:41,000 --> 00:10:43,280 Speaker 1: We all have different things that we're striving for, different 203 00:10:43,320 --> 00:10:46,559 Speaker 1: things that represent success for us. But have that conversation 204 00:10:46,640 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: with yourself and then make sure you're planning accordingly and 205 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:52,120 Speaker 1: stick to that plan. But I think you have to 206 00:10:52,200 --> 00:10:54,480 Speaker 1: have this this plan in mind and generally be able 207 00:10:54,520 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 1: to kind of stick to this blueprint that you've set 208 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,360 Speaker 1: out there for yourself, because if you don't find time 209 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:02,640 Speaker 1: to slow down and to be grateful and to be 210 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:05,319 Speaker 1: present for all that you do have currently and and 211 00:11:05,400 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: you instead keep chasing the next shiny thing at a 212 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,959 Speaker 1: hundred miles an hour. Life will inevitably decide for you 213 00:11:13,280 --> 00:11:16,920 Speaker 1: when it's time to stop, and usually it is not pretty, 214 00:11:16,960 --> 00:11:19,160 Speaker 1: so make sure you keep that in mind. And with 215 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: that said, thank you all so much for checking out 216 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:24,680 Speaker 1: the streets Stowic podcast. Do your best to apply these 217 00:11:24,720 --> 00:11:27,679 Speaker 1: concepts that we've discussed today into your everyday life, and 218 00:11:27,760 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: I'll catch you all next time. The Street Stoke Podcast 219 00:11:34,640 --> 00:11:38,000 Speaker 1: is a production of My Hearts Michael Bura Podcast Network.