Harnessing Your 20x Mind Power & Control Your Destiny (with Ryan Holiday)

WHAT I'M WRITING ABOUT?THIS WEEK

Harnessing Your 20x Mind Power

If you’ve followed me for enough time, you probably know that success is a result of disciplined practice. In fact, sports psychologists are now learning that only 10% of success in athletics is achieved in the conscious mind. The other 90% is achieved in the subconscious.?In this piece, I introduce how you can leverage your subconscious mind through consistent practices.

THE MARK DIVINE SHOW

Discipline as the Path to Freedom

Episode #375?Control Your Destiny (with Ryan Holiday)

This week on the podcast, I spoke with Ryan Holiday, an author, modern Stoic, public-relations strategist, bookstore owner, and host of the podcast?The Daily Stoic. Ryan became fascinated with Stoicism in college and dropped out at age 19 to apprentice under Robert Greene, author of?The 48 Laws of Power. One illustrious marketing career and 11 books later, Ryan lives on a ranch outside Austin, Texas, where he writes, works, and raises cattle, donkeys and goats. His newest book?Discipline is Destiny?comes out in September 2022.

Key Takeaways:

• Discipline is a practice of moderation.?As Seneca would say, “Live immediately.” Yet, also know the importance of planning and investing as though tomorrow may happen. Furthermore, discipline does not need to be sacrificial. You can enjoy the fruits of the present without that enjoyment impacting your future enjoyment.?
• The high performance paradox.?It’s a fantasy to think there is such a thing as balance. Finding balance is like jumping into the music of life. And while many aspirers believe that more work will get them where they want to go, in fact stillness and calmness and security are what paradoxically allow you to do whatever it is that you do so much better.
• Zen and Stoicism, cut from the same cloth.?It’s said in Zen that sometimes the best action is inaction. And the best inaction is action. Yin and Yang. Ryan and I discuss in depth the paradoxes of equal opposites and the beauty of living in the tension between the poles of life.?
• Real philosophy takes practice.?Ryan shares candidly about the West’s version of Zen monasteries… academia. There has never been a more needed time to bring the practice of leadership to fruition in our world and our nation.?
• Discipline (temperance), one of the four cardinal virtues.?The others are prudence, justice, and fortitude—all of which counterbalance and interweave themselves into each other. One cannot be truly just without proper wisdom (prudence). One cannot be well temperate without proper fortitude.

LISTEN HERE

WHAT I'M READING

Bullied Brain: Heal Your Scars and Restore Your Health

In this evidence-rich deep-dive, Jennifer Fraser Ph.D harps on both the impact and damage that trauma, abuse, and bullying can cause our brains… and how resilient and adaptable our brains actually are. Through training, we can all develop a stronger brain because of it.

WHAT'S INSPIRING ME

In the coming weeks, the Ethereum blockchain will undergo the most significant change in its seven-year history, shifting from proof-of-work to proof-of-stake security. The “merge” is a culmination of several years of meticulous teamwork and focus, and will cut the blockchain’s lavish energy consumption by 1,000x. Talk about inspiring work. Hooyah!

Read the full article on Ars Technica?here.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength."

Marcus Aurelius

PRACTICE OR HABIT TO TRY

How do you cultivate focus and discipline? I find it easier to focus when I’m clear on my “Why”?and revisit it often. All of my thoughts and actions can then get filtered through my ultimate purpose. Take a few minutes this week to journal on the following question:

What’s your “Why”? Why is it important? And how can you remind yourself of this more often?

That’s all for now! See you next week.?

Hooyah!

Mark

P.S.?Grab your popcorn.