People spend a lot of money to buy nice land. They want to be in a good neighborhood with good schools. They want to have a beautiful view. Just look at what happened during the pandemic when people rushed to outbid each other for houses outside of major cities–because they wanted safety and space and change of scenery. For centuries, armies have clashed over territory—some of it valuable, some of it not—willing to pay in blood for control over a piece of dirt.
Meanwhile, some of the most valuable real estate in the world sits, ignored. What's that? We referred to it in The Girl Who Would Be Free—our children's fable about Epictetus that just celebrated its three-year anniversary—as "the empire between your ears." How many people spend an enormous amount to keep up their estates, but then let their brain fall into disrepair. How many of them protect their property, as Seneca said, but let people waste their time or influence their choices?
We study philosophy to learn how to protect this real estate between our ears—and you could argue there's no better teacher on how to do that than Epictetus. We created our brand-new course How To Read Epictetus (A Daily Stoic Digital Guide) to help you unlock his wisdom and use it to develop and guard your empire within. If you buy the guide before July 26, you'll also receive an exclusive invitation to a LIVE Q&A with Ryan Holiday (learn more and get the guide here!).
Because yes, land is valuable—they aren't making more of it, after all. Yes, you want to have a roof over your head. Yes, nations must protect their sovereign territory. But the Stoics remind us that the greatest empire is within us, between our ears, inside that mushy muscle that is our brain.
You have inherited an incredibly valuable bit of property. Will you rule and cultivate it? Will you rule over it? You better.
P.S. Become a master over your fate, Epictetus taught, by accepting the things you can't control in life and instead focus your efforts on things you can shape and influence.
Make sure to get the guide before July 26 to receive an exclusive invite to Ryan's LIVE Q&A, where you can ask your questions about using Epictetus' wisdom to protect the empire between your ears.
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