It's The Most Important Work You'll Ever Do

​ ​ When the Stoics say that the obstacle is the way, that there's an opportunity in every obstacle, most of us take that to mean that everything that's bad can actually be good. We think of the person who gets laid off and goes on to start their own company. We think of the prisoner who uses confinement as a school for the mind and spirit. We think of the rejected artist who grows an online audience and launches an independent label. The athlete whose injury fuels a historic comeback season. The general who uses bad weather as cover. These are all inspiring and often real examples. And certainly the Stoics experienced their fair share of adversity which they impressively turned to advantage. But Marcus Aurelius' famous quote about the obstacle being the way was intended to be much more than career advice. What the Stoics really meant when they said there was an opportunity in every obstacle is that in every obstacle lies the opportunity to practice virtue. That is, it was a chance for them to rise to meet an occasion, to do the right thing, to be magnificent or magnanimous, even when they were heartbroken, even when they were being kicked around by life, even when they couldn't find the light while lost within the shadows. Ok, so what is virtue? In the ancient world, virtue consisted of four key components: ​Courage​—bravery, fortitude, honor, sacrifice… Temperance​—discipline, self-control, moderation, composure, balance… Justice​—fairness, service, honesty, ethics, fellowship, goodness, kindness… ​Wisdom​—knowledge, education, truth, self-reflection, peace… Marcus Aurelius called them the "touchstones of goodness"—guiding principles for how to act, who to be, and how to respond in any situation. In fact, while I've been working (hey, Ryan here) these past several years on the Stoic Virtues Series​—four books, each on one of the cardinal virtues—I have come to more fully understand what the Stoics were getting at: LIFE IS ALWAYS DEMANDING ONE OF THESE VIRTUES FROM US. Always demanding us to be a good person despite the bad things that have happened. To do good in the world despite the bad that has befallen you. And in good times—in the face of the temptations, distractions, responsibility and obligations and obstacles that come with success and abundance—to be humble, to be disciplined, to be decent, to be generous, to hold true to your values. The fourth and final book in the Stoic Virtue Series, ​Wisdom Takes Work​, is set to come out this fall and there is something bittersweet about drawing these books to a close. ​ I'm better for having written them—not just as a writer, but as a person. Of course, I can already see all the things I'd do differently if I were starting over, all I've learned since publishing the first book in 2021. But, that's kind of the point. To get better as you go. To learn from your time here. To put your past self to shame. And though I finished the ​Stoic Virtues Series​, I remain committed to the work. I hope you do the same. And with the upcoming release of ​Wisdom Takes Work​, the team and I at Daily Stoic wanted to do something special, something we've never done before—a limited edition collector's set of all four books in the Stoic Virtues Series.​ ​ ​Each set is signed and numbered with a unique title page identifying them as part of the only printing of this series. I'm also throwing in one of the notecards I used to help me write the series (​learn more about my notecard system here​). You'll also receive these preorder bonuses too: ​ Don't miss out! The publisher told us once these collector's sets sell out, they won't be printing any more… So make sure to get yours while you still can! Just head to dailystoic.com/stoicvirtues to secure your Stoic Virtues collector's edition set today. ​ *** ​Unsubscribe | I only want to receive Saturday Stoic emails | Update your profile​ ​906 Main Street #274, Bastrop, Texas 78602 | info@dailystoic.com is not a monitored email