The Daily Stoic – “Do You Think They Liked It?”

Episode Date: January 28, 2026
Host: Ryan Holiday

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ryan Holiday explores the real-life struggle and discipline behind practicing Stoicism, using Marcus Aurelius as an example. The focus is on the virtue of doing difficult things—not because they are enjoyable, but because discipline and perseverance are what define a philosopher's journey. Ryan ties these lessons into the present day, reflecting on personal setbacks and inviting listeners to join a Stoic challenge as a way to put these principles into action.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stoicism Is Hard, Even for the Wisest (00:26)

• Marcus Aurelius’ Struggles:
  • Ryan reflects on Marcus Aurelius, questioning if he enjoyed the demands placed upon him: “Do you think Marcus Aurelius liked getting up early? Do you think he liked being patient with people?... Of course not. We know that he struggled to get out of bed early. He writes about it in Meditations.” (00:27)
  • Even the best practitioners of Stoicism, regardless of status or years of experience, face difficulty in living up to their ideals.

2. Defining Discipline as a Virtue (00:44)

• Discipline Means Doing the Hard Thing:
  • “Discipline... is doing things you don’t want to do. It’s doing things because they’re hard. It’s doing the harder thing instead of the easy thing. It’s sticking with it when you want to quit.” (00:45)
  • Emphasizes that the struggle itself is proof of growth and virtue: “That’s what makes it a virtue.” (01:11)

3. Practical Stoicism: Ryan’s Personal Example (01:14)

• Facing a Rough Start to the Year:
  • Ryan discusses how his own year began poorly: illness, unforeseen obstacles, and storms.
  • The Stoic approach: Accepting what’s outside of one’s control but focusing on actions and attitude.
  • “I didn’t control that. We all got sick, that there were plans. Now there’s this big storm here in Texas. I don’t control any of that, but I do control whether I get myself back on track. And that’s what I’m doing.” (01:36)

4. Stoic Practice in Action: The Challenge (02:03)

• New Year, New You Challenge:
  • Announcement and details about the 21-day Stoic challenge to reinforce Stoic habits and discipline.
  • The challenge is “designed to make you do some things that maybe you’re not going to like doing, but you’re going to like having done.” (02:23)
  • Focus is on how you feel afterward—the rewards come from growth, not comfort.

5. Invitation and Community (02:39)

• Support and Accountability:
  • Ryan highlights the sense of community among participants: “Thousands of Stoics all over the world just spent the last 21 days, the first 21 days of the year, tackling one Stoic challenge after another.”
  • Reassures those who “fell off” or “missed out”—it’s not too late to start.

6. Central Message: Virtue is About the Result, Not the Process (02:20)

• Delayed Gratification:
  • “That’s what Stoicism is. That’s what virtue is. It’s about how you feel after, not how you feel in the moment, but what it gets you after.” (02:22)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Difficulty:

  • “It didn’t matter how much money or power he (Marcus Aurelius) had, how well he was steeped in the philosophy, or how long he practiced the habit. It was still hard because that’s what philosophy is about, what discipline is as a virtue.” (00:35)

• On Discipline:

  • “Discipline, as we said, is doing it anyway. It’s not doing what you ought not to do. And this isn’t always going to be fun and it’s not always going to be easy, but that’s what makes it a virtue.” (01:08)

• On Starting Again:

  • “If you are one of those people, well, it’s not too late. We’re going to give it another go and we’d love to have you with us.” (02:13)

Important Timestamps

• 00:26: Introduction of the theme – struggles of Stoics and Marcus Aurelius’s humanity.
• 00:44: The challenge and importance of discipline as a Stoic virtue.
• 01:14: Ryan’s personal reflection on starting the year off-track, and Stoic resilience.
• 02:03: Details on the ‘New Year, New You’ Stoic challenge.
• 02:39: Community encouragement and invitation for new participants.

Tone and Style

Ryan’s delivery is candid, encouraging, and relatable, blending ancient wisdom with practical, modern application. He acknowledges personal setbacks and normalizes the discomfort of discipline, while providing actionable encouragement for listeners to engage with Stoic principles.

Summary Takeaway:
Stoicism isn’t about enjoying challenges—it's about rising to meet them, as Marcus Aurelius and modern practitioners alike still struggle. Virtue, and especially discipline, lies in doing what’s hard, persisting when you want to quit, and judging your progress by how you feel afterward—not in the moment of discomfort or effort.

Call to Action:
Listeners are invited to join a global community in pursuing Stoic virtue by embracing the “New Year, New You” challenge—because the journey to wisdom is open to all, no matter where or when you start.