The Daily Stoic – "We’ve Always Done This | Balance The Books Of Life Daily"

Date: November 25, 2025
Host: Ryan Holiday

Episode Overview

In this episode, Ryan Holiday explores the timeless nature of human behavior through the lens of Stoicism. Drawing on the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and Epictetus, Ryan reflects on how our daily rituals, struggles, and triumphs mirror those of people hundreds or thousands of years ago. The second half of the episode delves into the metaphor of "balancing the books" of life, emphasizing the importance of daily reflection and journaling as tools for ongoing self-improvement and mindfulness.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Repetition of Human Experience

• Human Similarity Across Ages ([00:40])

  • Despite technological and cultural changes, people’s lives closely resemble those in the ancient world.
  • Quoting Marcus Aurelius, Meditations: People in “bygone days” did what we do now: “marrying, raising children, getting sick, dying, waging war, throwing parties, doing business, farming, flattering, boasting, distrusting, plotting, hoping others will die, complaining about their own lives, falling in love, putting away money, seeking high office and power...” ([01:10])

• Modern Parallels ([02:05])

  • Everyday actions (e.g., “taking the scenic route,” “talking baby talk to their dog,” “staying up late reading,” “fretting about their parents”) are not unique to us but have been done for thousands of years.
  • Ryan emphasizes shared humanity: “This is what we do. This is what it means to be human. Some of it is good, and some of it is better to resist. But it’s the rhythm of life, the bleeding of eras, one into the other.” ([02:45])

• Stoic Reflection ([03:20])

  • When experiencing emotions—exasperation, joy, annoyance—recognize that these feelings are part of the ancient, ongoing human dance: “Different eras, same steps.” ([03:40])

2. The Practice of "Balancing Life’s Books"

• Journaling as a Stoic Tool ([05:59])

  • Journaling gathers up “life’s experiences, its insights, its frustrations, its unexpected struggles and triumphs.”
  • Inspired by Seneca, whose father-in-law balanced the books for Rome’s granary, Ryan urges listeners to “balance life’s books each day” because the future is uncertain.

• Quotes from Stoic Philosophers ([06:31])

  • Seneca:
    • “Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life’s books each day. Life’s greatest flaw is that it is always imperfect and a certain portion of it is postponed. The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time.” (Moral Letters 101)
    • “Believe me, it’s better to produce the balance sheet of your own life than of the grain market.” (On the Shortness of Life)
  • Epictetus:
    • “I am your teacher, and you are learning in my school. My aim is to bring you to completion unhindered, free from compulsive behavior, unrestrained, without shame, free flourishing and happy looking to God in things great and small... The work is quite feasible. It is the only thing in our power. Let go of the past. We must only begin. Believe me. And you will see.” ([07:40])

• Celebrating Small Progress ([08:50])

  • Ryan reflects on finishing a “Daily Stoic journal” and a “One Line a Day” journal, expressing pride in consistent, incremental work: “When I look at some of the things that I wrote five years ago... I am proud of myself for the work that I have been putting in on myself.”
  • He connects this to Epictetus: “Some people delight in improving their farm. Me, I delight in my own improvement day to day.” ([09:13])

• Accumulation of Effort ([09:30])

  • “Listening to this podcast is a little bit of work. Your journaling is a little bit of work. The reading you’re doing is a little bit of work... And all of this, it might not seem like much as you’re doing each individual thing, but... many Mickles make a muckle. Or as Zeno said, the well being is realized by small steps, but it’s not a small thing.”
  • “As we chip away at this stuff... cumulatively it is adding up. It is taking you somewhere. And that is not to be underrated.” ([10:00])

• Encouragement to Practice ([10:36])

  • Journaling is more than just catharsis: “It’s not just a moment of stillness... the power of it is that it is recording your progress as you go.”
  • Ryan motivates listeners to try journaling for themselves to tangibly track growth.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Human Nature:

  • “This is what we do. This is what it means to be human. Some of it is good and some of it is better to resist. But it’s the rhythm of life, the bleeding of eras, one into the other.” – Ryan Holiday ([02:45])

• On Daily Completion:

  • “Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life’s books each day. Life’s greatest flaw is that it is always imperfect and a certain portion of it is postponed. The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time.” – Seneca, Moral Letters 101 ([06:45])

• On Improvement:

  • “Some people delight in improving their farm. Me, I delight in my own improvement day to day.” – Epictetus (quoted by Ryan) ([09:13])

• On Small Steps:

  • “Many Mickles make a muckle. Or as Zeno said, the well being is realized by small steps, but it’s not a small thing.” – Ryan Holiday ([09:56])

Important Timestamps

• 00:40 – 03:20: Exploring the universal nature of human behavior through Stoic texts
• 05:59: Journaling as a method for balancing life’s books
• 06:31 – 07:40: Quotes from Seneca and Epictetus on daily reckoning and improvement
• 08:50: Ryan’s reflection on his journaling journey
• 09:56: Discussion of cumulative progress and Stoic wisdom on small steps

Tone & Language

Ryan’s tone throughout the episode is reflective, approachable, and encouraging. The language remains accessible, inviting listeners to recognize themselves in the Stoic tradition and to find meaning in small, consistent steps toward self-improvement.

Summary

This episode reminds listeners that while the world around us constantly changes, the core experiences of humanity remain the same. Stoicism offers not only insight into this continuity but also practical advice: regularly “balance the books” of your own life through intentional reflection and small, cumulative actions. In Ryan’s words: “As we chip away at this stuff... cumulatively it is adding up. It is taking you somewhere. And that is not to be underrated.”