The Daily Stoic Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Why Do You Wait for This to Get Harder? | Turn Words Into Works
Host: Ryan Holiday
Date: December 23, 2025

Overview

This episode explores the central Stoic question: Why do we wait for things to get harder before taking action? Ryan Holiday pulls from ancient Stoic wisdom to urge listeners not to delay difficult but necessary changes in life. He critiques procrastination, emphasizes the need to turn philosophical words into practical action, and challenges us to make daily, incremental progress toward virtue and self-improvement. As the last reflective meditation of the year, the episode doubles as a call to action—particularly around the start of the new year and Ryan's annual "New Year, New You" Stoic challenge.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Trap of Procrastination

• Ryan discusses the universal tendency to delay action:
  • People habitually put off hard conversations, healthier habits, or giving up bad ones.
  • Waiting doesn’t make tasks easier; it only increases the “interest” you pay down the line.
• Notable Quote:

  "Procrastination isn't saving you. It's only adding interest to the bill you're going to have to pay eventually."
  (Ryan Holiday, 01:02)

2. Everyday Examples of Delay

• Delaying tough discussions and health changes makes them more difficult.
• Excuses are endless: being busy, waiting for things to “settle down,” or after certain milestones (birthdays, work projects).

3. The Stoic Imperative: Act Now

• Epictetus’s advice: Demand better for yourself—don’t make change harder by putting it off.
• Stoicism requires active effort: Change comes from deliberate, consistent action, not accident.
• Question posed to the listener:

  "How much longer are you going to wait?"
  (Ryan Holiday, 02:51)

4. Introducing the “New Year, New You” Challenge

• Ryan describes the annual Daily Stoic challenge, which delivers 21 actionable exercises over the first three weeks of January—each rooted in Stoic principles.
• Emphasis on building resilience, gratitude, focus, and strong habits to meet the challenges of 2026.

5. Turning Words Into Works (The Year’s Final Meditation)

• From the Daily Stoic Journal: Philosophy isn’t just for reading and reflection—it must be practiced.
• Marcus Aurelius cautioned himself not to get lost in philosophical journals at the expense of action.
• Key Quote:

  "The art of living will never be found anywhere but in our own efforts to be a good person."
  (Ryan Holiday, 07:05)

6. Stoic Wisdom: Quotes from the Classics

• Marcus Aurelius, “Meditations” 3:14:

  "Stop wandering about... Get busy with life's purpose. Toss aside empty hopes. Get active in your own rescue. If you care for yourself at all, do it while you can."
  (Ryan Holiday, quoting Marcus Aurelius, 07:44)

• Marcus Aurelius, “Meditations” 8:1:

  "You never found the art of living anywhere... Where is it, then? In doing what human nature demands. And how is a person to do this? By having principles be the source of desire and action."

• Seneca’s “Moral Letters” 108:

  "All study of philosophy and reading should be for the purpose of living a happy life... Noble and courageous words that can become facts. We should learn them in a way that the words become works and ultimately."
  (Ryan Holiday, quoting Seneca, 08:43)

7. The Writer’s Challenge: Practice, Not Preaching

• Personal Reflection: Ryan admits even as a writer, the real measure is his own progress and application—not how eloquently he can discuss Stoicism.
• Memorable Analogy: Improvement is measured like scientific experiments: against “the control group” of how you’d fare without intervention or effort.

8. The True Aim of Stoicism

• Main Takeaways:

  • The measure of philosophy is action and virtue, not scholarly debate or internal musings.
  • Small daily progress and holding oneself accountable matter more than aiming for epiphany.
  • Last message for the year: Don’t let another year slide by unchanged—reflect, plan, and commit to tangible improvement.

• Final Memorable Quote:

  "We should waste no more time arguing what a good person is. Be one."
  (Ryan Holiday, paraphrasing Marcus Aurelius & Epictetus, 11:23)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Procrastination and Repetition:

  "We put off eating healthier, making it harder to get started the longer we work. We put off going to the gym or exercising, not thinking about how much more effort that time will cost us."
  (Ryan Holiday, 00:47)

• Reflective Honesty:

  "How would I grade myself on that? I don't know. Not as high as I'd like, but higher than before, right? Higher than if the intervention had never happened..."
  (Ryan Holiday, 10:36)

• Turning Philosophy Into Practice:

  "It's not about pretending. It's not about imitating. It's about action. It's about putting up the numbers, putting up the results, trying to get a little bit better every single day."
  (Ryan Holiday, 12:02)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00 – 03:40: The nature of procrastination and why waiting increases difficulty.
• 03:40 – 06:30: The “New Year, New You” Stoic Challenge and call to action.
• 06:35 – 13:30: Reflection from the Daily Stoic Journal—turning philosophy into lived action, with readings from Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, plus Ryan’s personal application.
• 13:31 – End: Reflections on progress, holding yourself accountable, and closing thoughts for the year.

Tone & Language

The tone is candid, motivational, and reflective, consistent with Ryan Holiday’s straightforward and encouraging delivery. Stoic maxims are presented with humility and honesty about Ryan’s own struggles to practice what he preaches.

Summary Takeaway

Don’t wait until things get more difficult—begin now. Stoicism is a philosophy of action, not just contemplation. Every day is an opportunity to move from words to works, and the start of the new year is the perfect time to recommit to that journey, together.

For more information or to join the New Year Stoic Challenge, visit dailystoic.com/challenge.