“If your standards are so high that you give up when you fall short of them, then actually you don’t have high standards. What you have are excuses.”

”True self-control means moderation not just in what we do, but how we think, how we feel, how we comport ourselves in a world of chaos and confusion”

Personally having dealt with the consequences of a lack of self-control and discipline, when I came across this book I knew it was for me. This book is full of stoic gems and worth the investment.

The instant New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestseller! In his New York Times bestselling book Courage is Calling, author Ryan Holiday made the Stoic case for a bold and brave life. In this much-anticipated second book of his Stoic Virtue series, Holiday celebrates the awesome power of self-discipline and those who have seized it. To master anything, one must first master themselves–one’s emotions, one’s thoughts, one’s actions. Eisenhower famously said that freedom is really the opportunity to practice self-discipline. Cicero called the virtue of temperance the polish of life. Without boundaries and restraint, we risk not only failing to meet our full potential and jeopardizing what we have achieved, but we ensure misery and shame. In a world of temptation and excess, this ancient idea is more urgent than ever. In Discipline is Destiny, Holiday draws on the stories of historical figures we can emulate as pillars of self-discipline, including Lou Gehrig, Queen Elizabeth II, boxer Floyd Patterson, Marcus Aurelius and writer Toni Morrison, as well as the cautionary tales of Napoleon, F. Scott Fitzgerald and Babe Ruth. Through these engaging examples, Holiday teaches readers the power of self-discipline and balance, and cautions against the perils of extravagance and hedonism. At the heart of Stoicism are four simple virtues: courage, temperance, justice, and wisdom. Everything else, the Stoics believed, flows from them. Discipline is Destiny will guide readers down the path to self-mastery, upon which all the other virtues depend. Discipline is predictive. You cannot succeed without it. And if you lose it, you cannot help but bring yourself failure and unhappiness.

productivity

Productivity

personaldevelopment

Personal Development

books

Books

Ryan Holiday is media strategist for notorious clients like Tucker Max and Dov Charney. After dropping out of college at 19 to apprentice under the strategist Robert Greene, he went on to advise many bestselling authors and multi-platinum musicians. He is the Director of Marketing at American Apparel, where his work in advertising was internationally known. His strategies are used as case studies by Twitter, YouTube, and Google, and have been written about in AdAge, the New York Times, Gawker, and Fast Company. He is the author is *Trust Me, I'm Lying: Confessions of a Media Manipulator*, which is due out in July. He currently lives in New Orleans, with his rebellious puppy, Hanno.

Ryan Holiday

Discipline Is Destiny

<ul><li>There’s no such thing as too much self care. Cleanliness is a mood booster and the perfect way to maintain order and the quality of your environment.</li></ul>

Indulge In Self Care 

<ul><li>Setting alarms on your phone or electronic device of choice is a great way to reset or maintain your focus.</li><li>Label alarms after specific activities or goals you’re currently working on.</li><li>Work ahead of alarm or get started right away.</li></ul>

Set Reminders 

<ul><li>Calendly</li><li>Google </li><li>Apple</li><li>Microsoft</li></ul>

Online Calendars 

To Do List are great, but another level of organization and productivity management are priority charts. See next idea for template.

Utilize A Priority Chart  

PRIORITY CHART 

<ul><li>Exercise/Go for a walk</li><li>Enjoy nature </li><li>Go to work, volunteer, intern, give service </li><li>Meet up with a friend</li><li>Utilize local resources : Parks, Coffee Shops, Shopping centers, Bookstores, Restaurants, Boba 🧋 Shops, Ice-cream </li></ul>

Get Outside 

<ul><li>Photos/Canvases</li><li>Plants</li><li>Lamps</li><li>Pillows</li><li>Rugs</li><li>Candles</li></ul>

Decorate Your Home

<ul><li>Affirm Self</li><li>Practice Self-acceptance </li><li>Forgive Self</li><li>Mirror Talks </li></ul>

Increase Self Love

<ul><li>Distance self and isolate in order to educate self on enforcing healthy firm boundaries.</li><li>Start with a few boundaries. </li><li>Consider setting boundaries early on. </li><li>Try to be consistent with your boundaries. </li><li>Carve out time for yourself.</li></ul>

Set Boundaries

Life is constant and as humans we are left to deal with our emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual health. Here are some simple, yet effective ideas to make sure we take care of the captain of our soul- self.

mindfulness

Mindfulness

mentalhealth

Mental Health

timemanagement

Time Management

How To Show Up For Yourself

<ul><li>Savings Accounts: High-yielding, Digital, Local FDIC insured</li><li>Money Market</li><li>Treasury Bills, T-Notes, T-Bonds</li><li>Stocks</li><li>Bonds</li><li>Assets : Art, Jewelry, Old vehicle, Accounts Receivables, Machinery</li><li>Gold/Silver</li><li>Land</li><li>Property</li></ul>

Part 1 Refresher : Ways To Grow Money 

A general increase in prices and fall in the purchasing value of money.

Inflation Defined 

<ul><li>Assets gain value during inflation. </li><li>Rich people have enough assets to create more wealth meanwhile, poor people don’t have any or enough assets.</li><li>Poor people are consumers and utilize assets, but rarely own them. Ex: Renting homes, cars, properties. </li><li>Wealthier people typically own a home that protects them from the rising rent caused by increasing prices. </li></ul>

How The Rich Get Richer During Inflation 

“During inflation, funds flow into the stock market, and stock prices continually rise. Money in those type of investments rise with inflation.”

Rich people are earning more, yet doing less. However, poor people are spending more, which in return causes them to have to work more, and typically earn less.

The Harsh Reality  

Diversify income. Be intentional to add more streams of portfolio and passive income than earned income. This is due to earned income requiring your actual time and having the highest tax.

Solution

Treasury Bills have been coined the 'safest investment' on earth. One reason is because they are backed by the government, and there’s a quicker return that is guaranteed. They also have a quick maturity time, which is 1 year or less. Con: You’re going to get a lower rate of return compared to other investments, such as stocks, bonds, money markets, and CD accounts.

Treasury Bills Vs. Inflation

T-Notes are Short term intermediate term debt securities with maturities of 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10 years. Pay a fixed rate of interest every six months. Can be purchased directly from government at auction or through broker. Mature 2-5 years.

Treasury Notes 

T-bills are usually sold at a discount and sold in $100 increments. The interest is equal to the face value minus the purchase price. Rates depend on interest rate expectations. Can be purchased electronically.

Treasury Bills 

T-bonds are fixed rate U.S government debt securities with a maturity of 20 or 30 years. Pays semiannually (every 6 months) until maturity, at which point the face value of the bond is paid to the owner.

Treasury Bonds 

When interest rates rise, prices of existing bonds tend to fall, even though the coupon rates remain constant, and yields go up. Conversely, when interest rates fall, prices of existing bonds tend to rise, their coupon remains constant - and yields go down.

Interest Rates Effect 

“Money is a tool, used properly it makes something beautiful. Used wrong it makes a mess.”

<ul><li>STCs stand for Share certificates </li><li>Fixed-rate term savings account</li><li>Another way to save </li><li>Issued only by credit unions, whereas CDs are only issued through banks</li></ul>Pros: <ol><li>They are safe (low-risk), offer guaranteed returns, and are ideal for long-term savings. </li><li>When you open a share certificate through a bank, you don't have to worry about losing your principal.</li><li>Have higher interest rates than traditional savings accounts and are a safe place to keep your money. </li></ol>Cons: <ol><li>May pay a penalty to access funds before the certificate matures, and there are better options for long-term investing.</li></ol>Pros > Cons

What Are STCS ?

Want to know how the rich get richer during inflation? This read includes insight on the strategies and investments of the wealthy vs the impoverished. Lastly, learn a little about U.S. security debts and the benefits of inflation.

Discover the world of business and economics.

economics

Economics

moneyandinvestments

Money & Investments

motivationandinspiration

Motivation & Inspiration

Teach Me Money (Pt. 2)

Earned - money derived from paid work. Ex: If you work a job (highest tax).Portfolio - money received from investments, dividends, interest, and capital gains.Ex: If you trade stocks.Passive - money you get neither from your portfolio nor earned income, and does not require an ongoing effort. Ex: Cash flow & Assets (never taxed).

Three Types Of Income

“Saving money will NOT make you rich”.

<ul><li>Many people who want to make more money are aware of multiple streams of income, but often make the mistake of trying to add multiple jobs.</li><li>Diversify the way you generate income.</li><li>Educate self on investing, assets, and entrepreneurship. </li></ul>* Fun fact: Winnings from the lottery is considered passive income.

Earn Diversely 

“The rich don’t have jobs, they have assets.”

Definition: Property owned by a person or company, regarded as having value and available to meet debts, commitments, or legacies.Ex: Art, collectibles, jewelry, stocks, bonds, treasury bills/notes, gold, silver, homes, land, cars.

Assets 

<ul><li>Auctions </li><li>Brokerage companies </li><li>Yard-sales/Flea-markets </li><li>Facebook marketplace </li><li>E-Bay </li><li>People you may know</li></ul>*Always perform due diligence to avoid potential scams.

Where To Buy Assets 

Money is a form of protection , a defense in times of need - Ecclesiastes 7:12 <ul><li>Lay-offs happen, tires blow out, and emergency expenses can arise at anytime. An emergency savings will help you be prepared and ready.</li><li>This proves Robert Kiyosaki’s statement, “Saving money will not make you rich,” true.</li><li>Money is not to be hoarded to reach a certain amount of wealth. Money must be managed and distributed wisely in order to effectively manage affairs.</li></ul>

 Money Is A Secret Weapon 

Different tools are used for different projects. Therefore, money is best generated and utilized on a diverse basis. The goal is to maximize.

Money As A Tool

<ul><li>High-yield Savings accounts</li><li>Certificates of Deposits (CDs)</li><li>Money Market Funds </li><li>Money Market Deposit Accounts </li><li>Treasury Bills and Notes </li><li>Bonds </li><li>Gold & Silver </li></ul>

Ways To Grow Money 

You may have heard the quote that “‘money is a tool” before. And of course, using a tool requires knowledge. Therefore, before spending money, gain knowledge of how to efficiently utilize it.

Teach Me Money (Pt. 1)

<ol>
<li>Allow self to feel all emotions. Sit in them. Do not distract self. Let the tears flow. Find the word that defines every emotion and just let them pass by.</li>
<li>Release and detach from those emotions after a period of time.</li>
<li>Hold on to the lesson.</li>
<li>See the good in what it was.</li>
<li>Clear conscious.</li>
<li>Shift focus. </li>
<li>Believe the best about self and life.</li>
<li>Put all efforts into progressing.</li>
<li>Continuously work on goals.</li>
</ol>

9 Steps To Win Emotionally

Give yourself time. Be mindful of the time you are dwelling on it. Keep track of thoughts. Embrace solitude. Allow yourself to heal.

Give Yourself Space To Be 

Accept and know in your heart that the experience does not define you or make you less than worthy, loved, or great. Take accountability and forgive self for any error.

Make Peace With Self

“Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny.”

Be determined to become better, and not bitter. Think thoughts of peace and love. Forgive and understand it’s okay to take time to process it. Love yourself more and love people who do not value you from a distance. Forgive yourself.

Evolve 

<ol><li>How am I viewing the situation? </li><li>How am I responding to the situation?</li><li>How has this impacted me or those around me? </li><li>How will I process the situation moving forward? </li></ol>

Reflect

Put your mind on that which is positive and that which you desire to see. Ex: Think about how you can self-develop and improve the quality of your life. Practice visualizing the life you truly want.

Change What You See 

<ul><li>Listen to motivational and faith filled messages.</li><li>Pray and meditate on scriptures that relate to your situation.</li><li>Prayer Journal what’s on your mind and heart. </li><li>Talk a walk and embrace The Creator’s presence </li></ul>*Release any guilt or shame, and believe God wants to help you overcome.

Draw Unto God

Here are some activities to channel your energy and achieve growth and positivity:

<ul>
 <li>💪 Working out</li>
 <li>📚 Reading</li>
 <li>💰 Money-making activities</li>
 <li>💆‍♀️ Self-care</li>
 <li>💤 Getting sufficient sleep</li>
 <li>🍎 Eating healthy</li>
 <li>🔨 Developing skills</li>
 <li>🎨 Working on crafts and hobbies</li>
</ul>

Additionally, listen to and speak positive affirmations to maintain a healthy mindset and avoid negativity.

Shift Your Energy

🔑 Choose safe spaces to open up :<ul><li>Hire a life coach</li><li>Go to therapy</li><li>Join a support group</li><li>Show up for yourself </li></ul>

Find Healthy Support 

<ul><li>Train your brain to recognize false beliefs or negative thoughts.</li><li>Call out the negative thoughts or lies.</li><li>Replace lies with truth.</li></ul>

Renew Your Mind 

<ul><li>Adopt a healthy diet. </li><li>Control alcohol intake and stop smoking (especially psychoactive drugs). Choose rehab or new habits. </li><li>Exercise regularly or take walks. </li><li>Breathing exercises. </li><li>Pilates, Yoga, Martial arts, Dance. </li><li>Coloring books. </li><li>Listen to Healing Frequencies : 528 Hz, 639 Hz, 432 Hz, 396 Hz.</li></ul>

Regulate Nervous System 

Do not mentally or verbally rehearse negative experiences. But focus more so on the lesson and how to apply it to your life. Stay present and bring yourself back to the present when your mind wanders back. Move forward.

Free Yourself 

REMEMBER YOUR CREATOR LOVES YOU AND HAS BRUNG YOU THIS FAR ♥️

Heartbreak, disappointment, loss, and betrayal all leave us dealing with the weight of emotions. However, if you believe “you are what you think”, then the idea is to be able to navigate our emotions to success. The key: Feel and Mind-shift.

religionandspirituality

Religion & Spirituality

loveandrelationships

Love & Relationships

Getting Through & Overcoming “Something Tough” 

In order to become the highest version of self, we must have a thorough understanding of ourselves. This involves both a strong connection to and awareness of who we are.To operate as our true selves, we must take the time to discover our true nature through self-reflection, self-care, and self development.Being too attached to other people, places and things will cause one to remain living under a false identity.It is okay to redirect your attention to self, and is required if one wants to live authentically.

Detaching To Reconnect

“The root of suffering is attachment”

<ul><li>We must detach ourselves from the outcome of any situation and simply trust that everything will work out in our favor.</li></ul>

The Law of Detachment 

If you have an insecure attachment style and suffered from Childhood Trauma, these two factors can make it either extremely difficult or too easy to detach and let go as you likely have a need for control due to the uncertainty of the outcome. Insecure Attachment Styles: Anxious, Avoidant, Disorganized Solutions: <ul><li class="ql-align-justify">Educate self on attachment style</li><li class="ql-align-justify">Identify and unlearn negative patterns </li><li class="ql-align-justify">Educate self on practicing emotional regulation </li></ul>

 Understand The Role Of Attachment Styles & Childhood Trauma  

<ul><li>Journal</li><li>Breath work</li><li>Practice gratitude</li><li>Take a walk and reflect </li><li>Take a bath and reflect </li></ul>

 5 Tips to Reconnect With Self

Is it a person, is it a place, is it a thing? Ask yourself whether or not this attachment adds value Be honest with yourself about your reason for being attached What is it that you are seeking from the attachment? Is it healthy to desire what you are seeking?

Identify Attachments 

Reconnecting with self takes some healing. The key to healing is feeling, not suppressing. Oftentimes we don’t want to think about what we are feeling. Avoid unhealthy coping mechanisms and old patterns by paying attention to how you are feeling. Give yourself space as if you were someone else. Place attention on pinpointing exactly what it is you are feeling, not the situation itself. Once acknowledged, embrace the emotion, once the emotion is embraced, release the emotion.

Control Attention & Embrace Emotion.

Accept that your authentic self is good enough. Accept that you do not need anything apart from you to add value to your life. Accept that not everyone and everything deserves your presence or attention. Accept that you can meet your goals without who or what you are attached to

What To Accept  

“I release everything that is not mine to carry”

“Love isn’t blind, attachment is”

Love is not blind, attachment is. When you are starved for love and connection or anything you need for survival, you will lower your standards and take nearly anything. Overlooking red flags, baggage, and things about the person/thing that a healed and filled version of you would not. It’s like grocery shopping on an empty stomach. You’re more likely to fill up on things you do not need or just straight junk. The solution: Let go to grow.

The Last Quote Explained:

How releasing attachments helps in discovering and operating as your authentic self.

Detach To Reconnect

Understand yourself and those around you.

Discipline Is Destiny

How To Show Up For Yourself

Teach Me Money (Pt. 2)

Teach Me Money (Pt. 1)

Getting Through & Overcoming “Something Tough”

Teirra Allen