Seek Out Shipwrecks

I am blogging everyday (or nearly everyday) on The Daily Stoic.

I’m reminded of the song The Light by Disturbed.

The idea is that darkness will show you the light. Opportunities that we didn’t have before we get from some form of suffering or tragedy. We’ve all had these life defining moments. I had a real shitty six months that led me to improve my life. I had my roommate bail on me unexpectedly, my girlfriend broke up with me, and I got in trouble at work. I started reading and listening to self improvement content. It was a defining moment that changed the path I was on in life. When I’m suffering I try to see it as an opportunity to be better.

Respect The Past, But Be Open To The Future

I am blogging everyday (or nearly everyday) on The Daily Stoic.

Conservative ideas were cutting edge when they were first introduced. I think about this often when looking to solve problems. There are tried and true ways of doing things. Often they work well. There are other times though that things can get done in a more efficient or effective way. A way that hasn’t been tried before. This is where creativity comes in. While I’m not an artist there is creativity in the way I tackle things or solve problems.

Pillage From All Sources

I am blogging everyday (or nearly everyday) on The Daily Stoic.

Where ideas or thoughts come from doesn’t matter. Just because Brad Pitt says something doesn’t make it anymore special than if someone not nearly as famous says it. This is what I based the Exploring Information Security podcast on. I would grab all sorts of professionals in the infosec field. I got people who have gotten their name in conferences and on Netflix shows. If heard or read someone say something interesting and thought the content was good, I’d interview them. I’ve had Samy Kamkar (he was on the Netlfix show White Rabbit) on the show. I’ve also had Brandon Wilson who spoke at Knoxville BSides in 2017 to a small crowd. He learned how to hack a car from the 1990s. To me it didn’t matter the status of people just what they would provide my audience. It’s easy to overlook people without status. Often times there are a lot of great ideas we’ve never heard of from people who don’t have a huge following or platform.

Daily Stoic(s)

I am blogging everyday (or nearly everyday) on The Daily Stoic.

Yesterday - Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff

Don’t focus on things that don’t matter. This is a bit of a conflict for me because what doesn’t matter? I like playing video games. Others may see them as something that doesn’t matter. I believe (hope) it is what matters to me. Video games are something that matters to me. Some of the things that don’t matter to me could be things like social media or raging about things that are out of my control. There’s a balance I think. Video games are valuable to me, yet I can spend too much time on them and ignore other parts of my life that matter to me. Maybe I’m sweating the details too much.

Today - It’s In Your Self Interest

I am trying to apply what’s in my best interest to staying up too late. It’s difficult because I often feel like what I’m doing is in my own self interest at the time. I wake up the next morning with regret and disappointment. I’m hoping if enough of that happens it stops. I think it’s easy to say and hard to put into practice.

Don't Be Miserable In Advance

I am blogging everyday (or nearly everyday) on The Daily Stoic.

This is something I’ve had to work on the past two years. Worrying and being miserable about things that haven’t happened. This was primarily an issue at work. Someone would say something or do something that would require a response from me either the next day or next week. I would fume and worry over it. I’ve had to let that worry about work go. It wasn’t good for my health and made me distracted in the present moment. I try to look more at the present and not worry so much about the future. I think a little can be good for being prepared. Making myself miserable though is definitely not beneficial.