BRX Pro Tip: Why the Stoics Think About Death Every Day
Stone Payton: Welcome back to Business RadioX Pro Tips. Stone Payton Lee Kantor here with you. Lee, I know you are a real student of the stoics. I got a question for you because I think I saw this somewhere, why do stoics think about death so much? I mean, like, every day?
Lee Kantor: Yeah. I think, you know, that stoicism is important to me. Every day I read a passage from a stoic journal. I think that one of their main tenets of “Control what you can control” is just critical to the way I live my life and the way that we try to live the Business RadioX life. But one of the, kind of, foundational principles of stoicism is that they do think about death a lot, and they use mortality to kind of supercharge their focus. Stoics weren’t morbid in the sense that they just dwelled on death, but they look at the fact that everybody dies as kind of a daily reflection on death, as the ultimate productivity hack. When you’re thinking about your eventual death, that clarifies what things are really important, what things truly matter. It gets rid of all the distractions, and it can light a fire under your decision making.
Lee Kantor: So, it’s just a reminder, number one, time is limited. It’s about kind of sparking urgency and gratitude. Ask yourself, “If today were my last day, what would I prioritize?” And then, do that. It also kind of helps you focus on what you can control. Instead of stressing, double down on your choices and actions that are yours alone. This sharpens your focus. It reduces wasted energy. And number three, let go of your ego and fear. Knowing life is finite is going to help you stop sweating, kind of, the small stuff and the insignificant stuff and things like what other people think. When you clear that kind of mental noise, you become bolder, you become more authentic, and you become way more effective. It’s kind of a powerful mental reset that pushes you to live and work with intention, courage and clarity. So, that’s why I believe stoics think about death every day.
