“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and freedom.” — Viktor Frankl
It’s easy to nod along with that quote. But how often do you pause and reflect before responding? How quickly do you return to reacting like you always have?
The Stoics practiced pausing—not as weakness, but as wisdom. They knew that even a small delay could mean the difference between regret and the right decision.
Marcus reminds us that real greatness lies in what we’re willing to give away—our ego, our need for control, our fear of being overshadowed. The mark of a strong leader, a strong person, is not how much power they keep for themselves, but how much they empower others.
In a recent video on theDaily Stoic YouTube channel, Ryan Holiday discusses the process behind his time running the original marathon, from Marathon to Athens, Greece:
“Epictetus always talked about how everything has two handles. You can see something as hard and painful and that’s why you shouldn’t do it. Or, you can think of something as hard and painful and that’s why you should do it, learn from it, open yourself up to it. I’ve drawn on that in many of my life’s challenges before. Let’s see what’s in there. Let me see what I’m capable of.”
In a recent episode of The Daily Stoic Podcast, Ryan Holiday speaks with WNBA legend Candace Parker on championships, what it takes to be “great”, and why she keeps returning to her favorite book year after year:
“I first read The Alchemist back in 2012, but by 2015-2016, that’s when I took the step in. That’s when I was really being open, listening to my heart. [The book] talks about the soul of the universe and the world and how we’re connected, and I truly believe that stuff started to align when I aligned with my passions and my values.”
