Brian Johnson delivers a short motivational "plus one" message emphasizing urgency and continual self-improvement. He recaps prior discussions about Stoic philosophy—particularly the idea that Stoic practitioners called themselves "progressors" (Greek procoptan)—and stresses that becoming a progressor often requires a "wake up" (personal crisis, loss, repeated failures, or persistent unhappiness). He cites Seneca and David Fiedler, references practical exercises (Quick Trip to Hell, Arete Basic Training, Heroic App, Heroic Coach), and issues a dramatic call-to-action, even dialing a symbolic emergency number to prompt immediate change.
Questions this video answers
procoptan
212-451-2000
April 13, 2024
Chapters
Hi, this is Brian. Welcome back to another heroic one. In our last few plus ones, we spent some time having breakfast with Seneca and David Feidler. As you may recall, we started by reminding ourselves that everything is on loan from the universe and that important fine print in our contract with life, one day, sooner than we'd like it, will all need to be returned. Then we learned the fascinating fact that the Stoics were called progressors, reflecting their humility in recognizing that none of them were perfect. But all of them were fiercely committed to actually practicing their philosophy and striving to make progress in moving from theory to practice to mastery. Today we're going to continue that chat. Then we'll move on to some other great wisdom from this great book. First, let's review what we covered yesterday. David Fiedler tells us progressor is a translation of the ancient Greek term for a student of Stoicism, a procoptan, or one who makes progress. Since none of the Stoic philosophers claimed to be perfect sages, but tried to make progress each and every day through the use of self reflection and various exercises, all of the Stoic philosophers were progressors. As we discussed, he continued by saying, in the end, to make progress as a human being, you must first realize that you are imperfect or have reason to improve, and second, have a desire to improve. It's no coincidence that one of Seneca's most frequently used words in his letters is progress or making progress toward wisdom. And as he concluded, most of progress consists in the desire to make progress, for without that desire, progress itself impossible. Then he said, and this is what we'll focus on today. I quote Feidler again. Strangely, one question the Stoics as a school never explored in depth is what causes someone to become a Progressor in the first place? While the precise answer to this would vary from person to person, obviously some kind of wake up call, as we would say today, is generally needed. It could be a personal crisis, a personal loss, repeated failures, or just a slowly growing realization that life is too precious to waste on the false goods that the world is constantly trying to sell us. Alternately, the wake up call could be a persistent feeling of unhappiness or depression because a person's real inner needs are not being met by his or her current beliefs or lifestyle. End quote. Now, regarding the importance of knowing we need to change and the even more important desire to want to change, two things come to mind. First, Seneca once said, the worse a person is, the less he feels it. Think about that for a moment. Eek. Second, the need for the wake up call is why we lean into the Quick Trip to Hell exercise in the early chapters of Arete, in in Basic Training, in the Heroic App, and in our first Heroic Coach module, each of which are linked in this plus one. We need to wake up. As we remember that this isn't a dress rehearsal. Today's plus one. I'm going to place an emergency call to your new bat phone. I'm dialing 212-451-2000. The phone is ringing. Can you hear it ring? Ring, ring. Answer the call, hero. It's time to live with more urgency as you turn up the heat. It's time to make progress as you activate your heroic potential. It's time to play your role humbly yet heroically well, giving your gifts in service to something bigger than yourself all day, every day, especially today.
