Overview of This Is How You Should Think About It | 3 Stoic Exercises to Stop Taking Life for Granted
This episode is a Stoic meditation on mortality and how remembering that life is finite can make us more present, purposeful, and appreciative. The host argues that death is not a distant abstract event but a constant reality already shaping how we spend our time, and he uses three Stoic exercises—from Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, and Epictetus—to show how meditating on death can improve how we live now.
Note: the transcript includes several sponsor ads; the summary below focuses on the core philosophical content.
Main Idea
The central message is simple: you have one life, and the only certainty is the present moment. Instead of treating death as something to fear later, the Stoics suggest using awareness of mortality to:
- value time more carefully,
- stop wasting life on trivialities,
- become more grateful for ordinary moments,
- and treat other people’s time as sacred too.
The episode frames this as not being “obsessed with death,” but rather being obsessed with life.
Three Stoic Exercises
1) Seneca: Treat Time as a Fading Resource
Seneca’s lesson is that death isn’t only in the future—it is happening every day as time passes. The real issue is that people guard money and possessions more carefully than time, even though time is more precious and cannot be replaced.
Takeaways:
- Don’t give away your time lightly.
- Say no to obligations you don’t need.
- Respect other people’s time as well—being late, dragging things out, or carelessly inconveniencing others is, in a sense, stealing something they can never get back.
2) Marcus Aurelius: Ask Whether You’re Afraid of Losing Meaningless Things
Marcus Aurelius asks a blunt question: Are you afraid of death because you won’t be able to keep doing the shallow things you’re doing now?
The point is not to fear death less just so you can keep wasting life. It’s to recognize how much of life is spent on things that are spiritually deadening:
- mindless entertainment,
- arguments online,
- passive consumption,
- resentment,
- status-chasing,
- and procrastinating the things that actually matter.
Takeaway: mortality should wake you up, not make you more passive.
3) Epictetus: Practice Presence with the People You Love
Epictetus offers the most unsettling exercise: when you kiss your child goodnight, whisper to yourself that they may be dead by morning. The host explains that this isn’t meant to be morbid for its own sake—it’s meant to destroy complacency and deepen appreciation.
The episode uses personal stories of friends who died unexpectedly to reinforce the point that:
- no conversation is guaranteed,
- no future apology is guaranteed,
- no “later” is guaranteed.
Takeaways:
- Don’t rush through dinner, bedtime, or conversations.
- Don’t assume you’ll get another chance.
- Be fully present with the people in front of you.
Supporting Ideas and Examples
Historical reminders of mortality
The episode points out that older cultures were constantly surrounded by reminders of death, such as:
- vanitas paintings with skulls,
- dance macabre art,
- cadaver tombs that showed a person in life and in death.
These traditions existed to keep mortality visible and prevent people from drifting into forgetfulness.
Montaigne as a case study
The host shares the story of Michel de Montaigne, whose near-fatal riding accident jolted him into a more meaningful life. After the brush with death, Montaigne became a major writer, diplomat, and public figure. The lesson: mortality can be energizing if you let it clarify what matters.
Key Takeaways
- Death is not just a future event; it shapes every moment now.
- Time is the most valuable thing you have, and it is always being spent.
- A lot of what we fear losing is not worth clinging to.
- Mortality can help prioritize what truly matters: love, presence, purpose, and gratitude.
- The Stoic response to death is not despair, but better living.
Practical Actions
- Audit your calendar and cut one low-value commitment.
- Be more deliberate about protecting your time and others’ time.
- Identify one habit that numbs you and replace it with something meaningful.
- Slow down during meals, conversations, and bedtime routines.
- Reach out to someone you’ve been meaning to contact—today, not later.
- Keep the phrase memento mori in mind: remember you will die, so live accordingly.
Closing Thought
The episode ends with Marcus Aurelius’ stark reminder: “Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now take what’s left and live it properly.” The message is not bleak—it’s a call to stop postponing life and start inhabiting it fully.