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What does it cost to buy something? Sure there is the monetary consideration. A croissant cost you a couple of dollars. A car might cost me tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. I know with a car there is the added cost of insurance, maintenance and fuel. But there are hidden costs like the cost to garage the vehicle.  But if I look deeper I can find even more costs. From my blog series here --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-di-pietro/message

Opinion is the sister of judgement. I should only give my opinion when asked, and even then, I should not overreach. My opinion will not change the outcome, it will only create my own stress because the world surely isn’t conforming to my opinions. Politics is a classic example. We all seem to have an opinion. But our opinions and (henceforth arguments) do not change the world. This doesn’t mean you should be a political mute. But with politics as with most things, it is actions that matter. Does someone have a bad boss? Who says they are bad? Bad for the employee? Bad for the company? Bad for morale? To judge a good or bad boss, you need the full context of everything they are doing. Having an opinion as to the talent of the boss does nothing to change the employee's individual position. The lack of an opinion does not mean you go through life wistfully oblivious to your surroundings. It means you rationally assess and take action. I can't let my subconscious lead with opinion and judgement. See full blog article here --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-di-pietro/message

This question has both applications in the minutia and in the esoteric. In the minutia of my morning routine I've learnt to think before I act by taking first time. When I get to my desk, and before I open my laptop, I have a new habit of journaling before I do anything. Usually it's a question like the one above. The second thing I do is a sit with a pen and paper and write some thoughts of what comes to mind in the day ahead. I don't look at the previous days list I don't look at anything. I simply have a period of conscious flow. These few minutes other ones where I have the most control over my day at this moment I can consciously decide what I'm going to do next. Now sure the day derails along the way but it takes longer for the derailment, and I have a reference point to go back to if I do feel off path. Esoterically this question of consciousness is profound. Thinking before acting is the greatest challenge. It's our subconscious efficiently trying to help us. The subconscious was the first part of our brain which developed. It seems to resent having a new neighbour called the conscious. And, not the well-established neighbour, tries to dictate the way things are to the new boy. But this new neighbour is educated and hard-working. It's almost the opposite version of its well-established neighbour. This new neighbour is unique and makes our whole neighbourhood different to others. Humans are defined by our ability to rationalise. To nationalise is to make what-if decisions and simulations. The thing that differentiates us from all of the animals and species is our conscious ability to see our existence. In other words consciousness. To be conscious is to be human. As opposed to being an amoeba. To be the best human I can be I need to utilise their skills as much as I can. Thinking before acting is exactly what it means to be human. Let the subconscious habits first impressions. They are there for a reason. But very quickly recognise it is only a first impression and then put to work the power of rationalisation and in this process I am thinking before acting. Read the full blog article here --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-di-pietro/message

My Diary In colloquial language, to be clueless is to be ignorant, stupid, and have no idea about things.  In colloquial language, to be clueless is to be ignorant, stupid, and have no idea about things. To be clueless about things that don't matter is to be stoic. It means I shouldn’t engage in topics that don't matter and our outside of my control. But ignorance is not an ill. Being content is not the same as being happy. To be content is to be at peace, and tranquility. So being clueless about things that don't matter leads to tranquility because I’ll be  less worried and distracted by frivolities and uncontrollable events. But this comes at a price. My ever-increasing Stoicism has led to indifference and it's seen as arrogance. I can't help that. I am increasingly disconnected from trivia and gossip, but more engaged with the intellectual and conversations that matter to me. So although I am calm on the inside, I appear to be disconnected at one extreme and then very connected at the other. To others it seems like I am living in extremes. But this is not the case. I'm actually only living in one part of the spectrum, that of connection. In my own mind I completely disconnect with conversations that don't matter. Sure I smile and nod but my silence is palpable. To me I am just chilling out and waiting for the conversation to end. To others I may appear rude. This is also happening at home. When the talk turns to gossip I am disconnected. Just the other night I had a conversation with my son and his girlfriend about the newest philosophies in teaching. The booking question is called Range, by David Epstein. It's one of those books that makes you challenge what you otherwise believed to be true. These are the things that engage me, and talking about these thoughts help me become a better person, with more tools to lead a rational conscious life. I must thank Ryan Holliday for the tip. Some people in the conversation switched off and even left the table. I think I was just too much for them. Now the challenge is to find environments where I can let my thoughts freewheel and go further. I’m reminded by what Epictetus said. “Let silence be your goal for the most part; say only what is necessary, and be brief about it. On the rare occasions when you’re called upon to speak, then speak, but never about banalities like gladiators, horses, sports, food and drink—common-place stuff. Above all don’t gossip about people, praising, blaming or comparing them.” – Epictetus Read the full blog article here --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/steven-di-pietro/message