Mastery: Merry Christmas Ya Filthy Animals

Issue No. 52 | December 25th, 2023 | Read Time: 1 Minute

And just like that, there goes another year.

I could easily take this newsletter and talk about gratitude and New Year's resolutions, but I think I'm going to keep it short and give you a quick recommendation.

But before I do, I wanna share with you a pet peeve of mine:

I hate looking back on the past.

All it does is spark anxiety and prevent me from focusing on what's ahead. 

But this is the one time of year that I love doing it.

Because if you're like me and trying to make 2024 even better than 2023, we're gonna have to make some changes. 

And in order to do so, we have to look back on this year and figure out what we missed out on, what we should've done, and what we can do better.

Because Stoicism is all about awareness.

Awareness of what you did.

Awareness of your emotions.

And awareness of what you're doing right now.

So for my Christmas present to myself, I'm making a list of everything I did wrong this year.

It sounds kind of dreary, but honestly, it's the best present I could ask for.

And that's what I'd recommend you do.

Because you can't get better if you don't even know what you did wrong in the first place.

So if you had to give yourself one present this year, let it be a list of ways to get better.

But in the meantime, enjoy your Christmas because everyone deserves a break.

But don't get too comfortable because your best self is right around the corner.

See ya next year,

Isaiah Taylor

Dive Deeper

What I'm Currently Reading -

I'm now reading

The Stoic Challenge

by William B. Irvine. A book on using Stoic practices on modern challenges. 

• If you'd like to see my book notes pertaining to this book or any others I have previously read, then check out my websiteisaiahctaylor.comto view my entire library of notes and summaries.

Quote Of The Week

• "Climb mountains not so the world can see you, but so you can see the world.” — David McCullough Jr.