Stillness is the key by Ryan Holiday: An ancient strategy for modern life

“True success is not about running faster or working harder but in the ability to pause, reflect, and find clarity.”

Throughout history, there has been one quality that great leaders, makers, artists and fighters have shared. The Zen Buddhists described it as inner peace, the Stoics called it ataraxia and Ryan Holiday calls it stillness: the ability to be steady, focused and calm in a constantly busy world.

Drawing on a wide range of history's greatest thinkers, Holiday shows us how crucial stillness is, and how it can be cultivated in our own lives today. Just as Winston Churchill, Oprah Winfrey and baseball player Sadaharu Oh have done, we can all benefit from stillness to feed into our greater ambitions - whether building a business or simply finding happiness, peace and self-direction.

Stillness is the key to the self-mastery, discipline and focus necessary to succeed in this competitive, noisy world.

Key Lessons from the book Stillness is the key:

• The power of stillness in decision-making: In a noisy world filled with distractions, stillness allows for clearer thinking, better decision-making, and emotional regulation.

• Self-reflection leads to self-mastery: Taking time for introspection and solitude leads to greater understanding of oneself and personal growth.

• The importance of controlling the mind: Mastery over one’s thoughts and emotions is crucial for inner peace and achieving success. When we control our minds, we control our lives.

• The practice of meditation and mindfulness: Engaging in regular mindfulness practices like meditation can bring profound peace, reduce stress, and increase focus.

• Slow down to speed up: By slowing down and reflecting on decisions and actions, you can achieve long-term success more effectively than through constant hustle and chaos.

• Focus on what matters: Stillness enables the ability to focus on your priorities, minimizing distractions and learning to say no to things that do not contribute to your overall well-being or goals.

• Cultivating resilience: In times of stress or hardship, maintaining stillness allows for emotional resilience, helping you to endure challenges with clarity and grace.