Why People Struggle With Self-Control - According To The Ancient Greeks

[@itanof9460]

This video was very informative. This Greek idea of living in moderation and experimentation so one can live thier life optimally with regard to their higher self and aspirations and lower self and desires is brilliant. It allows a person live a life they are happy with, without the fear or guilt of not living up to some grand ideal. Thank you for making this video, please continue making content like this.

[@VigilantGuardian6750]

Islamic prophet Mohammad was also a proponent of this idea of way of the middle as also few eastern mystics. The only problem I have with the experimentation part is that theres some things that you can argue as objectively destructive to experiment with, like killing some living being, drugging yourself up so that chemicals force your brain to be in some state or trying to divorce your sexuality from humanity by casually whoring around and many other examples.

[@hannaghasser539]

It’s extremely fascinating for me that whenever I start to question my environment, and specifically the behaviors of people around me, you upload a video which you’re discussing exactly the same idea, that I was questioning, in it. It has become a tradition for me, a meaningful one. Thank you for that. I was thinking: Why do we know smoking cigarettes are not good for us, and there are still some people that are newly getting started out on smoking? We live in a world where there at least lies one phone, and one google on the counter of where we live; therefore it’s impossible to say people are just not aware. Of course you now are aware of the fact that smoking isn’t good for you. And I’ve come to realize that the problem is exactly the fact that we only “think” we are being educated. This is exactly the problem. Because we are only receiving information and constantly accepting them. We don’t even take the time to process the information which has been received. This is not what education should do. Education must teach you to think for yourself, reach out for yourself and do not blindly agree with things which you don’t have any clue about. “Have courage”, said Kant, “to use your own mind! Dare to know! “ Dare to think and become aware of what Kant calls “man's emergence from his self-imposed immaturity. “

[@Torgomasta]

Dare to know, said by the philosopher who said reality is unknowable 😂

[@juderomines2816]

“I think perfectionism is based on the obsessive belief that if you run carefully enough, hitting each stepping-stone just right, you won't have to die.” - Anne Lamott

[@jenperez3399]

Sorry I don’t understand, is that a good thing or a bad thing

[@darksidefox3060]

It's so funny because I recently picked up some "productive" things in my routine such as reading, exercise, self-reflection, and waking up early. I've tried to force myself to do these things because that would mean that I am a better human, than actually doing them because they bring me value. After I gave up on trying to achieve perfection, I found myself naturally picking up these habits because in the long run they made me feel good and they made sense to me to implement them. Thank you for the video and for bringing a fresh perspective to self dicipline!

[@jarl428]

Many people when they get into these self-help habits tend to envision this powerful end goal in mind, and when they feel like they're not seeing progress towards it, they become discouraged. This is where I disagree with his criticism against the fetishization of self-disipline, because it's the deriving of pleasure from the act of self-disipline itself that makes so successful, as opposed to deriving pleasure only from the end results. To put it simply: "Love the grind". You can acheive more by doing this. To "self-regulate" in the way he describes to find average of your vices and motivations is simply settling for mediocrity. Take that as what you will.

[@pleasantmelody]

I had just recently started trying to be more in tune with my true desires and I feel like I never even truly lived before i started doing so! I didn't even realize how much of my self I've been suppressing all my life because I wanted to have "objective" value as a human being but now I want to learn more about myself and focus on my actual thoughts and conclusions and emotions without feeling like I am constantly being judged .. It shall be a long path .. All those rules just felt like they were taking my life away from me

[@Godamole]

The problem is that the complexity of one’s “ideal mode” of self control is so overwhelming that’s it’s precisely people’s questioning of their own modes which compels them to dogmatically attempt to apply the modes of a guru to their lives. Life is too complex for you to “find your own path”. The paradox is that it’s also this questioning which will sabotage one’s attempt to apply a discipline dogmatically, resulting in that “discipline” not working, and then confriming one’s belief that any discipline can work. You end up being unable to forge your own path and also not trusting any of the myriad paths offered by authority. Then you’re lost. Your sense of reason will sabotage your disciplinary routine by convincing you that it’s “just a dogmatic routine”. This is why they sing silly songs in army camps, it’s to remind you that your path forward is, somehow, attached to blind trust in the tune you set for yourself to follow 2 months ago on new years. It means you have to dumb yourself down, but it works. You have to have the humility to do so. I sure as fuck don’t

[@PatriceBoivin]

Sadly many "gurus" are sociopathic narcissists who want to build up a following around them, profit, or have sex with fawning subordinates. They lie constantly, every day. The lies create a false impression of what they are really like, or of their daily routines. It's profitable. Sociopaths can lie no problem and narcissists are all about keeping up appearances as long as everything becomes the backdrop for their own life story. Some of the Christian dictates were inherited from Mosaic law, back when James and his buddies were hell-bent on fighting against the Romans. The Romans wrote the New Testament (in Greek, the language spoken by most Romans) to pull the rug from under the Jewish devotees who were zealots, "zealous for the Law (of Moses)". Gnostic ideas helped create this notion that people have a higher and a lower self. Some of that came from the Greeks, some from Persia (Zoroastrianism), etc. perhaps it all got mixed in a giant blender in Alexandria and we ended up with writings from people like Philo of Alexandria. The ideas grew, flowed through Europe, in the 1800s the idea of higher self popped up in Theosophy and later, in the Gurdjieff Work (e.g. www.endlesssearch.co.uk/philo_human_nature.htm ). The idea of higher being bodies being the key to achieving immortality, because most people don't have a soul -- one has to build one to avoid recurring or reincarnating. The Pool of Mnemosyne instead of the Pool of Lethe kind of idea.

[@Godamole]

@@PatriceBoivin the social image we want to create of ourself to impress others is the most pervasive and surreptitious illusion we engage in. From myself to you, and all others, gurus included

[@ingrata6602]

Really looked-down upon topic here, it is nice to see some people on the same page as you. I think as you mature up, you realize to think out of the box and this conversation is very useful at explaining this modern "dilemma". Brilliant video

[@RCWaldun]

The journey of reading and maturation never ends. :)

[@ingrata6602]

;)

[@juane.7628]

About the topic of self control as an end instead of a medium: this is a really interesting point. As Nietzsche said, ascetism (a form of self control of the pathos), something that he critiziced a lot, mostly in the form that christianity use it's ethics, is not bad by itself. As you said, it is bad if it becomes and end, it is bad when the wanted thing is the ascetism itself. What does that leads to? It leads us to want nothing. If you want to train it should not be just to be discipline; you should train because you know that it is good for your healt and because it helps your brain when you study. If you eat better it shouldn´t be just because you are discpline, you should do it because yoi know wich food is good for your body and will make you good at your training and help your brain to be well fueled to study, if those are the things that you want. if we are disciplined just for the sake of being discplined, we end in a never ending work, just as a worker in a factory. If your discipline, as also Nietzsche said, if your ascetism, is driven by another force that give it meaning, then you feel and know that you are becoming greater, that you are becoming a better self. I didn´t finish the video yet and it is interesting just by what I've watched. But the conclusion that I can get from what I´ve seen and what I've tought is that people struggle with self discipline because is not well oriented to achieve something beyond it. It is a nihilistic discipline.

[@andreeam244]

the true everyday effort is to get through life in your own way in a world that wants you compliant. thank you for this interesting topic!

[@jeffgonshak4010]

Something I’ve taken note of recently from Plato’s Republic, on money and greed: “Because, in so far as he is able to save or spend, he will do so under the watchful guidance of the principles of self-government in his own heart; and his only concern will be to prevent them being upset either because he possesses too much or too little.” I think it aligns nicely with the idea of training yourself to understand your own needs. Great video!

[@Karolina-dr8du]

When you mentioned sources scripts for the video I immediately subscribed because I knew this would be good

[@RCWaldun]

I like to articulate my thoughts in writing before I shoot a video about it, and I'll continue to refine my understanding and welcome any criticisms/counterpoints. Thank you :)

[@elviremerrelle]

This just answered my feeling of guilts towards certain things 😳 I’m always hving an inner dialogue about particular feelings I experience and I’ve never really had an answer as to why I experience feelings of guilt for certain things and this has just changed my perspective completely I’m glad I stumbled upon this video.

[@shamanicrevolution2204]

The self help stuff has its roots in even more antiquated sources than the teachings of the cynics (or dog philosophers) of ancient Greece. The concept of a "higher self" is directly lifted from Hinduism, (the "Atman") and "Maya" - (the illusory world that is analogous to simulation theory). Self help is a vast sea of content to dismiss due simply to what your English teacher once remarked. It contains themes like delayed gratification, again borrowed from ancient sources such as Seneca (from the ancient Roman Stoic tradition). To become a transient-moderate person as you mentioned, would be a great idea, but it plainly ignores the spectrum of goals that people have, not to mention their personalities, failings and brain chemistry. I once woke up at 5am daily (terrible idea), but only because I had to single handedly run a company in a different time zone. People look to the self help gurus when they are at the bottom of a mountain that needs climbing, in that regard they have their place. Great essay once again. I Should also mention I am not a fan of self help. Bastardised versions of old religions do not appeal to me.

[@tme98]

The golden middle path, Aristotle mentions this in depth in his "nichomachaen" ethics (or however it is written) - a great read, I advice it to anyone who wish to go deeper into this topic.

[@victorslach2384]

You are my favorite KZbinr, so I will listen to your advice, from now on I will always look for the right middle. and since you have read a lot of books I am sure you are right

[@graceenrub5280]

I feel love at first sight, seeing you speak and listening to you. I can't understand why. ❤

[@seasyrenn]

I believe that when you're highly motivated by nothing else but purely your guilt to do anything in your life,you start to grow this self-hatred but subconsciously and i believe that nothing cures you like being completely self-aware and doing exactly what your body is asking you to do at that moment. Ofcourse that's difficult but what's even worse than that atleast in my opinion is to blindly follow routines that is literally a social suicide,you cannot.program yourself but you can adapt what's best for you even if its wacky,who cares? Eventually if you try hard enough you and anyone else can tune in with their own lifestyle. Point is,you can be different and still be organised but not the "5 am ..drinking green smoothies kind of organised" read books at 5 am...draw at 6 am if you're inspired by beautiful sky outside ...eat breakfast later,whatever your body asks for. Adapt schedule to make your own soul grow in way that suits you. Not everyone is cut out for these " cookie cutter sort of rules" and that's fine...nothing is unpure about living differently than others. That's just what society wants you to follow. As always...love your videos man! This needs much more views 🙌

[@abbyyung3098]

i love this

[@kristindavids5264]

In general, R.C Waldun .. u sir , your content makes me think a lot on what u discuss and thank u for what u r bring to the world 🌎 u r very inspiring and I love your perspectives on things.. looking forward to future content 😀

[@anitastatham8378]

I really enjoyed your perspective on this. Thank you :)

[@aubrey2354]

Finally a different perspective. Iv needed this for many years in my life. Iv known of Moderation but not applied as an alternative way of controlling the self

[@bohemianrayofsunshine4807]

an excellent video essay Robin! I really love the way u always challenge our beliefs n help us to ponder. Nicely presented. You have a unique accent, sometimes it takes me a while to understand what u r actually saying but none the less , amazing. Why not make a 2nd part of this video essay telling us how to practically experiment and balance between those integral forces of us- how to come to a conclusion what actually works for us and not get swayed away by the influence of those who me idealize. How u practically applied it in ur life, would make it v easy for us if we r presented w a practical example. Uk, sometimes it gets v difficult to understand what truly works for us esp for young generations bcz we lack certain experiences...we lack awareness n r not even aware that we r lacking it. Would love to know ur views ! Much love!!!

[@al1iii]

Congrats on 200k!

[@uwugod2769]

Blind faith is such a dangerous way of life. In Vajrayana (Tibetan) Buddhism, lots of stress is put upon such student/teacher bonds. You are encouraged to think of your teacher as a Buddha, an all-knowing being that will guide you to nirvana. However, I think the difference between Vajrayana and this blind faith that plagues “self-help” is that (in Vajrayana) you are always told to question things. “Why should I meditate?”, “Why do I want to be enlightened?”, “Why should I listen to my guru?”, “Why should I be practicing buddhism at all?” Why, why, why. This is because Vajrayana recognizes that blind faith ultimately leads you to ignorance and suffering. I don’t think its bad to be overly disciplined, or to see your guru as all-knowing, but if you lead your life without asking youself fundamental questions-without trying to understand yourself and your motivations- it creates a dangerous environment for you.

[@theoneapm]

Hey brother, this video changed my view, when I was you age, literally I was not confused, I was blisd and deaf.

[@ginamin]

this video has clarified so much of what has been occurring within myself, this fight between my morals and what i perceive as just and the innate human desires of pleasure.... the greek notion of the Use of Pleasure rings a bell with the story of the Buddha who advocates for the Middle Way. he initially starts off as a prince with all the worldly pleasures and comforts he could imagine and finds it dissatisfying. he then goes off to renounce all material possessions and pleasures as a forest monk and tests himself through intense meditations, fasting, etc. but he realizes he doesnt achieve the end of his suffering through either means and discovers the middle way. a balance between the two.

[@Sirrajj]

Thanks i needed this, my exam is just two days away & i still can't get away from this phone, really struggling with self control currently but I will improve!

[@effiez1383]

Great content 👍 Greetings from Greece 🤓

[@winthropstatue]

this video came at the right time and made me want to insert some self control over my life. i know i should be doing things like sleeping earlier and doing my homework and going outside more, but i can't find the will to do it until now. thanks for the video!

[@iloveperros]

I see where yo want to get with this reflection, and i appreciate your conclusions. Let's not forget, though -even for the sake of your own argument- that by relying exclusively in oneself in order to determine "what's moderate and what isn't", we are also at risk of practicing a sort of "religion without god", except that the "god" becomes our perceived "sense of moderation" -which is a very real and yet intangible, complex thing that is constantly changing and which is always subject to a myriad of variables-. In fact, i'd go as far as to argue that there are many social media accounts that promote radical self-trust -and self-love, and all that- that are doing us more harm than good, because they are asking for individuals to answer the impossible questions -how loveable am i?, how responsable am i, how moderate am i? who should i obey? who should i pay tribute to? what happens if i misbehave?- that not too long ago were answered by the big institutions, such as religions. Hence why we feel progressively more depressed and lonely than we've ever had.

[@iloveperros]

Forgive my grammar! I'm not a native speaker.

[@smurfo3000]

wow one of the best videos i've seen on the internet, thats mr walnut for you (: keep up the good work

[@TwistVisuals]

Thanks a lot for making this video. This is golden advice. Came at just the right time for me.

[@banelendlovu3181]

I'm a fan of your work bro. I was hoping to add this to the discussion. The Christian philosophy of self control is way more profound than you seemed to suggest about it. I know I cannot expect you to explain it as a theologian would, since you're not Christian to begin with, but I hope I can just shed some light on it. It says this, fundamentally, yes! There is a standard of perfection that all people know, innately, is worth obtaining. But then here's the twist, Christianity doesn't tell you to strive for it with purely by will power, "for we all [continually] fall short of God's glorious standard. (Romans 3:23). Yet God, in his Grace, freely makes us right in his sight." "For by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not of your own striving, it is the gift of God. He himself by operating his spirit in us moves us towards the image of the ideal man (Christ) As we draw closer to God. If any one knows what the ideal man should look like, it is most likely the maker of men, and less likely the men themselves. So it is not by our effort, for in that case we are doomed to fail, but by assistance from God who is able to get us there. "What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!"

[@RCWaldun]

Thanks for the note. :)

[@crucialily]

Love this! I was looking for this... if not I would have wrote it! 🙏

[@annasoares6523]

Exactly what I was thinking, but would not have been able to articulate.

[@ashablue78]

Excellent addition!

[@bobfridge]

@@crucialily Same.

[@steventhebro7210]

A methodology suited to this model of continuous improvement is to embody and then adjust. Where one entirely immerses oneself into a self-control habit, then as time progresses to readjust this habit to their "ends"

[@stagvelvet]

Time to binge your content as a way of reaffirming that there is good in the world. My apologies and thanks.

[@isaacmwangaza]

Thank you so much for the exposé and I would like to add that the Ancient Greek philosophy in search of “moderation” was propagating self indulgence and the glorifying of Self which is so prevalent in our modern day and if we are being honest it has led to people plunging themselves in destructive vices. On the other hand Christianity remained stable and pursued charity which was the highest “virtue” to be achieved in society (I think in any society) because in its view of achieving self control it sort to show the depravity in man and how the inclination of the heart of man was constantly evil and in pursuit to gratify and please self at any cost whatsoever and at the expense of others good hence the reason no one focused on the needy and most vulnerable because everyone was busy trying to figure out on their own what is morally right, But Philosophy shows that a rational being will always be driven by the highest motive..the question then becomes is the motive noble?? and Christianity for me has the highest motive not that it’s just noble, transcendent and glorious but the moral ethos is unmatched in all of history.

[@arpitalochab7381]

the idea of checking in with yourself ! woww🦋✨

[@mendyviola]

this is me - severe self control in order to regain my health. I lost it over the pandemic. I’m struggling to bring it back into my life again. This helps, but I still have to wake up at 5am everyday to make it to work on time in order to be at my job on time.

[@StormViking]

I can feel parts of my brain physicaly change while watching your videos. Exelent reflections. Exelent mental gymnastics.

[@StormViking]

Also you should work out your body and you know it

[@darzelizam8404]

Thanks for these videos , Im enjoying your content!

[@hasanbas5872]

I agree as well! Even when reading scripture I’m so used to this mindset of looking at my own failure instead - which I think advicially- is not pruning the self. Like looking at the law and how many laws you’ve accomplished you begging to be the lawbreakers when you look down on those who don’t do the same. So in the same way, I’ve come the conclusion we must take a joyous mindset, in the sense that we see ‘the vastness of the love of God through the failures of the great patriarchs’

[@sweetinocentanu]

Great content!

[@HindeleZondervan]

Wow this is great, thanks!

[@tobir693]

Very interesting Ideas. I would like to single out what you say at 14:48. Because it seems that if you're pleasuring yourself in public, you have indeed, gone overboard.

[@dipitmill]

Great video, I actually learned something.

[@dxmxrxsbxxckthxwxxdxlf3931]

"I think, therefore I am" is a quote I never understood before and from a christian perspective, thinking critically is what helped us advance to such a state that we have so many things that we take for granted that weren't there 50 years ago.

[@Tierrittaa]

Gosh this was so good. I have direct experience with making self-help sort of like a religion without realising it. I love the Greek philosophy of moderation rather than using doctrine as moral code. In fact, I believe philosophy works much better. With self-experimentation and self-reflection we will discover what makes us feel whole - rather than following a strangers formula.

[@Geemeel1]

We are not looking for balance in our lives ...' we are actually striving for Harmony in our lives" unbalance is needed to find Harmony eventually... Great vid Robin !

[@mari.art1999]

This idea of religion without a god, Susan Sontag has an essay that talks about this - it's literally about religion but could be applied to this concept of blindly following a sense of purpose and moral - called Devotion Without Content. It's really good! She talks about how we pick and choose what makes us feel good about religion (whichever one, if not multiple ones) and call ourselves religious. But you can't just be "religious", like, in a generic sense. And since the essay was written in 1961, it made me think how easily this mindset allowed for people to get into cults. This whole wellness thing, this search for the self achievement through discipline, reminds me of this cult mentality: of abstracting your life into the pursuit of something greater (or in today's age case, of bettering ourselves) but losing yourself in the process

[@veggiechip]

oooo i rlly like the combination of the hairstyle and the glasses

[@mennatel-amir9131]

Great video!

[@robinswampangel]

Hi Robin, Meditation absolutely has philosophical benefit.

[@robinswampangel]

We are the same age, by the way! I think that's cool because it means our brains are at the same developmental phase ❤️

[@ahmadnaser8192]

You mentioned Diogenes, but can you recommend specific greek texts that elaborate on this idea of moderation? Is it found in Aristotle's ethics? Plato's dialogues? etc.

[@davidwalker9594]

Mr Waldun, I know this might be a long shot for you to see this comment, but I'd really like to hear your thoughts on Mikhail Bakhtin's theory of the Canivalesque. I think it fits well with Diogenes in the attempt to challenge social norms.

[@amanda_vasquzz]

I just discovered your KZbin channel and I can’t stop watching your videos, you’re amazing, I’ve found pieces and answers that I needed on myself while listening to you, thanks for uploading this type of content❤️‍🩹

[@mhorset]

I am more comfortable with the ancient greek way. Great content

[@fatimaahmedkhairtajmoon9699]

Thank you for saving my life 😭

[@firehandszarb]

excellent

[@ryder1658]

Religion serves a psychological purpose. If a person is in need of that purpose but for whatever reason cannot use traditional religion to that same effect, it makes sense they would cannibalize materials they mechanically understand, or have reason to believe causally improve their life, in order to serve that same purpose. Among many things, it's an antidote for anxiety. It's a mechanism for offloading mental processes. I have no issue with people doing it until they shove it down others' throats - just like regular religion.

[@skaningarsomgamar2857]

So while this may not be completely in regards to self-control, I took a course in Philosophy in high-school, while it was very rudamentary, almost all of the main points stuck with me without having to take notes or anything. The thing that I learnt foremost, is the notion that I very well may be wrong about everything I know, this comes from the fact that the philosophers argued for hours on end, but the basis of philosophical argument is that you can be wrong, so be open to that idea. I also learnt to not trust anything completely, don't develop a need for something, don't be reliant on someone else to govern your own life and a lot of philosophical ideas like stoicism have helped someone like myself. I am sorry if this english is broken or something, I am from Sweden so English doesn't come naturally to me unlike yourself. I just felt a need to reach out to this video in particular, I haven't met anyone with similar ideas like mine, or maybe my ideas are borrowed. But I just wanted to say thank you for being an amazing content creator and don't change that melon of yours, it is special and it serves a purpose in a chaotic world.

[@Hannah-sv6cy]

Your soul is oftentimes a battlefield, upon which your reason and your judgement wage war against your passion and your appetite. Would that I could be the peacemaker in your soul, that I might turn the discord and the rivalry of your elements into oneness and melody. But how shall I, unless you yourselves be also the peacemakers, nay, the lovers of all your elements? Your reason and your passion are the rudder and the sails of your seafaring soul. If either your sails or your rudder be broken, you can but toss and drift, or else be held at a standstill in mid-seas. For reason, ruling alone, is a force confining and passion, unattended, is a flame that burns to its own destruction. Therefore let your soul exalt your reason to the height of passion, that it may sing; And let it direct your passion with reason, that your passion may live through its own daily resurrection and like the phoenix rise above its own ashes. I would have your consider your judgment and your appetite even as you would two loved guests in your house. Surely you would not honour one guest above the other; for he who is more mindful of one loses the love and the faith of both. Among the hills, when you sit in the cool shade of the white poplars, sharing the peace and serenity of distant fields, and meadows-then let your heart say in silence, “God rests in reason.” And when the storm comes, and the mighty wind shakes the forest, and thunder and lightning proclaim the majesty of the sky,-then let your heart say in awe, “God moves in passion.” And since you are a breath in God’s sphere, and a leaf in God’s forest, you too should rest in reason and move in passion. By Khalil Gibran

[@iliaberbichashvili6646]

This is a very interesting video with the expressed opinion, that I have personally, haven't heard yet. A very well written script with a lovely presentation, both in terms of quality of video/audio, speech and the organization. But while watching, I had a though. I should say, that personally, I do not consider a partially rigid standards of ones behavior an entirely bad tactic (of course, if it has a practical reason behind it, not waking up at 5 a.m. and running for 1 hour every morning) because life is not simple enough to follow a singular ruleset, it is just not possible. I am not sure where have I heard this, but this idea is not stuck with me: It is important for one to have certain rules, commandments that they will follow, but only a few of them, rest is up to the person to decide, he can choose and try to follow a general strategy but he can not construct a plan that will lead him through life, have an answer to every question and a response to every situation. Even though there are some topics I do not entirely agree with, good works deserve recognition and respect. Good job, a very nice video essay.

[@alzbeta.stastna]

thank u foť this video ❤️

[@marckenleu795]

I agree👍 Some "self-discipline" videos that I've come across had done more harm than good tbh. It seems like you're following their advices solely because of guilt for yourself. That is why I often avoid watching videos like that lololol. Anyways, great video as always and congratulations for reaching 200k :>🎉

[@maria-hr4nz]

10:30 Me, not familiar with greek philosophy: oh yeah, i know Aristoteles Robin: ...Diogenes Me: 🧐🧐🧐whooooooooo

[@zoyakhan6573]

Even I became a little sceptical after years of listening to those "self help guru" telling us to wake up at 5 am. This entire notion seems to fit for only a certain percentage of people and not the average population.

[@EyeLean5280]

A very nice explanation of classical Greek Rationalism. Thank you. But the history of late antiquity is very interesting on this question. As you say, classical pagan religion and even most classical philosophy traditionally didn't focus on personal morality the way Christianity did and to some extent still does. True, the elite classes in ancient Rome spent a lot of money on "philanthropy" but that was for self-aggrandizement, not morality. And the Stoics had the idea of "humanitas" but it's not quite the same as charity, which is a moral obligation to genuinely take care of the most vulnerable in the community, and the idea didn't trickle down to the masses or have much impact on Roman government. I'd argue that the Roman Christians' ability to engage in charity (as opposed to pagan philanthropy or humanitas) was instrumental in them building the bureaucratic infrastructure that allowed Christianity to survive the fall of the Western Empire and the transformation of the Eastern Empire. Christian charity required the building of a strong network of communities that spanned the Mediterranean world, with a clear hierarchy and constant communications. There was nothing like it in the pagan religions of the day and in fact the last pagan emperor, Julian the Apostate, recognized the importance of the interconnectedness and interdependence of the Christian church and was going to try to reform paganism to more closely resemble Christianity. (Unfortunately he was so unpopular with both Christians and pagans that he was murdered in battle only 4 years into his reign and everyone tried to claim responsibility for it.)

[@isaacmwangaza]

Thank you so much for the exposé and I would like to add that the Ancient Greek philosophy in search of “moderation” was propagating self indulgence and the glorifying of Self which is so prevalent in our modern day and if we are being honest it has led to people plunging themselves in destructive vices. On the other hand Christianity remained stable and pursued charity which was the highest “virtue” to be achieved in society (I think in any society) because in its view of achieving self control it sort to show the depravity in man and how the inclination of the heart of man was constantly evil and in pursuit to gratify and please self at any cost whatsoever and at the expense of others good hence the reason no one focused on the needy and most vulnerable because everyone was busy trying to figure out on their own what is morally right, But Philosophy shows that a rational being will always be driven by the highest motive..the question then becomes is the motive noble?? and Christianity for me has the highest motive not that it’s just noble, transcendent and glorious but the moral ethos is unmatched in all of history.

[@EyeLean5280]

@@isaacmwangaza Certainly Christian morality has had the broadest reach of impact around the world.

[@theSpectacularScienceMan]

Amazing as ever.

[@alopps]

Loveeeee this

[@lifaen]

I don't know people who follow these "gurus". But I know about me. In the past, I started consuming some self-help videos and self-help books and I remember there was few times when I could do lot's of these productive things. Like I think it helped me in some ways. Yes, sometimes, mainly in the past, I was feeling bad because I couldn't do lots of things. But sometimes I watch these videos (especially when i'm cleaning or something, it keeps me in the productive mood) they remind me of whats important in life. I sometimes watch videos about ADHD and other disorders, which are reminding me that I shouldn't be so hard on myself. I also really like that one streamer said how they're doing lots of things at night and sleep in the morning and it's most effective way for them to be productive. I know this and I still want to go back to waking up at 5 am. Just kidding, I mean 6 am, I don't want to go to sleep at 9 pm :DDD But like I feel like I'm early bird, who likes to stay up late even if I feel my body protesting. Also I want to run? The last time I was running to catch a train, I felt amazing :D Also things like writting diary or meditation? I think people following these things don't do it mindlessly. From the videos I watched, I heard a lot of benefits what these things bring and it also makes sense in my brain, also because I tried it and it made me feel better. I don't have the need to do these things when I'm happy, but when I feel bad, I feel like I should start doing these things when I was happy, because now it's hard to start, but it could help me. Maybe I'm talking about completely different "gurus" because he didn't said who he thinks, so... :DD

[@arinlim97]

what a great video huh. thanks a lot

[@limitless1692]

LIKE Really interesting video, thank you :)

[@marioordonez8135]

Just to add some reasoning, in the bible it's mentioned "self-righteousness" as something to avoid, because in the end, what you have in your innermost, it's what counts the most. There is also a frame in which each one of us will fail, but you always can rectify. It accepts [I mean Christian teachings], that we all are imperfect, perfection as an end in itself is mere fiction, impracticable. We turn our worst judges when aspiring to an utter ideal of being. I believe so. It depends of each of us, of course. With this I don't support the traditional way of Christianity, which is distorted nowadays. Each one of us must use its thinking ability. I also strongly believe so.

[@suryaanshujindani5738]

Eye opening

[@janettep]

Agreed. I feel that is why many go from binge eating to restriction. Trying to gain self control and reduce the guilt of not living up to the ideal you yourself have created or others have created eg: family, media

[@jalgaonmh1931]

Make a video of swami vivekananda karmyog and his philosophical lesson to success in life❤❤ Pls sir ❤

[@joshshaye1085]

I hope I can understand this.

[@NYX_GoddessoftheNight]

I loved it.

[@mohamedlahadna84]

I am completely surprised by the structure of your thoughts, i find it very unique, at least in our dreadful world of social media.

[@m4nnupadhyay860]

I love ur content :-) it makes me study more...

[@lazy-gyal0077]

6:48 Joe Rogan immediately popped into my head.

[@bookandspade]

Great video! I have been inspired by the self-help types over the years and have slowly drifted away - although I often return to see what their ideas/values have shifted towards. I think it is interesting the way you represent the rigid model of doctrine-thinking extracted from the disembodied Judeo-Christian commandment way of thinking. We see this rigid interpretation embraced in practice all over the world, and it can surely cause the self-righteous mindset, as you mentioned, that sadly cuts people off from one another. On the other hand, this is not the only interpretation of the utility of the commandments and their embodiment. The doctrine of Christianity itself often emphasize the practice of these Old Testament laws through the experience of relationship with Jesus. In Jesus, we have God made human, walking among sinners who struggle with self-control and sin. Despite this, Jesus seeks all-knowing/perfect/familial love and friendship with humankind, knowing full well each human’s sins and shortcomings. It is another interesting way to intellectualize a reconciliation between the fallen soul and the sinless divine spark in each of us. And yet, there is encouragement to sin no more from Jesus. Jesus provides humankind with a sort of North Star by which we can orient and aim our ambitions; and all the while, we are given sacraments and personal relationship with a God who understands human suffering and forgiveness of sin. Thinking of the doctrine this way, allows Christians to see this balance of discipline and pleasure through a lens of love while trying to be more like Jesus.

[@runthomas]

THE problem with living life as you like, is social pressures due to social conditioning; not necessarily your own social conditioning, it is the conditioning of others that really causes the pressure.. If you are an intellectual, society thinks you have wasted your entire life, if you have not thrown yourself into some life draining high pressure high paying career. If you end up in a small house, becuase you lived life the way you wanted, but could have joined the rat race more authentically, and ended up with a huge house and a porsche...then society views you as a total failure.

[@laurapinzon7398]

your channel it's amazing.

[@tamatera]

Fun video Mr Waldun. Big Cheese approves. Hope you're getting on well.

[@allencrouch8516]

This advice could not be any worse. The ancient Greeks were as savage as human beings could possible be. This “everything in moderation” rhetoric literally meant anything goes. They would lift up the robe of a child and do abhorrent things to that child in broad day light in theatres, the streets, anywhere! Today, we know that these things are wrong. We have very clear lines on what we can do and what we cannot do. We know that to live civilised, we must put decency, reason, humanity, ethics, codes of conduct in place for a civilised society to run peacefully. Today we know that discipline, hard work, yes that includes denying one’s base urges leads to a better outcome overall. To the very intellectual boy who made this video. I encourage you to re think.

[@yyoloanonn4318]

Yeah self struggle and control is cool and all, but that thumbnail is GOLDEN, 10/10

[@Tremont24]

12:00- I wouldn’t necessarily say that the Christian doctrine expects you to conform to that moral code of piety because even the figures/prophets they venerate fell short in those areas (besides Christ of course). It’s more so that the Law is the ideal; it’s what God expects of humanity but He also knows that they will fall short because of their true nature. That’s why Christians rely more so on faith rather than morality. Now Jews, Muslims, and other monotheistic religions seem to be more fixed on that moral doctrine and if they fall short they’ll be judged by their god. That’s the major difference between them and Christians I’ve found.

[@dydb]

I was raised Christian and there are many forms of Christianity in the US. Anyhow you’ll never find commonly a Christian that spouts just live by faith and not be bound by the sinning and repentance cycle. Bound by their book’s moral code.But I guess some people take the word and do with it as they choose. That’s why you have baptists, and different separations of the religion branched out cause people take it and do different things with it. What you said about those other religions is very similar to how Christianity works. The Bible yes and many books tell them to live by faith. However there’s no difference in how our world has taken the Bible and used it to judge others or oneself. There were times where they killed many people in the name of the Bible because they sinned. Why do you think there are conversion camps for young homosexuals or of other sexualities if not being so extreme?

[@theschmidy]

"[in high school] when I was still a confused human being..." hmmm... color me your English teacher, haha, because this video spiked my skepticism. I assume you've considered the irony of this video... that you have a following of several hundred thousand people, to whom you've recommended self-control of self-control? Don't get me wrong, I have no love for the Goggins mindset either, but I'm not sure I'd recommend Diogenes' approach as the alternative, haha. And here I go to watch your "Be Yourself Is Bad Advice" video :) Your dedication to your work is admirable. Keep it up.

[@lillianozelci9724]

bro you're rly cool, and the way you structured this analysis was literally just so talented. ty for teaching me! :)

[@r0lly564]

The classical Greeks were impressive

[@manujkantimazumdar]

That's one cute thumbnail 😄

[@giorgiomondini3655]

I agree with most of the things you said in the video, and I found it really good, but one particular thing just made me think: I don't really understand when you say that this "self-discipline online movement" is becoming a "religion without God". If we talk about Christianity, for example (and some interesting readings about this are "The genealogy of morals" by Nietzsche, "The essence of Christianity" by Feuerbach), God is just a projection of values, virtues, or needs that the people (who create the God) have/don't have but in some ways feel like they want them or feel like they should have them (just think about the fact that people can't know everything, so they create a God who knows everything (omniscient), etc...). So, if you define God as such, the person who is approaching this "self-development movement" is just another way of saying: "well, I am not fit, I don't wake up early, etc., so I create this entity (a person or just a mindset, a belief) which always wake up at 5 a.m. and goes to the gym 5 times per week" and of course, the main goal of the person is to be as close to this entity as possible (as for the Christian it is to be as close to God as possible). And in both cases, the same conceptual framework could be applied to the sphere of sin and punishment. So, if interpreted in this way, I just don't see that many differences between the two..

[@dxmxrxsbxxckthxwxxdxlf3931]

There are many books that the Apostle Paul wrote where he talked about the struggle he has in choosing between good and evil despite the fact that he was a lifelong student of the holy scriptures and one of the best known teachers of the Bible. In my mind, we should be law abiding citizens and adopt habits that encourage others to be better than who they were yesterday while remembering that we are all fallible and need a break from time to time

[@boxingelfis1499]

" So apply this idea, there will be a greater sense of harmo-" Aha! Fell into your own trap! I haven't experimented this for myself so I refuse to follow you blindly! *.......Ahem* all jokes aside, I really resonated with what you said about the separation between the "higher self," and "the lower self," or the person I want to be and my actual self that I find inadequate. I also haven't been treating discipline and self control as a means to an end and haven't really been asking myself their purpose or reason for being in my life. I would also like to say that there was a misconception here about Christianity as I understand it. Christianity doesn't require us to be pure and rigid with an obsession for control and rigid discipline like we're in the military. I would actually say the Bible, in my opinion, has shown great understanding of our humanity; the fact that we make mistakes, the fact that the best of us can be found among those we consider worthless and lowly..... Even Jesus Christ criticised the Pharisees for their holier than thou ways, and was criticised Himself for doing various unconventional things that seemed to contradict laws and rules. Yes, there are commandments and yes loving thy neighbour and discipline and self control are important, but that does not mean that if you aren't following them then you're worse of a person than someone who does. Regardless of the most devout follower, we're all sinners. There are many people who retain knowledge of Christianity and the Bible much better than I do, but what I do retain is that those rules and commandments you find in the Bible are no't requirements that you have to follow in order to be worthy of God's love or even be a Christian, the only requirement is that you have faith in Jesus and His love for you.

[@emeraldglass437]

I need take this advice, this is probably why I struggle with self control. Without a god, we have no direction indeed. I take away all that I love and then end up not doing what I need despite good intentions.

[@Dreamer-zk2tf]

Storytelling link in the description isn't working.

[@stevelong8416]

The Zhongyong probably communicates a similar idea, but it's ironic how the book's name is translated as 'Doctrine of the Mean,' since it implies a doctrine that doesn't involve God.

[@prancinghors]

Amazing. Got the grey matter vibrating 😊😊

[@shenshaw5345]

Damn kind of feel stupid for not realizing I've been doing this.

[@boksy6127]

why is your voice so iconic

[@RCWaldun]

I blame my dad’s genes.