what you do trumps what you say
Learning and understanding aphorisms and tenets of philosophy are one thing, but employing them in your day-to-day life is a whole different game. The ultimate goal, as Seneca suggested, is to turn words into works.
It’s good to always keep the writer’s golden rule in your head: Show, don’t tell. Your job is not to talk incessantly about philosophy and the nuggets from the ancient texts but rather become one with them. This is what being a yogi and humanitarian is all about. Whenever you find yourself saying too many words and dropping any wisdom bombs that you recently came across, take a pause and ask yourself: Isn’t it better to keep my mouth shut and let my actions reveal what I’ve learned?
Epictetus advised his students to first digest the theories that they’ve received and showing the changes in their reasoned choices rather than immediately spewing them.
It doesn’t matter who you are — a leader, an innovator, a parent, a football coach, a high school teacher, or anyone else — you must understand that what you do and who you are is far more important than what you speak. The best and most effective way to contribute to the lives of others who look up to you is by your choices, not by words that come out of your mouth.
