97. How To Attain Virtue Through Discipline

97. How To Attain Virtue Through Discipline

Author: Nick Jamell February 5, 2020 Duration: 31:41
"The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue and reasonable nature."
Marcus Aurelius


The 7 deadly sins: Pride, Envy. Gluttony, Lust, Anger, Greed, Sloth

Cardinal virtues and Theological Virtues:

Four cardinal virtues: prudence, temperance, fortitude, justice

Three theological virtues: faith, hope, charity

Discipline your mind

There are two ways of discipline in your mind. One is by learning, and the other is figuring out how to control your thoughts more effectively. I find that it's best if these two things are done together. As you learn more, especially if you are learning about what is good, you'll be there to focus your mind on better things. While you're doing that, you should find ways to push bad thoughts out of your mind and hone in on good thoughts.

Discipline your actions

Now, it's time to put your learning to work. You have to begin acting out what is good and learning how to do it better. You have to find a way to discipline yourself in all areas of your life: physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual. For men, it's often easiest to start with the physical because that actually begins to wire your body the right way to take on other challenges.

Discipline your schedule

Once you begin to act out positive things, it's time to find a way to do them more regularly. Finding time early in the morning or late at night depending on what kind of person you are to read, work out, and grow spiritually is important.


Nick Jamell hosts Conversation of Our Generation, a space where urgent contemporary questions meet enduring ideas from history and philosophy. Rather than reacting to the noise of daily headlines, this podcast deliberately steps back to examine the deeper currents shaping our society and culture. Each episode is a long-form dialogue that treats topics like politics, religion, and social change not as fodder for debate, but as puzzles to be understood with patience and intellectual humility. The aim is to move beneath entrenched partisanship and surface-level takes, searching instead for clearer perspectives and foundational truths. What you’ll hear are thoughtful explorations that connect modern dilemmas to the wisdom of ancient and modern thinkers, asking how we might navigate today’s complexities with a more grounded sense of principle. This isn’t about quick answers; it’s about cultivating a more meaningful and less reactive way of engaging with the world. For anyone feeling adrift in a polarized age, this podcast offers a sustained, earnest conversation that values depth over speed, and understanding over winning an argument. Tune in for a respite from the frantic news cycle and a chance to consider what it means to be part of this particular moment in time, armed with the best ideas from across the ages.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 245

Conversation of Our Generation
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