Hello.
In this talk,
I will explore one of the questions that Stoics often ask themselves.
To help them manage everyday life.
And the question is.
.
.
Is this essential?
My name is Jackie Wright and I'm also known as The Cockney Coach.
And I'm here to share with you the wisdom of NLP,
Neuro Linguistic Programming.
And stoicism.
And how they helped me so I'm hoping they'll help you.
Now,
In our modern world,
We are constantly bombarded by information.
Demands on our time.
Endless choices for what to buy,
What to do,
Who to be.
It's easy to feel overwhelmed.
Scattered.
And like we're constantly chasing our tails.
Now the Stoics,
Long before the age of digital overload,
They understood this human tendency.
And they offered a profound antidote,
And it's this simple question.
Is this essential?
Now this practice is vital for creating a simpler,
More purposeful life because every yes we give to something non-essential.
Is a no to something truly important.
Now,
Without this filter,
Our lives can get cluttered.
Cluttered with unnecessary possessions.
Cluttered with unproductive tasks,
Draining commitments.
Irrelevant mental chatter.
And this clatter obscures our true priorities.
It dissipates our energy.
It leaves us feeling busy.
But not particularly fulfilled.
So by consistently asking,
Is this essential,
We act as a discerning filter for our lives.
We force ourselves to confront what truly adds value.
And what is merely a distraction.
So this process of mindful elimination brings clarity.
It allows us to strip away the superfluous.
And focus our precious time,
Energy and attention on what genuinely matters.
So the result is a life that feels lighter.
More directed and deeply aligned with our purpose.
So how can we practically apply this principle in our daily lives?
And it's about keeping it simple.
So I'm going to give you three offerings.
The first is to declutter your schedule.
Imagine your daily or weekly to-do list.
Is often overflowing with tasks.
Many of which seem urgent but might not be truly important.
So in practice,
What you can do is before starting your day or planning your week,
Look at each item on your list and ask that fundamental question.
Is this essential for my most important goals or values right now?
Now you might find that a significant portion of what you thought was urgent could actually be either delegated,
Postponed.
Or taking off your plate completely.
By cutting out non-essential meetings or tasks,
You free up your time for deeper work,
More meaningful connections.
Or your own personal well-being.
The second is to help manage digital transactions.
Our computers and our phones are constantly vying for our attention with notifications.
And this feed.
And tempting act.
Now this constant engagement often leaves us feeling totally drained and unfocused.
So what you can do in practice is before actually opening a social media app or clicking on a link,
Who's in a mask?
Is this essential for what I need to accomplish?
Or for my well-being right now.
You might realise that scrolling through newsfeeds is rarely essential.
And it's often counterproductive to your goals.
We can lose hours just doing this.
So this allows you to consciously choose engagement rather than falling into habitual,
Often mindless consumption.
You might even apply this to your emails.
Is checking that email right now essential?
Or can it wait for a designated time?
The third is evaluating possessions and purchases.
Now our homes can become filled with things that we acquire.
Without much thought.
Leading to physical and mental clutter.
So in practice,
What can you do?
For making a new purchase or when going through your belongings ask.
Is this essential for my life?
My happiness.
On my purpose.
Now,
This isn't about rigid minimalism,
But it's about conscious consumption.
You'll likely find yourself buying less.
Valuing what you have more.
And experiencing less stress from managing the excess.
And when every item serves a purpose.
Your living space becomes a sanctuary.
Not a storage unit.
And by embedding that question,
Is this essential?
Into your daily habits you'll gradually build a life that reflects your truest priorities.
You'll reduce stress.
Amplify your purpose and discover.
The profound freedom that comes from living with less.
It's a simple question,
But the power to transform.
Your entire existence.
One thing at a time.
And as you move into the rest of your day.
Be prepared to ask that question.
Is this essential?
When prioritising your time.
Engaging with distractions or making that purchase.
If you've enjoyed this dive into the daily practice of Stoicism then check out my other tracks and please subscribe.
Leave a rating and a comment or even a question.
I will always respond.
And thank you.
And as always.
.
.
Much Love
