Day 24 · Q1: Self-Knowledge · January 24, 2026
Pause. Breathe. Begin.
I . L E C T I O
William James
The Principles of Psychology, 1890
“The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another.”
C O N T E X T
William James, the father of American psychology, proposed that consciousness is not passive but active — we can choose where to direct our attention. This anticipates modern cognitive therapy by nearly a century.
I I . M E D I T A T I O
“What thought are you currently choosing to dwell on — and what would happen if you chose a different one?”
I I I . S C R I P T I O
Write one sentence about a thought pattern you could replace with a more useful one.
I V . C O N N E X I O
James bridges Epictetus and Spinoza: we can both observe our thoughts (Spinoza) and choose among them (Epictetus). Is this combination the practical essence of self-knowledge?
This practice exists because of readers like you.
Sustain it →Tomorrow's passage, delivered at dawn.