I’ve been really, really frustrated about the gym closures, because hitting the gym 2-3 times a week has been very important for me. Dealing with this frustration got me thinking about the dichotomy of control, a Stoic practice that basically states that some things are within our control and others are not. It gives us a framework to be effective at solving problems by dividing them into segments – things we can control and things we can't.
Read MoreA Stoic's Good Day
It’s a simple question: What constitutes a good day? Take a few moments to think about it and see what you come up with, if you come up with anything at all. Perhaps you’ll agree with me that it’s often the most simple questions that are the toughest to answer.
Read MoreHighlights from Epictetus's handbook
What where the chances that a slave, who had been beaten to lameness by his former master, would rise and become one of the most influential Stoic philosophers of all time? Epictetus taught that philosophy is a way of life and not just a theoretical discipline. This shines through in his handbook, a.k.a. The Enchiridion, which is a short but useful manual for living a better life. In this article you’ll find some of the highlights from the handbook, together with some commentary of my own.
Read MoreNo good thing is pleasant to possess, without friends to share it
What better way to spend your vacation days than reading letters from Seneca to Lucilius. The only challenge is that my brain can absorb just about one letter per day. Perhaps two, if they’re short. Every time I hear somebody say that Seneca’s letters are an “easy and accessible way” to learn about Roman Stoicism, I laugh out loud. Well, apparently not for me.
Read MoreNegative visualization as a way of experiencing gratitude
I find negative visualization a powerful tool for experiencing gratitude even in situations where it otherwise might be difficult. Such as when you’re in the middle of a global Coronavirus pandemic and each time you switch on the news it’s mostly “bad”.
Read MoreNot worrying about things over which we have no control
By not worrying about things over which we have no control, we can minimize anxiety and enhance our tranquillity – key desired outcomes in Modern Stoicism. This simple piece of advice has had a stunning impact on me.
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