How To Be A Stoic

sometimes we are the worst obstacles to our own improvement:

sometimes we are the worst obstacles to our own improvement: we see where we should go, which is where we want to go, and yet somehow we can’t pick ourselves up and begin the journey

must die, must I? If at once, then I am dying: if soon, I dine now, as it is time for dinner, and afterwards when the time comes I will die.

I must die, must I? If at once, then I am dying: if soon, I dine now, as it is time for dinner, and afterwards when the time comes I will die.

knowing something does not change the nature of the thing of course—it just changes our attitude about it.

death itself is not under our control (it will happen one way or another), but how we think about death most definitely is under our control.

if there is one thing that philosophy ought to be good for, it is to make us better understand the human condition by showing us not only how to live to our best but to accept the fact that death is nothing to be afraid of.

what will make it possible for us to withstand harsh conditions and very difficult periods in our lives will be precisely that we always have an alternative course of action at our disposal.

if your decision was right, here we are at your side ready to help you to leave this life, but, if your decision was against reason, then change your mind.

if your decision was against reason, then change your mind.

and none more so, arguably, than Stoicism. Little is more pragmatic than learning to manage anger, anxiety, and loneliness, three major plagues of modern life.

Little is more pragmatic than learning to manage anger, anxiety, and loneliness, three major plagues of modern life.

it just isn’t worthwhile trying to beat a thief at the vigilance game.

we step back and analyze a situation more rationally, always keeping in mind the dichotomy of control between what is and is not in our power.

it is more helpful to think of people who do bad things as mistaken and therefore to be pitied and helped if possible, not condemned as evil.

Seneca explicitly advised taking a deep breath and going for a walk around the block upon first feeling the uncontrollable rise of rage, which he considered a type of temporary madness.

it is good to exercise regularly, even in old age, not just because exercise keeps the body in decent shape, but because it has a calming effect on the mind.

change standard phrases like “this is terrible!” to something along the lines of “I’d rather not have to deal with this, but I can manage it, and getting angry isn’t going to help me at all.”

I desire (not want or need) a promotion, so I’m going to do my best to deserve it.

I desire (not want or need) a promotion, so I’m going to do my best to deserve it. Whether I actually get it or not is not under my control, because it depends on a number of factors external to my will.