Remind Yourself of the Impermanence of Things
“When giving your child or wife a kiss, repeat to yourself, ‘I am kissing a mortal.’” – EpictetusChange is a universal law of nature. Things are changing constantly. Life is ephemeral—people we care about may be snatched from us in a snap, without warning. This is why Marcus Aurelius often reminds himself of the time as […]
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The Anti-Puppet Mindset
“If a person gave away your body to some passersby, you’d be furious. Yet you hand over your mind to anyone who comes along, so they may abuse you, leaving it disturbed and troubled—have you no shame in that?” – EpictetusWe get jerked around by external things and unquestioned impulses all the time. Like puppets, […]
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The Equanimity Game
“When force of circumstance upsets your equanimity, lose no time in recovering your self-control, and do not remain out of tune longer than you can help. Habitual recurrence to the harmony will increase your mastery of it.” – Marcus AureliusWe all get caught off guard from time to time. Not just by major events, but […]
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Stoic Practice: Scratches Happen in Training
“When your sparring partner scratches or head-butts you, you don’t then make a show of it, or protest, or view him with suspicion or as plotting against you. And yet you keep an eye on him, not as an enemy or with suspicion, but with a healthy avoidance. You should act this way with all […]
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Stoic Practice: Cut the News and Take Back Your Time
“It is essential for you to remember that the attention you give to any action should be in due proportion to its worth, for then you won’t tire and give up, if you aren’t busying yourself with lesser things beyond what should be allowed.” – MARCUS AURELIUSTime cannot be brought back. Once the grain of […]
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Why Stoicism Is Relevant Today
Is it possible that what the Stoics taught and practiced in times of gladiators is still relevant today?Hell yeah, as it turns out. Studying Stoicism and practicing its ideas can be immensely useful in today’s demanding world.The wisdom of this ancient philosophy is timeless, and its value in the quest for a happy and meaningful […]
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Why Negative Visualization Is the Antidote to Hedonic Adaptation
Have you ever bought something you really wanted? How do you feel about it now? In many cases, joy has faded away quickly… I remember the remote controlled monster truck I once wanted at all costs. I used it maybe four times. It got boring. I didn’t appreciate it anymore after a while. Finally, I was happy to […]
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Rethink Your Priorities: Get Better at What Matters
Teacher: “How many Pokémon do you know?” Me: “I know all the Pokémon, all 151.” Teacher: “So you could learn some plant names, too.” That’s a conversation I had with my teacher when I was eleven years old. I was annoyed that we had to learn all these plant names by heart. My teacher was right, though, I could […]
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The Stoic Archer – Focus on the Process, Not the Outcome
Imagine you’re an archer aiming at a deer (or a clay pigeon – depending on your values). You’re highly focused. Notch your arrow. Draw your bow. Close an eye. Aim… and… Shoot! Now imagine the arrow moving in slow-motion towards the target. The arrow is out there. In the air. Out of your control. And you can only wait […]
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You Don’t Own Anything – Everything Is Borrowed from Fortune
What do you own in your life? Your car? House, laptop, clothes? The ring from your grandma? Other personal items? What if I told you: ‘You don’t own that! These things are not truly yours?’ I know, you paid for those things. You worked hard to own these possessions. Yet they can be lost in a blink of […]
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