Review Your Day: The Stoic Evening Routine
“I make use of this opportunity, daily pleading my case at my own court. When the light has been taken away and my wife has fallen silent, aware as she is of my habit, I examine my entire day, going through what I have done and said. I conceal nothing from myself, I pass nothing […]
Continue reading
Prepare Yourself for the Day: The Stoic Morning Routine
“When you first rise in the morning tell yourself: I will encounter busybodies, ingrates, egomaniacs, liars, the jealous and cranks. They are all stricken with these afflictions because they don’t know the difference between good and evil.” – Marcus AureliusOne of the most advocated routines by the Stoics is to take time to look inward, […]
Continue reading
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 […]
Continue reading
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, […]
Continue reading
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 […]
Continue reading
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 […]
Continue reading
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 […]
Continue reading
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 […]
Continue reading
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 […]
Continue reading
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 […]
Continue reading
