Desire has a reliable way of making us view our lives through the lens of what we don’t have. This lens obscures from our sight the many blessings we already have and puts us into a discontented state of ungratefulness. There’s a passage in Invisible Cities, Italo Calvino’s novel in which the main character Marco…
This short explainer will provide you with a straightforward understanding of what the state of apatheia is in relation to Stoicism and how you can work toward it. Definition Of Stoic Apatheia Stoic apatheia is a state of mind in which one is not disturbed by “the passions.” It is a quality that characterizes the sage,…
Becoming a Saint If you’re familiar with the work of Kurt Vonnegut, you’ll know he had a wonderful knack for crafting beauty out of very simple words. He did this not just in his books, but also when giving talks (this one is my favorite) and recounting conversations. Another source of this beauty — and an example I…
Begin at once to live, and count each day as a separate life. These are Seneca’s words from his 101st letter to his friend Lucilius. The message the Stoic philosopher was sending to his friend was that the future is unsure for everyone and that only Lucilius’s lack of focus on the present could create…
This short explainer will provide you with a straightforward understanding of what oikeiôsis is and how you can use it to guide your Stoic practice. Definition Of Stoic Oikeiôsis Oikeiôsis is one of the more advanced terms in Stoicism and refers to the process of becoming aware of what truly belongs to us and what does…
Young Plato is a documentary film that charts the dream of Elvis-loving school headmaster Kevin McArevey. Using philosophy, the maverick teacher sets out to change the fortunes of an inner-city community plagued by urban decay, sectarian aggression, poverty, and drugs. The all-boys primary school Holy Cross in post-conflict Belfast, Northern Ireland, becomes a hothouse for…
A 90-Day Stoicism Program to Live with Greater Acceptance, Less Judgment, and Deeper Intentionality The practice of journaling is one of those spiritual exercises whose value is evidenced by the fact that it has endured for hundreds and hundreds of years. It's inspiring to know that the writing we do every day can be just…
The following is a guest post from Enda Harte. Enda runs a newsletter, where he writes about Stoicism and other Philosophies. You can sign up below for free, and receive multiple emails weekly. https://theirishstoic.substack.com According to Nature The goal of life is to live in agreement with nature. Zeno of Citium The idea of "living according…
In his Discourses, Epictetus tells us that the practice of Stoicism is nothing more complicated than good preparation for what lies ahead: But what is philosophy? Doesn’t it simply mean preparing ourselves for what may come?Epictetus, Discourses 3.10.6 By taking on the Wisdom of the ancients, by learning it and putting it into practice, we’re…
The Stoic way to put the finishing touches on your day We rightly place a lot of importance on our morning routines. Even if we’re not consistently doing the things we know will help us prepare for the day, we at least know we should be. We know the benefits of early journaling to clear the…