Daily practice is the most important component that makes the adoption of a “philosophy of life” real. Through our learning, we absorb the principles of our philosophy and prepare to act them into existence in the real world. A vital precursor to the application of our philosophy of life is…
When we get used to having certain material things in our lives—certain properties, certain possessions, certain paraphernalia—it’s natural to become complacent and believe that we’ll have them in our lives forever. We lose sight of, or deliberately ignore, the fact that we don’t ultimately have control over whether the things…
Take a moment to settle into a comfortable position in a safe spot where you won’t be disturbed, allowing your body to relax and your mind to become present. As we embark on this mindful guided meditation, we’ll draw inspiration from the wisdom of Marcus Aurelius, the Stoic Roman emperor,…
To practice Stoicism is to place a much greater emphasis on the present moment than on the past or the future. Stoics like Marcus Aurelius trained themselves to focus on the here and now. “The present moment is enough for you,” he told himself. As Pierre Hadot wrote in his…
Here is a short but powerful thought from the Stoic philosopher Seneca’s essay On the Constancy of the Wise: Liberty is having a mind superior to injury, a mind that makes itself the only source from which its pleasures spring, that separates itself from all external things, avoiding the unquiet…
The following is a short look at Mark Tuitert’s new book, The Stoic Mindset. By way of an intro, here is a snippet from the book’s description: Elite sportsman Mark Tuitert used the principles of Stoic philosophy to become an Olympic gold medallist, champion athlete and successful entrepreneur, overcoming a…
We all have things we’re attached to. Think of possessions, places, pursuits, and people in your life (or other things that don’t begin with P) that you couldn’t do without. Maybe you have worked hard to accumulate material items you’ve always wanted to have, built a good reputation in your…
In the relentless pursuit of happiness, a common impulse leads us to believe that a change in surroundings will lift the burdens of our minds. Seneca, the ancient philosopher, challenges this instinct in his 28th Letter to Lucilius, inviting us to question whether our travels truly offer escape or merely…
The following is a short commentary on Donald Robertson's new book, Marcus Aurelius: The Stoic Emperor. From the book’s description: This novel biography brings Marcus Aurelius (121–180 CE) to life for a new generation of readers… as Robertson skillfully weaves together Marcus’s inner journey as a philosopher with the outer…
One of the nice things about the morning time is that you have some distance from what lies ahead. You have a little space into which you can stretch. You can mentally reach into the day and prepare for what comes your way. It's difficult to feel anger, for example,…