Ah there it is, my alarm clock alerting me to the beginning of another day. The same shrill tone and urgent rhythm normally precedes fire damage which I find symbolic some days. But not today. Not this day that has just begun at 6:00 AM. I’m ready to explode out of bed, strap my Stoic…
The writer William Zinsser once wrote an article called “The News From Timbuktu” about his trip to the Malian city to witness camel caravans carrying salt across the Sahara. He was thrilled by the sight of forty camels proceeding in unison over the vast desert, but it was another incident from the trip that impacted…
When was the last time you helped someone without them knowing it was you? Maybe you made an anonymous donation to a JustGiving campaign or returned some lost property and didn’t leave your name. If something similar does come to mind, you should now be feeling that same little buzz you got when you did…
Daily life can be busy. And it can be worrying. And exciting, anxious and a whole host of other things that distract us from focusing on ourselves and the present moment. Sometimes we need Stoic reminders, because moments of greater perspective aren't always a priority. In the morning, you might need that Marcus Aurelius quote…
“We’re all gonna die.” If you’ve ever seen the movie Predator, you’ll remember the character Billy Sole using that line in a much calmer, matter-of-fact manner than might be expected in an action film. In that instance it was used to convey the danger of a more imminent demise, but if you think about it,…
The image of a Stoic is often one of the quiet philosopher, focused on deep thoughts and pondering the way of the world. An introvert meditating on life and writing their thoughts in private journals. However, it wouldn’t be accurate to say that Stoicism appeals only to quieter, introverted types. In fact, both introverts and…
One of the most attractive things about Stoic philosophy is how relevant the 2000-year old teachings still are today. Let's face it, pearls of wisdom like "If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it" and "While we wait for life, life passes" never really go…
With the average user unlocking their phone 80 times per day, there's probably no better place for a Stoic wallpaper than the screen of our devices. Each of those 80 times we pick up our phones to mindlessly check something that won't have changed since the last time, the first thing we see is the lock…
Marcus Porcius Cato has been admired by countless high-profile leaders and dignitaries since his death over 2000 years ago. Leaders like Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and George Washington were all hugely inspired by the examples set by Cato the Younger. It was largely Joseph Addison’s 18th Century play Cato: A Tragedy that helped maintain the Stoic's…
If you're keen to emulate the ancient Stoics and aren't sure where to begin, one thing you can do straight away is start a Stoic journal. Reflecting on one's thoughts and getting them down on paper was a common practice among the likes of Marcus Aurelius, Seneca The Younger and Epictetus, and although each had…