Stoic philosophy? Sounds boring. That was my reaction when I first heard Tim Ferriss talking about it on his podcast. Every few episodes he would mention how some guy Seneca wrote letters to some guy Lucilius 2000 years ago and how the advice he was giving his friend still applies to modern life. I couldn’t…
Within you there is a stillness and sanctuary to which you can retreat at any time and be yourself, just as I can. Few people have that capacity and yet everyone could have it.Herman Hesse, Siddhartha When he was still involved in the day-to-day operations of Microsoft, Bill Gates had the habit of scheduling an…
Wake up, drink a glass of water, do ten pushups, brush teeth, take a shower. Journal, meditate, drink a cup of coffee, start work. Have lunch at the usual time, have dinner at the usual time, go to bed at the usual time. While daily practices are great for instilling a sense of structure into…
The term "Modern Stoicism" is commonly used to refer to the revival of interest in the 2000-year old Stoic philosophy and the efforts to adjust Ancient Stoicism to the language and framework of the present. The movement continues to gain popularity by making the ancient teachings more accessible and by demonstrating how they can be…
I am a barista. I work in a small coffee shop. From early morning, the smell of freshly ground beans charges the air. The aroma soothes and the caffeine energizes, people relax at tables and others jostle to be served. People really love coffee these days and I love to bring that love to life.…
The feeling of insecurity is a constant threat to contentedness. We feel insecure about money, relationships, careers and a whole collection of other things that we believe need to be perfect before we can relax. Some common reasons we might give for feeling insecure are: I don't have enough moneyI don't know if a certain…
There’s a chapter in Anthony de Mello’s The Way to Love entitled Become Like Children. It outlines how a child can be influenced to lose its innocence and subsequently live a life that is so dependent on externals that they never truly know who they are. This may sound like an abstract notion, but I’ll…
When 12-year-old Emily Scott was diagnosed with scoliosis, her family opted for private treatment due to the waiting times associated with the UK health service. Going private, however, proved no advantage as COVID-19 put a halt to the services Emily was relying on. Left in limbo, and being told she would require spinal fusion surgery,…
If you're an avid podcast listener and a student of the Stoics, you're probably always on the look out for good Stoicism podcasts to plug into. If you're not familiar with them, podcasts are a great way to absorb information when reading isn't convenient. That could be while driving, while working out, or any time…
I sometimes get into a cloudy state of mind. Everything feels a bit greyer at these times and certain things don't seem to matter as much. It's usually brief, but it's uncomfortable. The good thing about these periods is that they're a natural indicator that I need to do something less (work?), do something more…