I’ve got a lot of questions. In a fascinating 40-minute conversation, John Sellars answered them all succinctly. “How do I discern the right path?” “What is success?” “How can I reduce anxiety?” If similar life questions keep you busy, then this podcast is for you.

John, a writer, professor of philosophy and founding member of Modern Stoicism, is a learned, approachable and accomplished thought-weaver. His most recent book, “The Fourfold Remedy”, follows on earlier works that include “The Art of Living”, “Lessons in Stoicism” and “Marcus Aurelius”. It drills down into the Epicureans' question about how best to live life (the short answer?: pursue tranquility), borrowing from his mailman along the way.

Our interview carried us from the individual to the universal – from practical coping techniques and the avoidance of pain to the rationale of social existence. Turns out we are not isolated predators after all. All kinds of things may incline us toward egotism, but in the end, we’re unimportant. So cultivate social relationships. That’s where the joy lies.

We also spoke about chosen and unchosen roles. The contingencies, duties and responsibilities these carry. And particularly about how to put these into perspective. Which roles can we choose and which ones should we choose? In the absence of religion and in a tsunami of social media voices, rituals and routines offer guidance. Observe yourself; get to recognize your own value judgements. How? By slowing down and reflecting. By spending time alone. By spending the next 40 minutes with your headphones on.

Those 4 remedies? He ticks them off in a single sentence.

About John Sellars:

www.johnsellars.org.uk

www.modernstoicism.com

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