Stoicism for a Better Life

Just like you build muscles one fibre at a time...or a Lego Millenium Falcon one Lego piece at a time, so do you build your virtue one moment at a time.

It is important to have goals. Whether it is a daily goal, weekly, annual, lifetime, bucket list, squad goals, etc. goals offer a general roadmap of how best to plan our time and resources. However, we must never forget that our puny efforts are of no consequence when compared to the overwhelming quantity of variables in the domain of the universe's sphere of control. So have goals. We should all have them. Just remember that the end result of your goal will almost certainly not match the idea or design you have in your mind at the onset of the goal. Aim for the target...be content to miss it as long as you tried your best. And who knows...the missed target might actually be the better one! Just keep trying and doing your best.

Some life lessons from our ancient older cousins (The Cynics). Simplify your life, make more time and find the happiness and tranquillity you seek. The episode also discusses whether Cynicism can actually be considered a philosophy.

Judge good. Not judge good. Judge bad! Not judge bad! The fact of the matter is that reality is, it doesn't matter (at least as far as the pursuit of a virtuous life is concerned). In this episode, I make a counterargument to an earlier episode.

We live once and therefore live one lifetime. You can try and extend your life through healthy lifestyle choices. But when we say "healthy lifestyle choices" we tend to only think in the physical realm (exercise, eat well, drink plenty of water, etc). We forget about the spiritual (mental) part of it. Not only can we get live multiple lifetimes by reading others' stories and perspectives, but reading itself has some significant positive impact on our lives (i.e. it is a healthy lifestyle choice).

 Your journal is your most powerful tool, so make sure you use one! Your journal is your most powerful tool, so make sure you use one! Your journal is your most powerful tool, so make sure you use one! Your journal is your most powerful tool, so make sure you use one! Your journal is your most powerful tool, so make sure you use one! You get the point.

Our school delineates steps and tools to attain peace of mind. OK. Can we just follow the steps then to attain peace of mind within the day? Is Stoicism a script to be followed and applied once with results for perpetuity? We all know by now, the answer is (unfortunately) no. Look we know what to do, but we are human beings. We cannot be perfect or sages. So just keep pushing in the right direction (towards virtue) no matter how much push back you get.

It's all in the title. The formula our school teaches us for happiness is very straightforward: Figure out what it is that will bring you virtue, and go out there and do it again and again. Simple concept, sure. But so so very hard in its application. So let's break things down a little in this episode.

You have ideas, thoughts and opinions. And when you decide on an opinion, you don't come to it lightly. You evaluate, consider and mull over your options (hopefully) before you come to a conclusion on what your opinions are. But even with all that reflection can you be certain that your opinions are the ultimately correct ones?  

We tend to think of virtue and sagehood as stick in the mud, boring type monotone people. However, nothing in the rulebook says you must not have fun in order to cultivate a more virtuous self. In fact, it is quite the opposite. A little entertainment is not only okay, but necessary. So R&R in reasonable and consistent doses can be actually beneficial to you in your pursuit of a better self. Yes, you heard it right.....this episode makes a case for letting loose (like drinking wine) being a necessary tool for virtue.