Stoicism for a Better Life

Emotions, emotions, emotions... when emotions rise up within us, it is so very difficult to remain grounded isn't it? This is a problem all humans face, as this is a glitch of our core operating system which ties back to survival instincts. But luckily the Stoics had some good advice on how to tackle emotions taking over our thoughts. I will share three (3) steps with you in this short episode to help anyone tackle their emotional waves and remain grounded.

Pursue dreams that are in the future...OK. Now don't focus on the future...Huh? Pursuing dreams can seem paradoxical as a Stoic, for we are trying to live in the present moment, but dreams are in the future. So how do we reconcile the two? Let me clarify how our teacher differentiates the pursuit of goals and dreams from our happiness and tranquillity in this episode of SFBL.

"What did they mean by that text?" "Am I making the right decision?" "What if something does not go as planned?" Do you have a tendency (like me) to overthink and cause yourself mental stress and consternation for no good reason? Going with the flow is what our Stoic ancestors suggested to help curtail this self-punishment. I will explore this idea in a bit more depth in this short episode.

Let me drop a quick truth bomb on you... Loving reality and accepting all the bad things that have happened to you has less to do with the discipline of accepting reality as it is and almost everything to do with loving YOURSELF in the present moment. Let me walk you through how our Stoic ancestors put this with a few quotes and ideas in this short episode.

We set goals all the time, but have a tendency to quit them the moment things get hard. As Stoics, however, we embrace difficulties and see it as part of the process. Let me share some of my Stoic wisdom with you in helping you attain your goals.

Our unhealthy wantingness to please others is no fault of our own. From a young age, we are trained to make the authority figure (parent, teacher, coach, manager, etc.,) happy and to do as they say. Later in life, this can translate into an unhealthy habit of trying to be a people pleaser whether we realize it or not. This human trait to try and please others also speaks to our pack animal nature, so we can easily get caught in a death spiral of trying to please others at our own peril. If this sounds familiar, let me share with you some tips and tricks my Stoic ancestors have taught me to help manage the stress and anxiety that comes with trying to please others.

Point to a human being who does not feel anxious at times, and I will point to a liar. All human beings feel anxiety (same as pessimism) because it is a natural pre-programmed survival mechanism, like breathing! You do not think of breathing, but you just consistently do it. So it is with anxiety. But it does not mean we are slaves to this physically and mentally taxing feeling. With some simple tricks, we can slowly take control over it. I don't claim to know the one true solution to curbing anxiety, but I have found some tips, tricks and life hacks from our Stoic teachers that tend to resonate with many. Let us discuss these today in this short episode.

Attaining perfection. We are all perfectionists to a certain extent. Some more than others, but we all struggle to do what we know we should be doing. So what did the Stoics say about it and how do I apply it today? Let's find out together in this short episode.

Everywhere we look it is chaos, divisiveness, injustice, unfairness and uncertainty. Seriously...how does anyone get through life without breaking down into a fetal position and crying? I'm not sure how you guys do it, but let me share with you how I get through on this short opener for season 7. I'm really looking forward to this season with you guys!