The What Is Stoicism? Podcast

The formula for human greatness: it’s a grand proposition that there would even be one but is it really as simple as loving what happens?

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In this episode, I explore a fun writing prompt that can help achieve the powerful perspective of Stoic objectivity.

It's reminiscent of an exercise Marcus Aurelius described to himself as follows:

“This should be your practice throughout all your life: when things have such a plausible appearance, show them naked, see their shoddiness, strip away their own boastful account of themselves. Vanity is the greatest seducer of reason: when you are most convinced that your work is important, that is when you are most under its spell.”

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☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines that take only 10 minutes to complete.

Free Stoic 10-day series: https://whatisstoicism.com/10days

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A discourse from Epictetus and three entertaining stories of Stoic philosophers to provide good examples of ways in which today, no matter what happens, we can always exercise our freedom of will.

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☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines that take only 10 minutes to complete.

Free Stoic 10-day series: https://whatisstoicism.com/10days

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In his book Being Better, Kai Whiting tells us that the Stoic philosopher Panaetius established the idea that everyone has four roles in life.

In this episode, we look at what those roles are and how we can perform them as well as possible.

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☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines that take only 10 minutes to complete.

Free Stoic 10-day series: https://whatisstoicism.com/10days

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Three philosophical questions, courtesy of the late poet John O'Donohue, to ask yourself today and help inform the actions you take.

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☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines that take only 10 minutes to complete.

Free Stoic 10-day series: https://whatisstoicism.com/10days

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By repeatedly telling ourselves negative stories we add a second layer of suffering to whatever sorrow we happen to encounter.

Due to our close proximity to them, instead of detaching from the stories, we end up detached from reality.

If we are to see these stories for what they really are we must zoom out from them.

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☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines that take only 10 minutes to complete.

Free Stoic 10-day series: https://whatisstoicism.com/10days

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is based on Epictetus's teaching of a classic Stoic trope: the less we shy away from adversity, the more strength and courage we build in ourselves.

In other words, the more challenges we give our best to, the better equipped we become to face similar challenges in the future. (And by doing so, we prove to ourselves what we're capable of.)

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☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines that take only 10 minutes to complete.

Free Stoic 10-day series: https://whatisstoicism.com/10days

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines that take only 10 minutes to complete.

Free Stoic 10-day series: https://whatisstoicism.com/10days

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"Of all men they alone are at leisure who take time for philosophy, they alone really live; for they are not content to be good guardians of their own lifetime only. They annex every age to their own; all the years that have gone before them are an addition to their store."

—Seneca, On the Shortness of Life XIV

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☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines that take only 10 minutes to complete.

Free Stoic 10-day series: https://whatisstoicism.com/10days

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“Because most of what we say and do isn’t essential. Ask yourself at every moment, Is this necessary?”

—Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 4.24

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☀️ Start your next 10 days like a Stoic with morning routines that take only 10 minutes to complete.

Free Stoic 10-day series: https://whatisstoicism.com/10days

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The Stoics strongly believed that we should be respectful to everyone, no matter who they are or what they’ve done.

It’s a freeing attitude: not only can we refuse to let the malevolent actions of others harm our free will, but we also always maintain the power to love, respect, and help those same people.

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