In this episode, we examine Stoic ways of mentally preparing for the unexpected events that each day presents.

It's then possible to resolve to meet them with acceptance rather than struggling against them and creating difficulty for ourselves.

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"If you seek tranquillity, do less. More accurately, do what’s essential...and in the requisite way.

Which brings a double satisfaction: to do less, better. Because most of what we say and do isn’t essential. Ask yourself at every moment, Is this necessary?"

—Marcus Aurelius, 4.24

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The Stoics liked to draw parallels between the practice of philosophy and other, more physical pursuits that require concentrated effort to improve one’s ability.

One popular analogy was to present Stoicism as a type of training similar to that an athlete would undertake.

In this episode, we reflect on Epictetus's comparison of life to the Olympic Games, and Musonius Rufus's use of Stoicism as a means of strengthening one’s soul.

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To prepare for the day ahead, the Stoic Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius would often remind himself of the type of people he was likely to come into contact with.

“At the start of the day,” he wrote in his Meditations. “Tell yourself: I shall meet people who are officious, ungrateful, abusive, treacherous, malicious, and selfish.”

In this episode, we look at why we might want to develop a similar practice.

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The Stoic philosopher Seneca wrote 124 letters to his friend Lucilius and reveled in his replies:

"Your letter has given me pleasure, and has roused me from sluggishness."

—Seneca, Letters 74.1

This collection of letters is today one of our best sources of Stoic life advice from ancient Rome.

In this episode, we look at why we should consider writing some letters of our own.

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Donald Robertson’s new book How To Think Like Socrates will be a welcome release for anyone keen to delve into the life of the man often referred to as the grandfather of Western philosophy.

Almost all philosophical schools after Socrates traced their roots to him, including the Stoics.

In this episode, I talk to Donald about the book and what we can learn today from how Socrates thought all those years ago.

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Let’s face a worry together using this time we have carved out specifically for our philosophical practice.

It’s a short exercise, so there’s no need to rush.

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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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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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