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stoicism

success costs more than you think

success costs more than you think

“The unrestricted person, who has in hand what they will in all events, is free. But anyone who can be restricted, coerced, or pushed into something against what they will is a slave.” — Epictetus, Discourses, 4.1.128b–129a Success is often seen as the ultimate achievement, bringing with it

the many faces of courage

the many faces of courage

Throughout history, the word "courage" has conjured up images of heroism – warriors charging into battle, firefighters storming into burning buildings, or activists standing firm against oppressive forces. But courage encompasses far more than just these extraordinary acts. It is a multi-faceted virtue woven into the fabric of our

embracing the pain: stoicism and the path to resilience

embracing the pain: stoicism and the path to resilience

“Men, the philosopher’s lecture-hall is a hospital—you shouldn’t walk out of it feeling pleasure, but pain, for you aren’t well when you enter it.” — Epictetus, Discourses, 3.23.30 In the realm of healing, whether it’s physical therapy or rehabilitation, the journey is often marked

keep your fortress strong and impenetrable

keep your fortress strong and impenetrable

“No, it is events that give rise to fear—when another has power over them or can prevent them, that person becomes able to inspire fear. How is the fortress destroyed? Not by iron or fire, but by judgments… here is where we must begin, and it is from this

the taxes of life: a different perspective

the taxes of life: a different perspective

“Nothing will ever befall me that I will receive with gloom or a bad disposition. I will pay my taxes gladly. Now, all the things which cause complaint or dread are like the taxes of life—things from which, my dear Lucilius, you should never hope for exemption or seek

you have more power than you realize

you have more power than you realize

“Consider who you are. Above all, a human being, carrying no greater power than your own reasoned choice, which oversees all other things, and is free from any other master.” — Epictetus, Discourses, 2.10.1 Suffering is an inevitable part of our lives. We all experience different levels and kinds

why the easy life isn't praiseworthy

why the easy life isn't praiseworthy

“Success comes to the lowly and to the poorly talented, but the special characteristic of a great person is to triumph over the disasters and panics of human life.” — Seneca, On Providence, 4.1 You may know some people who seem to have had it made in life from the

conquer fear once and for all

conquer fear once and for all

“But there is no reason to live and no limit to our miseries if we let our fears predominate.” — Seneca, Moral Letters, 13.12b The ancient Stoic philosophers had an interesting take on fear. They said we should be more afraid of being afraid than of the things we'

the only thing you ever have is now

the only thing you ever have is now

“There are more things, Lucilius, likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.” ― Seneca, Letters from a Stoic Most of us live anxious and worried lives. And the sad part is that we hardly ever live in the present.

finding grace in uncommon places

finding grace in uncommon places

“Life is an inexhaustible treasure, but only the heart of the poet can know it.” — Osho The world is filled with poetry, if only we have eyes to see it. As Marcus Aurelius wrote in a passage in Meditations, even simple sights like stalks of grain bending in the wind