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stoicism

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

labeling breeds suffering

labeling breeds suffering

“Don’t use the words happiness and unhappiness, because these words carry judgments. Simply watch without judging—just say, ‘This is mood A and this is mood B.’ The A mood has gone, now the B mood is here, and you are simply a watcher. Suddenly you will realize that

the art of adaptability: a stoic secret to happiness

the art of adaptability: a stoic secret to happiness

Imagine a student, eager and ambitious, approaching the Stoic philosopher Epictetus. "Master," he pleads, "show me the path to wisdom and success. Lay out the steps, the formulas, the secrets to achieving greatness." Epictetus, wise and ever-observant, refrains from offering a rigid roadmap. Instead, he gently

building mental toughness: the foundation of lasting happiness

building mental toughness: the foundation of lasting happiness

“For even peace itself will supply more reason for worry. Not even safe circumstances will bring you confidence once your mind has been shocked—once it gets in the habit of blind panic, it can’t provide for its own safety. For it doesn’t really avoid danger, it just

the stoic art of dealing with uncertainty (part 2)

the stoic art of dealing with uncertainty (part 2)

“Anyone with any degree of mental toughness,” artist Georgia O’Keeffe wrote with regard to life and the art of setting priorities, “ought to be able to exist without the things they like most for a few months at least.” Seneca, the Roman philosopher, who served as Nero's