“People exist for one another. You can instruct or endure them.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 8.59 At some point, we all face it: the frustration of dealing with difficult people. But rather than lashing out or retreating, Marcus Aurelius gives us a timeless Stoic reminder. People exist for one another; Read more
On this journey, we all need a moment for ourselves. Breathe in, Breathe out. Say out loud (or in your head) something you’re grateful for… Bonus if you tell the person next to you. Find Alignment with Yourself “For it is you who know yourself, and what value you set Read more
Prohairesis is the Stoic term for your rational faculty of choice, the part of you that judges, decides, and acts. It is your moral will, the only thing truly under your control. In Stoicism, prohairesis is not a vague idea of free will or general autonomy. It is precise: it Read more
“For universally (and you should not be deceived on this) every living creature is attached to nothing so strongly as it is to its own interest.” Epictetus, The Discourses, Book Two, Chapter 22.12 What does Epictetus mean by saying that we are most attached to our self-interests? At first glance, Read more
“Three relationshipsi. with the body you inhabitii. with the divine, the cause of everything in all thingsiii. with the people around you” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 8.27 How often do we pause to evaluate our relationships, not just with others, but with ourselves and the universe? Marcus Aurelius offers a Read more
A deep dive into the true connection between Stoicism and emotions, clearing up the common misconceptions of how Stoics view and understand emotions. Summary Stoicism and Emotion deals with the complex connection the Stoic has with emotions. Piecing together information from the ancient texts, Graver takes the reader on an Read more
“What a man sets his heart on, that he naturally loves. Do men set their heart on evils? – By no means. Or on what does not concern them? – No again. It remains for us to conclude, then, that good things alone are what they set their heart on: Read more
“Practice really hearing what people say. Do your best to get inside their minds.” Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, Book 6.53 Listening is a forgotten skill, and it requires attention, something we have long lost in the storm of information. We often hear to reply, not to understand, and to wait for Read more
“How can you wonder your travels do you no good, when you carry yourself around with you? You are saddled with the very thing that drove you away.” Seneca, Letters From a Stoic, Letter XXVIII The excitement or relief of a new place, job, or situation soon settles in, and Read more
What is Propatheia? Propatheia is an involuntary emotional reaction to an impression, shaped by your character and pre-existing beliefs, but occurring before reason has the chance to evaluate or judge what is truly happening. Have you ever flinched at sudden news or felt your heart skip before you caught yourself? Read more