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200 | Hello everyone, I seek for your Stoic advice.
Recently I decided to cut connection with my abusive father and I wonder what the Stocisim have to say about it.
See abuse in the sense of Stocisim does not exists. I choose to see my father actions as abusive but I can stop seeing it like this.
I really like Epictetus an... | Therapy > Philosophy in this situation.
I learned long ago they *anything* can be weaponized... Even the most perfect pearls of wisdom can be leveraged to rationalize denial, cruelty, narcissism, etc.
"Abusive" might be in the eyes of the beholder, but the question becomes more about that "beholder" and whether or no... | Cutting connection with abusive father | null | general_qa |
201 | I apologize in advance for the vulgarity.
For a year I have been studying Stoicism. On most days when the weather seems fine and I am at ease, it becomes an easy topic to get into. Something you think to yourself, "Yes, I'm not gonna let these externals control me. I can do this." But so often, we get hit by a horrific... | I'm sorry to hear that. It sounds like you are in a difficult situation. I think you made a good choice by notifying the authorities. As far as Stoicism goes, just remember what is within your locus of control. Acknowledge your mistakes and learn from them. We're all just humans. I wish you well. | It is often in our hardest times that best describe how Stoic we are. | null | general_qa |
202 | I am as stoic as any one of you guys, but there is nothing stoicism can do to help me right now, in situations like these where it normally operates the most.
I have my own movie premiere next week! Just now I got a haircut to fix the haircut I already got, that only made it worse. I look like a scruff. I hate it. Oh ... | Shave your head.
Did it last time I got a terrible haircut, and it's incredibly liberating, and also rather convenient.
Your hair is not you. It's a pretty powerful move and taught me I'd have no issues with doing it again in the future if needs be. | Bad haircut stoicism | null | general_qa |
203 | I read meditations. Then I read discourses. Then I got about halfway though meditations, again. I stopped reading it when I had falling outs with my family, both immediate and further out. I've come to the conclusion that, while i definitely have my problems, everyone i talk to is a hypocrite driven by either narcissis... | Do you have access to decent therapist rn? Not CBT... genuinely asking as I know psychotherapy is a privilege and getting a decent therapist nothing short of a miracle | I'n not sure how to classify a topic for this post, but maybe uncontrolled anger. | null | general_qa |
204 | I've been a lurker here for years, but I don't often come seeking advice... this is one of those rare occasions.
I've been reflecting a lot on my life lately since everything was turned upside-down for me a little over a year ago, and it has occurred to me that, while I can be very forgiving of others sometimes, I am t... | Well I'd point out that claim "I knew better" because it has no supporting evidence. Would you say someone knew what 2+2 was if they shouted 5? In reality if you did actually know it would have shown in your choice.
You may have been presented with the thought "I ought to do something else" but you dismissed it becaus... | Forgiving myself for mistakes I should not have made. | null | general_qa |
205 | I've been a stoic for a while, but one thing that has always bugged me is how to remove these ruminating and intrusive thoughts. I realize I'm focusing on things outside of my control when I let these thoughts take over, but my brain somehow tricks me into thinking if I ignore it then I won't learn from it, then I'll p... | Don't silence but learn to observe. | How to silence intrusive thoughts? | null | general_qa |
206 | what are your thoughts on bad-mouthing people behind their backs? I am pretty new to stoicism and I know from the stoic standpoint it is not right to bad-mouth people. So there's this dude I've been helping out. I've been helping him financially and being there for him when he's down and out. But every time I bring up ... | Did you help him with the expectation that he would reciprocate or pay you back? Lesson learned there
Understand that people always have a reason for what they do and say, he may have been sponging off you or he may simply not be coping.
If you are following Stoic practices, you will be generous in your assessment of... | thoughts on gossiping and bad-mouthing people | null | general_qa |
207 | I no longer want to be a husband material. In modern day, being a husband material is degrading, and personally, I also think bad boys do great, in life and also with girls. | >degrading
In Stoic thought, it's impossible to be degraded by anything other than your own unvirtuous actions. Nothing outside of you can be degrading, so being a kind and virtuous man certainly won't be.
Have you read any Stoic literature? | Need a stoic advice. | null | general_qa |
208 | I'm seeking advice.
I think I can manage when things go wrong, more or less, and I can manage when things don't go my way. External events should not dictate my emotions after all.
But I'm struggling to manage my emotions when the unfairness of the world comes from my own parents. When I'm expected more than my siblin... | Talk to them. See what they think. | When the unfairness comes from your parents | null | general_qa |
209 | last feb i had breakup with my ex gf.. it was a 9 months relationship and she was my first love.. it was a cute ship but we had our ups and downs ..i didn't want to breakup but she told me that she was afraid that things woudn't work in the future and we end up hurting each other .. it ended up on a good terms but insi... | You can't "lose" someone that was never "yours" to begin with. And feelings are just that: feelings. They will come and go in time, but they are not the thing that controls you and your actions. | Breakup advice from stoic perspective | null | general_qa |
210 | As just above, I recently found out about stoicism after feeling depressed and burnt out from working as a physician in training. I work usually 60-70 hours a week with 1 day off and constantly on night shift, which has burnt me out. I found out about stoicism and it has helped me a lot in calming me down to deal with ... | My favorite phrase to come from Epictetus: Sustine et abstine. Bear and forbear.
Bear in mind why you're going through all of this work right now. If your goal is to be a doctor, is what you're experiencing now worth it?
Bear the hardship. You want to be a doctor - it goes without being said that it's an incredibly dif... | Stoicism advices for resident doctor | null | general_qa |
211 | My wife lied a lot when we both met, she would make up stories, gave me a different age, say things to impress me or sound more mature. I found out a year in, then spent another two years finding out more and more, she never came clean and I would always find out the hard way.
The problem is, all these stories and lie... | "It's been 10 years....."
Get over it, or get help, because at this point if you can't resolve these issues within yourself then you're not just hurting yourself, you're hurting her too. | How do I get over the past? | null | general_qa |
212 | I have been reading a lot or stoicism, but I tend to fall back into old habits a lot. I really need advice on one topic, that has been controlling my life for a long time. To understand it, i need to describe my backstory a little bit. So, I was bullied in school. I was the really quiet girl all my life and I was alway... | To be honest, what you are describing does not sound like Stoicism the philosophy to me
Stoicism the philosophy (this sub) will help you to identify personal boundaries, and will teach you that the only person you can rely upon is yourself. You control your own thoughts, actions etc and what other people do or say is ... | Setting boundaries | null | general_qa |
213 | To start this I'd like to mention I am a stoic that has practiced the philosophy for a few years.
With that being said, it's never a bad idea to ask for help from others.
It seems for the past few years I've been dulled, activities usually end up with me being overly intoxicated, simply because if I don't blackout, I... | I just enjoy being alive. Just witnessing a fraction of time in the existence. No deeper meaning, just wonder. | Cold, Alone and Alive | null | general_qa |
214 | Hi there. I'm currently doing a PhD and I have almost finished my first year. I start my exams tomorrow but unfortunately I have struggled all year with a complete lack of motivation. It might be too late to be asking for advice seeing as I needed the motivation throughout the year and I'm not sure if I will make it th... | Why don't you ask for feedback from your supervisor? Or explore if you have to do exactly what is in your PhD description, is there any wriggle room to change it a bit?
You could also take some time off. Both my daughter and her partner are doing PhDs (one in BioMed, the other in some sort of drone programming/ engi... | I have almost finished the first year of my PhD, but I'm really struggling. | null | general_qa |
215 | Hi all,
I'm new to stoicism (and this sub reddit so i'm sorry if i've chosen the wrong flair)
I've been reading Donald Robertson's How To Think Like a Roman Emperor and came across the idea of 'Eudamonia'. I was hoping to share my understanding of it and get some advice on whether I am thinking in the right direction ... | >our purpose is live is to live virtuously
Yes, this is my understanding. Eudaimonia/contentment/the good life come as a result of living according to virtue.
I'll just mention here that Stoic virtue is practical wisdom, and doesn't mean virtue in the sense that religions use the term. | Eudamonia & 'purpose' as a byproduct of living virtuously | null | general_qa |
216 | Currently, I am new to stoicism and have many thoughts I wish to share to other people and ideas. But this low self confidence in myself has made me refrain from sharing the many thoughts and ideas that I have, not only those relating to stoicism. Sometimes I overthink about something that I want to share, even as I ma... | Just do it.
Maybe you will be hailed as a genius. Maybe you will get critical comments and seen as a fool.
Who knows? (Who cares?)
Just do it, and feel and digest the experience. You can actively stay out of your head to be with the experience of sharing. | I have many thoughts and ideas I want to share, but I have low self confidence. | null | general_qa |
217 | I'm a 16yo male in hs pretty big guy, 210 lb powerlifter. I need advice on how to react to people being "passive aggressive" at school. I'm a pretty stoic person when it comes to people making jokes about me and other stuff but there's a lot of people at school, even my friends who do things to me like try to pinch my ... | For words, I'm reminded of a quote from Epictetus. He had recently been heavily criticised by another famous philosopher and his reply was:
"If he truly knew my faults, he would not have listed only those".
Self-depreciating humour can be a good way to deflect criticisms and to make it clear you don't care what they s... | Need some advice | null | general_qa |
218 | My partner often experiences and expresses stress about a great many things. She is quite sensitive about her bodily feelings and also quite preferential about things like timing and tone of voice and volume and many other things. I understand that I cannot control these things, and she also cannot control what stimuli... | Commiseration, taken literally, isn't a part of Stoicism. *Enchiridion* 16 and a commentary may be helpful, as may some of the resources in the "sex and relationships" section of the Frequently Discussed Topics page | How much should we care for our partner's stress? | null | general_qa |
219 | I've really been noticing recently how much time and energy my girlfriend has been spending on being bothered by other people, which means, as a result, a lot of our "conversation" is her venting about these people. For example, she was telling me about her parents friends, and how many problems they have. The husband ... | You are projecting yourself onto her, you expect her behaviour to be more like yours.
Don't you see that it's never gonna work like that? It will only create friction and separation, going down that road.
She'll get over it when she is ready, if that's even a negative thing to begin with, because you are the one judgin... | How does a Stoic deal with a loved one spending time and energy on drama/getting upset by other people's behavior? | null | general_qa |
220 | Hi all, I've been looking into Stoicism for about 6 months now. I've found some aspects quite transformative, particularly the idea of dichotomy of control and also developing a journaling habit for clarity of thought.
This sub has been really useful for me, so I would like to seek some advice if I may - I have to bre... | You say you subscribe to Stoic prinicples - so from the outset you know that you cannot change him, and it is unwise to give him 'advice' unless he specifically requests it
Time is the teacher here, and his mistakes. He will learn that his actions or non-actions have consequences and to try to save him from them would... | Breaking bad news | null | general_qa |
221 | So I'm working on my depression and I'm attempting to improve my situation, and hopefully eventually become more content with my life. I'm going to therapy, going outside, exercising, socializing, seeking out hobbies, all of that as best I can. I understand that mental health is a work in progress and requires constant... | >I gather that the stoic mindset suggests that you don't let things, which are out of your control, worsen your mood, and you simply accept the current situation for what it is so you can move on until better times arrive.
That helped me at first too. It was helpful for me to recognize I could register my thoughts in t... | Is there any stoic advice for dealing with depression and feeling miserable? | null | general_qa |
222 | Hey guys so my girlfriend her dad is not a nice person and keeps telling her that she's a mistake that she's worthless and all that type of stuff. Do you guys have any stoic advice to help her. | As someone who grew up with an abusive parent:
* Abuse is a out the person doing the abuse, not the one at the receiving end. Really knowing that in you heart and soul helps you keep your own power to yourself. The worse thing that can happen would be for the abuse to take her power away.
* Abusers are like most peopl... | Do you have some stoic advice for a mentally abusive father | null | general_qa |
223 | I've been studying up on stoicism and incorporating stoic principles into my life the last few years. I've found it positive, and I don't really tell anybody - including my wife of over a decade. I've always been a bit of a closet stoic anyway - I've always found joy and contentment in the small things, listening to m... | "I get the impression that she thinks I'm not ambitious enough, and don't earn enough money to give her the life she desires"
Putting thoughts in your partner's head is poisonous to a relationship. Ask her point blank, and proceed from there. | Spouse/partner incompatibility/friction due to my stoic world view? | null | general_qa |
224 | This is a serious question.
Stoicism has resonated with me the most out of the philosophies, but holy shit lol. Some of y'all got make the most out of literally nothing. Similar to the meme about the blue curtains in english class. I discovered stoicism when I needed it most and I'm sure some of you have as well, but... | Unfortunately its the petty shit that seems to bother most of us as human beings. Getting cut off in traffic, not getting a pay raise, order was wrong, coworkers suck, whatever. A lot of folks take it as "super serious" but I think we could learn from the Cynic smartasses like Diogenes too. Being a Stoic is about bei... | Is this a secret circle jerk sub? | null | general_qa |
225 | **Edit: So this blew up when I went to work. I really appreciate all of the responses everyone has given. I've taken the time to read them all, and will re-read as well at my leisure. A lot of things resonated with me, and I honestly did not think I'd have such an amazing response to this.**
Hello stoics,
This is ... | Yeah, your partner's missed the point entirely.
Stoicism isn't about removing attachments in order to avoid the feelings of others. That's a cop out to avoid dealing with life.
Stoicism is about consciously embracing your own emotions and understanding that nothing is forever. It's about living in the present and app... | Stoicism has turned my partner cold and distant. I want to support and embrace stoicism, but I can't. | null | general_qa |
226 | I'm a teenager (14) and around an hour ago my mother said to me: "You and your sister are a waste of my time and effort. I wish I never met your father so you could never be born."
Can anyone help me? I've been heavily reading on Stoicism for 6 months now so I think this is the best sub to seek advice. I'd like some t... | Plan your future. Think about how you want your life to be and build the best springboard you can. Just because your mother hates her life, it doesn't mean you have to hate yours. | One hour ago my mother said she regrets having me and that I'm a "waste of time" | null | general_qa |
227 | Ok so this is a long story so please bare with me.
I am in the middle of completing a degree when I have decided that I could no longer be with my parents. I have suffered from depression and anxiety for a very long time and this has been extremely amplified by living at home.
My dad is the biggest tyrant and bully ... | One of my favorite passages from Meditations covers this exact problem:
>"When your sparring partner scratches or head-butts you, you don't then make a show of it, or protest, or view him with suspicion or as plotting against you. And yet you keep an eye on him, not as an enemy or with suspicion, but with a healthy av... | Permanently cutting contact with my parents | null | general_qa |
228 | This is my perception, at least. If there is some truth to it, I think it is worth exploring reasons why it is true.
At the risk of comparing apples to oranges, I hear a lot from women in Taoist, or say, existentialist discussions. I don't think the same thing can be said for stoicism.
Are there any women on this su... | [removed] | Why is stoicism so overwhelmingly male dominated? | null | general_qa |
229 | One of my favorite books is The Conquest of Happiness by Betrand Russell. It has many techniques that can be compatible with the practice of Stoicism.
However, his main advice is that happiness comes from focusing outward instead of self-absortion:
"Bertrand Russell believed that closing yourself off only leads to sa... | I don't think self-improvement is the main goal of Stoicism; it's only a secondary side-effect. The main purpose of Stoicism is to be a good person and, for the ancient Stoics, "to live in accordance to nature". Marcus Aurelius compared it to how bees and ants perform their individual tasks. They don't need to stop and... | My problems with Stoicism and self-absortion | null | general_qa |
230 | Recently, i've found that a lot of people who practice stoicism are going through a rough time in their lives. That makes sense, but what about the people who are living great, happy lives with not many troubles? I'm still young, 14 years old, but stoicism interests me very much. I want to be a better person, but i fin... | Absolutely. Personally I think that using Stoicism only as a tool to get you through hard times is a very incomplete practice. There's a lot more to this philosophy - [the FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Stoicism/wiki/faq) is a very good introduction.
The "in your control" thing doesn't simply mean you should accept bad... | Is it possible to embody stoicism even if you aren't going through hard times? | null | general_qa |
231 | I am mostly referring to Daily Stoics recent Instagram post about justice in regards to the Derek Chauvin trial. There are a sickening number of comments saying "Quit dragging politics into Stoicism", "Look at you virtue signaling" etc etc....
I mean really people. I couldn't name a moral philosophy more intertwined... | One of the Modern Stoicism podcast episodes discussed this phenomenon, of certain sub-cultures cherry-picking certain parts of Stoicism to both piggy-back in the current popularity of Stoicism content and as a way of legitimizing their views. Going off of memory:
- $toicism: a get-rich-or-die-trying approach going aro... | What's the deal with people using Stoicism as a way to justify their own cognitive biases and neuroses? | null | general_qa |
232 | >*I'm sure I'll look back ten years from now and view every day I'm out here without regret*
This is a quote from a novel I was reading called *Hyouka* by Yonezawa Honobu. After reading this quote in the book, it made me think about the future that lies ahead of me. In ten years from now, I will be in my early 30s and... | 1. Take care of your health. Physical and mental.
2. Get out of debt and save money. Have a financial plan for your future.
3. Be friends with people you aspire to be like. Quality of friends is far superior than quantity. | What should I do to make sure in ten years from now I won't regret the life I had today? | null | general_qa |
233 | So I recently got out of a pretty toxic and difficult phase of my life, with someone who is no longer in it. I realised that the first couple of months after everything happened, I was an emotional wreck.
I'm not sure if this is the right sub for this but I really want to start learning more about myself and grow stro... | Hello there! I think it sounds like you are on the right track.
You have been through a crisis and have begun rebuilding and improving yourself. That is so great!
What I'm thinking is "easy, Tiger". With all those new initiatives you risk burning out before any of your new habits get a solid foothold. I might certain... | Advice? | null | general_qa |
234 | Hello, I'm a senior in high school and new to the philosophy of stoicism. My freshman year was rough, as I underestimated what HS (high school) was going to demand of me; though, I still passed all if my classes and got a 2.83 GPA. Sophomore and junior year went a lot better, and I really began to feel good about schoo... | I get the sense you are feeling something so many people can relate to right now, you are in a rut and feeling stagnant. I obviously cant fully understand the exact situation you are in, but most likely, you're entire world has been shrunken over the last year. You're not physically going to school, you might be missin... | High School Student Struggling Greatly With Online Classes (new format due to COVID) | null | general_qa |
235 | I almost got hit by a car this morning. I was walking into an intersection when I saw a car coming into the stop sign hot, so I stoped walking. The person looked up and hit the breaks mid-intersection and stoped. His window is down so I say "Hey buddy, nice stop. Go ahead you're in such a rush". The guy looked at me wi... | A lesson I learned working road construction:
"No harm, no foul."
If I got upset every time I ALMOST got hit by a less-than-careful driver, I'd never have gotten any work done.
It took me too long to realize that I should apply this attitude to other parts of my life.
(Now, this doesn't mean that I shouldn't be as ... | Shaming (with sarcasm) to teach a lesson | null | general_qa |
236 | Now dont get me wrong. I like stoicism as a philosophy and what it portrays, to stand upright even in the face of hardship. Being content in thyself. And what it values.
Today I had a random thought about why I am trying to be virtues instead of falling for vices.
Funnily enough it was not that easy to answer, perhap... | Well, look at it this way - why do you eat food instead of gravel? When the rain starts falling, why do you seek a roof? Because those things are obviously good for you. It's much more difficult to choose what you see as bad and harmful - unless it helps you reach a goal you consider even more important.
So why choose... | Why do we good instead of bad? | null | general_qa |
237 | Hi! I have just discovered about stoicism and I am really interested in learning more. I would be really grateful if you gave me some advice on where to start. Thank you!! | Right here:
http://www.reddit.com/r/Stoicism/wiki/faq
The FAQ itself is great, and there's a huge list of suggested readings at the end. | Any good books about stoicism for beginners? | null | general_qa |
238 | Hello everyone, I recently have started reading about stoicism and have even implemented some Stoic ideas in my own life. One big problem that conflicts with me though is the idea that everyone is a good person underneath everything and the people who do bad are just "lost". This idea really conflicts with what I have ... | everyone is a person at heart, good is a judgement call, just like bad is | How can Stoics believe everyone is a good person at heart? | null | general_qa |
239 | In my practice of Stoicism I feel less empathetic towards people now. I can't feel their struggle and happiness. I used to be a very empathetic person too.
I feel callous. I don't care if one of my family goes through pain. And this is alarming. I use to be extremely sensitive to pain, but now that I've adopted stoic... | I've had the opposite experience. Stoicism has made me able to relate and empathize rather than feel their idiots or should adopt some other behavior. People are doing what they feel they should be doing, granted it they are often mistaken/ignorant, but they're not being malicious. | Stoicism makes me feel less empathetic towards people. | null | general_qa |
240 | A few dear friends of mine do seem happy and fulfilled. However, they do not live a virtuous life in the Stoical sense. They give it their best at work, but they limit the efforts to their weekly 40 hours. Apart from those weekly 40 hours, they do not spend any time improving themselves or becoming better versions of t... | It depends on your definition of happiness. The thing with the naive happiness you're describing is that precisely it is naive. What normal people do is to ignore everything that feels bad or difficult and do everything that feels good and easy. That's what people are taught and encouraged to do without much thought. A... | Can you be happy without becoming the best version of yourself? | null | general_qa |
241 | Hello,
recently I've finished reading "Letters from a stoic" by Seneca. It seems to me, as if Seneca does not hold much value on physical fitness and sports. Throughout the book he mentioned physical fitness only a few times and he didn't seem to care about it a lot, as the body ages anyway and the physical fitness beg... | I don't have any sources where physical activity is a subject. Although, I think the quote you shared from Socrates was on point, no matter if he was a devout stoic. I personally think physical activity and sports is very beneficial to mental fortitude and helps up deal with difficult situations. Constantly putting you... | Stoicism on physical fitness and sports | null | general_qa |
242 | Hello.
I've recently embraced the Stoic philosophy and I've found it helps a lot with almost all aspects of my life. But I have trouble reconciling something.
Stoicism teaches that we can only control ourselves and that while we may try to help and teach others by nudging them in the right direction, you ultimately c... | IMO, Stoicism is not what you need for your brother.
* I suggest outreach, research, building bridges of understanding and access/experience with him. (I would be glad to discuss and write more specific advice if asked)
Stoicism is what you need for yourself. | My Brother Has Depression | null | general_qa |
243 | I have a coworker that likes to gossip about my personal life from information she gains from my post. I removed her as a follower a few months ago, but recently she has attempted to re add me. I blocked her. My primary struggle is that I am trying to accept the nature of others and be agreeable/sociable as I can. I fe... | My two cents: What you do, is no concern of hers and what she does is of no concern to you. Unless it somehow harms both parties. Then that requires intervention.
You blocked her by making a logical choice to spare you of further malice. This is your way of intervening. Lets hope he/she/it gets the message and moves ... | Blocking Coworkers on Social | null | general_qa |
244 | In Meditations, Marcus Aurelius mentions that there are 3 kinds of people: 1.) who help someone and immediately look for reciprocity 2.) who are slower to look for something in return but who feel like the person owes them something 3.) who, like a vine which bears grapes each season, move from one good task to another... |
"Its possible to be a good man without anyone realizing it"
\- Marcus Aurelius | What's the point of being benevolent when others don't do the same? Life is like the game Survivor, in order to win, there has be a level of manipulation. | null | general_qa |
245 | Some context: I work in a reference lab and we deal with a high volume of samples to be tested. Management is getting better from what it was a year and a half ago, but it's still a rollercoaster, considering the global pandemic.
I've been practicing stoicism for a while now to help me with my mental health. It's bee... | You found a coping mechanism that works for you but your coworkers are using a different coping mechanism that harshes your mellow.
I've dealt with the same thing at my previous job.
You set boundaries. Tell them you're busy and will hear them out later, or that you'd rather focus on work and not hear complaints at ... | How do you deal with coworkers who constantly complain? | null | general_qa |
246 | Please forgive me for what I am about to say, I'm very new to stoicism but there are parts that I don't understand
I understand and support the idea to not get up set over what's out of our control. But what exactly is not in our control? If I don't agree with the law, I could run for office and change it. I could ge... | You can control yourself. That's about it. Everything else you can influence, at best.
Using your example, you can run for office; that is in your control. But being elected to that office is not under your control. You campaign to hopefully gain enough favor from people to vote for you, but, ultimately, their ch... | A question for stoics | null | general_qa |
247 | Been subbed for awhile and have been really fascinated by stoics and their way of thinking and that's why I've joined this community!
But over the last while I've began to wonder is this sub just another self development/motivation community rather than the actual study of stoicism?
Stocisim I feel is something that ... | > But over the last while I've began to wonder is this sub just another *self development/motivation community* rather than the actual study of stoicism?
For most part it seems like it is, or a quote repository. If you really want to study Stoicism, reading academic books and articles, watching university lectures... | Is r/stoicism another self development sub or is it actually about the study of stoicism? | null | general_qa |
248 | I just found out my good friend died in a tragic freak accident doing what he loved most in the world. We weren't best friends but I always enjoyed his company and hanging out with him. He had a very infectious energy and was always happy and it rubbed off on all those around him.
I often feel quite blase about life,... | Everyone expresses their emotion differently. The way you wrote this long text shows that your thinking your friend that you will never see again.
If your words here while writing contains faint amount of sadness then its still emotion.
Or what is the feelingof emptiness then?
You and yourself can do self reflection o... | My friend died today and I felt almost nothing | null | general_qa |
249 | Do you think stoicism is a perfect philosophy without room for improvement? Are there modifications you've made to adapt it to your life? If you've modified it, can it still be called stoicism?
I'm curious about other's opinions and experiences on this. | Stoicism evolved constantly after Zeno founded the school, and practitioners of the time took it in different directions. There is endless room to evolve it further.
None of us fully practice ancient Stoicism, we all pick and choose, and modify it to suit our needs. As for what to call it, that's just a matter of cons... | Can stoicism be improved? | null | general_qa |
250 | As the title says I am interested in your opinion on this.
Why do you prefere/like stoicism more?
Why do you think stoicism is more helpfull?
Where do you think epicureanism is wrong?
Epicures saw his opponent in stoicism. Even though both of these philosophies say that happiness and a fulfilled life come from insi... | I'll use the Google definition for Epicurianism:
>an ancient school of philosophy founded in Athens by Epicurus. The school rejected determinism and advocated hedonism (pleasure as the highest good), but of a restrained kind: mental pleasure was regarded more highly than physical, and the ultimate pleasure was held to... | Why did you choose stoicism over epicureanism? | null | general_qa |
251 | Hi I'm new here, and to stoicism too, so I'm sorry if I don't have a great grasp on the issue. But I read somewhere about how one of the things stoicism teaches you is to control your perception:
"Choose not to be harmed and you won't feel harmed. Don't feel harmed and you haven't been." - Marcus Aurelius
But how does... | I appreciate that this Stoic advice can be very hard to internalize, and how it might even sound a little crazy. The truth is, it's really very good advice, and the more you understand of it the easier it is to grasp.
Imagine I were to try to convince you of the opposite of what Marcus said - that other people can mak... | Emotional abuse and stoicism | null | general_qa |
252 | Hi all,
I recently went through a bad breakup and became interested in stoicism both as a means to cope with my situation and as a way to improve myself, but I would appreciate some advice for the future about how to approach relationships.
I understand that feelings and emotions can be used to guide your actions p... | Give it a try, it works for me and my wife. It is important to not make your happiness dependent on your partner or your relationship, because at the end of the day they are "external". You can somewhat influence your relationship but not your partner herself. On the other hand, if you practice virtue, your partner can... | Stoicism and love | null | general_qa |
253 | I have been going to counseling for about 2 years for various issues, many relating to my emotionally abusive toxic ex wife and PTSD from military and emergency service employment. Along my path of self improvement I discovered Stoicism, which I am reading is common among all of us. I brought up to my counselor that I ... | CBT was literally influenced by stoicism
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cognitive_behavioral_therapy
Read the history section | Modern therapy vs Stoicism | null | general_qa |
254 | In light of everything that's happening in the world, I find it hard to practice stoicism. Ever since I started to take interest on the subject, I discovered more ways to cope with my anxiety because it taught me to focus on the things I could control. To give an example, Epictetus said: "There is only one way to happi... | Action against injustice is fine. Both Marcus, as emperor, and Seneca, as a senator, were deeply involved in the affairs of that world. What matters is that you do not make your virtue (or your happiness) depend on the fight or existence of injustice.
edit: There is a caveat. I'm not familiar with any positive obligat... | How can the stoics respond against modern injustice? | null | general_qa |
255 | Hello everyone! I am new to this subreddit and stoicism as a philosophy. Recently, i had quite a few series of panic episodes and i started seeing a therapist. I have since been diagnosed with general anxiety disorder. I have always been a little more stressed about seemingly mundane things but this stress is getting t... | 'No amount of guilt can change the past. No amount of anxiety can change the future.' I don't know where that saying comes from but that's a good one to remember. | Stoicism for dealing with anxiety | null | general_qa |
256 | I was struck today reading the Daily Stoic newsletter. I've been reading it for at least a year or more now, and have often found wisdom there , but also a lot of repetition or a meandering essay that might include a stoic thought but not really follow it through.
Today the post was about not resigning to injustice, a... | I originally got into Stoicism via the William Irvine book many years ago, but as soon as I started just reading the original texts, I never went back to the modern-day explainers, contextualizers, anthologizers etc. I think you are correct that the incentives of living writers are unfortunately such that they need to ... | Daily Stoic - Watered-down Stoicism? | null | general_qa |
257 | Hey everyone. I'm new to stoicism and want to learn more about it to better myself. I'm reading meditations and going to read letters from a stoic. But I'm having trouble properly understanding the book
It might be the language used or the way it's written. But has anyone else experienced this, if so do you have any a... | For me, I found just reading a page or so at a time and contemplating what I read was key. Maybe even just one entry. But I wouldn't think you'd absorb anything if you read several pages at once. | Having some trouble reading Aurelius' meditations | null | general_qa |
258 | I am a Stoic but, also very interested in Japanese culture. Got around to reading about Bushido - come to the realization that it is quite similar to Stoicism's ideals in many respects. Living a life fueled by reason, absolute calm in the face of something frightening or negative, treating your enemies not like enemies... | Bushido, while distinct from Stoicism in how each culture expresses its own yearnings for perfection, has at its core the same beating heart: devotion to the Way.
How the Way is followed differs; the end result does not: Stoicism teaches the path to freedom through accepting the present moment as it presents itself, a... | Thoughts on Bushido? | null | general_qa |
259 | Hello! Hope you all are doing well today!
A few months ago I got started into Stoicism but I haven't been taking it seriously. My friend bought me a book about stoicism, I think the name in English is "A Guide to the Good Life" by William B. Irvine. I want to read it and start getting serious on learning more and mor... | [FAQ](https://www.reddit.com/r/Stoicism/wiki/faq) for this sub. | Any recommendations to get started into Stoicism? | null | general_qa |
260 | What exactly does Stoicism have to say about depression or anxiety? Are there resources for specific techniques?
I know cognitive behavioral therapy is influenced by it, but I'm wondering from the Stoics themselves, whether they have specific approaches to depression and anxiety. I would also welcome modern psychology... | Depression is a disease, and should be treated like one. Although it may certainly help, you can't cure heart disease or cancer with religion or philosophy. Just like how religion can't help a diabetic person create insulin.
Our contextual understanding of health science has improved exponentially since the beginning ... | What exactly does Stoicism have to say about depression or anxiety? Are there resources for specific techniques? | null | general_qa |
261 | I'm pretty new to stoicism, but I really think it's a beautiful concept that could help me better myself.
But right now, I have very few friends around and my best friend is treating me like a piece of garbage. So I'm constantly feeling like I've been wronged and can't stop being "dramatic" about it. I can't cut ties... | Please know that negative emotions are part of life. Don't ignore them. Instead accept them with compassion. Find a quiet space, close your eyes, and let the negative emotions pass through you. As they approach, reason with them as they leave, thank them for reminding yourself you are a human that has feelings. We cann... | How to deal with negative emotions when they are constantly present and taking over, no matter how positively / rationally you think about them? | null | general_qa |
262 | I've recently been making the dive into Stoicism after reading a lot of books by Nassim Taleb and Jordan Peterson last year.
I like the concept and ability to be content with the way things are, and understanding that there's a higher order within nature that our emotions often cloud us from seeing.
I'm about halfway... | Marcus dissociated himself from his former wealthy life.
He sold a lot of his possessions to finance the roman army and other government institutions.
He spent the last decade of his life living in military camps, - which are far away from beeing luxurious even in the 21st century.
He passed laws that have been b... | Does anyone stop to consider the fact that Marcus Aurelius and Seneca lived incredibly rich and privileged lives? | null | general_qa |
263 | Just a question I wanna throw out here, part of stoicism is sitting down once a day to meditate and think about life and its ways.
What do you think about when you meditate?(if you do), I'm Curious to hear others meditation practices.
For me I sit and think about all the hardships I have been through and try to see a l... | I dont mediate. But today i sat outside for an hour whittling wood and listening to traditional Japanese instrumental music. I didnt think, i only did. This quarinteen has made me feel unbearably lonely, not because i cant go outside but because it has allowed me to realize during this calm and allowed me to think and ... | Do you meditate? | null | general_qa |
264 | I am fairly new to stoicism, I first discovered the practice of stoicism about 9 months ago and have been wanting to learn stoic principles ever since. I understand a majority of what is said and I take it into my daily life, but some things aren't mentioned as often as others. One of them is generosity, what role does... | Personally, I don't like to think of it as "achieving virtue". It's logic. Generosity improves the society in which you live. This benefits you personally, since you live in that society. It's a win-win. Which makes it a "good" thing. Knowing that, gives you a sense of achievement, which in turn makes you happier, whic... | Where does generosity fall in stoicism? | null | general_qa |
265 | Reading a lot of these posts, a lot of them inspirational and insightful, it's amazing to see just how many people are reading, practicing and discussing about such an old philosophy. Made me wonder how have you gotten into stoicism? I'm really eager to find out, here's my little story. For a while now I've been intere... | My wife mentioned that all of my friends and even her friends really look up to me. That actually surprised me and I couldn't understand why because I felt like an average guy that hasn't accomplished anything significant. Somehow in my Google searches while trying to understand what I'm doing to gain that respect, I f... | How did you get in contact with stoicism? | null | general_qa |
266 | im new to stoicism and was reading The Enchiridion about how one should not care about things outside of ones control.
I practiced this for a week and was really surprised seeing just how non-negative i was. I felt much free-er in my mind.
But something happened recently. A couple of people made fun of me and i didnt ... | Abraham Lincoln said that reputation is like a shadow. It's a byproduct of how you live so just do the best you can with what you have | To seek reputation or not to | null | general_qa |
267 | The third world presents intense and often demoralizing situations, making you feel helpless, depressed and anxious.
I am 23yrs, working as a Junior Architect for a firm that pays me 200$ a month (yes you read that right, thats how much we get paid here. Admittedly, its really low even by India's standard, for a gradu... | My first thought is that you should really focus on Epictetus writings. He was literally a Slave Stoic. I'm sure digging into his writings could be enlightening to see how a slave used stoicism on the daily.
Here are some pretty solid excerpts:
https://movemequotes.com/epictetus-quotes-from-the-art-of-living/ | Stoicism in the 3rd world? In need of dire help! | null | general_qa |
268 | So I was depressed for the good part of 6 years and then I came across stoicism. It's made me feel a lot better, made me understand values and morals and proper virtues and understand my emotions and a little about other people as well. It's made me a lot happier. However, yesterday I couldn't hold it in anymore and I ... | What you are doing now is one of the ways to get better, you are acknowledging what you did , you understand it's consequence and you want to stop scaring your mom again.
Not only acknowledging what happens is a step, but also talking about it as you are now. There is power in verbalizing or typing your thoughts and ... | I've been doing so well.. apart from yesterday. | null | general_qa |
269 | I know it's really weird and dumb question. People like Elon musk or other entrepreneurs who are considered to be stoic or following stoicism partially, always stress on thinking long term like 10, 50, 100years but on contrary stoicism says "you can leave life right now(meditations)" or don't give too importance to fut... | "A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit."
Learn to take joy in the present knowing that your actions are made for the benefit of the future.
Practice it. It's a skill. Practice generosity, kindness, forgiveness, giving rather than taking, creating rather than con... | Why think long term when you have a short life? | null | general_qa |
270 | The past few months I've been studying a lot about Stoicism and how I can practice it in my life. I am beginning to uphold the 4 principles of Stoicism however there is one thing inside me that has been the real enemy, that is my emotion is somewhat immature.
When speaking of immature emotion, I am relating this to t... | 'Begin each day by telling yourself: Today I shall be meeting with interference, ingratitude, insolence, disloyalty, ill-will, and selfishness - all of them due to the offenders' ignorance of what is good or evil. But for my part I have long perceived the nature of good and its nobility, the nature of evil and its mean... | What is the Stoic solution to emotionally immature person? | null | general_qa |
271 | New to stoicism, After a life of trauma, I realised philosophy or religion are the only things that can take me through life. Never believed much in God and was always fascinated by philosophy.
So all my life, I have worked hard, but was never appreciated. I was plagued by self doubt, self esteem issues. It's called ... | I have a similar thing.
I tried the traditional self-esteem route but it actually ended up making things worse.
I started to develop panic attacks and fall into deep depressions.
Stoicism is what saved my life.
Stoicism taught me to abandon self-esteem and self-worth.
And taught me to focus on being a good pe... | How do stoics tend to needs like need for appreciation and validation ? | null | general_qa |
272 | Hi, im new to this subreddit and im starting to get into stoicism. I have a friend that has major problems with anxiety (not the social kind) and has had problems with thryoid hormones in the past. She worries so much about trivial stuff it turns into fullblown paranoia. In most cases its something she can control the ... | Someone else posted a comment on a similar thread so damn good I copied it:
Stoicism has been helpful in the sense that it is a philosophy in which you are encouraged to identify what you know you logically need to do to live correctly and then do it, but it was never directly helpful in stopping the anxiety.
What I ... | Advice for how to deal with anxiety without medication. | null | general_qa |
273 | Still new to Stoicism, but over the past year I've been trying to develop a stoic mindset over an ongoing personal difficulty. Some questions have occurred to me recently...
Does stoic emotion-management ever become self-inflicted numbness? By refusing to be affected by (or avoiding situations which I know will elicit... | The answer is not to numb your emotions, but manage them by changing your values. For example if I scratch my car and I'm attached to it, I'll be stressed. If I look at it in a "oh, it's just a car, these things happen, I just need to repair it" kind of way, there's neither stress nor numbness.
Stoics moved their valu... | Emotion management or self-induced numbness - where's the line? | null | general_qa |
274 | Hello guys. I am a 19yr old living in Luxembourg. I started practicing Stoicism to cope with my anxiety 2 months ago, and the results have been very good!
However, yesterday, my mom got phone calls from my uncle claiming that my mom burnt the skin of my cousin ( my mom removes hair from females as a part-time job ). H... | Wow - that sounds like a terrible situation. It sounds like there isn't much you can do yourself except to try to be strong. Hopefully, your uncle will back off.
Just try to remember the only thing you can control, which would be your actions and your reactions to your uncle.
He sounds like he is trying to upset yo... | I don't focus on the outcome, but the outcome can be very bad. HELP | null | general_qa |
275 | One of the main critiques of Stoicism is that "passions", in the general sense, are condemned. For example, "the sage does not feel sympathy: when his wife or his children die, he reflects that this event is no obstacle to his own virtue, and he does not suffer deeply." - Betrand Russell in *The History of Western Phi... | I'd agree that it's an incomplete philosophy. Frankl is a good place to start. His logotherapy is very interesting. I have a friend from high school who is now a physiologist and uses Frankl method quite often. | Is Stoicism by itself an Incomplete Philosophy? | null | general_qa |
276 | 16/M just started learning about Stoicism.
I love reading, and I would like to ask this community to recommend me books about this mindset/lifestyle. Bonus if the books are not that hard to read and understand | The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius. Everyone always says it but it popular for a reason | New to Stoicism | null | general_qa |
277 | I'm reading Marcus Aurelius Meditations (this is my first approach to stoicism) and I have a question. I read the FAQs here and I think that the section about determinism and free will could have the answer, but I still can't get it and I need your help.
As far as I've read, Marcus Aurelius says that men should live a... | Living according to nature is living virtuously as you noted. That was because the Stoics viewed virtue (reason and morality) as what made humans, human.
So "evil" persons, or people not living virtuous lives, are simply not following human nature fully. Epictetus even suggests they are following other animals natur... | Marcus Aurelius and living according to a "wrong" nature | null | general_qa |
278 | As a preface, I dont know a lot about Stoicism but I am a Buddhist, which I have heard share similar principles to Stoicism.
I came across this individual who claims to have studied Stoicism for 5 years, which if true, paints a really bad image of Stoicism for me considering their behavior and way of handling differin... | I think the best advice I can give you is to check [our FAQ](http://www.reddit.com/r/Stoicism/wiki/faq) so you get a better idea about what Stoicism is about, so you can decide for yourself.
There's a section about common misconceptions, and it includes the question about whether Stoicism advocates being hard-hearted ... | Person claims to have studied Stoicism for 5 years but is incredibly condescending. Is this how a Stoic should act? | null | general_qa |
279 | I think one of the hardest concepts in Stoicism for modern people to grasp (at least, it is for me), because it is so foreign to us, is the idea that how much effort we put toward a task and how much we care about the outcome of that task need not be at all correlated. This is, as I understand it, the idea behind prefe... | My dad was the most Stoic person I knew (before I knew about Stoicism), and he had a word for the Stoic version, as I understand you anyway. He'd call it a "'druther." As in, "I'd rather / I druther get the promotion than not." And if not, well that's a bummer, especially if you worked hard. But seeing as it's just a '... | Is there a word for the motivation that we should use to drive us to pursue preferred indifferents? | null | general_qa |
280 | Trying to improve ourselves in regards to the four cardinal virtues can be very hard at times. It's at those times when I ask myself why I am trying to hard to be virtuous. And I haven't been able to ground a good answer. What does Stoicism have to say about this? Why should we strive to be virtuous? | The first, and perhaps main, thing to note is that the Stoics actually give several answers to this question, not just one. That's because they stood downstream from a centuries old philosophical tradition that had already furnished many arguments, from different schools and perspectives, to support essentially the sa... | According to Stoic philosophy, why should we strive to be virtuous? | null | general_qa |
281 | hello all! I am new to Stoicism, and am currently in the process of my first read-through of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. I've struggled with assertiveness and setting boundaries in the past, and in reading Meditations, there was a passage that kind of raised some questions.
In the third part of Book 4, when talkin... | Marcus Aurelius wrote his meditations as a journal of advice for himself for specific situations he was dealing with as the Emperor of Rome, and this passage sounds to me like he is talking about exactly that. He explicitly did not even want the book published (which it was shortly after his death). Please keep in mind... | what is a stoic way to set boundaries/address issues with others? | null | general_qa |
282 | so i am sitting and talking to this girl, we are having a good energetic conversation faced towards each other. this guy who is kinda of an alpha and sometimes-douchey, who i know for a fact seeks reputation and power , comes from the opposite side asking a question about our physics paper. the girl turns towards him t... | You can't control how you're treated, only how you respond to it.
Your "social standing" in a group is something you can't control. You need to act virtuously and accept how your social group arranges itself. Chasing status is a very easy way to fall into vices while you try to fit in and be accepted.
Seneca wrote "b... | controlling how i am treated | null | general_qa |
283 | I'm a very result oriented and a loss averse person, prone to abandoning tasks that I can't imagine going my way. It has caused me several losses but I'm unable to abandon the logic itself. It seems to me that putting effort in a project or person that is not beneficial is pointless and a waste of energy. This also con... | >It seems to me that putting effort in a project or person that is not beneficial is pointless and a waste of energy.
The end result of a symphony is silence and the end result of life is death, but the best symphonies aren't the ones played the fastest, and the best lives aren't the shortest. Eventually everything t... | Result oriented vs Process oriented mindset | null | general_qa |
284 | Hello everyone,
I have hesitated to express this question but I really would like to get your ideas on an issue. I am a highly interested but new stoic reader and have been going through a rough patch (loss of a family member, romantic relationship coming to an end after 8 years). I would like to get your opinion on s... | Everyone has their own pace and in the end, you will get there as well. What is happening to you is merely a test of your character. Be strong, both in mind and spirit. Do not let this circumstance define you as someone unworthy. You are. | How to deal with failing your dreams and having all your friends reach them | null | general_qa |
285 | As an avid book lover, practitioner of Stoicism, and a person who studied philosophy extensively, I think this subreddit would benefit from reviews of famous Stoic literature and other related books.
The book reviews will not simply be a rehash of what is written in the texts but will try to give a glimpse to the aut... | I would very much like this. Im new.. just started reading enchiridion... The first half is a very days ready, tend to get bogged down after that as the points become more expanded and become a bit more cultural for that time. Have actually read first half a couple times and going to finish it off before j get too dist... | Would people here like some reviews on Stoic texts and related literature? | null | general_qa |
286 | 25 year old male here.
I have been reading Stoic philosophy and it has resonated with me. It makes perfect sense when things are going well. But to practice it when things are going bad is the difficult part. Today I have an opportunity to practice it.
I am a final year computer science student and there is a module ... | __BREATHE__. Deep and slow.
Remember that what others do speaks of them. How you react speaks of you.
Remember that you are going to die someday, perhaps even tomorrow. If this were your last day on earth, would the present struggle truly be the most pressing thing in your life?
Remember that the obstacle is the pat... | It is very difficult to practice stoicism when feeling depressed or when things are going bad. | null | general_qa |
287 | I'm a 16 year old male and i started to be interested in stoicism a year ago. Since then i've watched a lot of videos about the topic and i've even read parts of the encheiridion and kept up to date with "The Daily Stoic" by Ryan Holiday. I have a very unhappy life. I try to stay in a good mindset and apply stoic ideas... | > I've broken up with my girlfriend wich means i have no emotional support anymore.
It is not one person's business to "support" the emotions of another.
We each inhabit only our own minds, and control only our own desires. If having a girlfriend caused you to look to another person to manage your mind, then you ar... | A Hard Life | null | general_qa |
288 | Is Stoicism really about removing anger?
Does Stoicism see anger as merely a feeling or a physical reaction?
There is a quote which I've posted once (which I won't include for now) and there's a lot of feedback on a Stoicism book on Facebook where people believe that Seneca means that we ought to remove it entirely,... | Anger is a destructive emotion that should be expunged. Feeling anger leads to a physical reaction, so the answer to your question is yes.
Seneca wrote a book about expunging anger. As Buddha correctly states, "Holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die."
Expunging destructive em... | Stoic approach for anger | null | general_qa |
289 | Hello dear community,
I've started with stoicism about 6 months ago reading Seneca and Marcus Aurelius, 2 months ago I started Journaling my Stoic and overall experience of the day the morning after, I'm also reading a page of the daily Stoic while journaling
I practice to view my days as separate lifes and think abo... | I tend to stick to these points ensuring I end on a high note and get the worst things out of the way first :
Did I achieve the majority of my intension yesterday (accountability)
What went badly?
What went well?
Did anything go wrong outside of my control? If yes let it go.
What am I grateful for?
I then also ha... | How to journal with stoicism | null | general_qa |
290 | Hi, i'm new to stoicism, but recently i've been thinking about what it would be like to lose everything. My family, home, dogs, friends, etc. Or even just one of these things. When i think about this, I immediately push away the thoughts and try to convince myself that there's no way this will ever happen, not right no... | In treating anxiety, cognitive behavioral therapists^^^1 sometimes ask patients "And then what?" That is, they ask people to imagine what is likely to happen *after* the crisis that drives their negative rumination. The reason: For many people, the imagination tends to run up to the worst moment of the imagined scenari... | Imagining the death of loved ones | null | general_qa |
291 | Hey all,
I'm learning about stoicism and had this question that I can't seem to adequately answer. I understand that sex is a preferred indifferent in stoicism, a natural occurance that can be enjoyed insofar as it doesn't turn into a vice.
I also believe that there is nothing inherently wrong with kink/BDSM and tha... | Stoicism is a philosophy.. not a religious cult. | Stoicism and kinky sex | null | general_qa |
292 | I'm assuming anyone that is actively involved in this sub thinks Stoicism is worth practicing. I also understand the views of people who don't understand Stoicism and think that it's unemotional, unfeeling, etc. I'm wondering about people who have practiced Stoicism and made progress, but ultimately decided that it's n... | Consider stoicism as a state of mind, and that perhaps gives a better idea as to how you should approach your question. If you practice it correctly then you will have a good life regardless of the circumstances which surround you, and anyone, no matter their opinions, will see that this is a good way to spend your day... | Do you know anyone that has concluded Stoicism isn't a good way to live? | null | general_qa |
293 | I work pretty hard at school and since it's my last year I've got loads of work to do. I'm meant to do 3 Jiu jitsu classes a week, but because of all my work, I've been too busy, or on the days where I'm not busy, I'm too tired. I eat healthily and I lift weights three times a week so I'm not tired because I'm unhealth... | Don't compare yourself to others. You don't know your friends situation and he is not you. He may be struggling in other ways or neglecting his school work, you don't have insight into every aspect. Focus on yourself.
You are extremely young and have plenty of time to do whatever you want. Don't overcomplicate this. ... | I'm in my last year of high school, I just started practicing stoicism and I need some advice | null | general_qa |
294 | I'm fairly new here so this might stem from misunderstanding, but isn't Stoicism very focused on "me" rather than also those we love and care about? I'd appreciate some clarification very much. Thanks | Stoicism is very much rooted in concern and care for the wider world, at least directly the community and possibly more broadly the country lived in.
And this starts with the individual: living a virtuous life in accordance to your own nature, leads to a more balanced and fruitful life, which benefits those around you... | Isn't Stoicism highly individualistic? | null | general_qa |
295 | Hi everyone, so tho post was kind of hard for me to finally bring up but I've been following Stoicism for about a year now. Don't get me wrong I'm happy not to explode at everything and feel so down on myself but now I just feel so empty inside. Has anyone gotten through this who can give no some advice to feel better.... | You don't care about aiming to be virtuous? | Feeling empty | null | general_qa |
296 | I've posted the Epictetus quote "it's not things that upset us, but our judgement about things" in front of my desk to remind myself each day, and that hopefully over time, I will continue to grow in this mindset.
I absolutely hate the position I am in. I have an extremely boring office job, where I feel that I just ... | Stoicism would probably argue that the pain of doing a job you hate as you get your degree would prepare you well for challenges in the career you want.
In a less stoic note- I've been in a similar situation. Just keep going- your doing a good thing in developing yourself and getting a degree and your job will be a g... | As a (new) practitioner of stoicism, how can I learn to be content in my current job that I completely loathe? | null | general_qa |
297 | I'm quite new to the teachings of Stoicism and I was wondering what the prescribed response would be to an injustice that has been committed against you by an authority, that entirely was not in your control, but could be ensured against happening in the future with action.
What I had in mind is a situation in which a... | I find [Christopher Gill's summary on Stoic beliefs](https://stoicpsychology.buzzsprout.com/295505/2232794-episode-13-interview-with-christopher-gill) to be very helpful:
* Our happiness depends on us, and we achieve happiness by developing the virtues (wisdom, courage, self-control, justice).
* All human beings are f... | How ought a Stoic act in the face of injustice? | null | general_qa |
298 | I expect many of you had the same experience, that "discovering" stoicism merely reinforced many ideas and concepts that already existed in your mind. One of the earliest and more impactful for me was that I quit reading the news - I reached the conclusion that the events I was reading about were outside of my control ... | Yes, I gave up televised news years ago and read very little news now. As Henry David Thoreau one said about news, "It's just gossip."
News today isn't to inform us but to manipulate us to vote or to purchase instrumental good. I wonder how many Fox News watchers bought guns last year due to fear manifested from thei... | How has a stoic mindset affected your consumption of the news? | null | general_qa |
299 | I've been practising Stoicism for about a year now and follow all of its ideas as strongly as I can. However, right now I'm dealing with a massive lack of motivation. I don't seem to have a drive to do anything. I feel bored frequently and end up sitting around aimlessly as nothing seems to be captivating for me. I end... | There's a series of simple exercises called "The Five Tibetans" - this is a great place to start. The exercises shake up lymph and brain/spinal fluids.
Lots of versions are on YouTube.
Turning on music you like and just letting yourself dance like crazy also helps relieve depression. | Extreme lack of motivation | null | general_qa |
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