Read on Twitter
Stoic lessons from 'A Guide to the Good Life' by William B. Irvine
A book on using Stoicism as a philosophy of life...
(Part 1)
A book on using Stoicism as a philosophy of life...
(Part 1)
On taking things for granted:
The Stoics would practice negative visualisation, in which they would imagine the worst case scenario happening to them.
At first, this seems counterintuitive - why would anyone want to imagine losing everything?
The Stoics would practice negative visualisation, in which they would imagine the worst case scenario happening to them.
At first, this seems counterintuitive - why would anyone want to imagine losing everything?
Consider the possibility that what you have now might be gone tomorrow.
Does this make you appreciate what you have?
"As soon as we find ourselves living the life of our dreams, we start taking that life for granted."
Contemplate the impermanence of the world around you.
Does this make you appreciate what you have?
"As soon as we find ourselves living the life of our dreams, we start taking that life for granted."
Contemplate the impermanence of the world around you.
The trichotomy of control:
There are some things we have complete control over - how we react to our emotions.
Some things we have no control over - whether it will rain tomorrow.
Other things, we have some but not complete control over - whether we win in a sporting match.
There are some things we have complete control over - how we react to our emotions.
Some things we have no control over - whether it will rain tomorrow.
Other things, we have some but not complete control over - whether we win in a sporting match.
We should try not to concern ourselves with events we cannot control.
Instead we should be concerned with things over which we have complete control, and those which we have some control over.
This will save a great deal of needless anxiety.
Instead we should be concerned with things over which we have complete control, and those which we have some control over.
This will save a great deal of needless anxiety.
Fatalism:
Adopt an attitude of fatalism towards the past, present, and future.
“Be fatalistic with respect to the past... keep firmly in mind that the past cannot be changed.”
Embrace the present moment, rather than wish it was different.
Adopt an attitude of fatalism towards the past, present, and future.
“Be fatalistic with respect to the past... keep firmly in mind that the past cannot be changed.”
Embrace the present moment, rather than wish it was different.
Self-denial:
In addition to contemplating bad things happening, we should sometimes live as if they had happened.
Welcome a degree of discomfort in your life.
In addition to contemplating bad things happening, we should sometimes live as if they had happened.
Welcome a degree of discomfort in your life.
Self-denial aligns with negative visualisation in that it helps us appreciate the luxuries we already have, instead of constantly desiring more than we need.
It also exercises self-control.
The hardest Stoic advice to practice...
It also exercises self-control.
The hardest Stoic advice to practice...
It won't be easy to turn down instant pleasures to attain some sort of future gain.
For example, to disregard cravings for junk food in order to pursue a goal of losing weight.
The pleasure from abstaining from a pleasure is greater than the original pleasure.
For example, to disregard cravings for junk food in order to pursue a goal of losing weight.
The pleasure from abstaining from a pleasure is greater than the original pleasure.
You will be more satisfied by turning down the junk food than you would be if you ate it.
Self-reflection:
“Seneca advises that we periodically meditate on the events of daily living”
Make note of how you reacted to these events, and how you should have reacted.
We can also use this to ask ourselves whether we are following the advice of the Stoics.
“Seneca advises that we periodically meditate on the events of daily living”
Make note of how you reacted to these events, and how you should have reacted.
We can also use this to ask ourselves whether we are following the advice of the Stoics.
The ultimate test of our progress as Stoics is when we are faced with death.
"It is only then, says Seneca, that we will know whether our Stoicism has been genuine."
When our practice fails, we should not be disheartened, but instead more motivated to try again.
"It is only then, says Seneca, that we will know whether our Stoicism has been genuine."
When our practice fails, we should not be disheartened, but instead more motivated to try again.
Thank you for reading!
Please consider liking this thread and following @tkoutsaplis for part 2.
You can find the book here:
https://amzn.to/3y0PQoa (affiliate link)
Please consider liking this thread and following @tkoutsaplis for part 2.
You can find the book here:
https://amzn.to/3y0PQoa (affiliate link)
TL;DR:
• occasionally imagine losing the things you love.
• know what you can control completely, can somewhat control, and cannot control at all.
• adopt an attitude of fatalism.
• practice self-control by abstaining pleasures.
• reflect on your progress as a Stoic.
• occasionally imagine losing the things you love.
• know what you can control completely, can somewhat control, and cannot control at all.
• adopt an attitude of fatalism.
• practice self-control by abstaining pleasures.
• reflect on your progress as a Stoic.
