Lucius Annaeus Seneca was a Roman philosopher. His Letters from a Stoic, explore stoic principles on wisdom, harmony, and rationality. And even though these letters are ancient, they totally get the struggles we still face over 2,000 years later! The OG advice columnist, if you will!
Originally addressed to Lucilius Junior, the then procurator of Sicily, Epistulae Morales ad Lucilium is a treasure trove of wisdom. Seneca pulls no punches in tackling the hard questions. Can philosophy teach us the wisdom of living a good life? And what even is the meaning of a good life? You'll find out soon enough because his letters contain actionable insights to help you understand the meaning of a wise and balanced life and ways you too can use to find peace and master temptations. At the core of his philosophical answers is the Stoic emphasis on self-reflection, harmony and avoidance of temptations. The book is all about how honing the mind by practising stoic philosophy will lead to wisdom and goodness.
Let's start with how to lead a simple life in harmony with nature.
Summary
A good life is a life lived in harmony with nature, its principles and its truths. Stoic philosophers preach to abstain from a life of pleasures and vices. Studying philosophy to hone one's mind can further help an individual to understand the true meaning of virtuous and happy life. It also helps a person to develop a perspective when faced with adverse circumstances that life often tests us with. Once we learn and internalize lessons from philosophical speculation, we are empowered to lead a peaceful, happy, and virtuous life!
Lead A Simple Life In Harmony With Nature
Haven’t you ever felt a strange awe when in nature? That sense of wonder comes from appreciating the work of the Divine Creator. But Divinity isn’t just in nature. Its signs are everywhere! Even in our souls. But just like the rest of divinity, our souls don't fully belong to us - we can’t improve what they behold. But our minds - they are ours to work on. How? By honing our mindset to try achieve a level of perfection....
Philosophy Is The Key To A Virtuous Life!
Here's the big idea - philosophy is the key to getting wise and finding happiness! It’s not just a buzzword used by geeks. Philosophy is exploring and understanding the reality, knowledge and truth about ourselves, the world, and others around us. It unlocks the secrets to living a good, meaningful life. How and why? Think of philosophy as a lightbulb going on so we can see things clearly! By enabling you to reach the truth, it helps you to view...
How to Study Philosophy?
Getting the most out of philosophy takes some technique! First, we feel you on wanting to just skim a whole bunch of famous philosophers. Quick way to get exposed to a ton of big ideas, right? But that scattershot approach won't get you very far. It may help to cultivate interest and find a direction, but that's it. When you flit between thinkers, you only get surface impressions. And, the only condition to understand philosophy is that you cannot learn...
Stoic Solutions for Inner Calm
You know that feeling when you just can't satisfy that emptiness within? No matter how much you give it, it persists. For instance, you think binge-watching your favorite shows would solve all your problems, and in that hope you may have streamed endless hours of brilliant entertainment and laughed till you cried. But something still doesn't feel right! Here's the thing: That’s escapism. You’re avoiding fixing that emptiness.The real solution? Nurturing our minds. See, our minds contain many different thoughts,...
Avoid Getting Tempted Toward Vices
You know what a vice is, right? Basically any moral weakness or bad habit. It grows from wanting to one-up others; where a person perceives 'normal life' as boring. Where people go crazy over getting the latest Porsche or D&C bags or whatever to feel special! Vices are totally incognito. Half the time, you won't even realize you have one! Those who think their life is all good, are the ones with the most self-improvement to do! Wild, isn't it? ...
Good Friendships Make Good Life
Some folks treat everyone like a therapist - unloading their troubles on any willing ear! Meanwhile, others keep everyone in dark. Neither extreme truly frees us. So what's the way, you ask? Talking to the right people about the right stuff. Here are a couple things that are important.First, be choosy about your inner circle. Find a trustworthy friend, preferably one who is on the same path of self-discovery and growth the same goals as you. Then, go ahead and...
What Are You So Afraid Of?
For finding wisdom, fear is one of the biggest obstacles. So, figuring out what your deepest, darkest fear is and finding the courage to confront it head-on is important. Not gonna lie, it will be tough and feel awful. But on the other side is freedom! And a smarter, more wise you! So what is it for you? Fear of failure? Fear of judgment? Dig deep and get honest with yourself. You can’t run forever, y’know!Okay, so for Seneca, most...
Face The Ultimate Fear In Life - Death!
Look death straight in the eye, people! When we avoid thinking about something uncomfortable, it just grows bigger and scarier in our minds. So like Seneca, let's talk through this openly. See, old age has its own ripe pleasures that you can't get at any other life stage. Ageing ain't just about health issues or deterioration; there's good parts, too. But you won't be able to appreciate the good parts unless you're willing to acknowledge the hard parts too.Building that...
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About the Author
Seneca was a prominent Roman philosopher and playwright who published several essential works about Stoicism. He is considered one of the three key Stoic philosophers (alongside Marcus Aurelius and Epictetus), counseled Emperor Nero, and is often credited with rendering Stoicism more accessible to a larger audience than his counterparts.
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