If the mere mention of "philosophy" makes you yawn, get ready to have your perception changed! For most people, philosophy is ancient thinkers, droning on about abstract concepts that seem utterly removed from the realities of modern life. And when you add the word "Stoic" to the mix? Forget about it - that just sounds downright dull. But the thing is the ancient Stoics were anything but dull. In fact, they were the sort of people you’d want to go...
The Meditations for January
As we begin our Stoic journey, January's meditations set the foundation for clarity of mind. Holiday presents several meditations, 31 to be precise, to cultivate this essential trait. The Stoics had a pretty straightforward mission: to help people achieve clarity, control, and tranquility in their lives. And you know what? That's exactly what we all want, isn't it? To feel in command of our own thoughts and actions, rather than at the mercy of circumstances beyond our control.The key, the...
The Meditations for February
February is for passions and emotions. What meditations do the stoics have in store? The Stoics saw intense emotions like anger, fear, and desire as the true enemies of human happiness. Take anger, for example. How often have we seen anger make a sticky situation even worse? The Stoics would argue that giving in to these impulses is a sign of weakness, not strength. True power lies in maintaining self-control, in being the "ring robot" like the boxer Joe Louis,...
The Meditations for March
You're going about your day, replying to emails, grabbing coffee, stuck in traffic. Suddenly, you pause. You take a deep breath. You notice the world around you - the weight of your phone in your hand, the taste of coffee on your tongue, the rhythm of your breath. In that moment, you're not just existing. You're aware!!This awareness is what we’re gonna learn to cultivate in March. Let's start with a simple idea: you are not your thoughts or body....
The Meditations for April
April! Spring and flowers!! While the world is reborn, how about you focus on maintaining an unbiased perspective? That’s the theme for April.Marcus Aurelius starts the month with a powerful observation: "Your mind will take the shape of what you frequently hold in thought." This is a practical reminder of how our habitual thoughts shape our worldview. If we constantly entertain negative or biased thoughts, they'll color our entire perception. Epictetus chimes in with a practical approach to this idea....
The Meditations for May
As spring blooms into summer, May offers us a perfect opportunity to focus on Right Action – Holiday’s chosen theme for May. But what exactly is Right Action? Simply put, it's about doing what's ethically correct and beneficial, not just for ourselves, but for others and society as a whole.Let's dive into this concept, shall we? Saneca writes, "good life doesn't consist in its length, but in its use." In other words, it's not about how long you live, but...
The Meditations for June
June is here! And with it comes a fresh batch of Stoic wisdom to sharpen our problem-solving skills. About time for some strategies on life's challenges, won’t you say? Let's dive into the timeless stoic advice and see how we can apply it to our modern lives.First up, we have Holiday reminding us to always have a "mental reverse clause." What's that, you ask? It's simply a backup plan. Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs, so having a...
The Meditations for July
July's meditations focus on a theme that's both simple and profound: duty. Duty to ourselves, others, and the world around us. But what exactly is duty, and why should we care about it? Duty, in the Stoic sense, isn't following rules or doing what you're told. The Stoics saw duty as living up to our potential as human beings. Holliday puts it simply: "Do your job." But he's not talking about your 9-to-5. He means fulfilling your role as a...
The Meditations for August
Pragmatism is a practical approach to life. Anything that focuses on what works rather than getting stuck in theories or ideals is pragmatism, cool? And that’s the stoic way. Let’s apply pragmatism to our lives, shall we?Marcus Aurelius is said to have reminded himself once as "Don't await the perfection of Plato's Republic." Goes for you, too! Do not wait for perfect conditions before taking action. Instead, work with reality as it is. Get practical!! For example, if you're trying...
The Meditations for September
September marks the beginning of our journey into the discipline of will! There, we answered it for you! The Stoics believed that developing a strong will was crucial for navigating life's challenges and maintaining inner peace. This month, we’re focusing on fortitude and resilience.Fortitude means showing courage in adversity. You do that by developing mental and emotional resilience. Take Cato the Younger, for example. This Roman statesman chose to walk barefoot and eat simple fare, not because he couldn't afford...
The Meditations for October
October brings with it a focus on virtue and kindness as key elements in developing our discipline of will. Why shouldn’t your truth, justice, and self-control shine until you are extinguished?Virtua is like a lamp, our good qualities should illuminate our actions just as consistently as a lamp gives light. This isn't always easy, but it's a worthy goal. After all, wouldn't you rather be known for your kindness than your ability to hold a grudge?Speaking of grudges, the Stoics...
The Meditations for November
Have you seen Zach Braff’s 2023 movie A Good Person by any chance? The movie, and our November, has a theme of Amor Fati. That means acceptance! Don’t just tolerate what happens, love it!! Even, rather especially, the tough stuff.First thing, acceptance is not passivity! The goal here isn’t to make to adopt a victim mentality and accept life with a resignation. See, sometimes, events are neutral, but our judgments are almost always biased. Marcus Aurelius points out that when...
The Meditations for December
As the year winds down, we find ourselves in December! Let’s make this December about reflection and renewal. Yes, mortality is a little profound than your typical New Year's resolutions. But, this isn't meant to be a doom-and-gloom fest. If anything, the ancient Stoics believed that contemplating our own demise could be downright liberating. We’ll assume you know this by now – you’re going to die! Whether you're Alexander the Great or his mule-keeper (as Marcus Aurelius so eloquently put...
Chapter 15
Details coming soon.
Summary
That was one long year, right? But we’re sure you’ve learned a lot. You’ve practically disciplined every aspect of your personality. The challenge now is to take these lessons off of here and into your actions, decisions, and interactions with others. As you move forward, revisit these teachings, allowing them to guide you through life's ups and downs. May these Stoic principles continue to inform our choices, enrich our relationships, and deepen our understanding of what it means to live...
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About the Author
Author, media strategist, and bookstore owner Ryan Holiday hails from the United States. He is also the host of the podcast called Daily Stoic. The Obstacle is the Way, Ego is the Enemy, and Stillness is the Key are some of his other books.
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