Firstly, I hope your week is off to a good start, so far. Just to let you know last week we did book giveaway, and I can confirm that we’ve been in touch with the winner who’ll receive it soon, fate permitting.
This morning we’re going to look briefly at four crucial exercises from Stoicism you can use, and put to work in your day to day living. I draw from my own personal experiences, that these are the tenets from Stoicism I find myself using most often. It’s important to note that here, I’m summarising what these exercises mean to be put in use. I’ve also attached links to further your curiosity, or want to learn the method.
The "dichotomy of control": The Stoics believed that events are divided into two categories: those that are within our control, and those that are not. They believed that it is essential to focus on what is within our control and accept what is not. By focusing on what is within our control, we can take effective action to improve our lives.
On the other hand, by accepting what is not within our control, we can reduce anxiety and stress. This can include accepting things like natural disasters, accidents, or illnesses. By accepting these things, we can focus on what we can control, like how we react and respond to them.
For more on this I break it down in detail hereThe "view from above": The Stoics recommended taking a bird's eye view of our lives, in which we see ourselves as small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things. This perspective can help us to put our problems in perspective and to avoid getting caught up in the ego-driven desires and concerns.
It can help us to see that our problems and concerns are small in comparison to the vastness of the universe. This can help us to be more humble and to not take ourselves too seriously.
If you’re unsure how to go about this, Donald Robertson’s guided version is a great place to start:Practicing virtue: The Stoics believed that virtue is the highest good, and that by practicing virtue in all aspects of life, one can live a good and fulfilling life. They believed that virtues such as wisdom, courage, justice, and self-control were essential for living a virtuous life.
By practicing these virtues, we can become better people, and in turn, live a better life. For example, by practicing wisdom, we can make better decisions, by practicing courage, we can face difficult situations with bravery, and by practicing self-control, we can overcome our negative impulses.
For more on this I break it down in detail hereThe "premeditation of evils": The Stoics believed that by premeditating and visualising potential difficulties, we can be better prepared to face them when they inevitably arise. This technique helps us to develop emotional resilience and to avoid being caught off guard by negative events.
By visualising and preparing for difficult situations, we can lessen the impact of negative events when they happen. For example, by visualising losing a job, we can be better prepared to deal with the financial and emotional difficulties that may arise. This technique can also help us to develop a sense of perspective and to not be too affected by negative events.
For more details on how to practice this responsibly, check this article from njlifehacks
Quote for the week ahead
Remember that you ought to behave in life as you would at a banquet. As something is being passed around it comes to you; stretch out your hand, take a portion of it politely. It passes on; do not detain it. Or it has not come to you yet; do not project your desire to meet it, but wait until it comes in front of you. So act toward children, so toward a wife, so toward office, so toward wealth.
—Epictetus, The Enchiridion