Stoicism: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Life

Philosophy That Works

Stoicism isn't about suppressing emotions or being cold. It's a practical philosophy for living well — developed by ancient Greeks and Romans, and surprisingly relevant today.

Silicon Valley CEOs, professional athletes, and military leaders have embraced Stoic principles. Why? Because Stoicism offers tools for handling adversity, making decisions, and finding tranquility in chaos.

What You'll Learn

Core Stoic Principles

The Dichotomy of Control: Focus only on what you can control (your judgments, actions, values) and accept what you cannot (others' actions, external events, outcomes).

Virtue as the Only Good: Wealth, health, and reputation are "preferred indifferents" — nice to have but not necessary for a good life. Only virtue (wisdom, justice, courage, temperance) truly matters.

Living According to Nature: Aligning yourself with reason and your role in the larger human community.

The Great Stoics

Marcus Aurelius: Roman emperor who wrote philosophy as personal therapy. His Meditations is a 2,000-year-old self-help book.

Seneca: Wealthy advisor to Nero who wrote practical letters on how to live.

Epictetus: Born a slave, became a revered teacher. His Enchiridion distills Stoic practice.

Practical Exercises

Stoicism isn't just theory — it's practice:
• Negative visualization
• Voluntary discomfort
• The view from above
• Evening reflection

Modern Applications

Cognitive behavioral therapy draws on Stoic insights. So do approaches to stress, anger management, and resilience training.