This is a guest post by Brenton Weyi. Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Zeno believed that Stoicism was based on the universal principles of life. They believed that these principles transcended any individual human being or society. This steadfast conviction allowed them to remain strong during circumstance that would break most ordinary people. What’s interesting is […]
“Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing. Let us balance life’s books each day. … The one who puts the finishing touches on their life each day is never short of time.” Seneca At a Roman triumph, the majority of the public would […]
In our interview with Daniele Bolelli we said how there is a certain class of people who can’t be placed in a single category. Their interests and accomplishments span multiple industries and fields and are often at complete odds with one another. David “DHH” Heinemeier Hansson is one of them. He is the creator of […]
Today you might find yourself dealing with something tough. Stuck in a new situation. Hit with a situation that’s been developing for some time, but only now is bringing you pain. In tight situations like these, you need energy, creativity and above all faith in yourself. Defeatism won’t get you anywhere (except defeat). Focusing your […]
The Stoics taught Cato that there were no shades of gray. There was no more-or-less good, no more-or-less bad. Whether you were a foot underwater or a fathom, you were still drowning. All virtues were one and the same virtue, all vices the same vice. It is the kind of austere scheme that seems unreasonable […]
Life just drops stuff in our laps, doesn’t it? Exciting things, frustrating things, distractions, temptations and tragedies. It has a strange habit of dropping on us the exact thing we don’t need right now. Often all at once. What a great philosophy like Stoicism reminds us of is that this is both a reminder of […]
“The responsibility is all yours; no one can stop you from being honest or straightforward.” — Marcus Aurelius Remember today that no matter what is happening you can respond virtuously and all of your behavior is under your control. As the philosopher and former trader Nassim Taleb put it, “The only aspect of your life that fortune […]
Picture Marcus Aurelius writing these words to himself in the middle of a desolate military camp. He’s the world’s most powerful man, and accordingly, was also hated, envied, targeted. He’s got incredible power but also incredible responsibility. He’s exhausted but also in his element. So what does he decide to write to himself? “Concentrate every […]
Here is one way to think of hardship: The end. The failure. The last hurrah. The curtain call. The finish. Here is another way to think of hardship: As grist for the mill. A chance to learn about endurance, patience, resilience, struggle. An opportunity to prove your mettle. A way of learning about people or […]