I’ll keep this brief, because it’s 5AM and the unthinkable has happened: reality star-turned-political savior Donald J. Trump has just clinched the Presidency of the United States. Yes, the same Donald J. Trump who’s been publicly supportive of restricting Muslim immigration to the U.S.; the same Donald J. Trump who’s been accused by over a …
Keep Calm and Be Stoic: A Practical Response to the Unthinkable Read More »
Though most people think of philosophy as a system of ethics or an explanation of the purpose of life, they miss its most practical aspects. In fact, ancient philosophy was a way to create mental clarity—to clear the mind of what psychologists today would refer to as cognitive distortions. Epictetus, the Stoic slave-turned-philosopher, told his …
How to Beat Perfectionism, Make Progress, and Find Happiness Read More »
“The brahmans had no cattle, no gold, no wealth. They had study as their wealth and grain. They guarded the holy life as their treasure.” Gautama Buddha “Of all people only those are at leisure who make time for philosophy, only those are really alive. For they not only keep a good watch over their …
Stoicism & Buddhism: Lessons, Similarities and Differences Read More »
Elections are about choices and character: obviously those of the candidates, but also about our own, too. As we enter the final weeks of campaigning by one of the most widely lamented presidential slates in recent memory, we are besieged and fatigued by the increasing heat of partisan character assassination and a growing sense of …
A Stoic Remedy for Election 2016: Choices, Character, and The Common Good Read More »
“People have forgotten this truth,” the fox said. “But you mustn’t forget it. You become responsible forever for what you’ve tamed. You’re responsible for your rose.” ― Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, The Little Prince Every day we tell ourselves stories about why things are the way they are. We spend large chunks of the day lamenting …
Responsibility and Response: Why Our Choices are the Only Thing that Matters Read More »
“Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to an understanding of ourselves.” ― C.G. Jung “Your visions will become clear only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakens.” ― C.G. Jung “These are the characteristics of the rational soul: self-awareness, self-examination, and self-determination. It …
Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence: The Keys To Your Best Self Read More »
“What you’re supposed to do when you don’t like a thing is change it. If you can’t change it, change the way you think about it. Don’t complain.” ― Maya Angelou The late great poet and writer Maya Angelou had a knack for both getting to the heart of our struggles in life, and for …
With the increasing swirl of interest around mindfulness, resilience and innovation we can’t forget that there are many who have trodden this path before us with important lessons we can borrow. Stoicism is the branch of ancient western philosophy that focuses on mindfulness, resilience, creativity and more, all of which allows us to flourish and …
“Some have said that it is not the business of private men to meddle with government–a bold and dishonest saying, which is fit to come from no mouth but that of a tyrant or a slave. To say that private men have nothing to do with government is to say that private men have nothing …
Naked, Starved, Deceived, and Destroyed: A Stoic’s Guide to Elections Read More »
