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These Are 11 Things Stoics DON'T Do:
1. Don't suffer imagined troubles
Seneca said, "we suffer more in imagination than in reality."
“Don’t let your imagination be crushed by life as a whole,” Marcus Aurelius reminded himself.
Focus on the present. Don't think about the monsters that may or may not be up ahead.
Seneca said, "we suffer more in imagination than in reality."
“Don’t let your imagination be crushed by life as a whole,” Marcus Aurelius reminded himself.
Focus on the present. Don't think about the monsters that may or may not be up ahead.
2. Don't always have an opinion
It’s possible, Marcus Aurelius said, to not have an opinion. He said that not everything is asking to be judged by you.
Remember: “You always own the option of having no opinion.”
It’s possible, Marcus Aurelius said, to not have an opinion. He said that not everything is asking to be judged by you.
Remember: “You always own the option of having no opinion.”
3. Don't be overheard complaining
Where does complaining ever get you? Nowhere, other than in a negative state of mind.
Follow one of the rules Marcus lived by: “Don’t be overheard complaining…Not even to yourself.”
Where does complaining ever get you? Nowhere, other than in a negative state of mind.
Follow one of the rules Marcus lived by: “Don’t be overheard complaining…Not even to yourself.”
4. Don't be all about business
Marcus Aurelius was the Emperor. Millions depended on him. Yet, he reminded himself “to not be all about business.”
As Seneca reminded a friend, “The mind must be given relaxation. It will rise improved and sharper after a good break."
Marcus Aurelius was the Emperor. Millions depended on him. Yet, he reminded himself “to not be all about business.”
As Seneca reminded a friend, “The mind must be given relaxation. It will rise improved and sharper after a good break."
5. Don't focus on outcomes
Focusing on outcomes is a recipe for feeling overwhelmed and unhappy.
Instead: “Concentrate every minute,” Marcus Aurelius wrote, “on doing what’s in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice.”
Focusing on outcomes is a recipe for feeling overwhelmed and unhappy.
Instead: “Concentrate every minute,” Marcus Aurelius wrote, “on doing what’s in front of you with precise and genuine seriousness, tenderly, willingly, with justice.”
6. Don't be hard on others
Your standards are for you. It's called self-discipline. Marcus Aurelius' rule was to "be tolerant with others and strict with himself."
The Stoics would have liked Confucius' line, "A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others."
Your standards are for you. It's called self-discipline. Marcus Aurelius' rule was to "be tolerant with others and strict with himself."
The Stoics would have liked Confucius' line, "A great man is hard on himself; a small man is hard on others."
7. Don't look outside yourself for approval
“If you are ever tempted to look for outside approval,” Epictetus said, “realize that you have compromised your integrity. If you need a witness, be your own.”
“If you are ever tempted to look for outside approval,” Epictetus said, “realize that you have compromised your integrity. If you need a witness, be your own.”
8. Don't dwell with losers
The ancient proverb: “If you dwell with a lame man, you will learn how to limp.”
We become like the people we spend the most time with. It's key, Epictetus said, "to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best."
The ancient proverb: “If you dwell with a lame man, you will learn how to limp.”
We become like the people we spend the most time with. It's key, Epictetus said, "to keep company only with people who uplift you, whose presence calls forth your best."
9. Don't care about other's opinions
"It never ceases to amaze me," Marcus Aurelius wrote, "we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own."
Stoics only worry about what's in their control. Other's opinions are not in our control.
"It never ceases to amaze me," Marcus Aurelius wrote, "we all love ourselves more than other people, but care more about their opinion than our own."
Stoics only worry about what's in their control. Other's opinions are not in our control.
10. Don't be a know it all
Epictetus reminds us, “it’s impossible to learn that which you think you already know.”
Ego is the enemy. It blinds us. It distracts us. It prevents us from learning. The less of a know it all we are, the more open we’ll be. The wiser we’ll become.
Epictetus reminds us, “it’s impossible to learn that which you think you already know.”
Ego is the enemy. It blinds us. It distracts us. It prevents us from learning. The less of a know it all we are, the more open we’ll be. The wiser we’ll become.
11. Don't be a fool
Seneca wrote, “The fool, with all his other faults, has this also—he is always getting ready to live.”
Stop putting things off. Stop deferring. Stop waiting, Epictetus said, to demand the best of yourself. The future is uncertain. Live immediately.
Seneca wrote, “The fool, with all his other faults, has this also—he is always getting ready to live.”
Stop putting things off. Stop deferring. Stop waiting, Epictetus said, to demand the best of yourself. The future is uncertain. Live immediately.
Ready to demand the best of yourself? Join us for The Daily Stoic New Year New You Challenge 2024.
It’s a set of 21 actionable challenges built around the best, most timeless wisdom in Stoic philosophy.
Don't wait. Learn more at nyny24.com
It’s a set of 21 actionable challenges built around the best, most timeless wisdom in Stoic philosophy.
Don't wait. Learn more at nyny24.com
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