Stoicism for a Better Life

When it comes to finding direction in life, whether it is your 1st time or your 1000th time, the way is clear: Find your necessities and follow them to your true north. Tend to your spirit, your soul, your consciousness, your rational mind. This is the way...

Life is tough....days are tough...everything takes work, so how do you get motivated? Some guy from 2,000 years ago might have some tricks for you!

Stoicism is not focused on death, but instead, it is focused on maximizing our efforts in life. Dare to do something with your time, for it is the only thing you cannot make more of!

Today's inspiration comes from my personal copy of Seneca’s Moral Letters from a STOIC. Stoicism is a practical philosophy, meaning you “do Stoicism” bit by reading and repeating quotes, but by acting like the best gosh darn human being you can be in the present moment. #DearAnderson #StoicismforaBetterLife #SFBL #HowDoesaSTOIClive 

Times they are a changing...and this guy is adjusting. I will be making some changes in 2022 of how I interact with my fans (and INTERACT is the opportune word). My goal this year is to have a meaningful conversation with one of you every day. Whether it's merely conversing, or answering questions. #DearAnderson #StoicismforaBetterLife.

For this last episode of Season 3, I leave you with this simple task: KEEP GETTING BETTER!

Things change. Always have, always will. We perceive things change and usually don't care for the most part.........that is until the change inconveniences us. This episode explores what we can do with those feelings.

We have our duality within. You know which one is usually right. You know which one brings you more lasting peace. So just listen to it!

Want to show a force of strength so that the whole world knows beyond a shadow of a doubt just how strong you are?  Then try and forgive someone who wronged you. True forgiveness takes a lot of strength and only those who have TRULY forgiven will know how hard it is. Go ahead...try it....I double-dog dare you.

We are not superheroes. But we expect ourselves to be superhuman. Learn to accept your limitations and you will find peace and equanimity. What could be more conducive to a virtuous constitution than a mind at peace and in equanimity? If you know it, tell me cause I want to know as well. 

Missing sleep? Can't fall or stay asleep? Here are some Stoic pointers to help you remedy the situation. Sleep better, get your rest so that you can be the best version of yourself that you can be the next day.

The only things for certain in life are death and taxes. Wait...if American billionaires are any indication, taxes are NOT a certainty in life. But I am yet to meet someone who has escaped death. We all have a shelf life and an expiry date, which means we have limited time as it will quite literally run out. So why do we live as if we will not run out of time?

Ever sit in complete silence without any distractions and just listen to your thoughts?  Yeah....this is why I wrote this episode.

In the western world (especially) we are PLAGUED with wanting to have more stuff and better things...better than before...better than others. But one question we forget to ask ourselves is: Do I really actually need that? Or did I just give up my hard-earned time and money in exchange for a collection of atoms that will end up in a landfill?

Just like you build muscles one fibre at a time...or a Lego Millenium Falcon one Lego piece at a time, so do you build your virtue one moment at a time.

It is important to have goals. Whether it is a daily goal, weekly, annual, lifetime, bucket list, squad goals, etc. goals offer a general roadmap of how best to plan our time and resources. However, we must never forget that our puny efforts are of no consequence when compared to the overwhelming quantity of variables in the domain of the universe's sphere of control. So have goals. We should all...

Some life lessons from our ancient older cousins (The Cynics). Simplify your life, make more time and find the happiness and tranquillity you seek. The episode also discusses whether Cynicism can actually be considered a philosophy.

Judge good. Not judge good. Judge bad! Not judge bad! The fact of the matter is that reality is, it doesn't matter (at least as far as the pursuit of a virtuous life is concerned). In this episode, I make a counterargument to an earlier episode.

We live once and therefore live one lifetime. You can try and extend your life through healthy lifestyle choices. But when we say "healthy lifestyle choices" we tend to only think in the physical realm (exercise, eat well, drink plenty of water, etc). We forget about the spiritual (mental) part of it. Not only can we get live multiple lifetimes by reading others' stories and perspectives, but read...

 Your journal is your most powerful tool, so make sure you use one! Your journal is your most powerful tool, so make sure you use one! Your journal is your most powerful tool, so make sure you use one! Your journal is your most powerful tool, so make sure you use one! Your journal is your most powerful tool, so make sure you use one! You get the point.

Our school delineates steps and tools to attain peace of mind. OK. Can we just follow the steps then to attain peace of mind within the day? Is Stoicism a script to be followed and applied once with results for perpetuity? We all know by now, the answer is (unfortunately) no. Look we know what to do, but we are human beings. We cannot be perfect or sages. So just keep pushing in the right directio...

It's all in the title. The formula our school teaches us for happiness is very straightforward: Figure out what it is that will bring you virtue, and go out there and do it again and again. Simple concept, sure. But so so very hard in its application. So let's break things down a little in this episode.

You have ideas, thoughts and opinions. And when you decide on an opinion, you don't come to it lightly. You evaluate, consider and mull over your options (hopefully) before you come to a conclusion on what your opinions are. But even with all that reflection can you be certain that your opinions are the ultimately correct ones?  

We tend to think of virtue and sagehood as stick in the mud, boring type monotone people. However, nothing in the rulebook says you must not have fun in order to cultivate a more virtuous self. In fact, it is quite the opposite. A little entertainment is not only okay, but necessary. So R&R in reasonable and consistent doses can be actually beneficial to you in your pursuit of a better self. Y...

Seneca say, Prokopton do. Just another reminder that our efforts and intentions are all that matter. Virtue is not found in the result of said actions, as the results depend on much more than our mere efforts. But our intentions are entirely within our control.