Stoicism for a Better Life

No matter where we are in life or what's happening around us, we only have one job: Be a good human being.

Although we can't really control our proto-emotions (your knee jerk reactions to stimuli), we really do have a choice to gain back control of our emotions and means. Even when something "bad" happens, we can always find something "good" to find in that situation to focus on. We can and should make a conscious and concerted effort to think more positively when possible. This is how we can shift our...

We tend to busy ourselves thinking we will get more out of life. But one who enjoys life gets more from it then one who employs it (Lao Tzu). However, our time is very limited, so we don't want to be lethargic. We want to accomplish good things that are truly meaningful to us. So let us identify what these reasons are and make sure we are busy working towards them, as opposed to working towards th...

You've heard me say it time and time again: Virtue is not about perfection, but about trying your best. In order to try your best, however, you must make good decisions and judgments as often as possible. To that end, we must make an effort to use our time purposefully, in order to be the best we can be, as often as we can be.

Why are you listening to this podcast? I've heard them myself, and it can't possibly be for my voice. No, you're here listening to this in order to better yourself through the use and application of philosophy. Philosophy, then, is not a trifle, game or form of entertainment. Embrace it as a guide for life that should be used and applied more regularly, for more regular results.

All anxieties stem from the fundamental error of wanting something we cannot want. Wishing and hoping for a different reality, where things or events are more favorable to us is nonsensical. Another reality doesn't exist. Things can't be any different. So it we can learn to accept the way things are and not wish for things out of our control, then we can easily ditch our anxieties.

We are not guilty of not having enough time. We are guilty of spending time in the wrong places. Although habits can be a good thing, can we reclaim some time form our habits to divert towards more virtuous ventures?

Virtue is to be found in all our actions and every little effort counts. Does judging others make you more virtuous?

You would be surprised how often we let looks affect our judgment about people, things, events, etc. To be a good, fair and just human being, we must learn to shed our biases based on looks and try and see the world more objectively.

As Shakespeare famously said, " there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking it makes it so." Things and events external to our judgments and thoughts are just that: Externals. They don't actually go in your brain and make you think one way nor the other. So events by themselves are not good or bad, only our judgments about them are. In that case, why not cast away your judgments and be at pe...

Have you ever stopped to consider that anger is merely a refusal to accept what is actually happening? As far as us human beings can perceive, there is only one timeline with one reality happening going in one direction. If there is one reality, that we can't change no matter what, then complaining about it is our own fault, for complaining about it is merely not accepting reality the way it is.&n...

Virtue is being rational, honest and honourable. Spending our very precious time in a virtuous way means working for the betterment of humanity. But acts of virtue do not need to be grandiose or impactful in a major way. Virtue can be found and practiced everywhere. We can even find it in the entertainment we choose.

Virtue is being rational, honest and honourable. Spending our very precious time in a virtuous way means working for the betterment of humanity. But acts of virtue do not need to be grandiose or impactful in a major way. Virtue can be found and practiced everywhere, including in what you eat.

Virtue is being rational, honest and honourable. Spending our very precious time in a virtuous way means working for the betterment of humanity. But acts of virtue do not need to be grandiose or impactful in a major way. Virtue can be found and practiced everywhere. We can find virtue in the meaningful conversations we have during meals.

Welcome to Stoicism for a Better Life. In this episode, I will discuss the purpose of the podcast series, what to expect from future episodes, how to use future episodes and how to interact with the community if you so choose.