Stoic Coffee Break

"Equanimity is the voluntary acceptance of the things which are assigned to thee by the common nature." - Marcus Aurelius How often do we hold ourselves back because of our inner critic? What if instead we practiced self acceptance, and treated ourselves like we treat a good friend - with honesty, kindness, and forgiveness? Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for build...

Sometimes we will say things we don't really believe or do things that we don't really want to in order to please other people order to avoid conflict. But in doing so we end up causing more problems in our relationships and have a lesser sense of self. Self Advocacy is the idea that you have the right to your own opinion, beliefs, and actions and that you don't have to try and please anyone else....

Imposter Syndrome has killed more great works, more companies, more careers and possibilities than almost anything I know. We add qualifiers like “I’m working on becoming an actor.” Or “I work as an accountant but my side hustle is composing.” In today's episode will talk about applying lessons from one of the greatest teachers to help move past imposter syndrome. Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unb...

When we get angry it is because something has bothered us. We’re generally not taught how to manage our anger very well. Things get pushed below the surface when they stew and remain unresolved. But are we looking at anger the wrong way? Can anger be a force for good? Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicism...

Decisions are usually never black or white, right or wrong, but we usually look at them this way. In today's episode, we're going to discuss how poker can help lead us to better decision making. Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch...

Self Ownership > “I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinions of himself than on the opinions of others.”> — Marcus AureliusAre there people in your life that care about that always seem to be on the opposing side or disapprove of your choices? What are ways that you can set appropriate boundaries and...

Don’t kill the message. Often, we dismiss an idea because it makes us feel uncomfortable. We may dismiss the idea out of hand because it conflicts with our preexisting beliefs. Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch episodes on YouTub...

Better than you? We are always comparing ourselves to others. It is the ego’s way of feeling like the self-image that is is a good one. We want to feel like we are “doing it right”. Often this means that we compare ourselves with others, making sure that we appear or at least feel like we are “better” than they are. But what does that really mean? Why are we better? Who is the judge of what is bet...

What if you were able to look at the world and yourself more objectively? What if you could see things without so much judgment or emotion attached? In today's episode, we talk about a basic concept about the self from Anthony De Mello that can help us act in a more objective and less reactive manner. Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open...

“It is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste a lot of it...Life is long if you know how to use it.”— SenecaTime is the most important, the most in-demand resource that we have in life. Are you spending yours wisely or do you let it go to waste? Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicism 101 i...

“It is in your power to withdraw yourself whenever you desire. Perfect tranquility within consists in the good ordering of the mind, the realm of your own.” ― Marcus AureliusHumans are very social creatures. It is our ability to be social and to cooperate in large numbers that has enabled us to create such amazing societies. We usually feel most at home when we’re with others, but there are times...

“When someone criticizes you, they do so because they believe they are right. They can only go by their views, not yours. If their views are wrong, it is they who will suffer the consequences. Keeping this in mind, treat your critics with compassion. When you are tempted to get back at them, remind yourself, ‘They did what seemed to them to be the right thing to do.’”— EpictetusOne of the hazards...

“How ridiculous and how strange to be surprised at anything which happens in life”— Marcus AureliusWhat could possibly go wrong? I think one of the biggest mistakes that we as humans make is that we are far too optimistic about how something we’re planning might go. In doing so we often fool ourselves into believing that it will work as planned, and overlook what could go wrong. In this weeks epis...

This weeks episode is an interview with Jeff Emtman from the Here Be Monsters podcast. This is my first time interviewing someone, and Jeff is a very interesting and thoughtful guest. We talk about life challenges, creative challenges, and what it's like to drag main. Enjoy! Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book St...

“The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way.” ― Marcus AureliusOne of the weirdest things about being a human is how we get comfortable with our habits, and resist change, while at the same time we get bored when things stay the same. In this weeks episode will talk about how to deal with the paradox of change. Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind pr...

I had the good fortune of being interviewed on Memonto the Stoics with Santiago Proaño, so I'm posting it as a bonus episode. Enjoy! You can find his podcast here: https://anchor.fm/memento-the-stoics/ Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now open for enrollment! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee...

“Whoever does wrong, wrongs himself; whoever does injustice, does it to himself, making himself evil.” ― Marcus Aurelius, MeditationsAre you disturbed by the political landscape that has changed so rapidly over the last 4 years? As more and more authoritarian parties come into power around the world, we see that hatred towards others - immigrants, refugees, women, minorities - seems to be at an al...

Why is it hard for us to be vulnerable, especially when it comes to those we care about the most? Partners, children, family, close friends - if these are the people we are the closest to why would be afraid to be ourselves around them? In this weeks episode we’ll talk about vulnerability and the real you. Send us Fan Mail The Build an Unbreakable Mind program for building mental discipline is now...

"...what you desire is something great and supreme and very near to being a god — to be unshaken. "— Seneca“I may be sincere, but never serious, because I don’t think the universe is serious.”— Allen WattsDo you struggle to live up to your principles? Do feel like when you make a mistake that all your efforts were not worth it? In this weeks episode, we’re going to talk about how to appr...

The Un-Pursuit of Happiness “The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”— EmersonDo you struggle to find happiness within yourself? Do you despair every time you watch the news? In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about how to get over this despair and how pursuing happine...

I talk a lot on this podcast about anger because it’s something that I’ve been working to manage in my own life. And today, I want to talk about the language of anger, and about learning to redefine and talk about anger in a different way.“For if anger listens to reason and follows where reason leads, then it is already not anger, of which obstinacy is a proper quality; if, however, it fights back...

“Your potential, the absolute best you’re capable of — that’s the metric to measure yourself against. Your standards are. Winning is not enough. People can get lucky and win. People can be assholes and win. Anyone can win. But not everyone is the best possible version of themselves.” ― Ryan Holiday,How often do we compare ourselves with others? Why do you we get down on ourselves when someone is b...

How often do we look outside of ourselves to know what to do? How often do we doubt ourselves and look to others to find a solution to a problem? How often do we seek the opinions of others to feel like we’re on the right path? This weeks episode is about learning how to find the wisdom in yourself.>“Dig within. Within is the wellspring of Good; and it is always ready to bubble up, if you just...

“There are more things likely to frighten us than there are to crush us; we suffer more often in imagination than in reality.”— Seneca (Letters from a Stoic - Letter XIII: On Groundless Fears)How many great things have never happened because of fear? How many times did you give up on a dream because of fear? This weeks episode, we’re going to talk about fear, what it is, what it does, and how to m...

How do you remain true to the aspirations you have? How do you not let other people’s opinions sway you from you principles? This weeks episode is about finding your values and holding true.“Attach yourself to what is spiritually superior, regardless of what other people think or do. Hold to your true aspirations no matter what is going on around you.” ― EpictetusHow do you remain true to the aspi...