Stoicism

• among the most influential, respected schools of philosophy for FIVE centuries

• started by Zeno (300 BC) on public porch in Athens – philosophy of the street

• replaced by rise of Christianity

• making a comeback – influencing Frankl, Ellis

Stoic philosophers

Seneca turbulent life of riches, exile, and power

Rufusuniversal, practical habits

Epictetusex-slave; retain dignity & tranquility in face of hardship

AureliusGood Roman emperor; didn’t abuse power or resources

philosopher

• lover of wisdom – how to live, how to sculpt our lives

• a little theory, a lot of practice

• dig up your highest self, an inner spirit of wellspring

• express your highest self in each moment

• a life that generally flows smoothly, where you are flourishing, thriving

• meet each obstacle with a resilient mindset, tame strong emotions

• preferred doctor of mind in Stoic times

• not ascetics

Stoics saw themselves as warriors of the mind.

Stoic approach to strong emotions

• acknowledge and understand emotions

• then tame the wolf• rise above, stay calm, and redirect (not be hijacked)

• purpose of taming emotions is to help and care about others

• act with courage in the face of anxiety

Goals

Happy and smoothly flowing life that comes from thriving through expressing your highest self moment to moment.

Not letting the emotional wolf take over. Excel. Care about, help others and nature. Enjoy good things in life without clinging.

Path

Know your path. Walk that path. Trust yourself. Do what’s right. Live by your own values.

Don’t second guess. Don’t compare.

thriving

t a k e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r y o u r m i n d

F o c u s o n p r o c e s sA c c e p t t h i n g s o u t s i d e c o n t r o l .

F o c u s o n w h a t y o u c a n c o n t r o l .

C h o o s e i n t e n t i o n a n d a c t i o n , n o t r e f l e x i v e a c t i o n

G o o d C h a r a c t e rE x p r e s s h i g h e s t s e l f , n a t u r a l p o t e n t i a l , i n e a c h m o m e n t .

L i v e i n h a r m o n y w i t h o n e ’ s v i r t u e s , p e o p l e , a n d n a t u r e .

T h e r e w a r d i s t h r i v i n g , n o t r e p a y m e n t .

C h a r a c t e r b e a t s b e a u t y .

wisdom just i ce

courage d isc ip l ine

Live byFour Virtues

negative emotions

• come from wanting or fearing what’s not under our control

• health, wealth, and reputation aren’t under our control, only virtuous action

• most people are enslaved by negative emotions

• emotions are first impressions and impulses, blocking access to awareness

• strong emotional reactions drive action, not our values

Our lives are the raw material for the art of living.

principles• commit to self-improvement

• cultivate awareness• develop self-discipline around practices

practices

• preparing• adversity• people challenges

acceptance

• external events are like medicine that will help us

• accept fate graciously, make the best of it

• don’t fight reality, bring your will in harmony

• accept all poker hands equally

• bad things may ultimately lead to good consequences

preparing practices

1. Reserve clause: I will do xx, God willing, if nothing stops me. Do your best. Accept outcome.

2. What stands in the way becomes the way. Use obstacles as fuel to express virtues.

3. Life changes and flows like a river. Humans are mortal. Ponder your death.

4. Remember everything is borrowed.

5. Visualize negative outcomes (negative visualization).

6. Do things that are uncomfortable. Forgo pleasures.

7. Morning routine to prepare for day.

8. Examine self at end of the day – good, get better, what will it take to be your best

9. Be kind and forgiving to yourself.

preparing practices

1. Ask – what would a Sage do?

2. Formulate your guiding statements.

3. Play your given roles well, even if others don’t.

4. Focus on essential things. Cut out timewasters.

5. Forget fame and status. Doing the right thing is its own reward.

6. Live like a minimalist. Enjoy material things without desire. Use wealth to do good.

7. Win at cultivating character, not fame, status and wealth.

8. Learn every day, even days off. Be an eternal student.

9. Have lots to show for your years.

We act like mortals in what we fear. We act like immortals in what we desire.

Don’t let negative emotions lead you to procrastinate.

practices for adverse situations

1. judgment about a situation causes a troubled mind, self-harm

2. for grief – experience immediate sorrow and then let go of tears3. anger is brief madness; hurts the angry most; leads to rashness, self-absorbed4. things don’t happen to us - they happen; move anger to calm5. anxiety is worry about something out of our control, in the future6. examine fear until you can detach; fear is imagination not reality

7. avoid expectations of things outside your control; rehearse the worst8. use adversity to practice being the best you can be; opportunity for growth9. every annoying person is a chance for patience, kindness, forgiveness10. when off-balance, return to balanced mind – equanimity

practices for adverse situations

1. Be the fire that doesn’t extinguish, come back stronger2. We hand our minds over to others, circumstances. Cut the puppet strings. 3. Life’s purpose is to get stronger.4. Overwhelm comes from concern about the past and future, out of control5. Take a bird’s eye view – vastness of time and the universe6. Consider your (lesser) reaction if the same happened to another 7. Human concerns don’t change much over generations8. Look at situations objectively, without meaning9. Wait a little after first impulses – “let me put you to the test“10. Good fortune comes from doing good, being good, without expectations

STOIC MINDFULNESS

Look at the present situation objectively.Accept and be content with what is out of control.

Identify the best action to take right now.

Aurelius

S T O I C G R AT I T U D E

Don’t gather and hoard material things.Be grateful for all you have.

Be careful to not get too attached to things, they are borrowed.

When you arise in the morning, appreciate the gift of life –

breathing, thinking, enjoying, loving.

Aurelius

practices for challenging people

1. Think of the human race as a single living being; make it better2. We are born to work together, cooperate3. People don’t do wrong on purpose; they don’t know better4. Study your own failings rather than criticize others

5. We are born kind, respond kindly to wrongdoing6. We can only be insulted if we let it happen7. See each day as a training exercise; be prepared for sudden slaps8. Find ways to improve; don’t abandon those who haven’t9. Buy tranquility when small upsets arise

practices for challenging people

1. Put yourself in others’ shoes rather than judging2. We are the average of the five people we spend most time with3. Vices are contagious – choose friends carefully, those who uplift you4. Avoid judging – it’s reflexive5. Leave others to work on their own faults6. Be a force for good - politely ask people to stop or change bad behavior7. Don’t gossip. Don’t blame. Don’t complain.8. Go into conversations with the intention to learn.9. Don’t say anything best left unsaid.10. Listen with empathy, to learn. Listen more than speak.

S T O I C F O R G I V E N E S S

Don’t wish for people not to do wrong.Wrongdoing is human nature.

People hurt themselves when they do wrong.Wish for strength to be tolerant, kind, compassionate, and forgiving.

It’s more important to love than be loved.

S T O I C L E A D E R S H I P

Be a role model – lead by example.Act on principles, demonstrate silently.

Set standards and live by them.Who do I want to be?

Waste no more time arguing what a good person should be. Be one.

warrior of the mindwise, courageous, fair, disciplined

• accepting of people, situations, outcomes

• no judgment

• mindful, virtue-based action

• kind, forgiving

• training, learning, getting better

• pleasure without desire

• equanimity

• stay connected to big picture

Make your life a work of art.