🗓 Stoic Handbook October Roundup
On Health Anxiety, The Power of Challenges, Reframing Grief, and How to Start and End Each Day
Greetings, fellow Stoic ⚔️
We have just finished another month of The Stoic Handbook.
Below I’ll share all the posts I created in October, 2020.
Think of this as your monthly Stoic cheatsheet. You can refresh your memory on what you’re already learned (“repetition is the mother of skill”), or catch up with posts you’ve missed.
Here is a quick overview of this month’s Stoic Handbook—scroll down to read the summarised versions or click the links directly below view the full post:
▫️October 5 — On Accepting Events Just As They Are 📖
▫️October 8 — The Stoic “End of the World” Meditation 🎧
▫️October 12 — On Being at Peace Even When Sick 📖
▫️October 17 — Lesson: Common Misinterpretations About Stoic Philosophy 🎧
▫️October 19 — On Using Challenges to Build Character 📖
▫️October 22 — The Complete Stoic Morning Meditation 🎧
▫️October 26 — On How to Deal with Loss 📖
▫️October 29 — The Complete Stoic Evening Reflection 🎧
Below, I’ll share the quick, easy-to-digest version of each post.
🌸 On Accepting Events Just As They Are 📖
Don’t hope that events will turn out the way you want, welcome events in whichever way they happen: this is the path to peace.
— Enchiridion, Chapter 8, Epictetus
🌎 The Stoic “End of the World” Meditation 🎧
I needed to hear this one too. I’m looking forward to listening to this a handful more times to fully digest. Thank you for helping me think differently.
— Mo, SH, Member
The Stoics used a technique called “Premeditation of Adversity.”
By reflecting on the possible misfortunes that await us, we benefit in three ways:
We are more prepare and therefore protect ourselves against misfortune
We practice virtue in the face of misfortune so it effects us less
We become more grateful because that misfortune is not here yet
In this meditation, we imagine an apocalyptic scene to help us focus in on our most important life values.
By reflecting on the shortness of life, we can gain motivation and gratitude to steer our lives in much more fruitful directions.
🤒 On Being At Peace Even When Sick 📖
Sickness is a problem for the body, not the mind – unless the mind decides that it is a problem… Say this to yourself whatever the circumstance and you will find without fail that the problem pertains to something else, not to you.
— Enchiridion, Chapter 9, Epictetus
1/ Incorrect View:
2/ Correct View:
🔎 Lesson: Common Misinterpretations About Stoic Philosophy 🎧
In this 25 minute podcast, I take a look at some of the most common misunderstandings about Stoic philosophy.
This episode was inspired by the Tucker Max tweet stating that Stoicism was a “dead philosophy.”
🏔 On Using Challenges to Build Character 📖
For every challenge, remember the resources you have within you to cope with it. Provoked by the sight of a handsome man or a beautiful woman, you will discover within you the contrary power of self-restraint… In time, you will grow to be confident that there is not a single impression that you will not have the moral means to tolerate.
— Enchiridion, Chapter 10, Epictetus
The same is true with pain, it will elicit the choice between victimhood and endurance, both are within you.
The next time you get insulted, be thankful because you will discover the virtue of patience.
With enough practice, you will soon experience every challenge as a great opportunity to guide you toward virtue.
☀️ The Complete Stoic Morning Meditation 🎧
I loved it, thankyou. I found myself easily able to drop into a quiet space while contemplating the questions, and there was no fluff or unnecessary talking. Clear and direct. Refreshing.
— Susan, SH Member
This is a Stoic contemplation you can do every morning before you start the day.
It is based on Marcus Aurelius’ “premeditation of adversity” except from his book Meditations.
By practicing in this way you will be prepared to meet any event with ease.
🚪On How to Deal with Loss 📖
Under no circumstances ever say ‘I have lost something,’ only ‘I returned it.’ Did a child of yours die? No, it was returned. Your wife died? No, she was returned. ‘My land was confiscated.’ No, it too was returned.
— Enchiridion, Chapter 11, Epictetus
Never say the following sentence:
“I have lost something.”
Instead, replace the word “lost” with “returned” and say:
“I have returned something.”
At this point, you may say:
“I didn’t return it, it was taken from me by a thief!”
Why concern and stress yourself about the way something was given to you is returned back?
If something is given to you that you appreciate, enjoy it fully but also be mindful that nothing is yours to own for eternity.
Enjoy life’s blessings the way a weary traveller would enjoy a brief stay at a hotel.
🌒 The Complete Stoic Evening Meditation 🎧
Just Amazing. Thank you for the stoic theme. I wish there were more of these.
— Katharina, SH Member
If our goal is to develop excellence of character (virtue), we must do three things:
Reinforce good behaviour
Notice poor behaviour
Set goals to improve behaviour
This is exactly what Seneca recommended. I have put together this short contemplation for you to listen to every night to review your day.
Imagine if for the next 365 days, you took an honest look at your character each night and set small realistic goals for the next day…
Those 0.1% changes would lead to a significant change in behaviour.
🙏 Thank you for being a member of The Stoic Handbook. There is lots more in the works!