What is the dichotomy of control?
Stoic school day 10 of 100.
1/ The dichotomy of control teaches us what is within our power and what is not, so we stop giving 90% of our energy and attention to things outside our control.
2/ By realizing how little control we have over the world, we gain full control over the things that matter.
3/ Epictetus opens his Handbook with this quote: āSome things are within our power, while others are not. Within our power are opinion, motivation, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever is of our own doing; not within our power are our body, our property, reputation, office, and, in a word, whatever is not of our own doing.ā
4/ We may not control if we are smart or handsome, but what are the most important qualities in any human, the ones we admire most? Kindness, integrity, honesty, courage, discipline. We have full control over these things.
5/ You don't control if you win, but you control if you give the most effort. This means you can focus on effort and growth without being upset if you fail.
6/ Most people choose to concern themselves with the external because they think that harm and benefit come from outside themselves. The wise man looks for all benefit and harm to come from within.
7/ You don't control the rain, so you can dance or sulk, but it will rain regardless.
That is it for Day 10 of 100! If you want to see this topic explained in full, join my Stoic School today for FREE + no email sign-up, on my channel
What is Voluntary Discomfort?
Stoic school day 9 of 100
Voluntary discomfort is purposefully forgoing comfort in order to build resilience, discipline, and gratitude.
We grow weak from living easy lives. Voluntary discomfort is the antidote.
Emperor Marcus Aurelius, despite his immense wealth, practiced voluntary discomfort. His power did not lead him to ruin like emperors before him.
He wore a triton, like the Spartans, which was rough, ugly, and uncomfortable. He slept on a pallet and took part in Spartan training.
Here are 5 ways voluntary discomfort can help you:
- Highlighting strengths and weaknesses
- Fostering a growth mindset
- Facilitating discipline
- Boosting confidence and assurance
- Encouraging gratitude
You can try it yourself by:
- Taking cold showers
- Sleeping on the floor
- Fasting
- Eating bland food
That is it for Day 9 of 100! If you want to see this topic explained in full, join my Stoic School today for FREE + no email sign-up, in my channel
How Did the Stoics Learn Extreme Discipline?
Stoic school day 8 of 100
1/ **Have a Goal:**
Self-discipline is the ability to take necessary action to achieve your goal, whether you feel like it or not.
2/ **Make a Plan:**
Marcus Aurelius taught that without an aim, we will wander aimlessly.
3/ **Practice Voluntary Hardship:**
Get out of your comfort zone and constantly test yourself. This can be fasting, cold showers, or eating plainly.
5/ **Donāt Pity Yourself:**
As Dr. Michael Segrue said, "All men suffer, but not all men pity themselves."
6/ **Practice Delayed Gratification:**
Put off what you want now so you may have what you need later on.
7/ **Honestly Review Your Day:**
The Stoics learned this from Pythagoras. You'll find your weak spots and become more self-aware. If you donāt track your days, youāll never notice progress.
That is it for Day 8 of 100! If you want to see this topic explained in full, join my Stoic School today for FREE + no email sign-up, on my channel
5 Stoic ways to beat anxiety
Stoic school day 7 of 100 with the author of āthe everyday Stoicā
1/ Name Your Monster: Emperor Marcus Aurelius said, ādefine whatever it is we perceiveāso we can see what it really is. Stripped bare.ā Do not add to anxiety using imagination.
2/ Negative Visualisation: If you can welcome the bad things that will befall your day, you strip the power of surprise.
3/ Remember Death: As Steve Jobs once said, āall fear of embarrassment or failure--these things just fall away in the face of death.ā
4/ Be Present: Most of our worries exist in the past and future. But the only thing that actually exists is the present.
5/ Do Less: Stop trying to spin so many plates, stop trying to get more and do more. Start letting go of the meaningless things and youāll see whatās important.
That is it for Day 7 of 100! If you want to see this topic explained in full, join my Stoic School today for FREE + no email sign-up, on my channel
What is the Stoic archer?
Stoic school day 6 of 100
The Stoic archer encapsulates the dichotomy of control. The archer controls how they shoot the arrow. But once it has left the bow, it is out of their control.
Once the arrow is released, it is left to the effects of wind and other forces. Roman philosopher Cicero said, āOneās ultimate aim is to do all in oneās power to shoot straight, and the same applies with our ultimate goals in life.ā
Seneca said, āThe wise person considers intention, rather than outcome, in every situation. Donāt seek to be loved but to be lovable. Donāt expect to win, but to give your best efforts.ā
We are not upset if the arrow doesnāt hit the target as long as we are satisfied we gave our best to shoot straight. And we learn a lot from our efforts.
We are not upset if we fail because our character grows from trying to aim straight. The journey and effort are what matter most.
Embrace the wisdom of the Stoic archer. Focus on what you can control and let go of the rest. This mindset leads to peace and resilience.
That is it for Day 6 of 100! If you want to see this topic explained in full, join my Stoic School today for FREE + no email sign-up, on my channel.
What is the Stoic flame?
Stoic school day 5 of 100
The Stoic flame is a way of being. Itās a shift in mindset that turns challenges into fuel for growth.
Thomas Edison was described as too stupid to learn anything new but became one of the most successful inventors, saying, āI have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.ā
The more you throw onto a fire, the more it grows. The same is true for you. The more challenges you face, the more you can consume them and the brighter you grow.
Itās about seeing the benefit rather than the bad. Stuck in traffic? Learn patience. Encounter rude people? Learn compassion or courage. Face failure? Learn humility, growth, wisdom.
It is often our greatest struggles that teach us the most. If we keep growing from difficulty rather than giving up, we will grow so much that we are in a position to help others who are struggling.
Embrace the Stoic flame. Let challenges fuel your growth. The brighter you burn, the more you can light the way for others.
That is it for Day 5 of 100! If you want to see this topic explained in full, join my Stoic School today for FREE + no email sign-up, on my channel
Some people say Stoicism is toxic and promotes suppressing emotions. Let's set the record straight.
Stoic school day 4 of 100 with the author of the everyday Stoic
The Stoics do not and never did suppress emotions. Stoicism promotes being good and teaches how to be good.
The Stoics taught us that lust is wrong and we should train ourselves against these impressions. They said greed is wrong. Epictetus, the slave-turned-philosopher, said, āWealth consists not in having great possessions, but in having few wants.ā
Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome, would sleep on the floor and thanked his mother for teaching him to avoid the habits of the rich. He grew up with Spartan training and lived like a Spartan yet showed us it is okay to cry and to accept our emotions.
Imagine being in a river of your emotions. They can drag you under and sweep you away. The Stoic is standing on the riverbank, observing their emotions and understanding them. Feeling them without being drowned.
Stoicism is about managing emotions, not suppressing them. It's about understanding and accepting them without being overwhelmed.
That is it for Day 4 of 100! If you want to see this topic explained in full, join my Stoic School today for FREE + no email sign-up, on my YouTube (the everyday Stoic)
The ancient stoics did an exercise called, the view from above, what was it? And how does it help?
Stoic school day 3 of 100
The ancient Stoics did an exercise called "The View from Above." What was it? And how does it help?
A historical writer documented this exercise as āholding the power to flip your life on its head.ā Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome in 161 AD, practiced this exercise.
Iāve been doing this for over a decade. It helps massively to deal with stress and confusion. How do you do it?
Think of yourself in the room around you. Zoom out to you in the house. Then you in the street. Then the city. Keep zooming out.
Picture yourself as a little dot in the country. Then the world. You are a speck on the earth. Keep zooming out. The earth becomes a speck, shrinking away. And with it, all the weight upon your shoulders.
American astronomer Carl Sagan once said: "There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. It underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
That is it for Day 3 of 100! If you want to see this topic explained in full, join my Stoic School today for FREE + no email sign-up, on my YouTube
Who is the Genius behind Stoicism?
Stoic school day 2 of 100
The genius behind Stoicism is Zeno of Citium. Born in 334 BC in Cyprus, Zeno was a wealthy merchant.
On a great voyage, his ship was wrecked and he lost everything. Washing ashore in Athens penniless and beaten, he visited a bookstore.
In this bookstore, Zeno discovered the works of Socrates. This marked the beginning of his new life as a philosopher. He famously said, "I made a prosperous voyage when I was shipwrecked."
Zeno began teaching in the Stoa Poikile, a public colonnade in Athens, for free. Stoicism gets its name from the Stoa Poikile where Zeno taught.
Initially, Zeno studied under the Cynics. He taught that the pursuit of pleasure and attachment cause harm. The goal is to live in accordance with nature.
Zeno realized that progress takes time but is worth it. He said, "Well-being is realized by small steps, but is truly no small thing."
That is it for Day 2! If you want to see this topic explained in full, join my Stoic School today for FREE + no email sign-up, on my YouTube channel.
What is Memento Mori?
Stoic school day 1 of 100
Memento Mori is a Latin phrase meaning "remember death." The Stoics used this mantra to improve their lives. French philosopher Albert Camus stated, "Come to terms with death, thereafter anything is possible."
In the HagukAre, The Way of the Samurai involves practicing death daily. The Old Testament urges a remembrance of death: "Teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." (Ps. 90:12)
Ecclesiastes 7:2 insists, "It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting." Isaiah 40:7 compares human life to grass: "The grass withers, the flower fades... surely the people are grass."
Victorious Roman generals would have slaves whisper āMemento Moriā in their ear. Tertullian described a practice where a general was reminded, "Respice post te. Hominem te esse memento. Memento mori." ("Remember you're a man. Remember you will die.")
On Ash Wednesday, ashes are placed on worshippers' heads with the words, "Remember Man that you are dust and unto dust you shall return." Marcus Aurelius said: "Perfection of character is to live each day as if it were your last."
The fear of death holds us back from truly living. Steve Jobs said, "Almost everything... falls away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important." Remembering you are mortal will make you stop wasting time and fully live in the now. Memento Mori.
Thatās it for Day 1 of 100! If you want to see this topic explained in full, join my Stoic school for FREE + no email signup. On my YouTube channel..
My name is William Mulligan and I run the YouTube channel EveryDayStoic. Stoicism for everyday people. I believe is for everyone, not Just a select few. Visit us today TheEveryDayStoicism.com