There is nothing more bent on its own strength without reason, nothing more arrogant, nothing more insane than anger.
Practice avoiding anger by examining how others wield it and make a note to stay off that path.
We do not have to hold an opinion on everything, Especially when doing so we know will lead only to aggravation.
When you find yourself acting out in anger, grief or pain, with yelling or complaining, ask yourself: “Is this really helping my situation?”
The answer should be obvious.
The things we fear and dread often become our downfall. Do not let this happen. Look at fear and dread with clear eyes.
Do not seek strife. Do not be afraid of being still. Out of stillness can come tremendous perspective.
Is your day amazing or awful — never in between? If so, your life is out of control. If you feel like you are in a constant state of disorder, it’s time to check yourself. The answer is to remind yourself that all things should be filtered through the lens of justice, reason, and philosophy. This is the true beauty of philosophy, it can help every day in every way.
When you are being challenged, choose not to be provoked or react. Keep your cool. The Stoics described this as our reasoned choice. It is how we stay calm and in control.
The answer is they want something outside of themselves. Do not sacrifice peace of mind for things you do not control. No good can come and you can in fact inflict harm on yourself — in time that can even lead to harming your health.
Friendships of utility are acquaintances, for example, friends at work. These tend to be people you do not hang out with on the weekend. Of course there are friendships of pleasure. These are friends you choose to spend time with and whom you find fun and entertaining. The deepest friendships are virtuous. These are the people that matter to you and you to them. Our life to be complete needs all three types of friendships.
Becoming angry takes you off your game. Anger is a mistake. It is weakness. Beware this can be a trap that someone lays for you — like a lob or a bad line call in Pickleball…
Proper use of philosophy requires medicinal application. Stoicism is medicine for the soul (as are other schools of philosophy). Apply it carefully and only in the cure of specific problems. It gives us what we need to manage our days thoughtfully and with tranquility. Use Stoicism to bring us back to clarity when our lives get too busy or out of control.
You don’t have to know everything and never pretend to know something you actually know nothing about. Be humble about your knowledge. Furthermore, shun those who have an answer for everything and insist they know better than anyone else.
Don’t overthink things. Keep it simple. Try to focus on just what is in front of you. Master your craft and resist the temptation to take on other people’s responsibility — or interfere in their pursuit of it.
Use wise people to serve as role models.
Study diligently but remember to put what you learn into action, for words alone are not enough to support you when faced with trials.
Seneca is talking about discipline and equilibrium. Nurture these qualities and your trials will not be a burden to you.
Think of all the things you can be grateful for, big and small. Start every day with gratitude.
The goal in life is not to be remembered by others. The goal in life is to perform works that will be remembered. Works that have a lasting impact on the lives of others — even if the “others” are only yourself.
Marcus Aurelius was not a well man. He was plagued by health issues his entire life. He had reasons up, but he never did. he never surrendered his soul.
There is another type of surrender. The man who, with sound body, surrenders his soul for greed or power and continues to live on. That is a disgrace. This is especially true of people in leadership for their influence extends well beyond the harm they are doing to their own soul. They can harm the bodies, minds, and souls of everyone around them.
A life well spent is a life long enough. There are a few ultra-rich people today that are giving vast sums of money for research into finding a “cure for death.” if you are the religious sort, eternal life is blasphemy. Even if you are not religious, it is sheer nonsense. Live every day a life worth living and be satisfied. Give of yourself to your fellow humans. If you are fortunate enough to be wealthy, give away that wealth to help humanity. Remember the words of Elilis Tinsley: “I never saw a bank truck at a funeral parade.”
Do not abuse or over work our body. Exhaustion will result. That will affect all facets of your life. So too does overworking your mind. That will also have a negative effect on all that you do. The best answer is to avoid both of these mistakes by resting periodically, both the body and the mind. The body requires sleep. The mind requires periods of peace.
As rewarding and enjoyable as pleasures may be, one should put them in their rightful place; That is, they should not be allowed to become distractions that pull you away from what is the work you should be doing — developing yourself.
If your fear of death is that you will miss television, social media, foot, recreation and other pleasures, then you haven’t grasped the meaning of life.
Some might say this is a bold thought. Don’t hold it against me, just consider it…
Don’t meet your end saying I did not have enough time. Meet your end and be able to say you made the most of the hours you were given.