You Have a Beautiful Mind
You have a beautiful mind. I’m not talking about how intelligent or clever you are. I’m talking about a gift you were born with that’s worth more than all the money in the world. Read More >>
The 8 Most Surprising Life Lessons From Stoic Philosophy
Stoicism isn’t just some dusty old philosophy — it’s also a practical toolkit for navigating modern life. When I was introduced to it years ago, I was amazed to discover that the lessons of the ancient Stoics were both simple and profound. Read More >>
Your Life is Written in Sand. Find Solace in the Waves
Don’t lament the loss of your name; instead, celebrate the perpetuity of the waves and the mountains and the valleys and the oceans. Be grateful that our glorious world, so perfectly suited for human flourishing, will be seen and heard and felt by countless others in the future. Read More >>
The Art of Not Hating People: 6 Stoic Techniques to See the Best in Everyone
My biggest personal flaw has always been cynicism, which is one of the most nefarious attitudes a person can have. Read More >>
Natural Born Stoics: Why Some People Have Built-In Stoicism
When I was a twenty-something, I asked my grandfather if he’d been scared while going through months of radiation treatment for prostate cancer. Read More >>
Three Ways to Find Purpose: What’s the Meaning of Your Life?
“What is the meaning of life?” There are few questions that are more human . . . and few that are more arrogant to ask. Read More >>
Stoicism: the Perfect Philosophy for an Age of Artificial Intelligence?
The world isn’t ready for what’s coming . . . but it will come nonetheless. Read More >>
The Dangers of Nostalgia: Why It’s Unhealthy to Dwell on Happy Memories
The important part first: happy memories are good things to have. Read More >>
The Soundtrack of Your Life: A Stoic Perspective
Saying that someone looks at things “through rose-colored glasses” usually implies that they’re naive about the world. But the concept that we can choose to view external circumstances through different “lenses” or “frames” is one of the most profound ideas that the human mind ever devised. Read More >>
Stoicism for Children: How to Teach Kids to be Stoic
Our daughter Stella turned 5 today. When her mom asked her what she wants to be when she grows up, she said “kind.” Read More >>
You’ll Be Strong, Because It’s Your Job
There are people who need you. When they’re frightened, they need to know that you’re calm. Read More >>
You’re the Only Audience You Need
You’ve decided to train your mind in the philosopher’s gym, and you should be proud of any progress you’ve made. Read More >>
Everything is Destined to Change & Perish
Think about it: what are the modern conveniences we surround ourselves with, when stripped down to their elements? Read More >>
You Are the Observer: a Stoic Mindset
Every day, remind yourself: you’re the observer. Read More >>
The Twin Perils of Hope & Fear
If there’s such a thing as “advanced Stoicism,” then this concept belongs in that category. Read More >>
No One Does Wrong Willingly
Socrates famously said “no one does wrong willingly,” and he believed that we always choose what we think is best for us, based on our knowledge and experiences. Read More >>
What Stoicism Teaches About Grief
Losing someone we love is among life’s most painful experiences, but grief isn’t something we should try to suppress or ignore. Read More >>
They Can’t Force You to Have an Opinion
It isn’t easy to stay neutral in a world that seems to constantly demand your opinion on everything. Read More >>
The Philosopher and the Puking Sheep
When you first discover philosophy, it’s tough to resist the urge to tell everyone about what you’re learning. Read More >>
Stoicism and the Cup of Epictetus
There are things in your life that you love, or that help you, or that you enjoy having around — and that’s okay. Just be sure to remind yourself of what they really are. Read More >>
Focus on the Rowing, Not on What Lies Beneath the Waves
Pursuing knowledge is like navigating an ocean: we should learn how to traverse the water’s surface, but diving too deep beneath the waves will only bend us away from living. Read More >>
Everyone Does Their Best With the Abilities They Were Given
It’s an insidious little sentence that your ego whispers to you during stressful situations. Read More >>
The Stoic Mindset of Dogs: Stoicism & Man’s Best Friend
Some philosophers have said that dogs embody the teachings of Stoicism better than any other animal. Read More >>
In Life’s Great Play, Every Role is Vital
In order for the world to exist as it does, all human beings — even those you don’t like — need to be exactly who they are, playing the specific roles they’re playing on the stage of life.
The teachings of Socrates were so influential that he’s often referred to as the father of all philosophy. He died before Stoicism was codified as a school of thought, but many of his views on the nature of happiness were echoed by Stoic philosophers hundreds of years later. Read More >> Traveling can be wonderful, especially when it exposes us to the beauty and history of places we’ve never visited before. But don’t let the allure of “over there” blind you to the beauty that exists right here. Read More >>Stoicism and the Definition of Happiness
You Need a Change of Mind, Not a Change of View: Stoicism & Travel