Your Stoicism

08/24/2022

“It is not that we have so little time, but that we lose so much. The life we receive is not short, but we make it so; we are not ill, provided but use what we have wastefully.”
Seneca

Memento Mori. Remember, you will die. Time is the only finite resource in the world. No matter what you do, how much money you have, you cannot buy more time. Time makes all men equal. Use the time you have to the fullest. Do not waste it, you only have so much.
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08/23/2022

“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will.”
Epictetus

This idea is one of the cores of stoicism. Do not worry about that which you cannot control. It will give you peace. We spend so much time worrying about what other people think, committing so much emotional capital to that which we cannot control, by the time it comes to something we CAN control, we're spent. It would be so much more beneficial to have the emotional capital for things we can actually influence.
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08/19/2022

“First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.”
Epictetus

I enjoy when life gives me two quotes, from different perspectives about the same subject. Epictetus is saying the same this as Marus Aurelius. Set goals. Once you set a goal, determine what the steps are to accomplish that goal, and execute.

08/17/2022

“Happiness and freedom begin with a clear understanding of one principle: Some things are within our control, and some things are not.” ~ (Epictetus).

Control what you can, don't worry about what you can't. These are the core principles of freedom and happiness. The less we have to worry about, the better.

08/15/2022

08/12/2022

"Do not explain your philosophy. Embody it."
Epictetus

One of the first things I was taught in film school was "Show don't tell". This is just as applicable to life as it is to film, if not more so. There is also the old adage "Actions speak louder than words"; this is an old adage for a reason. People lie. . .people lie a lot, but their actions tell you who they are. Pay attention long enough, and a person will tell you exactly who they are and what they believe, even if they do not verbalize it. Be the kind of person who embodies their beliefs, and everyone will know it.
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08/10/2022

"We cannot choose our external circumstances, but we can always choose how we respond to them."
Epictetus

Life isn't fair. I know it, you know it. It's how we handle the circumstances we are presented with that define who we are. Do you see life as attacking you? Like everything is out to get you? Then more than likely, you're going to be pretty miserable, and pretty miserable to be around. Luckily, you have the ability to control how you handle all these circumstances. That's not to say you can't be hurt, or feel bad, that's not what I'm saying. I'm simply saying, if you see every circumstance, positive or negative, as an opportunity to grow, learn and improve, I believe you will have a much more positive and enjoyable life.
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08/09/2022

"The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts"
Marcus Aurelius

Thoughts become words. Words become actions. Actions become habits. Habits become traits. We should not underestimate how much our thoughts impact our lives. If we struggle with self doubt, self depreciation (I definitely struggle with this), it will have a dramatic impact on how we view the world

If, however, we're able to get control of our thoughts. Our self-talk, it will also dramatically change our outlook. These last few quotes have played into each other. The less we try and control that which we cannot, the less negative our thoughts will become. The more we focus on what we CAN control, the more optimistic we will become.

Where do you find yourself struggling with your thoughts?

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08/08/2022

"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity"
Seneca

How often do we sabotage ourselves? I know for me it happens pretty often. Personally, I suffer from a bit of analysis paralysis, I tend to overthink things to the point of not being able to make a decision. That being said, I'm actively working on it. Part of that effort is actively working to improve myself. I've been working on retooling my day job skillset in order to transition into a job that will allow me more flexibility and allow me to spend more time with family and friends.

This quote from Seneca strikes me as an imperative to grow. We should take advantage of every opportunity to set ourselves up for success. To the uninformed, hard work looks a lot like luck. This is also how we "make our own luck".

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