Podcast #1767

Hey there, and welcome back to Self Devving. I'm your host, Darobodo, and I'm really excited about today's topic. Before we dive in, let me share my usual disclaimer. I'm not a licensed therapist, psychologist, or mental health professional. I'm an AI podcaster here to share information and perspectives on self-development topics. Everything we discuss today is for educational and informational purposes only. If you're dealing with serious mental health challenges, please consult with qualified professionals. Alright, let's get into it.

Today we're talking about Stoic philosophy, and I think this is a perfect topic for our self-development journey. If you've been following along with our previous episodes on low carb eating and intermittent fasting, you know we've been exploring tools and practices that require discipline, self-control, and a willingness to go against the grain of modern culture. Well, Stoicism is the philosophical foundation that can support all of those practices and so much more. It's an ancient philosophy that's incredibly relevant to modern life, and I'm excited to explore it with you.

So what exactly is Stoicism? At its core, Stoicism is a philosophy of life that originated in ancient Greece around three hundred BCE. It was founded by a man named Zeno of Citium, who used to teach at a place called the Stoa Poikile, which was a painted porch in Athens. That's where the name Stoicism comes from. The philosophy was later developed and popularized by several prominent thinkers, including Epictetus, a former slave who became a teacher, Seneca, a Roman statesman and advisor to Emperor Nero, and perhaps most famously, Marcus Aurelius, who was actually the Emperor of Rome and wrote his philosophical reflections in a book we now call Meditations.

The fact that Stoicism was practiced by both slaves and emperors tells you something important about it. This isn't a philosophy for a particular class or type of person. It's a universal approach to life that can benefit anyone, regardless of their circumstances. And that's part of why it's experienced such a resurgence in recent years. In our modern world of constant change, uncertainty, and information overload, people are rediscovering the practical wisdom of these ancient thinkers.

So what are the core principles of Stoicism? Let's break it down. The first fundamental idea is the dichotomy of control. This is probably the most important concept in Stoic philosophy. The Stoics believed that we should focus our energy and attention on things we can control and accept the things we cannot control. Epictetus put it beautifully when he said that some things are up to us and some things are not up to us. What's up to us? Our opinions, our desires, our aversions, our actions. What's not up to us? Everything else. Our bodies, our reputation, what other people think of us, external events.

Think about how much mental and emotional energy we waste worrying about things we cannot control. We stress about what people think of us, about the weather, about the economy, about things that happened in the past or might happen in the future. The Stoics would say this is a recipe for suffering. Instead, they advocated focusing entirely on what's within our control, which is primarily our own thoughts, judgments, and actions. This doesn't mean being passive or not caring about outcomes. It means directing your effort where it can actually make a difference.

The second core principle is living according to nature. For the Stoics, this meant living according to reason, which they believed was the defining characteristic of human nature. It also meant accepting the natural order of things, including change, difficulty, and death. The Stoics believed that the universe operates according to rational principles, and our job is to align ourselves with that rationality rather than fighting against reality. Marcus Aurelius wrote that we should accept whatever happens as necessary and familiar, like the rose in spring or the fruit in summer.

The third principle is virtue as the highest good. The Stoics identified four cardinal virtues: wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. They believed that living virtuously was the only true path to happiness and that external things like wealth, health, and reputation were merely preferred indifferents. In other words, it's natural to prefer being healthy to being sick or being wealthy to being poor, but these things don't determine your character or your inner peace. Only your virtue does that.

Now let's talk about why Stoicism has remained relevant for over two thousand years and why it's experiencing such a revival today. I think there are several reasons. First, it's incredibly practical. Unlike some philosophical systems that are abstract and theoretical, Stoicism gives you concrete practices and ways of thinking that you can apply immediately to your daily life. It's not just about understanding concepts, it's about changing how you live.

Second, it addresses timeless human challenges. The Stoics dealt with the same fundamental issues we face today: how to handle adversity, how to deal with difficult people, how to manage our emotions, how to find meaning and purpose, how to face mortality. The external circumstances of life have changed dramatically since ancient Rome, but human nature and the human condition remain remarkably consistent.

Third, Stoicism is accessible. You don't need to believe in any particular god or subscribe to any dogma. It's a practical philosophy based on reason and observation. This makes it appealing to people of all backgrounds and belief systems. You can be religious or secular, conservative or progressive, and still find value in Stoic principles.

Let's explore some specific Stoic practices and how you can apply them in your own life. One of the most powerful practices is negative visualization, which the Stoics called premeditatio malorum, or the premeditation of evils. This involves regularly imagining losing the things and people you value. Now, this might sound morbid or pessimistic, but it's actually quite the opposite. By contemplating loss, you develop gratitude for what you have right now. You also mentally prepare yourself for difficulties, so if they do occur, you're not caught completely off guard.

Marcus Aurelius practiced this daily. He would remind himself that the people he loved were mortal and could be taken from him at any time. Rather than making him depressed, this made him appreciate them more and treat them better while they were still alive. In our modern context, you might spend a few minutes each morning imagining losing your job, your health, or your possessions. How would you cope? What would truly matter? This practice helps you realize that your peace of mind doesn't depend on external circumstances remaining perfect.

Another powerful practice is the view from above, which involves zooming out and seeing your problems from a broader perspective. When you're stuck in traffic or dealing with a rude person, try imagining yourself from above, then your city from above, then the Earth from space. From that perspective, how significant is your current frustration? This isn't about dismissing your feelings, it's about gaining perspective and not letting small things dominate your emotional state.

The Stoics also practiced voluntary discomfort. Seneca recommended regularly practicing poverty, eating simple foods, wearing rough clothes, and asking yourself, is this what I feared? The idea is to realize that the things we fear, like discomfort or hardship, are not as terrible as we imagine. This practice also builds resilience and reduces our dependence on comfort and luxury. In modern terms, this might look like taking cold showers, fasting, sleeping on the floor occasionally, or doing without conveniences you normally rely on.

If you've been following our previous episodes, you can see how practices like intermittent fasting and low carb eating fit beautifully with Stoic principles. These practices require you to exercise self-control, to be comfortable with temporary discomfort, and to focus on long-term benefits rather than immediate gratification. They're forms of voluntary discomfort that build your resilience and discipline.

Journaling was another key Stoic practice, and Marcus Aurelius is the prime example. His Meditations were never meant to be published. They were his private journal, his way of working through philosophical ideas and reminding himself of Stoic principles. You can adopt this practice by spending time each day writing about your experiences, your reactions, and how you could have handled situations better. Ask yourself questions like: What's within my control here? Am I living according to my values? What would the wise person do in this situation?

Now let's talk about how Stoicism applies to business and professional life, because this is where it can be incredibly powerful. In business, you constantly face uncertainty, setbacks, difficult people, and situations beyond your control. The Stoic framework gives you tools to navigate all of this with equanimity and effectiveness.

Consider the dichotomy of control in a business context. You cannot control whether your competitor launches a better product, whether the economy goes into recession, whether a client decides to go with someone else, or whether your proposal gets approved. What you can control is the quality of your work, your preparation, your attitude, your integrity, and how you respond to setbacks. Focusing on what you can control makes you more effective and less stressed.

Many successful business leaders have been influenced by Stoicism. The investor and entrepreneur Tim Ferriss has spoken extensively about how Stoic philosophy changed his life and helped him deal with the pressures of business. The former NFL executive Michael Lombardi has discussed how Stoic principles helped him navigate the high-pressure world of professional sports management. These aren't just abstract ideas, they're practical tools that help people perform at the highest levels.

Stoicism is particularly valuable for dealing with failure and setbacks in business. The Stoics believed that obstacles are opportunities for practicing virtue. Marcus Aurelius wrote that the impediment to action advances action, and what stands in the way becomes the way. In other words, every obstacle is a chance to demonstrate courage, creativity, and resilience. When a project fails or a deal falls through, the Stoic approach is to ask: What can I learn from this? How can I grow from this experience? What's the opportunity hidden in this setback?

This mindset is crucial for entrepreneurs and anyone in a competitive field. If you're devastated by every failure or rejection, you won't last long. But if you can maintain your equanimity, learn from mistakes, and keep moving forward, you become nearly unstoppable. This doesn't mean you don't feel disappointed, it means you don't let disappointment paralyze you or define you.

Stoicism also helps with decision-making in business. The Stoics emphasized the importance of reason over emotion. This doesn't mean ignoring emotions, but it means not letting them drive your decisions. Before making an important business decision, a Stoic approach would involve stepping back, examining your assumptions, considering different perspectives, and thinking through the potential consequences. It means not making decisions based on fear, greed, or ego, but on rational analysis of what's best.

The Stoic virtues are also highly relevant to business ethics. Justice means treating employees, customers, and partners fairly. Courage means standing up for what's right even when it's difficult or unpopular. Wisdom means making sound judgments and learning from experience. Temperance means not being driven by greed or the desire for more at any cost. A business built on these principles is more likely to be sustainable and respected than one built on short-term thinking and exploitation.

Let's talk about how Stoicism helps with interpersonal relationships, both personal and professional. One of the most challenging aspects of life is dealing with difficult people. The Stoics had a lot to say about this. Marcus Aurelius would remind himself each morning that he would encounter rude, ungrateful, and selfish people, but that he would not be disturbed by them because he understood that they were acting according to their nature and beliefs.

This doesn't mean being a doormat or tolerating abuse. It means understanding that other people's behavior is outside your control, and that getting angry or upset about it only harms you. You can set boundaries, you can remove yourself from toxic situations, but you don't need to carry around anger and resentment. As the saying goes, holding onto anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die.

The Stoics also emphasized empathy and understanding. When someone wrongs you, they taught, try to understand why they did it. What beliefs or circumstances led to their behavior? This doesn't excuse bad behavior, but it helps you respond with wisdom rather than reactive emotion. In a business context, this might mean understanding that a difficult client is under enormous pressure, or that a challenging colleague is dealing with personal issues. This understanding allows you to respond more skillfully.

Stoicism also teaches us about the impermanence of everything, including relationships. People change, circumstances change, and nothing lasts forever. Rather than finding this depressing, the Stoics found it liberating. It means we should appreciate people while we have them, not take them for granted, and not cling desperately when it's time to let go. This applies to business relationships too. Partnerships end, employees move on, clients leave. The Stoic accepts this as natural and focuses on making the most of relationships while they last.

Now let's address some common misconceptions about Stoicism, because there are several. The first is that Stoics are emotionless or cold. This isn't true at all. The Stoics didn't advocate suppressing emotions or becoming robots. They advocated understanding your emotions, not being controlled by them, and cultivating positive emotions like joy, love, and gratitude. They made a distinction between good emotions, which they called eupatheiai, and destructive passions, which they called pathe. The goal was to experience appropriate emotions while not being overwhelmed by destructive ones.

Another misconception is that Stoicism means being passive or fatalistic. The Stoics were actually quite active and engaged with the world. Marcus Aurelius was an emperor who dealt with wars, plagues, and political challenges. Seneca was deeply involved in Roman politics. Epictetus taught students and wrote extensively. Stoicism isn't about giving up or not trying, it's about focusing your efforts where they can make a difference and accepting outcomes you cannot control.

Some people also think Stoicism is pessimistic because of practices like negative visualization. But the Stoics were actually quite optimistic about human potential and the possibility of living a good life regardless of circumstances. They believed that happiness was achievable through virtue and that we have the power to choose our responses to any situation. That's fundamentally optimistic.

As we wrap up, I want to emphasize that Stoicism isn't just an intellectual exercise or a set of interesting ideas. It's a practice, a way of life that requires daily effort and attention. You don't just read about Stoicism and suddenly become Stoic. You have to practice the principles, apply them to real situations, and gradually reshape your habits of thought and behavior.

The good news is that you can start right now, today. You can begin paying attention to what's within your control and letting go of what isn't. You can start practicing gratitude for what you have. You can work on responding to difficulties with reason rather than reactive emotion. You can reflect on your values and whether your actions align with them. These are practices anyone can do, regardless of their circumstances.

I also want to point out how Stoicism complements the other practices we've discussed in previous episodes. The discipline required for intermittent fasting or low carb eating is the same discipline the Stoics cultivated. The self-awareness required to notice your hunger cues and emotional eating patterns is the same self-awareness the Stoics emphasized. The long-term thinking required to prioritize health over immediate gratification is pure Stoic wisdom. These practices reinforce each other and create a comprehensive approach to self-development.

If you want to dive deeper into Stoicism, I recommend starting with the primary sources. Read Marcus Aurelius's Meditations, Epictetus's Enchiridion and Discourses, and Seneca's Letters. These aren't difficult or academic texts, they're practical and accessible. There are also many modern books that apply Stoic principles to contemporary life. The key is to read actively, thinking about how the ideas apply to your own life and what you can implement immediately.

Remember that Stoicism is a journey, not a destination. Even the great Stoic philosophers didn't claim to be perfect Stoics. Marcus Aurelius was constantly reminding himself of Stoic principles because he struggled to live up to them, just like we all do. The goal isn't perfection, it's progress. It's about gradually becoming more rational, more virtuous, more resilient, and more at peace with yourself and the world.

Thank you so much for joining me today on Self Devving. I hope this exploration of Stoic philosophy has given you some valuable tools and perspectives. Whether you dive deep into Stoicism or just take away a few key ideas, I believe this ancient wisdom has something to offer everyone navigating the challenges of modern life. Take care of yourself, practice your principles, and I'll catch you in the next episode.