writings from the ancient things with a central theme around the importance of self-improvement
Letters from a Stoic is a collection of letters sent by Lucius Annaeus Seneca to his friend Lucilius. By the time the letters were written, Seneca was already a very old man and was sort of transferring his wisdom to the young Lucilius who was on his way to achieving great things in his career in politics. One of the most dominant themes in a lot of these letters is…
Insult stings. It can take in a lot of forms including physical (slapping and punching), verbal (intrusive jokes), and facial expressions (raised eyebrow). Regardless of its form, it disturbs our peace of mind and therefore a hindrance to our happiness. So how do we deal with an insult? In this article, we will explore 3 and if necessary 4 steps approach on how to deal with put-downs from…
Stoicism cannot be mastered overnight. The promise of the good life can only be achieved with the perpetual practice of the principles and techniques of the ancient philosophy. A practicing might ask “How do we know if we have reaped the fruits of Stoicism”. In other words, what are the indicators that we have truly caught the wisdom of the philosophy? There is truth in the saying “you…
The Stoics are widely known for journaling. The Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote his personal reflections regularly to what we would know now as the Meditations. Seneca, a Stoic widely for his letters sent to Lucilius, seemed to do his journaling at night. “When the light has been removed and my wife has fallen silent, aware of this habit that’s now mine, I examine my entire day and go back…
In letters from a stoic 15, Seneca stressed the importance of nourishing the mind over the body. He pointed out several reasons why it must be prioritized over the latter. First, nourishing the mind demands lesser physical energy. Second, it demands lesser time. There are several routine activities involve in to developing the body which consume so much time. Third, wisdom appreciates while strength depreciates. The more we become knowledgeable and…