Stoic Meditations

Latest Episodes:

294. Three simple steps to live a good life Feb 04, 2019

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Seneca reminds us that the tools for becoming a better person are simple and inexpensive. In this episode we discuss the three basic tools of the Stoic practitioner.

293. Why we need to focus on our own improvement Feb 01, 2019

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A quote from Marcus Aurelius sounds a lot like what Ayn Rand would say. But it couldn't be further from it.

292. Fortuna is your sparring partner Jan 31, 2019

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Seneca reminds us that it may be just as difficult to deal with good fortune as with the bad variety. Regardless, everything life throws at us is an opportunity to exercise our virtue.

291. Practical exercises in self-deprivation Jan 30, 2019

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Seneca says that doing without things for a while renews our appreciation for them. In this episode we examine five exercises in mild self-deprivation guaranteed to reset your hedonic treadmill.

290. Are you sick? You can be brave about it Jan 29, 2019

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Seneca reminds us that courage is not just for the battlefield, but for the everyday difficulties of life, like being sick.

289. Pay attention to the good parts of your life Jan 28, 2019

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A contemporary theory of consciousness, proposed by philosopher Jesse Prinz, recalls Seneca's treatment of the emotions, and teaches us how to avert painful thoughts by focusing on the good things that happen to us.

288. Your "happiness" is up to you, really Jan 25, 2019

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Epictetus reminds us that the only things that are truly good or bad for us are our judgments, which are under our control. It follows that "happiness," in the sense of a life worth living, is also under our control.

287. What's a good reason to endure hardship? Jan 24, 2019

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Seneca reminds us that athletes willingly subject themselves to harsh regimes in order to succeed. But when it comes to becoming a better person most of us think it's just too difficult.

286. Turn regrets into learning opportunities Jan 23, 2019

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Seneca reminds us that to indulge in regret is irrational, as the past is outside of our control. That doesn't mean we can't learn from it, though.

285. Everything depends on opinion Jan 22, 2019

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Seneca tells us that our happiness, or lack thereof, is a matter of our own opinion. No, he's not making a relativist or post-modernist argument on the nature of knowledge.

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