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1-Page Summary of The Daily Stoic
Overview
Sometimes life can be difficult and one may not know how to motivate oneself. It’s hard to tell if you are having a positive impact on those around you. If only there was some sort of wisdom or guidance that could provide answers! The Greeks had schools of philosophy, and many philosophies tie themselves in knots considering pointless questions, such as “How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?” or Plutarch’s infamous question about which came first: the chicken or the egg?
However, Stoicism is a different sort of philosophy. It was founded in Athens around 300 BCE and dealt with the struggles of everyday life. What we know about it comes from three great minds: Marcus Aurelius, Seneca the Younger and Epictetus. These intellectuals were versed in Greek theories on Stoicism and wrote meditative essays, personal letters and handbooks on Stoicism that are still available today.
The authors are going to lead us on a journey through ancient texts in order to learn about Stoicism. They’re also going to answer the question of how one should live, which has been asked for thousands of years. We’ll see how this philosophy can be applied by looking at examples from famous people who lived as Stoics, and we’ll watch videos that explain these points more thoroughly.
Big Idea #1: Stoics cultivate awareness of both themselves and others.
We often think of philosophy as a theoretical subject, or the lifestyle choice of bearded old men who live in caves. However, Stoicism is different – it’s practical and real-world. If you’re going to be a Stoic, you need to be aware of yourself and others at all times. The first step in being a Stoic is clear thinking, which means examining your own beliefs about the world around you. The great teacher Epictetus stated that we become philosophers when we begin questioning our assumptions and preconceived notions about life; by this process, he says we can attune ourselves to analyzing our own minds.
Learning is a challenging process, because it requires people to acknowledge their mistakes and flaws. Some people are too proud or self-delusional to change their ways, so they don’t learn anything new. Therefore, honesty and the ability to recognize one’s own weaknesses are important qualities for learning.
The downside is that you’ll have to confront your weaknesses and be honest with yourself. You might feel like you’re not as good as you thought, but it’s just as bad to oversell yourself. Remember those times when you’ve risen to the occasion in the past, and try to apply what worked then.
Aside from self-reflection, it’s also important to be aware of those around you. If you choose people who push you to be better, then you will improve yourself. On the other hand, if they try to bring you down and make your life worse than before, then that would happen as well.
Seneca, a Roman playwright and philosopher who was older than Epictetus, said that we should each keep someone in mind whom we respect. Their presence will guide better judgments and actions.
In the eighteenth century, Adam Smith had a similar opinion. He called it the indifferent spectator and said that just thinking about someone watching you will help with your behavior.
The author’s main point is that if we get to know ourselves better, we can see our own actions more clearly.
Big Idea #2: Stoics manage their attention spans by seeking clarity in their thoughts.
Modern life is overwhelming. There are too many messages, and we’re all overworked. Politics is a roller coaster that makes us feel like everything’s out of control. It’s no wonder so many people get distracted by the constant chaos in their lives.
