What can you do with a setback you cannot undo?In this recorded Stoic talk, I explore the difference between enjoying a moment and valuing how you spent it. We look at wanting the life you already have, finding a useful response to adversity, and practising with ordinary frustrat ...Show more
Epictetus’s Two-Word Rule for Difficult Days
“Bear and forbear.” Two words are easy enough to remember. Using them when a conversation becomes uncomfortable, or your phone offers an escape from work, is harder.In this episode I look at where the saying comes from, what Aulus Gellius actually reports about Epictetus, and why ...Show more
The thought you can't put down
An anxious thought keeps coming back. It sounds reasonable every time, and thinking harder hasn't helped.I work through the Triple Column Technique with one everyday worry: asking a question in a meeting. The practice comes from David Burns's Feeling Good. I've adapted the middle ...Show more
Stoic Sleep Affirmations: Enough For Tonight
The day is finished, but you may still be going over it. This quiet bedtime practice begins with settling into the bed, then offers short Stoic reflections on having enough and allowing yourself to rest. You do not need to repeat the lines or remember them. Let them pass, with lo ...Show more