Stoic Coffee Break
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"Act on your principles, not your moods." A weekly meditation on how Stoic principles can help you be a better human.
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369 Episodes
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How do you get back up when too many things in life hit you all at once? How do you get your momentum back when it feels like every step is like wading through molasses? Today I want to talk about how Stoicism and friendship can find your balance and get moving again when life knocks you off your feet. When you have been compelled by circumstances to be disturbed in a manner, quickly return to yourself and do not continue out of tune longer than the compulsion lasts. — Marcus Aurelius, Medit...
How do you make a decision when all the choices in front of you feel like bad ones? Today I want talk about how Stoicism can help us take action when faced with impossible choices. “What should we have ready at hand in a situation like this? The knowledge of what is mine and what is not mine, what I can and cannot do.” — Epictetus, Discourses I, 1.21 Send a text Want to be a more effective leader? Let's talk! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic...
Is Stoicism all about being strong and serious? Is it too pessimistic and always looking for where things can go wrong, where the next challenge or struggle is? Today I want to talk about the softer side of Stoicism, and how many of the tools the Stoics teach us can actually lead us to joy. “To live happily is an inward power of the soul.” — Marcus Aurelius Send a text Want to be a more effective leader? Let's talk! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https:...
Why does virtue matter in leadership? What happens to a community, a city, a country when there is lack of virtue in leadership? In this episode we’re going to discuss power, leadership, and why virtue matters. "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." — Abraham Lincoln Send a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch episodes on YouTube! Find me on linkedIn, instagram, or thr...
Why is it important to resist and stand up against injustice? What happens when we don’t stand up to injustice? Today we'll explore why virtue is necessary, what the Stoics taught about resistance, and how to actually practice moral courage in your daily life. "The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane." —Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 6.6 Send a text Want to be a more effective leader? Let's talk! My book Stoicis...
1Are you living the life you want? Are you waiting for something to happen to push you into becoming the hero of your own story? In this episode I want to talk about why we fear stepping into greatness, and how you can be your own hero. “Every difficulty in life presents us with an opportunity to turn inward and to invoke our own submerged inner resources. The trials we endure can and should introduce us to our strengths...Dig deeply. You possess strengths you might not realize you have. Find ...
Do you approach a problem from only one perspective? Are there ways that you could expand your understanding and incorporate different perspectives? Today I want to talk about the power of multi-perspective thinking and how it can help you dig deeper into challenges in your life. “Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” —Marcus Aurelius Send a text Want to be a more effective leader? Let's talk! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order...
Can you stay calm in the storm? Or do you let your emotions cloud your judgment, leading to poor decisions? Today I want to talk about the Stoic concept of ataraxia and how it can help you be more mentally tough. “Don't hope that events will turn out the way you want, welcome events in whichever way they happen: this is the path to peace.” — Epictetus, Enchiridion 8 Send a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch episodes on YouTube! F...
At the end of the year is always a good time to step back and think about the year to come. Maybe you have some goals that you want to accomplish. Maybe get in better shape and eat better or pick up a new skill. But have you thought about what kind of attributes you want in the next year? In this episode I give you some words of advice of how to approach the new year. “Things do not touch the soul, for they are external and remain immovable; so our perturbations come only from our inner opini...
What do you believe about yourself? Do you have beliefs that keep from stepping into your true self? Today I want to talk about self-beliefs and how the ideas that we hold about ourselves might just be your biggest obstacle to becoming who you want to be. "When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be." — Lao Tzu Send a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch episodes on YouTube! Find me on linkedIn, instagram, or threads. Tha...
Love is the greatest thing in the world. We're all trying to build relationships that enrich our lives. But can Stoicism help us love better? Today I want to talk about how Stoicism can help you be a more loving person. "Accept the things to which fate binds you, and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so with all your heart." —Marcus Aurelius Send a text Want to be a more effective leader? Let's talk! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at htt...
What do you invest your attention in? Are you investing in things that enrich your life or keep you distracted? Today I want to talk about the importance of attention and what it’s costing you. “You live as if you were destined to live forever, no thought of your frailty ever enters your head, of how much time has already gone by you take no heed. You squander time as if you drew from a full and abundant supply, though all the while that day which you bestow on some person or thing is perhaps...
In this week's episode I answer questions from my listeners. I give my thoughts on practicing temperance in everyday life, practicing self-forgiveness, and how to deal with the chaos in the world. As always, please feel free to let me know of questions or topics you'd like me to answer in future episodes. Send a text Want to be a more effective leader? Let's talk! My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here! Find out more at https://stoic.coffee Watch episodes on YouTube! Find me on link...
Anger is a powerful force in the world, but the effects of anger often cause greater harm than the cause of it. Many see anger as a necessary emotion for human survival, but the Stoics warned us against anger, calling it a "temporary madness". In my personal life, anger has been a recurring theme since childhood. I've worked hard to overcome the trauma from childhood, as well as my own anger, having been caught up in that temporary madness more times than I'd like to admit. But is anger...
What do you value in this life? Maybe your home? Your job? Your family? But do you value yourself? Today I want to talk about the importance of self-value and how Stoicism can help you find the treasure within. "Do not degrade your own soul; it will soon be out of your power to bring it to honor. The life of each of us is but a moment, and this one is almost finished, and yet you do not respect yourself." — Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 3.6 Send a text Want to be a more effective leader? Let's...
Have you ever wondered about how your emotional well being is connected to your body? In this week's episode, I interview therapist and host of the Stuck Not Broken podcast, Justin Senseri about polyvagal theory and how it inter-relates to Stoicism. Justin Sunseri is a therapist and coach who thinks the world needs a new understanding of mental health - one that's simplified, easily accessible for anyone, and doesn't rely on abstract psychobabble or woo-woo. You can check out Justin's p...
What does it mean to be a man? How do our perceptions and ideas about masculinity hinder men from living full and happy lives? Today we’re going to dive into how Stoicism can help us develop a more healthy definition of masculinity. "We teach boys that being vulnerable is being weak. And then we wonder why men die of loneliness surrounded by people." —Terry Real Feeling Wheel - This is a great interactive app! Send a text Want to be a more effective leader? Let's talk! My book Stoicism 1...
This week's episode is an interview with Dr. Scott Waltman PsyD. Dr. Scott Waltman, PsyD, ABPP, is a clinician, international trainer, and practice-based researcher. His interests include evidence-based psychotherapy practice, training, and implementation in systems that provide care to underserved populations. He is president-elect of both the Academy of Cognitive & Behavioral Therapies and the International Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapies. He is board certified in Be...
The Stoics talk a lot about virtue as the sole good. Now what do they mean by virtue and why did they think that it was so important? In this week's episode, I'm reading another chapter from my book, Stoicism 101. “Of things some are good, some are bad, and others are indifferent. The good then are the virtues and the things which partake of the virtues: the bad are the vices, and the things which partake of them; and the indifferent are the things which lie between the virtues and the vice...
Do you have good habits? Do you have some you’d rather get rid of? What if I told you that by developing one key skill, you’ll be able to adopt better habits and let go of unhelpful ones? In this weeks episode we’re going to talk about the one “meta-habit” you need to develop in order to make real changes in your life. The Meta-Habit: The One Skill For Building Better Habits "I will form good habits and become their slave." —Og Mandino Send a text My book Stoicism 101 is available! Order here...
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began touching on an area I really need to develop - the need to be right!
Great episodes, straight to the point. Thanks for these!