The final 25 suggestions for an aspiring stoic.
- Grab the smooth handle on things that come into your life. What will you grab… the one that will help you or the one that makes you angry or hurts you.
- Every person is an opportunity for kindness. It can be contagious and carry forward. You don’t know what others are going through.
- Say no, a lot. If it is not essential, saying no will let you work on more things that need a yes.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Ask someone to give you a hand. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable.
- Find the one thing that makes you wiser every day. A story, an insight, a book, a conversation. What gave you value today?
- What’s bad for the hive is bad for the bee. We are all connected to each other. What if everyone did not do their part? Things would fall apart.
- Don’t judge others. Get rid of your flaws first.
- Study the lives of the greats (admirable people)
- Forgive, forgive, forgive. It’s a gift that you give to yourself. Let go.
- Make a little progress every day.
- Journal – spend some time thinking about what you do and want to do. Think about it. Sort of a spiritual windshield wiper. It’s a conversation with yourself.
- Prepare for life’s setbacks. Stuff happens. Try to anticipate. Think unpleasant thoughts sometimes to find out what could blind side you.
- Look for the poetry in ordinary things. A butterfly, a sea horse, snowflakes, freshly mown hay… the mundane can amaze you.
- To do wrong to one is to do wrong to yourself. Getting even doesn’t work. We are all one. All connected. Do the right thing and you can enjoy again it when you are older.
- Always choose “alive time”. Don’t waste time.
- Associate with people that make you better.
- If someone offends you, realize you are complicit in taking offense. PC, wokeism, rudeness and more happens, but we can decide if we are harmed. Choose not to feel harmed.
- Fate does as she pleases. Do not forget this. Act accordingly. What goes up, must come down.
- Possessions are yours only in trust. Things can be lost or stolen or taken away or abandon you. Enjoy them while you can, but you don’t really own them.
- Don’t make your problems worse by bemoaning them. Don’t be a hindrance to yourself. Life is not fair sometimes. Focus on the good and what you can control.
- Accept success without arrogance, handle failure with indifference. None of them change who you are. Be humble when you are on high and be humble when life has humbled you. Don’t identify with success or failure. Focus on who you are.
- Temperance, Wisdom, Justice, Courage these are the four virtues to carry you along.
- The obstacle is the way. Nothing is so bad that you can’t learn, or do, or grow from it.
- Ego is the enemy. Arrogance always makes things worse. You are not above or below others.
- Stillness is the key. Slow down, see things clearly, tune out the crowd. Focus on things without bias.
And one last one to remember. You shouldn’t talk about your philosophy; just live it. “Waste nor more time arguing what a good man should be… BE ONE. (Marcus Aurelius).