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Epictetus part 38: Watch your mind
Stoicism is a way of life that stresses the importance of clearheadedness and mental vigilance. We should always be aware of what we are doing, why we are doing it, and what consequences it may have. This is also what Epictetus points out in the thirty-eight chapter of the Enchiridion.
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Voluntary Discomfort
How enduring hardship makes you strongerVoluntary discomfort means: putting ourselves in situations that we don’t particularly like, in order to grow beyond them. In this article, let’s take a look at what the practice of voluntary discomfort entails.
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Epictetus part 37: Choosing the right role
Don’t bite off more than you can chew: that is basically the message that Epictetus is conveying in the thirty-seventh chapter of the Enchiridion. While we all strive for the best in ourselves, we should moderate our spirit to what we can actually achieve at any given time. Slow and steady wins the race.
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Epictetus part 35: Don’t be ashamed to do right
A Stoic always does what ought to be done (i.e. what is virtuous). To him or her, it does not matter what others think. It if is right, the Stoic does it. If it is wrong, the Stoic does not do it. Epictetus summarizes this attitude as follows.
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Epictetus part 34: Restraint
Epictetus makes a strong case for restraining your impulses for experiencing pleasures. On the short term, indulging in a pleasure may feel good, but in the long run it is better to act with self-control and discipline. In part 34 of the Encheiridion, he gives very clear instructions how to do this.
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Seneca part 23: An Endless Source of Joy
What is the source of a good and happy life? For constant happiness, we have to find a constant life. The person who is always chasing one thing and then moving on to the other, can never reach a state of lasting ‘eudaimonia’. He can never build his character and flourish.
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Ill and yet Happy
How to stand strong in the face of diseaseIt happens to all of us: we get sick. Sometimes, our body decides it needs a time-out or it simply can’t take all that’s coming to it. And it feels terrible. But it is not the end of the world: we can use our mind to stand strong in the face of disease, and even…
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How to get up in the morning
Remember your purpose and get activeFor most of us, getting out of bed in the morning is not the easiest part of the day. When you are tucked in under warm and soft sheets, you probably don’t feel like stepping on the cold floor and getting active. Even though you know you should. Don’t worry: Marcus Aurelius has the answer…