Many treat emotions (happiness, depression, etc.) as though they just happen to you or not and you have no control over them. In actuality, through consistent practice and work, you can employ reason and virtue to influence you emotions. The paragraph on CBT and willing to act a certain way (I'll add reframing) eventually leading to feeling a certain way, I have found revelatory in my Stoic journey! Stoic practice has led me out of anxiety and depression and into (Tim Lebon's) zest for life, even though almost none of my material circumstances have not changed. You are correct about practicing in good times to prepare for the bad. I navigated the Thanksgiving Holiday, which in the past was a time of stress, with equanimity.
Jonathan, exactly. Just the other day I was talking to a close relative who is going through a stressful period, explained the general Stoic/CBT approach, and got the response: yes, that makes sense rationally, but emotionally...
I blame Plato for this persistence and highly nefarious kind of dualism!
How time flies. Seems like it was just yesterday I met you via this amazing creation the internet. As an even longer Stoic Friend said to me, “is it necessary”. Meeting you? Absolutely. I will never be a scholar like yourself but to anyone who asks, I can tell them Stoicism saved my life and gave me more time with my family.
Reminds me, possibly pointlessly, of quote attributed to Thomas Paine: "The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion." Would you say Enlightenment ideals were Stoic?
Ed, not at all. The Enlightenment thinkers were influenced by Stoic and near-Stoic (e.g., Cicero) thinkers. All the founding fathers of the American Republic had a copy of Epictetus’s Enchiridion in their libraries. Jefferson gifted his to the Universal of Virginia.
Reminded me of the following quote from Epictetus;
"And if any thing laborious, or pleasant or glorious or inglorious be presented to you, remember that now is the contest, now are the Olympic games, and they cannot be deferred; and that it depends on one defeat and one giving way that progress is either lost or maintained."
Many treat emotions (happiness, depression, etc.) as though they just happen to you or not and you have no control over them. In actuality, through consistent practice and work, you can employ reason and virtue to influence you emotions. The paragraph on CBT and willing to act a certain way (I'll add reframing) eventually leading to feeling a certain way, I have found revelatory in my Stoic journey! Stoic practice has led me out of anxiety and depression and into (Tim Lebon's) zest for life, even though almost none of my material circumstances have not changed. You are correct about practicing in good times to prepare for the bad. I navigated the Thanksgiving Holiday, which in the past was a time of stress, with equanimity.
Jonathan, exactly. Just the other day I was talking to a close relative who is going through a stressful period, explained the general Stoic/CBT approach, and got the response: yes, that makes sense rationally, but emotionally...
I blame Plato for this persistence and highly nefarious kind of dualism!
Thanks 🙏🏻 for everything
How time flies. Seems like it was just yesterday I met you via this amazing creation the internet. As an even longer Stoic Friend said to me, “is it necessary”. Meeting you? Absolutely. I will never be a scholar like yourself but to anyone who asks, I can tell them Stoicism saved my life and gave me more time with my family.
Namaste 🙏
Glad to hear it, Mort!
Also, BTW, I am both a fan and a fun of Mr. Spock--nice pun, whether intentional or typo.
😆
Reminds me, possibly pointlessly, of quote attributed to Thomas Paine: "The world is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion." Would you say Enlightenment ideals were Stoic?
Massimo--am i off base here?
Ed, not at all. The Enlightenment thinkers were influenced by Stoic and near-Stoic (e.g., Cicero) thinkers. All the founding fathers of the American Republic had a copy of Epictetus’s Enchiridion in their libraries. Jefferson gifted his to the Universal of Virginia.
Thanks so much for answering my questions. It will be very helpful when talking with folks who have the misconception that Stoicism is sterile.
Darin, thank you for raising those questions! They do need to be addressed.
Reminded me of the following quote from Epictetus;
"And if any thing laborious, or pleasant or glorious or inglorious be presented to you, remember that now is the contest, now are the Olympic games, and they cannot be deferred; and that it depends on one defeat and one giving way that progress is either lost or maintained."
Sibbs, one of my favorite quotes from the Master.