[Practical Stoicism #21] How to be a Stoic at every moment, the spiritual side of Stoicism, and a massive guide to journaling
Happy Saturday!
Another week has flown by. I'm currently enjoying the cold, clear weather in Amsterdam while sipping coffee and thinking about philosophy. My schedule has been less hectic than it is normally, so I had the time to read a lot and listen to some podcasts.
One of the podcasts I discovered is by a Stoic who goes by the handle Santi Younger. He has been podcasting for a while and did an amazing interview with Michael Tremblay about the core spiritual parts of Stoicism.
Did you know there is also a magazine for Stoics? THE STOIC magazine is a community effort and directed by Chuck Chakrapani of The Stoic Gym. The February issue covers how to be a Stoic every moment of the day. Contributions are by familiar names like Donald Robertson, Kai Whiting, and Jonas Salzgeber.
This week Ryan Holiday of the Daily Stoic published a massive guide on journaling. If you ever felt insecure about how to journal "correctly," this is the article you'll want to read.
Last but not least, I rediscovered the Positive Psychology blog. Kelly Miller wrote a fascinating article about self-control theory, and I see many points that overlap with Stoic philosophy. For example, self-control theory states that we can control our habits and that we can strengthen our will. Prudence is an essential skill that needs cultivation according to the theory, as well as the ability to see things from a different perspective. Well worth reading as it gives practical tools to cultivate self-control.
Enjoy the content and have a great Saturday!
Ramses
Highlights of the week
The Art of Becoming a Stoic (With Michael Tremblay) Part 1 (and Part 2 | Time Flies Philosophy Podcast
"Philosophy is the search of the truth, self-help not necessarily. The goal is not to feel better; the goal is long-lasting change. We need to find balance."
"We are not impostors for practicing philosophy without a title or credibility. Philosophy is there for anyone to take it and use it."
"The core definition of Stoicism is the focus of our attention on what matters. What matters is virtue and vice.
Focus on what matters.
What matters is what's in our control (virtue and vice)."
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The Art of Journaling: How To Start Journaling, Benefits of Journaling, and More | Daily Stoic
"Research published to the Journal of Experimental Psychology found that reflective writing reduces intrusive and avoidant thoughts about negative events and improves working memory. These improvements in turn free up our cognitive resources for other mental activities, including our ability to cope more effectively with stress."
"Start with one line—about how you are feeling, something you did yesterday, something you are excited about, someone you are thinking about. Start by doing it for one week. Start by writing a few things you are grateful for. Start with a sentence about the mindset you are going to attack the day with, about something interesting you learned in your reading yesterday, about your plans for the day. Whatever it is, start ridiculously small. You'll know when you're ready to build on it and write in more depth."
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What Is Self-Control Theory in Psychology? | Positive Psychology blog
"When we know more about how the self can alter its own state to achieve adaptive success, more flourishing lives can be forged."
"Another key element is the ability to be cautious. The character strength of prudence can be utilized here to improve self-control. Teaching children how to think, rather than merely reacting to an impulse, is where this character strength can be nurtured. With practice, better decisions can be made in real-time."
"Another element of self-control is the ability to see alternative perspectives effectively. Social intelligence is a character strength that can be strengthened to improve self-control. Rather than reacting impulsively to another person's behavior, someone with enhanced social intelligence can more easily respond with compassion and empathy."
"In the brain, the limbic system is in charge of the impulses to which human beings react. When this system is in action, the prefrontal cortex is shut down. Logical and rational thought are carried out by the prefrontal cortex. These parts of the brain do not work simultaneously. Reducing stress allows for the prefrontal cortex to get into action."
Exercise: The reserve clause
I'm currently putting the finishing touch on an article about Stoic justice. One of the psychological practices that help to act toward others in a just way is the reserve clause. Limiting how far we will go to reach a goal will prevent us from screwing over others.
What is the Stoic reserve clause exactly? Quite simply, it means that for every goal you set, you add the condition "if nothing prevents me" or "fate willing." If you understand and support the dichotomy of control, applying the reserve clause will be a breeze.
Each morning think of situations you're likely to face. Differentiate between what's in your control (your actions and reactions) and what's outside your control (circumstances, other people, etc.).
Focus on what's in your control and think of the way you want to act. Visualize the future situation and write down your goal, adding the clause "if nothing prevents me".
At night, sit down for a few minutes and review your goal. How did things turn out? What was within your control, and how did you act? What was outside your control, and how did you react to it? Ask yourself how you could have done better. Don't blame others; take a look at yourself.