The Stoic Concept Of Summum Bonum: The Stoic North Star
There can only be one priority. If you think about it, the plural of the word priority is nonsensical. Priority means the most important thing. There can’t be two most important things. Having a sole priority is useful in business, but it’s also indispensable for...
How To Stay In The Present Moment
I’ve never met anyone who was trained in mindfulness at an early age. Have you? I wonder if they have to try as hard as those of us who were introduced to mindfulness in adulthood. I wonder if they struggle with distractions or if they have emotional outbursts. For...
Amor Fati Explained: Turning Life’s Trials Into Triumphs
The meaning of amor fati is nestled inside this short story: There was an old farmer who had a herd of horses. One day, the horses broke through the fence and the whole herd ran off into the wild. On hearing the unfortunate news, the old farmer’s neighbor came over...
How To Stop Being Too Nice
How do we reconcile wanting to be compassionate and being too nice? By too nice, I mean placing the needs of others above your own to the point that your own are not met. Too nice also means getting taken advantage of. Being too nice opens the door to repeated insult,...
Stoic Parenting: 6 Life Lessons From A New Father
Years ago, a good friend told me that having kids is the best way to renew your life. He had taken holidays in many different countries. He had eaten in loads of great restaurants. He was really good at his job. But, nothing was thrilling anymore. Experientially, he...
No Self In Buddhism & Science: Tame The Ego, Start Living
I am quietly eroding all your relationships. I am insulting you. I am forcing you to act with greed and aggression. I make you jealous… I am you. The ‘I’ here is the subjective sense of self—the ‘I’ is your ego. As we’ll discover, no self thinking may be the antidote...
Exploring Secular Buddhism: A Practical Guide To Modern Buddhist Wisdom
Buddhism isn’t just for monks with shaved heads and orange robes. Ordinary people, just like you and me, can derive wisdom, insight, and clarity from Buddhist traditions. Buddhism’s immense utility in everyday life has brought a lot of momentum to a branch of Buddhism...
Ataraxia: How Stoics Achieve Equanimity
Let’s paint a picture. Imagine drops of water landing on a lotus leaf and sliding down and off. The drop doesn’t linger. It makes its impact and then flows with gravity until it is gone. The lotus leaf is aware of the drop—it feels it—but it does not reject, retain,...
Mindful Movement Is A Life-And-Death Matter
There’s nothing like a drastic, life-changing event to test your practice. I recently became a father. Being a new parent of an infant has its ups and downs. The lows come mostly from lack of sleep, but also from second guessing everything from when, what, where, who,...
Shaolin Master Shi Heng Yi: 16 Practical Lessons On Self-Mastery & Peace
Shi Heng Yi’s speech embodies calm and strength. Watching his Ted talks or his interviews, you see that he emanates both humility and confidence. He speaks slowly, thoughtfully, and deliberately. Balance is a core pursuit of The Mindful Stoic, so I was immediately...
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