Stoicism - anybody else? (1 Viewer)

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Ive been listening to a podcast called "Stoicism on Fire" to help with my anxiety/hot temper. Im 46, Irish and hot tempered. At some point I need to learn to relax. I tend to be incredibly cool under extreme pressure but its all the little stuff that makes my blood boil.

Just curious if anybody else has any experience or practices?

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Legendary FBG, Wikkid (May he rest in peace,) once said:

if i have a philosophy, it's stoicism. you can't love properly until you can do without it, taking life personally is an extraordinary waste of time, yaddayaddayadda...

 

[TheBaylorKid]

Is that you Ryan Holiday or is this Tim Ferriss?

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I appreciate the stoics and what they have to teach us, especially as an antidote to the modern-day information chaos. I find it ultimately a little dehumanizing, in that it seems to me like it espouses making an enemy of many aspects of being human. I find meditation and some other eastern practices to have similar underpinnings, but do so in a more compassionate and humanizing way.

 

[jamny]

While I appreciate much of the thought around stoicism, I'm drawn more to Taoist teachings. Once I realized how similar Taoism was to how I've already tried to live, it gave me a direction and path to follow.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

I appreciate the stoics and what they have to teach us, especially as an antidote to the modern-day information chaos. I find it ultimately a little dehumanizing, in that it seems to me like it espouses making an enemy of many aspects of being human. I find meditation and some other eastern practices to have similar underpinnings, but do so in a more compassionate and humanizing way.

I’ve seen the dehumanizing part of it listed in a lot of the “cons” of stoicism. What I am looking to get out of it is just keeping a level head.

I can’t meditate because my mind is never that quiet and I can’t help think how silly it is (to me). I wish I could, but I can’t.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

While I appreciate much of the thought around stoicism, I'm drawn more to Taoist teachings. Once I realized how similar Taoism was to how I've already tried to live, it gave me a direction and path to follow.

Interesting. I’ll look into it.

 

[fruity pebbles]

I’m exactly like you. Operating room brings in gunshots, stabbings, car accident victims…….cool as a cucumber. Spill something on the floor and I’m ready to lose my ****.

 

[Leroy Hoard]

"Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.”

I just spoke that out loud, so now I'm not sure if I know.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I appreciate the stoics and what they have to teach us, especially as an antidote to the modern-day information chaos. I find it ultimately a little dehumanizing, in that it seems to me like it espouses making an enemy of many aspects of being human. I find meditation and some other eastern practices to have similar underpinnings, but do so in a more compassionate and humanizing way.

I’ve seen the dehumanizing part of it listed in a lot of the “cons” of stoicism. What I am looking to get out of it is just keeping a level head.

I can’t meditate because my mind is never that quiet and I can’t help think how silly it is (to me). I wish I could, but I can’t.

I think the first thing to be aware of when meditating or generally practicing mindfulness is that the mind is not necessarily going to be quiet and that's really not the natural state of the human mind. But by simply sitting and noticing that, you can begin to have a more nuanced perspective of the mind and the self, where you are not just run by the automatic responses of the busy mind. the goal isn't really to be quiet, it's to be able to let go of the automatic responses that come up. And over time, your mind and body can become more adept at doing that naturally. I understand that it can be silly, though again this is where the compassion for the self comes in, so even if it is silly, so what?

not really trying advocate for it per se, just trying to clarify.

 

[mr. furley]

I’m exactly like you. Operating room brings in gunshots, stabbings, car accident victims…….cool as a cucumber. Spill something on the floor and I’m ready to lose my ****.

that's called ptsd

 

[mr. furley]

"Those who know do not speak. Those who speak do not know.”

I just spoke that out loud, so now I'm not sure if I know.

no inner monologue...... or???

 

[Mister CIA]

Highly recommend: https://www.wakingup.com/

For a free 30-day trial (no credit card required): https://dynamic.wakingup.com/shareOpenAccess/SCDA994E3

In addition to a wealth of content on mindfulness and guided meditations, the sections on Stoicism, time management, and sleep are excellent and worth checking out; and, they just added new material on procrastination. I can't wait to check it out... tomorrow. The contributions from David Whyte are A++.

 

[Mrs. Rannous]

I appreciate the stoics and what they have to teach us, especially as an antidote to the modern-day information chaos. I find it ultimately a little dehumanizing, in that it seems to me like it espouses making an enemy of many aspects of being human. I find meditation and some other eastern practices to have similar underpinnings, but do so in a more compassionate and humanizing way.

I’ve seen the dehumanizing part of it listed in a lot of the “cons” of stoicism. What I am looking to get out of it is just keeping a level head.

I can’t meditate because my mind is never that quiet and I can’t help think how silly it is (to me). I wish I could, but I can’t.

I think the first thing to be aware of when meditating or generally practicing mindfulness is that the mind is not necessarily going to be quiet and that's really not the natural state of the human mind. But by simply sitting and noticing that, you can begin to have a more nuanced perspective of the mind and the self, where you are not just run by the automatic responses of the busy mind. the goal isn't really to be quiet, it's to be able to let go of the automatic responses that come up. And over time, your mind and body can become more adept at doing that naturally. I understand that it can be silly, though again this is where the compassion for the self comes in, so even if it is silly, so what?

not really trying advocate for it per se, just trying to clarify.

What he said. There are many ways to meditate. It's not all lotus position and becoming one with everything. You could try meditating by focusing on a particular sporting event and reliving all the elements in it. It's sort of a directed thought process. And it doesn't have to be a sporting event. It just needs to be something you know well enough to really experience it in your head.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Big fan of suffering, to help with perspective, and not complaining about it. Need to remind myself not to sweat the little stuff. Not sure virtue is enough to provide happiness, and a smattering of emotion is sometimes necessary to liven up a rational existence.

 

[jamny]

While I appreciate much of the thought around stoicism, I'm drawn more to Taoist teachings. Once I realized how similar Taoism was to how I've already tried to live, it gave me a direction and path to follow.

Interesting. I’ll look into it.

If you want a good podcast on it, check out "What's this Tao all about" Casual conversations, nothing intense, but very informative.

 

[rockaction]

I’m very much about emotion and have sort of a bone to pick with the stoics, though they have much to offer a suffering soul. That said, their philosophy generally helps deal with personal adversity and holds little hope for change through appeals to the emotion and sense of others. In other words, it allows injustice to reign because stoicism is a subsuming of the self first and foremost. The egoist and emotional ask why and demand of others an ethical response. Stoicism is too close to an acceptance of others’ nihilism, the way I see it.

 

[Jayrod]

I read Marcus Aurelius' book, Meditations a couple years ago. Yes, the Roman Emporor portrayed in Gladiator. He was known as a stoic philosopher

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

I read Marcus Aurelius' book, Meditations a couple years ago. Yes, the Roman Emporor portrayed in Gladiator. He was known as a stoic philosopher

Thats how I got started on this journey. Dude was incredible.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

I’m very much about emotion and have sort of a bone to pick with the stoics, though they have much to offer a suffering soul. That said, their philosophy generally helps deal with personal adversity and holds little hope for change through appeals to the emotion and sense of others. In other words, it allows injustice to reign because stoicism is a subsuming of the self first and foremost. The egoist and emotional ask why and demand of others an ethical response. Stoicism is too close to an acceptance of others’ nihilism, the way I see it.

I can understand this criticism. Im not a stand by and watch somebody get hurt kinda guy so that would fly into the face of a fanatical Stoic.

 

[Zow]

While I appreciate much of the thought around stoicism, I'm drawn more to Taoist teachings. Once I realized how similar Taoism was to how I've already tried to live, it gave me a direction and path to follow.

Interesting. I’ll look into it.

If you want a good podcast on it, check out "What's this Tao all about" Casual conversations, nothing intense, but very informative.

I'd much more suggest the Tao of Steve.

 

[dickey moe]

Ive been listening to a podcast called "Stoicism on Fire" to help with my anxiety/hot temper.

I never would have guessed that based on your interactions with this board's Eagles fans.

 

[STEADYMOBBIN 22]

Ive been listening to a podcast called "Stoicism on Fire" to help with my anxiety/hot temper.

I never would have guessed that based on your interactions with this board's Eagles fans.

I tried and tried with them. They can’t have a conversation without always throwing in some smarmy jab. Homie don’t play that.

 

[Desert_Power]

I’m very much about emotion and have sort of a bone to pick with the stoics, though they have much to offer a suffering soul. That said, their philosophy generally helps deal with personal adversity and holds little hope for change through appeals to the emotion and sense of others. In other words, it allows injustice to reign because stoicism is a subsuming of the self first and foremost. The egoist and emotional ask why and demand of others an ethical response. Stoicism is too close to an acceptance of others’ nihilism, the way I see it.

Love this post. A lot to agree with, but I have found Stoicism really helpful lately.

I shouldn't spend my time attacking the nihilism of others when I need to focus on raising my son or having a good relationship with my wife. I find stoicism helps me focus more on the things that matter. YMMV

 

[Steeler]

Not sure virtue is enough to provide happiness,

Reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes where the comic starts out with Calvin planning to hit Suzie Durkins with a snowball, then Hobbes says something about virtue, then Calvin cleans his room, shovels the driveway, etc, etc, etc, then the 2nd to last panel is Calvin hitting Suzie with the snowball and the last panel is Calvin saying "virtue needs some cheap thrills".

 

[Steeler]

I’m very much about emotion and have sort of a bone to pick with the stoics, though they have much to offer a suffering soul. That said, their philosophy generally helps deal with personal adversity and holds little hope for change through appeals to the emotion and sense of others. In other words, it allows injustice to reign because stoicism is a subsuming of the self first and foremost. The egoist and emotional ask why and demand of others an ethical response. Stoicism is too close to an acceptance of others’ nihilism, the way I see it.

Love this post. A lot to agree with, but I have found Stoicism really helpful lately.

I shouldn't spend my time attacking the nihilism of others when I need to focus on raising my son or having a good relationship with my wife. I find stoicism helps me focus more on the things that matter. YMMV

First take the beam out of your own eye, before removing the speck from your neighbors eye.

 

[Long Ball Larry]

Ive been listening to a podcast called "Stoicism on Fire" to help with my anxiety/hot temper.

I never would have guessed that based on your interactions with this board's Eagles fans.

That trauma has forced him to a life of stoicism

 

[Long Ball Larry]

I’m very much about emotion and have sort of a bone to pick with the stoics, though they have much to offer a suffering soul. That said, their philosophy generally helps deal with personal adversity and holds little hope for change through appeals to the emotion and sense of others. In other words, it allows injustice to reign because stoicism is a subsuming of the self first and foremost. The egoist and emotional ask why and demand of others an ethical response. Stoicism is too close to an acceptance of others’ nihilism, the way I see it.

I’m not totally sure about the acceptance of others’ nihilism, but I did read something recently wondering why stoicism is experiencing this renaissance and their theory was that it does align well with the individualistic mindset of people today, especially in the west, and offers a respite from the overwhelming amount of information that people are bombarded with and ostensibly need to act on or form opinions about.

 

[IvanKaramazov]

I won't describe myself as a stoic because I don't know all that much about capital-S Stoic philosophy. But I am constitutionally wired to not care all that much about things outside of my control, which is obviously what most people think of when they think of stoicism. It's not like I ever intentionally chose to be this way -- it just seems like common sense.

 

[rockaction]

I’m not totally sure about the acceptance of others’ nihilism, but I did read something recently wondering why stoicism is experiencing this renaissance and their theory was that it does align well with the individualistic mindset of people today, especially in the west, and offers a respite from the overwhelming amount of information that people are bombarded with and ostensibly need to act on or form opinions about.

This might seem like a tangent or a digression, and it is a bit of that, but Tom Wolfe saw this Western affinity for stoicism in his 1997 book A Man In Full. In it, a former prisoner subject to prison abuse/rape finds his way through the darkness of wrongful captivity and violence in stoicism, a philosophy whose virtues he then shares with a prominent businessman who very much appreciates the teachings, but who is weak and later uses stoicism and the public's desire for it to his own benefit. The literati made a lot of fun of Wolfe for his later novels, but A Man In Full was pretty sharp in his diagnosis of that Western need for stoicism and its appeal to people who were down and out in Western society.

Why it is that way in the individualist West I'm not positive of, but it seemed like Wolfe was saying that there was a way out through modern predicaments with a little stoicism as one's guide, so long as one was actually faithful to its maxims. It especially serves -- Wolfe seems to think -- a prisoner mired in prison culture and all its attendant traumas well.

I suppose in a country like America, where so many important things paradoxically seem beyond individual control, it would be appealing to concentrate only on that which you immediately control and where efforts are not futile.

 

[Joe Bryant]

I won't describe myself as a stoic because I don't know all that much about capital-S Stoic philosophy. But I am constitutionally wired to not care all that much about things outside of my control, which is obviously what most people think of when they think of stoicism. It's not like I ever intentionally chose to be this way -- it just seems like common sense.

Agreed I think that's where I am.

The real catch though comes with determining what's in your control. And what do you do about it. That's the "serenity prayer", right? Knowing how to walk that balance between acceptance and trying to change something for the better is a delicate balance.

 

[Ilov80s]

I don't know if I really buy into stoicism but yeah you should be chill. There's not much to actually care about but when you do care, you should care a lot.

 

[dkp993]

I read Marcus Aurelius' book, Meditations a couple years ago. Yes, the Roman Emporor portrayed in Gladiator. He was known as a stoic philosopher

Thats how I got started on this journey. Dude was incredible.

If he’s was so incredible how’d he let Joaquin Phoenix kill him with a hug. Weak Sauce.

 

[Terminalxylem]

Not sure virtue is enough to provide happiness,

Reminds me of Calvin and Hobbes where the comic starts out with Calvin planning to hit Suzie Durkins with a snowball, then Hobbes says something about virtue, then Calvin cleans his room, shovels the driveway, etc, etc, etc, then the 2nd to last panel is Calvin hitting Suzie with the snowball and the last panel is Calvin saying "virtue needs some cheap thrills".

Yep. None of my fondest memories involve behaving virtuously, nor anything I look forward to. While fulfilling, virtue ain’t fun. Happiness involves some of both.