A Stoic’s Journey

I stumbled across Stoicism about two years ago reading what I thought would be just another book on leadership management. Ryan Holiday’s Ego is the Enemy opened my eyes to an entirely new way of seeing the world. This led me on a quest to discover more about this ancient philosophy straight from the original sources, starting with Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca.

Stoic philosophy has resonated so strongly with me at this stage of my life. First is the realization that there is nothing within my control except my own choices and judgments. Epictetus said Some things are within our power, while others are not. Within our power are opinion, motivation, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever is of our own doing…

The natural ebb and flow of nature: the change in careers, the loss of my father to Parkinson’s Disease, Covid-19, and a host of personal and professional stresses that once would have sent me into apoplectic rage or deep depression were now seen for what they are. Stoicism has taught me not to ignore these hard realities but to deal with them in a way that makes me a stronger, better person.

I am by no means an expert nor a sage, nor will I pretend to be. Progress, not perfection, is the goal. My hope for this venue is to share simple insights the ancient Stoics have taught me, how my life is changing for the better, and hopefully how you can join me on this Stoic journey.

Epictetus. Discourses, Fragments, Handbook (Oxford World’s Classics) . OUP Oxford. Kindle Edition.

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