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August 18, 2021 - The Stoic Gym Blog
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses || Stoic Self-help ||

How to be content: The Stoic approach

The winter (spring, summer, and fall) of our discontent

July 10, 2021 - The Stoic Gym Blog
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses || Stoicism ||

Ten Marks of a Free Person

Epictetus was born unfree. He was a slave because his mother was a slave. When he became free, he thought and taught a lot about how to be free. In fact, his longest discourse in his four-book Discourses deals with human freedom.

July 7, 2021 - The Stoic Gym Blog
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses || Stoicism ||

12 Training Methods of Epictetus

How does one train to be Stoic? What are the most critical areas we should focus on? In his third book of Discourses, Epictetus discusses about a dozen things we should be concerned about when we train ourselves to be Stoics. 

July 3, 2021 - The Stoic Gym Blog
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses || Stoicism ||

Ten Stoic Choices of Epictetus

This is one of the most fundamental choices one can make. As long as you confine your choices to what is under your control, you will be free, happy, and serene.

June 30, 2021 - The Stoic Gym Blog
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses || Stoicism ||

Stoic Foundations: Epictetus’ Ten

Stoicism, especially as taught by Epictetus, consists of a few major themes that he repeats over and over again — sometimes in exactly the same way, sometimes in a different way. The first book of his Discourses summarizes all his basic themes.

June 13, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses ||

Freedom from Divulging Confidences

1. If someone confides in you, you don’t have to confide back. 2. You confide in someone only if that person is trustworthy. 3. As a rule, confidences require good faith and judgments that go with it.

June 9, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses ||

Freedom from Mind Wandering

1. When you let your mind wander, you can’t bring it back whenever you like. 2. You should constantly keep the basic principles at hand. 3. Practice the basic principles. Don’t worry about pleasing others.

June 7, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses ||

Freedom From Impurities

1. Cleanliness is a human trait. 2. The first purity is the purity of the mind. 3. But we should keep our bodies clean as well. 4. You will be credible when your physical appearance supports you. 5. Beautify your inner qualities, but don’t neglect your outer appearance

May 30, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses ||

Freedom From Following the Wrong Course

When you see someone with things you don’t have don’t envy. Think of what you have in their place.

May 26, 2018 - Ancient Stoicism in Plain English
Tag(s): Epictetus' Discourses ||

Freedom from Hasty Judgments

1. Actions are neutral. What makes them good or bad is the judgment on which they were based. 2. Don’t be carried away be external appearances and make hasty judgments. 3. What a person does is more important than what he claims he is.