The Stoic Magazine Library

This is how you apply Stoicism in your daily life. It’s not enough to shrug off unpleasant interactions or achieve moral perfection. It’s about asking yourself: “How can I be of use today?”

Stoicism is not about talking. It’s about living. It demands this: that your life match your philosophy. That your words match your actions. That all parts of your life follow one consistent rhythm.

So long as we are making thoughtful, reasonably prudent use of our time, we don’t need to feel bad about how things pan out imperfectly. We don’t make things any better by preoccupying ourselves with plans for perfect uses of our time.

When we accept that time is limited, we are less inclined to rush toward the future or dwell on the past, and more able to savour the present.

That pause can be small, but the impact is rarely insignificant — and that can make all the difference.

Act cleanly, and accept the mess that follows. Not because the mess is good. But because it is oſten the by product of not bending. Of holding your ground. Of choosing character over convenience.

Our first impression should not be accepted without examination.

Your individual potential is in many ways up to you to decide. If you feel content with yourself, then your potential is achieved.

What if we could eliminate most worries instead of accepting them? What if we could neutralize the causes instead of treating the symptoms?

How are you going to be any better the next time you start to feel anger? You just strengthened one already bad habit, and perhaps a second one, precisely that of making that sort of excuse.