The Stoic Magazine Library

Gac Filipaj, graduated with honors from Columbia University, an Ivy League institution, in 2012. But there was something unusual about him.

Three ways to become more Stoic 

In the first part of this series on Stoic Life Coaching for Anger Management we looked over the (fictional) coach Lucas’s shoulder to learn how he applies Stoicism to help his client. So far Lucas, drawing heavily on Seneca’s On Anger, has helped Anthony realise that he really does have a problem and that Seneca’s 3 stage model of anger might help. In this second and final instalment let’s find out whether Lucas (and Seneca) can enable Anthony to keep both his temper and his family. 

There are a number of matters, and people in particular, that you can’t be a good or even mediocre Stoic without caring about to some extent.

It’s often said that life is full of surprises. I’m confident that most people would agree with that sentiment; very few things come about as we expect, and monkey wrenches are all too-often found to be thrown in the mix. Being surprised isn’t inherently unStoic, however, our opinion about those surprises can deem our perspective to be Stoic or not.

My earlier self made a brief appearance, thinking, “Oh my God… We drove all this way, for this?!”– but she was quieted by a calmer, happier, more Stoic version of myself who thought, “Well, let’s keep going and see what we find out. These things do happen. Best not to react just yet.” And so we did.