The Daily Stoic summary

It’s become a cliché: we live in a time defined by distractions. The news cycle. The internet. Our devices. Social media. We’re pulled in a million different directions by a million different things. But distractions, though they may have become more extreme, are nothing new.

Marcus Aurelius, the Roman Emperor and Stoic thinker, had a method for eliminating distraction. He advised that we approach each task as if it were our last. Whatever you’re doing, pretend it’s your last act, the final thing you’ll do before death – and try to take this mental exercise seriously. The effects can be pretty incredible, not only erasing distraction but increasing quality. After all, this is your last act, so you better make it count. 

Another lesson from Epictetus: if the way you’re approaching a situation is not bringing the desired results, you might be using the wrong handle. In the Enchiridion, Epictetus teaches that every situation has two metaphorical “handles,” that is, two ways you can approach it. One can be used to “carry” it, while the other can’t.

Epictetus gives an example. Imagine that your brother has done you wrong. There are two handles. One is your brother’s wrongdoing – but if you grab this handle, you’ll never successfully “lift” the situation. The other handle is the fact that this is your brother, that you were raised together, that you love each other. That is the handle to use.

Stoics know that the vast majority of us aren’t nearly as intelligent as we’d have ourselves think. But we can improve our intelligence. How? By remaining humble and identifying the flaws in our thinking.

You can start by testing your thinking for biases.

Each day, every day, we’re faced with a multitude of choices and possibilities, from the mundane (Which TV shows to watch? Which restaurant to eat at?) to the momentous (Which partner to choose? How to balance your personal needs with your obligations to others?).

All this choice can be overwhelming, paralyzing. One way to overcome decision-paralysis is to conduct a little thought experiment. Here it is:

Making plans, setting goals, having ambitions – it’s all important. But plans can only get you so far. After all, no plan can take into account all the obstacles that might arise on the path to its completion. Which is why, to navigate life most effectively, we need to find ways to deal with obstacles.

Stoics know this. Instead of obsessively planning ahead, trying to factor in every possible complication, Stoics foster creativity, independence, and inventiveness. This makes them flexible, as well as resilient in the face of changing circumstances. In short: prepared to overcome any challenge that life throws in their path.

All Stoics aspire to virtuousness. According to the Stoics, virtue is the highest purpose one can commit to. And, as you know, virtue itself is a composite concept made up of courage, wisdom, moderation, and justice.

Aspiring to virtuousness is beneficial because it will help you cut through all of life's confusions. An example: let’s say your sole goal in life is to make money. The issue with this goal is that, first off, you’ll never have enough and, second, you might compromise your character, committing atrocious deeds in pursuit of self-enrichment. 

Philosophy sometimes gets a bad rap as an ivory tower occupation. But Stoic thinking is different. It’s about achieving results, and not getting sidetracked on the way there.

That’s why the special quality of Stoics is getting things done no matter the circumstances.

Stoics believe that no matter what happens to us, we always remain in control of who we are. They even came up with a metaphor for this. We each possess an Inner Citadel, which remains impregnable, completely in our control, no matter what we may endure physically.

The Stoics said that this Citadel houses the soul. But whether you believe in souls or not, the metaphor is useful. Remember: this Citadel is impervious to external threats. But it can be threatened from within. 

In Antiquity, violence and cruelty were all-pervasive. Animals and people were killed for entertainment in amphitheaters across the Roman Empire, while conquered peoples were routinely enslaved. It was hardly an atmosphere that encouraged positive feelings of camaraderie.

What’s fascinating is that Stoicism – which reached philosophical maturity at that time – regarded the workings of all people and creatures as connected.

It’s a common tendency to think of hope as good, and fear as bad. But Stoics are skeptical of both. After all, both hope and fear involve attaching value to future events which are, by definition, out of our control.

So instead of focusing on wishes and worries, Stoics prefer amor fati, “a love of fate.” In other words, they go a step further than throwing up their hands and saying “what will be, will be.” They embrace fate, even if events don’t play out in their favor.

The once mighty Roman Empire fell in the West after 500 years. The longest human lifespan recorded is just 122 years. 

Everything and everyone must eventually come to an end. That’s why Stoicism teaches us to accept death. And to use it as a motivator to live life well.