Four ways we may stumble in attempting to live Stoically

Have you encountered these difficulties in attempting to live Stoically? (Living philosophically?) After a conversation I had, some time ago, about living as a Stoic philosopher, I found myself wondering what pitfalls and stumbling blocks a person is likely to encounter when they try seriously to integrate Stoic teachings and practice into their life. Four things came to mind almost at once. I’m going to … Continue reading Four ways we may stumble in attempting to live Stoically

SeekerFiveJuly 6, 2023July 4, 20239 Comments

Creativity

Philosophy as an Art of Living

I often like to use the word ‘philosophy’ in a somewhat unusual way. What I mean is philosophy understood as a craft, skill, or art of living. This is, actually, how philosophy was originally understood and practiced, in the ancient Greek and Roman periods of what we now call Western philosophy. That understanding, and even that practice, has never completely gone away. It has, however, … Continue reading Philosophy as an Art of Living

SeekerFiveJuly 6, 2023October 10, 20234 Comments

Personal Development, Self-awareness

The Ladder of Enlightenment

I came across something called the Map of Consciousness in a book I’ve been reading recently – Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender by David R. Hawkins. In it he talks about the different emotional levels we operate on. He presents them in a way I’ve never seen before – as a kind of ladder that we can climb. Starting with depression at the bottom … Continue reading The Ladder of Enlightenment

AP2May 4, 2023May 4, 202323 Comments

Personal Development

A non-Stoic exercise for Stoic philanthropia

just as Seneca thought Stoics could benefit from various Epicurean principles and practices, so should Stoics be able to use this traditionally Buddhist exercise Continue reading A non-Stoic exercise for Stoic philanthropia

SeekerFiveOctober 17, 2022July 4, 20236 Comments

Creativity

A “half-glass of water” question

What would we say about the glass to indicate a perspective that is neither pessimistic nor optimistic? Continue reading A “half-glass of water” question

SeekerFiveOctober 10, 2022October 10, 202220 Comments

Creativity

A Stoic difficulty: developing love for humanity (philanthropy)

In previous posts I’ve been expanding on four difficulties probably faced by those of us attempting to practice Stoic philosophy. Here is the fourth: a certain lack of effective exercises for developing “philanthropy,” meaning a love of humanity or love of human beings. This “philanthropy” is itself a great topic and matter for reflection, but I won’t go into that here. I want to focus … Continue reading A Stoic difficulty: developing love for humanity (philanthropy)

SeekerFiveSeptember 19, 2022July 4, 20234 Comments

people standing on blue and green tennis court

Spirituality

Waiting for the Big Answers

My 7-year-old daughter asked me the other day, “You know how I want to be a teenager?” After a pause for me to nod my head she asked, “Do teenagers want to be kids?” I explained that teenagers want to be adults. This is just the latest of her big questions: Where will I go to college? Who should I marry? How many kids will … Continue reading Waiting for the Big Answers

Wynne LeonAugust 24, 2022September 2, 202236 Comments

Creativity

The pitfall wherein we try immediately to be a sage

A lot of Stoic teachings describe the way a sage would see and feel. We of course are not sages. Yet we can easily fall into trying to be one immediately, trying to force our perception and feelings to be other than they must be at this stage of our development. This is one of four ways we may easily stumble, in attempting to learn … Continue reading The pitfall wherein we try immediately to be a sage

SeekerFiveJuly 18, 2022July 4, 20234 Comments

Creativity

The Pitfall of Reliance on Providentialism

In a previous post, I mentioned that reliance on “providentialistic” views was one potential difficulty for present-day Stoics. Today I’ll explain this a bit. When I say “providentialistic” or “providentialism,” I’m referring to what theoretical discourses term “divine providence,” or perhaps more accurately, a belief in divine providence. In short, belief in divine providence is the belief that everything which happens, happens in accordance with … Continue reading The Pitfall of Reliance on Providentialism

SeekerFiveJune 21, 2022July 4, 20235 Comments

Pointless Overthinking

Note on acceptance, control, and Stoicism

I sometimes get the impression that Stoicism is often taken as, and practiced as if it were, a way to finally control everything, including our feelings. Yet this is quite incorrect. Stoicism is not about becoming able to control everything. It is about finally starting to begin to acknowledge that we don’t and can’t, and to start to begin to learn, to know, in and … Continue reading Note on acceptance, control, and Stoicism

SeekerFiveMay 23, 2022May 18, 20222 Comments

Uncategorized

Question of the day: Number 551

“Enlightenment is when a wave realises it is the ocean.” – Thich Nhat Hanh What does it mean to be enlightened? How would you define enlightenment? How does one attain it? I’m curious to hear your thoughts. *** You can find AP2’s personal blog here at: https://clear-air-turbulence.com You can also find him on Medium at: https://anxiouspilot2.medium.com Or on Twitter at: @AnxiousPilot Continue reading Question of the day: Number 551

AP2January 28, 2022January 28, 202226 Comments

Pointless Overthinking

Question of the Day: No. 537

Here’s a question for discussion: Is ego really the enemy? I look forward to hearing your thoughts. *** You can find AP2’s personal blog here at: https://clear-air-turbulence.com Continue reading Question of the Day: No. 537

AP2July 23, 202145 Comments

Pointless Overthinking

Do a little less (or not)

There’s such a push to do more. Don’t you think? It seems like we’re always being advised, persuaded, pushed, to do something more, something further. The advice is: add this other thing on top of all the things you already do. The subtext seems to be: you won’t be happy unless you add this (whatever it is). Maybe it’s the result of one hundred years … Continue reading Do a little less (or not)

SeekerFiveJuly 5, 202127 Comments

Pointless Overthinking

The People Mirror Effect

“Your perception of me, is a reflection of you. My reaction to you is an awareness of me.” – Unknown. What do you do when you look at yourself in the mirror? Maybe you comb your hair or have a shave. Maybe you brush and floss your teeth. Maybe you correct your posture. Maybe you examine the look in your eyes and evaluate your mood. Perhaps … Continue reading The People Mirror Effect

AP2April 23, 2021April 24, 202169 Comments

Pointless Overthinking

An atheist praying?

Sometimes I remember a writer, I can’t recall who, describing a friend who though atheist, sometimes goes into a church and prays. The writer had noticed this about his friend and was perplexed: How, or why, is he praying, if he does not believe in a god to pray to? His friend explained that although he does not believe a god exists, he still likes … Continue reading An atheist praying?

SeekerFiveJanuary 14, 2021January 14, 202132 Comments

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Tag: spirituality

Four ways we may stumble in attempting to live Stoically

Philosophy as an Art of Living

The Ladder of Enlightenment

A non-Stoic exercise for Stoic philanthropia

A “half-glass of water” question

A Stoic difficulty: developing love for humanity (philanthropy)

Waiting for the Big Answers

The pitfall wherein we try immediately to be a sage

The Pitfall of Reliance on Providentialism

Note on acceptance, control, and Stoicism

Question of the day: Number 551

Question of the Day: No. 537

Do a little less (or not)

The People Mirror Effect

An atheist praying?