How Stoics Spend Every Day

Pay Attention To This

Watch the video version. Listen to the Podcast.

Stoics aren’t monks meditating in isolation, but active people who constantly reflect on their thoughts and actions.

As thoughts pop up, we ask — is this up to me? If not, we discard the thought and refocus on what we control.

When we catch ourselves making value judgments about external events or complaining about people and the state of the world, we take a step back and remind ourselves of the words of Epictetus — “It's not things that upset us but our judgments about things."

When we decide to do or say something, we reflect — how can I do this with wisdom, justice, courage, and moderation? These four Stoic virtues serve as a north star, guiding our actions.

Easier said than done, but I’ve found doing this even 15% of the time radically improves my life and leaves me a better person.