Published inMeditations on “Meditations” {MoM}·Oct 25, 2020How Stoic journaling stopped me overthinking.If you are interested in learning more about Stoic journaling, register to attend the Stoicon-x ‘Journaling with the Stoics’ workshop on November 1st. — When we experience hardship, we are encouraged to read the Stoics and to start journaling. But while we go all the way back to the ancient Stoic texts and read from there, our understanding of how to journal is much more contemporary.Stoicism4 min readStoicism4 min read
Oct 28, 2019Meditations on “Meditations”Towards a more Stoic kind of journaling. I presented this talk at Stoicon-X in Athens, Greece on Sunday, October 6 2019. On Sunday 6 October 2019, I presented a half-hour session what I call “Meditations on ‘Meditation’” or “MoM” at the Stoicon-X Conference held on the day after Stoicon at…Stoicism17 min readStoicism17 min read
Published inMeditations on “Meditations” {MoM}·Sep 5, 201910 Reasons To Create Your Own “Encheiridion,” Your Own Handbook For LifeThe Pythagoreans thought the number ten a perfect number. And, so might we. After all, the #Stoics were greatly influenced by Pythagorean thought and contemplative practice. Which is why I’m compiling a list of 10 reasons to create your own “Encheiridion” or Handbook for Life. I started with one big…Stoicism4 min readStoicism4 min read
Aug 31, 2019Private anger is what is driving political change.In a recent tweet, Nigel Warburton stated “In British politics, this is no time for Stoicism. We all need to be very angry. And to show it.” In a recent blog post, I too considered Stoicism and anger as a political tool and came to a different conclusion. …Stoicism6 min readStoicism6 min read
Published inMeditations on “Meditations” {MoM}·Aug 30, 2019Confession, Catharsis, or Tools for Life?After a particularly difficult interaction with a key person in my life (a few years back now), I packed a notebook and my favourite Lamy fountain pen and took myself to a nearby museum. I sat in a comfy armchair in front of a large canvas over which was painted…Stoicism4 min readStoicism4 min read
Jun 25, 2019Letter #1. On A Summer With Seneca.I am quite convinced, my dear Stoic souls, that I am not just improving, but transforming. There are still many parts of me that need changing, of course, correcting even, and yet, this, even this fact that I am now writing to you to say this, even the fact that…Stoicism3 min readStoicism3 min read
Published inDead Good Life·Apr 11, 2019Wednesday, April 10#DeadGoodApril #MoM After a very early morning start and an event in Glasgow, we finally headed back down towards home and stopped at Dalrymple for a late lunch. After we’d settled in, chatted, ordered a starter, and were well onto the main, I had…Death2 min readDeath2 min read
Published inDead Good Life·Apr 6, 2019Day 25. Saturday, April 6#DeadGoodApril #MoM I’m not one to celebrate the coming of a weekend as a welcome relief after a week of work grind. But today, I find I am relieved that it is a Saturday and I can hide behind weekend conventions — break, day off, sleep in, snooze, hibernate…Stoicism4 min readStoicism4 min read
Published inDead Good Life·Apr 2, 2019Day 29. Tuesday, April 2#DeadGoodApril #MoM — The true disciple of philosophy pursues death and dying. Said Socrates, according to Phaedo. And, of course, Plato. I have spent the better part of the last two hours pursuing death and dying. No, I’m not actively pursuing dying — there’s no suicide attempt…Death3 min readDeath3 min read
Published inDead Good Life·Apr 1, 2019Day 30. Monday, April 1#DeadGoodApril #MoM 4:46 am. I wake up early, as usual. I’m in the kitchen with coffee and computer. I’ve set my mind to think about death before I do anything else. I do that. Marcus Aurelius thinks about death and dying over 100 times…Stoicism2 min readStoicism2 min read
