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What is Stoicism? What did the Stoics believe in ancient Greece and Rome? Stoicism is an ancient Greek school of philosophy that was popular in both Greece and Rome. In modern times, Stoicism refers to the practice of perseverance and endurance in the face of adversity. Keep reading for an overview of Stoicism, explained by William B. Irvine.
How well do you recognize other people’s personality types, motives, and intentions? If you were armed with that knowledge, what difference would it make? A judo practitioner responds to a physical attack with an awareness of their opponent’s intentions. In the same way, you can respond to a verbal confrontation by reading the other person and figuring out who they are and what they need from the encounter. Read on for practical advice on how to read other people, according to Verbal Judo by George Thompson.
What’s That Little Voice in Your Head by Mo Gawdat about? Can you program your brain to be happier? In That Little Voice in Your Head, Mo Gawdat explains your brain functions like a computer. He explores how it causes unhappiness and replaces these functions with new ones that will ensure happiness. Read below for a brief overview of That Little Voice in Your Head.
What did the Stoics believe about adversity? How did the Stoics handle challenges in life? In general, the Stoics were pragmatists who focused on withstanding life’s challenges with resolve and resourcefulness. They believed that you should try to control only what’s within your power and let go of everything else. Keep reading to learn more about the Stoics’ beliefs.
How do you get out of a tense situation? What are some ways to resolve issues rather than make them worse? Law enforcement trainer George Thompson argues that, in a high-pressure situation, it’s most effective to act as if you’re practicing judo. In other words, use the other person’s energy to gently move them in the direction you want them to go. Keep reading to learn Thompson’s verbal de-escalation strategies to handle conflicts in your day-to-day life.
How is the brain like a computer? How is unhappiness like a data error? Mo Gawdat argues that, at its core, the brain is a computer, and its job is to understand the world and tell people how to react. When you feel unhappy, it could be because there’s an “error” in your brain. If you want to know more about the mechanical workings of your brain, keep reading.
Do you experience adversity often? Do your strategies for overcoming adversities fail? William B. Irvine says that the Stoics perceived adversity not as a setback, but as a training ground, an opportunity for growth. We’ll explain Irvine’s take on adversity—what it is, how we typically respond to it, and why those responses don’t work. Let’s look at how people typically handle adversity in life, and why it doesn’t work.
Do people respond negatively when you ask them to do something? Could it be because you’ve made them feel like you’re looking down on them? Perhaps you’re a parent trying to get your teenager to respect curfew, or you’re a manager pressing your employees to meet a deadline. George Thompson offers some tips on how to get people to cooperate without making them feel small. Keep reading for Thompson’s advice on how to stop being condescending when you’re communicating with others.
What are Mo Gawdat’s “programming” tips for more happiness? How can you make your brain process information better? In That Little Voice in Your Head‘s section on happiness, Mo Gawdat discusses four tips to help your brain process and respond to information in ways that lead to happiness. By thinking of your brain as a malfunctioning computer, you can logically reprogram it to be happier. Read below for Mo Gawdat’s tips for programming your brain for unlimited happiness.
Do you know how to practice Stoicism? What is the Stoic strategy for handling adversity? According to William B. Irvine, the Stoics’ mental technique for facing adversity was simply to reframe the problem. That is, a Stoic would choose to view it as an opportunity to practice his Stoic virtues—resilience, resolve, resourcefulness, courage, and good humor. Here’s how to implement the Stoics’ strategy for overcoming adversity in daily life.