Living a Better Life Through Ancient Wisdom – Insights from „Das kleine Handbuch des Stoizismus“
This episode explores the core tenets of Stoicism, an ancient philosophy offering practical wisdom for navigating life’s challenges and cultivating a fulfilling life. Drawing upon the insights of Jonas Salzgeber’s „Das kleine Handbuch des Stoizismus,“ we’ll explore how this philosophy encourages us to focus on what we can control—our thoughts and actions—and approach what we can’t with acceptance and resilience.
Rather than dwelling on external events like wealth, status, or the opinions of others, Stoicism emphasizes the importance of „Arete“—which translates to virtue or excellence, but holds a deeper meaning of striving to be your best self. This episode will examine how we can use the four cardinal virtues of Stoicism—wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance— to achieve „Arete“ in our daily lives.
This episode isn’t about suppressing emotions, but understanding, redirecting, and ultimately not being ruled by them. We’ll learn practical techniques from the Stoics, such as:
- Mindfulness: Cultivating present moment awareness to make better choices and appreciate what we have. Salzgeber suggests we ask ourselves, „What task lies directly here, right now, and why does it seem so unbearable?“ to bring ourselves back to the present moment.
- Negative Visualization: Imagining potential setbacks to build resilience and appreciate the present moment. „Das kleine Handbuch des Stoizismus“ refers to this as „Premeditatio Malorum,“ which can help us emotionally prepare for difficult situations.
- Voluntary Discomfort: Embracing temporary challenges to strengthen our minds and prepare for adversity. Salzgeber offers examples such as living with temporary poverty, enduring uncomfortable situations, and abstaining from pleasures to practice self-control and prepare for hardships.
- The Dichotomy of Control: Distinguishing between what we can and cannot control to alleviate unnecessary suffering. According to the Stoics, only things within our control can be good or bad.
- Self-Reflection: Regularly examining our actions and aligning them with our values. Salzgeber highlights Epictetus’s advice to review our actions each evening, asking ourselves how we can improve and avoid repeating the same mistakes.
Join us as we uncover the timeless wisdom of Stoicism through the lens of „Das kleine Handbuch des Stoizismus“ and learn how to apply its principles to live with greater purpose, resilience, and fulfillment.