Stoic Philosophy In A Nutshell

How to stop overreacting to life's ups and downs and find lasting calm — even if you've been doubting yourself for years.

Once, in ancient China, a farmer's horse ran away. His neighbors said, "How unfortunate." The farmer said, "Maybe." The next day the horse returned with seven wild horses. "What good luck!" they said. The farmer said, "Maybe." The day after, his son fell from one of the wild horses and broke his arm. "What poor luck," they said. The farmer said, "Maybe." Then the army came to conscript young men — and because of his broken arm, the son was passed over. "What a fortunate turn of events," the neighbors said. The farmer said, "Maybe."

Are you seeing the pattern? How often have you gotten some good or bad news and completely overreacted, only to realize later it wasn't such a big deal? For thousands of years, humans have struggled to think more rationally and less emotionally — and many leaders, politicians, and successful businesspeople have found their answer in Stoicism, a way of thinking that has guided people since ancient Greece.

In this book, you will discover:

• Why Stoicism is "an emotional Swiss Army knife" — a tool for handling any situation life throws at you.
• The four virtues of Stoic philosophy — and how they can make each of us a better person.
• Epictetus' detailed instructions — for applying Stoic teachings and reaching a flourishing life.
• The three Stoic disciplines — for turning every situation into a learning experience (mastering the third keeps your emotions from ever overwhelming you again).
• How Stoicism compares to other schools of thought — and where the connections run deep.
• The Stoic principles behind Cognitive Behavioral Therapy — keep these in mind and bypass many modern mental health struggles.
• Marcus Aurelius' ten rules — for dealing with people and our reactions to their actions.

...and so much more.

Contrary to popular belief, Stoicism is not about being unfeeling. Even if you've been struggling to reach the next level as a leader, businessperson, or simply as yourself, this book will give you the calm, rational perspective to tackle any problem life brings.