StoicTower

"Plato, who was never seen laughing and who had adopted the motto of avoiding the evils and unpleasant situations of society, was once asked two questions. The first question was: 'What behaviors of people surprise you the most?' Plato enumerated them in order. “They get bored in childhood and hurry to grow up, but then they miss their childhood. They sacrifice their health for wealth, only to spend their wealth regaining their health. Worried about tomorrow, they forget about today. In the end, they live neither today nor tomorrow. They live as if they will never die, but they die as if they had never lived.” Then came the second question: So what do you suggest? The sage enumerated again, “Don’t try to make anyone like you, the only thing to do is to allow yourself to be loved. The most important thing in life is not to have the most, but to need the least.”

A wise king once had his men place a boulder in the middle of a road. He then went to the top of a watchtower, waiting to see if anyone would move it. Over time, people from all walks of life encountered the boulder. Some were frustrated and irritated, blaming the king for the inconvenience. Others were curious and attempted to move the boulder, but its weight proved too great. Then, one day, a humble peasant approached the boulder. Tired from his day’s work, the peasant laid down his heavy cart and, summoning the last of his strength, shifted the stone from the road. Underneath, he found a purse full of royal gold and a note from the king. The note read, “The obstacles in our path do not block the path. They are the path. It is in overcoming our obstacles that we find our way to glory.”

9 Habits to become highly Stoic: 1. Practice Virtue: Live virtuously by embracing wisdom, courage, justice, and temperance. 2. Focus on What You Can Control: Direct your energy toward what you can control, letting go of the rest. 3. Accept the Nature of Things: Embrace change and impermanence as part of life's flow. 4. Value Inner Peace: Prioritize tranquility by releasing unnecessary desires and attachments. 5. Turn Obstacles to Opportunities: View challenges as chances to grow and learn. 6. Live in Accordance with Reason: Make decisions based on reason, not fleeting feelings. 7. Practice Gratitude: Regularly reflect on what you have and appreciate the present moment. 8. Reflect on Your Mind: Regularly introspect for self-growth and self-awareness. 9. Memento Mori: Remember your mortality and use it as a reminder to live a meaningful life.

3 MARCUS AURELIUS QUOTES TO CHANGE YOUR LIFE. 1. What we do now echoes in eternity 2. Loss is nothing else but change, and change is Nature's delight. 3. Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one.

The story goes like this: One day, a student of Socrates eagerly approached him by a river and asked him. "Master, what is the secret to success? In response, Socrates took the student by the hand and led him into the river. As they walked deeper into the water, Socrates suddenly pushed the student's head underwater and held him there for a while. The student struggled, trying to free himself, but Socrates remained firm and did not let go. After a few moments, Socrates finally released the student and allowed him to come up for air. Coughing and gasping, the student asked Socrates why he had done such a thing. In reply, Socrates said, "When you were underwater, what was the one thing you wanted the most?" The student replied, "Air! I wanted air more than anything else." Socrates nodded and said, "When you desire knowledge and success as much as you want air, then you shall find the answer."

If you want to succeed, understand this: In life, there are two ways to suffer: You suffer trying to become a somebody. Or You suffer in eternity as a nobody. As Napoleon once said: “Glory is fleeting, but obscurity is forever.” Don’t die with the guilt of wondering what you could’ve been. Be somebody.

7 HABITS FROM MARCUS AURELIUS TO OWN THE MORNING. 1. Meditation and Reflection: Begin your day by affirming: I have the power to shape my mindset and responses. 2. Practice Gratitude: When you arise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive - to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love. 3. Journaling: Capture your thoughts daily: Your journal is a mirror reflecting your inner wisdom. 4. Setting Intentions: Start your day with purpose, Align your actions with your inner compass. 5. Expect the Unexpected: When you arise in the morning, remind yourself: The people I deal with today might be impatient, ungrateful, rude, deceitful, envious, and self-centered. 6. Physical Training: Empower your body, Strengthen your physical vessel for the journey ahead. 7. Prepare for Challenges: Anticipate adversity: Equip yourself with resilience for life's tests.

5 Life changing lessons from the Stoics. 1. The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts. 2. The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. 3. If you are distressed by anything external, the pain is not due to the thing itself, but to your estimate of it; and this you have the power to revoke at any moment. 4. He who is not a good servant will not be a good master. 5. You have power over your mind - not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength.