If you want to be unsteady “For if a person shifts their caution to their own reasoned choices and the acts of those choices, the will at the same time gain the will to avoid, but if they shift their caution away from their own reasoned choices to things not under their control, seeking to… Continue reading Unsteady

If you want to be steady “The essence of good is a certain kind of reasoned choice; just as the essence of evil is another kind. What about externals, then? They are only the raw material for our reasoned choice, which finds its own good or evil working with them. How will it find the… Continue reading Steady

What we control and what we don’t “Some things are in our control, while others are not. We control our opinion, choice, desire, aversion, and, in a word, everything of our own doing. We don’t control our body, property, reputation, position, and, in a word, everything not of our doing. Even more, the things in… Continue reading Focus on yourself

“We must give up many things to which we are addicted, considering them to be good. Otherwise, courage will vanish, which should continually test itself. Greatness of soul will be lost, which can’t stand out unless it disdains as petty what the mob regards as most desirable.” — Seneca, Moral Letters, 74.12b-13 Control your addictions… Continue reading Seeing our Addictions

Seven Clear Functions of the Mind “The proper work of the mind is the exercise of choice, refusal, yearning, repulsion, preparation, purpose, and assent.  What then can pollute and clog the mind’s proper functioning?  Nothing but its own corrupt decisions.” — Epictetus, Discourses, 4.11.6-7 The daily stoic presents these with a quick attribute.  Thought I… Continue reading The mind