Philosophy Archives

Stoic Negative Visualization: Learning to Want What You Have

What’s Stoic negative visualization? How can it actually make you happier? You can develop a Stoic practice by following six basic techniques derived from ancient philosophy. The first technique is negative visualization. Considering that Stoicism aims to offer a path toward joy, this practice is counterintuitive. But, it works. Continue reading to learn what Stoic negative visualization is and see how you can use this technique to appreciate more, handle disappointments better, and even grieve with less pain.

Stoicism: Control What You Can, & Don’t Sweat Everything Else

Do you worry more than you need to? Do you set yourself up for disappointment? In his book A Guide to the Good Life, philosophy professor William B. Irvine discusses a major tenet of Stoicism: Control what you can, and don’t worry about anything else. By doing this, you also control your happiness. Don’t give up that joy by stressing about what’s beyond your control. Learn how this Stoic practice works, and discover how you can put it to work for you.

Warren Buffett: Integrity’s Value in Business

What do people have to say about Warren Buffett’s integrity? How has Buffett’s honesty helped him? Apart from being a successful businessman, Warren Buffett is known to be an honest person. The Snowball by Alice Schroeder highlights his integrity by citing two events where it helped him: the case of the Salomon Brothers and the economic collapse of 2008. Keep reading to learn more about how Warren Buffett’s integrity has guided him.

Don’t Let People Bring You Down or Rile You Up: Act Like a Stoic

How much do you let other people affect your mood and behavior? How can you minimize their impact on you? If you could get advice from an ancient Stoic philosopher, you’d hear this: Don’t let people bring you down or rile you up. Philosophy professor William B. Irvine explains how to avoid negative people, be patient and forgiving toward others, handle insults with maturity, and never display anger. Keep reading for this practical advice from ancient philosophy.

Focus on What Matters Most: Set Priorities Like a Stoic

Should you seek fame, approval, wealth, and pleasure? What would such pursuits produce in your life? Too often, what people think will make them happy ends up robbing them of joy. They waste energy going down fruitless paths in life. In A Guide to the Good Life, philosophy professor William B. Irvine argues that the ancient Greek and Roman philosophy of Stoicism offers a better way. Read more to learn how to focus on what matters most, according to Stoic philosophy.

Stoic Voluntary Discomfort: Build Up Your Tolerance for Life’s Pain

Do you worry about getting hurt? Is it possible to train yourself to hurt less? In A Guide to the Good Life, William B. Irvine argues that the ancient Greek and Roman philosophy of Stoicism has answers for many of today’s challenges. He describes six techniques that promise happiness through counterintuitive methods, including deliberately exposing yourself to discomfort. Read more to learn about the practice of Stoic voluntary discomfort and see how it can help you handle what life throws at you.

Is Time Just an Illusion? How Our View of Time Steals Our Joy

Is time just an illusion? Is it objective or subjective? How does our perception of time impact our happiness? According to Mo Gawdat, the idea that time exists independently of us is wrong. He argues that time isn’t an objective feature of reality. The more we realize that, he says, the more we can focus on the present and find happiness. Continue reading to understand Gawdat’s argument, as presented in his book Solve for Happy.

The Importance of Reflection: Becoming a Stoic Day by Day

Why is it important to spend time reflecting at the end of each day? How does it contribute to personal growth? Philosophy professor William B. Irvine outlines six practices you can follow to become a practicing Stoic and build a good life of your own. The last practice is to track your daily progress by reflecting on your day each evening. Read more to learn about the importance of reflection in the process of becoming a Stoic.

You Can’t Know Everything: Accept This, and Find More Joy

How realistically do you perceive your own level of knowledge? Can you know everything you need to know when it comes to making decisions in life? When your expectations exceed your perceptions of reality, you suffer. In Solve for Happy, Mo Gawdat helps you bring your expectations into alignment with your perceptions. One area in which your expectations might get out of whack is with your own knowledge. Keep reading to understand how the limitations on your senses and language put limitations on your knowledge—and to learn how to find more happiness by accepting that you can’t know everything.

You Are Not Your Body: Dispel the Myth, and Find More Joy

Are you and your body one and the same? What difference does it make? In Solve for Happy, Mo Gawdat outlines an algorithm for happiness. It involves dispelling several misconceptions that cause us to suffer. One of these is the notion that our minds and our bodies are the same rather than distinct from each other. Read more to learn how you are not your body and what difference that makes for your happiness.