The most obvious thing is that there are emotions that become less intense. As soon as people realize they're catastrophizing an event and that there are other ways of viewing it, they gain cognitive flexibility which contributes to creative problem solving. So improves our planning, creative thinking and coping behavior. In the long term, that's actually, I think, more important than the short term reduction in the intensity of our distress. Because when we behave differently, we solve problems and that benefits as much and longer term.
Elliot Chung, a student at Phillips Academy Andover, interviewed me recently for his new Philosophy for the Modern Mind podcast, and we decided to share our conversation on this podcast as well. We talk in particular about how Stoicism could be of practical benefit to young people, and the challenges they face today.
Thank you for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.
Thank you for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life. This post is public so feel free to share it.
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