Practical Stoicism Even after years of practice, I still fail
Jun 4, 2025
A personal narrative reveals the struggle to maintain composure during a fraught train journey. Encounters with rowdy teenagers challenge the speaker's emotional stability, highlighting the need for continuous attention in Stoic practice. The discussion emphasizes that everyone, regardless of experience, can slip but that Stoic training helps mitigate our worst responses over time. Reflecting on these moments reinforces the importance of vigilance, humility, and self-reflection in personal growth.
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Lapse in Attention Fuels Disruption
- Even a short lapse in attention allows disruptive events to escalate quickly.
- Stoic practice builds safeguards reducing the intensity of worst reactions over time.
Stoic Progress Improves Worst Self
- Stoic training makes your worst self better than your former worst self.
- Progress transforms your worst behavior into something relatively better and more manageable.
Even Teachers Slip Sometimes
- Everyone is vulnerable to moments of losing their composure, even seasoned Stoics.
- These slips are part of growth and learning on the path to Stoic wisdom.