Bonus Series #1: Cultivating Betterment

Cultivating Betterment

Wishing you a happy new year and a 2023 filled with progress, fulfilment and contentment. I'm offering this bonus episode around one of the most helpful Stoic concepts I've been contemplating and converting to action lately. It has significantly helped me on my journey to cultivating betterment and I hope you find it helpful too. Cultivating betterment will be a major focus for me in 2023 and I hope you'll enjoy some of the contemplations and discussions on this that I'll be sharing.

NB: This is a bonus undertaking and will not replace Humans of Purpose, but is an option for a separate project I am working on with some key partners.

Key Quotes

• "Some things are in our control and others not. Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in one word, whatever are not our own actions." - Epictetus

• "There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will" - Epictetus

• “Freedom is the only worthy goal in life. It is won by disregarding things that lie beyond our control.” - Epictetus

Caveats

• This episode is largely drawn from my contemplation of Epictetus and readings from authors and experts on him and Stoicism.
• I do not agree with everything Epictetus or Stoicism teaches and one key departure in the discussion and exercise I provide is the category of "Influence", which is not a traditionally accepted category under this school of thought.
• I am not interested in becoming a Stoic teacher, philosopher or influencer, enough of these exist already! I am interested in sharing some of the things I've learned and augmented as useful practices and lessons for cultivating betterment for myself. My goal is to become a better human and community member and along the way I would like to share this with you.
• To the above point, I won't just be discussing Stoic principles or ways of thinking, as we will discover there is enormous overlap and commonality here across many humanistic and wisdom bearing traditions.
• Finally, I want to note that the Stoics endured far more challenging times than we do in many ways as did many other cultures, groups and traditions. Much of this wisdom is extremely helpful and relevant when thinking about how we can live a far more contributory, fulfilling and tranquil life today.

Feedback

Does this resonate with you? Send me a note to mike@humansofpurpose.com and I promise I'll respond!

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