The discussion begins with the idea of companionship through history, emphasizing Eleanor Roosevelt's connection to Lincoln and how their experiences can shape our lives. Stoic philosophy is a key focus, particularly the themes of acceptance and gratitude in the face of challenges. Listeners are encouraged to embrace reality while also having the courage to address injustices. An interactive segment engages the community, inviting questions and sharing personal journeys with Stoicism, highlighting the support and growth that comes from shared principles.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
We Are Not Alone
Remember that you are not alone, and neither were the Stoics.
Act accordingly, drawing strength and inspiration from those who came before you.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Accepting What Is
Accept what you cannot change, but strive for gratitude and happiness with what is.
Wish for things to happen as they will, not as you want them to be.
insights INSIGHT
Questioning Acceptance
Ryan Holiday challenges Epictetus's seemingly passive acceptance of profound injustices.
He suggests balancing acceptance with the drive to fight for positive change.
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The Discourses of Epictetus are a series of informal lectures written down by his pupil Arrian around 108 AD. The philosophy of Epictetus is intensely practical, directing students to focus on their opinions, anxieties, passions, and desires to distinguish what is within their control from what is not. The teachings aim to make people free and happy by living virtuously and 'according to nature.' The Discourses cover a wide range of topics, including friendship, illness, fear, and poverty, and how to acquire and maintain tranquility. They are set in Epictetus' classroom in Nicopolis and reflect his earnest and often humorous style of teaching[3][4][5].
Discipline is Destiny
The Power of Self-Control
Ryan Holiday
In 'Discipline is Destiny', Ryan Holiday explores the Stoic virtue of self-discipline, drawing on historical figures and contemporary examples to illustrate its transformative power. The book emphasizes that discipline is the foundation upon which other virtues such as courage, justice, and wisdom depend. Holiday argues that self-control is essential for personal triumph and fulfillment, and he provides engaging stories and practical advice on how to cultivate discipline in a world filled with distractions and temptations. The book also cautions against the perils of extravagance and hedonism, stressing the importance of balance and self-mastery in achieving success and happiness[2][4][5].
Meditations
Marcus Aurelius
Meditations is a series of private writings composed by Marcus Aurelius, one of Rome's greatest emperors, as he struggled to understand himself and make sense of the universe. Written between 170 and 180 CE while on military campaigns, this work combines Stoic philosophy with personal observations on leadership, duty, mortality, and human nature. Through twelve books of intimate thoughts never intended for publication, Marcus Aurelius explores themes of self-improvement, resilience in the face of adversity, and living virtuously while accepting what cannot be changed.
The Daily Stoic Journal
Ryan Holiday
Stephen Hanselman
This journal is designed to help readers apply Stoic principles to their daily lives. It features space for morning and evening notes, weekly explanations of powerful Stoic practices, related quotations, and daily prompts to inspire deeper reflection and application. Created with a durable, Smyth-sewn binding and including resources for further reading, it is a companion volume for those who love 'The Daily Stoic' and can also be used as a stand-alone journal. It aims to help readers achieve inner peace, clarity, and effectiveness in their lives.
Ghosts are, of course, a silly thing to believe in (Athenodorus’ ghost story notwithstanding). Yet the Stoics would not have scoffed at Eleanor Roosevelt’s feeling of not being alone in the Lincoln bedroom. As the New York Times would write many years ago in an editorial about her claim, “The White House is built of memories…It will remain a haunted house as long as it stands, but only in the benign sense that unseen presences may still be watching the destiny of the Republic…What American, passing by that great pillared residence, in time of stress, could fail to feel reassured to sense the shadowy figure of Lincoln, just as Mrs. Roosevelt describes him, gazing thoughtfully from a window?”
The Daily Stoic 
