STOICISM FOR STRESS RELIEF: Timeless Strategies to Find Serenity in the Modern World (2023 Beginner Guide)

By ANGELA SHEPARD

Delve into the transformative power of Stoicism with "Stoicism for Stress Relief," a profound exploration of ancient wisdom tailored to address the complexities of modern life. Unearth practical strategies and philosophical insights that empower you to build resilience, embrace challenges, and find inner tranquility, regardless

• Language: English
• Publisher: ANGELA SHEPARD
• Release date: Nov 8, 2023
• ISBN: 9783988315861

ANGELA SHEPARD

Angela Shepard, based in New York City, is a dedicated life coach and mindfulness expert specializing in stress management and emotional well-being. With a deep understanding of Stoic philosophy and its practical applications in modern life, Shepard has inspired countless individuals to find serenity and inner peace amidst the challenges of the contemporary world.

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

The happiness of your life depends on the quality of your thoughts. — Marcus Aurelius, Debts and Lessons.

Welcome to the stoic way of life, where tension and worry are nonexistent. We guide you to your inner Chi and assist you in making a peaceable connection with your soul.

If you anticipated me to say that, you were mistaken.

A life hack is not stoicism. It is a way of life, and to be honest, if you want to live a stoic existence, you’ll have to put in a lot of effort. There is no way around it. Stoicism is not alone in having this quality. It applies to all practical philosophies. As you jump straight in, get ready to put everything into it. Instead of just teaching you about stoicism, my goal is for you to comprehend it and use it to reduce stress and find inner peace.

By applying the helpful counsel I offer in this book and modifying it to your contemporary life and problems, I want you to practice true stoicism. I am aware that it might be challenging to read about stoicism because the majority of literature is either overly scholarly, intricate, or overwhelming for novices. So, drawing on ancient stoicism while also modernizing it, I wrote this book. Yes, I’m determined to support you in making this work.

So, the question is: What is stoicism? This is a question that, despite how straightforward it may seem, is really challenging to answer. The numerous false impressions of stoicism that pervade modern society are among the main factors that have made it challenging to respond. For instance, stoicism is a mental condition in which one suppresses their emotions and keeps composure in the face of difficulty, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. The opposite is true and could not be more so.

Classical authors like Cicero, Seneca, and Plutarch have exposed us to representations of old Stoic thought during the last few centuries. However, like with many well-accepted stoic notions, we see that while their theories may contain some truth, they are by no means complete. We must go back a little in order to really comprehend what stoicism is. Stoicism was first introduced by Zeno the Citium in 300 BC. The casual assembly at the Painted Stoa in Athens, a covered colonnade on the northern side of the Agora (markets), is where the Stoics earned their name. While Aristotle’s Lyceum and Plato’s Academy were still flourishing, Epicurus, a contemporary of Zeno, was starting his own school just outside the city walls.

During this time, a group of philosophers known as the Cynics flourished. They were inspired by Socrates’ example. The Stoics were congregating in the city’s center at a public space because they lacked any recognized school property. After Zeno’s demise, his protege Cleanthes continued to draw sizable crowds. He was succeeded by Chrysippus, who is regarded as the most important early Stoic after Cleanthes. It’s possible that the Painted Stoa continued to instruct until the first century BC. By this time, Rome had grown to become the primary cultural and political force in antiquity. Stoicism thrived in the Romanized world because many of its tenets were attractive to the