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Does Stoicism Promote Catastrophizing? (Seneca – Letter #91: On the Lesson to be Drawn From the Burning of Lyons)

Does Stoicism Promote Catastrophizing? (Seneca – Letter #91: On the Lesson to be Drawn From the Burning of Lyons)

FromThe Stoic Jew


Does Stoicism Promote Catastrophizing? (Seneca – Letter #91: On the Lesson to be Drawn From the Burning of Lyons)

FromThe Stoic Jew

ratings:
Length:
19 minutes
Released:
Sep 2, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode

Description

Synopsis: In today’s episode (#192) we examine the distinction between the beneficial Stoic technique of “Premeditatio Malorum” (the Rehearsing of Harms) and the unhealthy activity of “catastrophizing.” We begin with the definition of the latter from the American Psychological Association; next, we see how both types of mental activity are acknowledged by Shlomo ha’Melech in Mishlei; lastly, we apply these insights to a real-world scenario, involving the crazy weather from Hurricane Ida that battered the East Coast last night.Today's Torah content has been brought to you by the generosity of my Patrons on Patreon.Related Rabbi Schneeweiss Content:- The Medallion ExperimentSources:- Seneca, Letter #91: On the Lesson to be Drawn from the Burning of Lyons- Tim Ferris’s interview with Dr. Sue Johnson- Definition of “Catastrophize” (Merriam Webster)- Definition of “Catastrophize” (APA)- Mishlei 28:14 with the commentary of Malbim and R’ Yosef Kimchi----------If you have questions, comments, or feedback, I would love to hear from you! Please feel free to contact me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail.----------If you've gained from what you've learned here, please consider contributing to my Patreon at www.patreon.com/rabbischneeweiss. Alternatively, if you would like to make a direct contribution to the "Rabbi Schneeweiss Torah Content Fund," my Venmo is @Matt-Schneeweiss, and my Zelle and PayPal are mattschneeweiss at gmail.com. Even a small contribution goes a long way to covering the costs of my podcasts, and will provide me with the financial freedom to produce even more Torah content for you.If you would like to sponsor a day's or a week's worth of content, or if you are interested in enlisting my services as a teacher, a tutor, or a teaching mentor, you can reach me at rabbischneeweiss at gmail.com. Thank you to my listeners for listening, thank you to my readers for reading, and thank you to my supporters for supporting my efforts to make Torah ideas available and accessible to everyone.----------YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/rabbischneeweiss"The Mishlei Podcast": https://mishlei.buzzsprout.com"The Stoic Jew" Podcast: https://thestoicjew.buzzsprout.com"Rambam Bekius" Podcast: https://rambambekius.buzzsprout.com"Machshavah Lab" Podcast: https://machshavahlab.buzzsprout.com"The Tefilah Podcast": https://tefilah.buzzsprout.comGuide to Torah Content of Rabbi Schneeweiss: https://kolhaseridim.blogspot.com/2021/04/links-to-torah-content-of-rabbi-matt.htmlSupport the show
Released:
Sep 2, 2021
Format:
Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

My name is Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss. I am, first and foremost, an Orthodox Jew. My primary area of focus is the teachings of Shlomo ha'Melech (King Solomon) in Mishlei (Proverbs) and Koheles (Ecclesiastes). I also consider myself to be a student of the Stoic masters: Epictetus, Seneca, and Marcus Aurelius. Over the past two decades I have been exploring the relationship between Judaism and Stoicism - where they overlap, where they differ, and how they complement each other. This year I started a daily reading of Marcus Aurelius with an aim to explore these questions. I'll read a passage from Aurelius's Meditations and then muse (or meditate aloud) on my thoughts about what he said and what the Torah would have to say. As Seneca taught: "Each day acquire something that will fortify you against poverty, against death, indeed against other misfortunes as well; and after you have run over many thoughts, select one to be thoroughly digested that day" (Letter #2). If this podcast serves that purpose, then it will have been of value.