Focus on What Matters : A Collection of Stoic Letters on Living Well by Darius Foroux

by Darius Foroux

Best of Self help and Perosnality Development Book by Darius Foroux

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Psychology, Personal Development, Mental Health, Productivity

300 pages, Paperback

Published March 4, 2020

About the author

Darius Foroux (pronounced as Da-reeus Fo-roo) is the author of 7 books, and the creator of 6 online courses.

He writes about productivity, business, and wealth building. His ideas and work have been featured in TIME, NBC, Fast Company, Inc., Observer, and many more publications. Until now, more than 30 million people have read his articles.

Reviews

[Amit · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.75 ⭐

GENRE - NON FICTION

PAGES - 273

There is a quote from this book that sums it up for me

" CONSIDER YOURSELF AS AN ACTOR IN A PLAY. THE NATURE OF PLAY — WHETHER SHORT OR LONG — IS FOR THE DIRECTOR TO DECIDE. THE DIRECTOR WILL ALSO DECIDE WHETHER YOUR ROLE IS ONE OF A POOR PERSON, A RICH PERSON, A CRIPPLE, A KING OR A COMMONER.
YOU AS AN ACTOR DO NOT DECIDE THESE THINGS.LIKE AN ACCOMPLISHED ACTOR YOU NEED TO PERFORM THE ROLE ASSIGNED TO YOU IN LIFE SKILLFULLY.THE RESPONSIBILITY OF DECIDING WHAT ROLE YOU PLAY RESTS WITH SOMEONE ELSE."

The book is full of anecdotes, quotes and stories mixed with ancient Greek philosophy on life inspired by Stoics or Stoicism. Stoicism is a school of Hellenistic philosophy that flourished in ancient Greece and Rome.
The author is using one of the Stoic philosophers Seneca who was a philosopher, politician and advisor to the King of the Roman Empire, Nero.

Towards the end of his life Seneca started traveling and writing letters to his friend, Lucilius. This book is inspired by the thoughts and learnings of those 124 letters Seneca wrote to his friend Lucilius.

Absolutely loved the book because it introduces me to Stoicism which before reading this book I wasn't aware of. Also 2000 years ago, ancient Stoics talked about the exact same challenges we are facing today.

Highly Recommended!!
Thank you 😊🙏💚

[Olysavra · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not finish it. It is for hipsters discovering stoicism.

[Denver Kulecho · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very wonderful book. My key takeaways are as follows;

Cease to hope and you’ll cease to fear
I hope to get a new job- I wonder what my new job will look like
Every time you get angry you’re only harming yourself
Anything that doesn’t have a positive impact is useless
Don’t allow another person to make an opinion for you
Only consume things that have a positive impact in your life
When we achieve great things, we do great work and to do work we need to focus
By eliminating most things from your life for sometime you can make great progress
If you truly want to become great, it will require sustains greatness for a long period of time
When you have pain you have the resource of endurance within you
Spend on things that make you a better human
When you want to please everyone in your life you end up harming your own self worth
plan everything in life, just don’t get attached to it
Don’t wish for things to happen the way you like, instead welcome whatever happened as if you wanted it to happen
Life is more better when the present moment is your playground
Wisdom is about having meaning in your life
Dedicate your life to the persist of wisdom
We need to do the hard things to maintain the equilibrium
You never know when it’s your time to check out, so you better enjoy your stay

“Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily
Things are certainly easier when you have more money reach
Do something everyday that improves you and give it your attention
And yet don’t leave angry like them …be true to who you are; caring,sympathetic&kind, stay true to who you’re
Happiness is not only being able to live well with yourself…that’s the foundation
To desire pleasure is to accept pain,when you desire nothing you become emotionally free
Focus on what you control and be free
Success brings problems and breeds greed
Don’t be surprised when you go beyond your goal …keep rowing
Most human beings are obsessed with approval from other human beings because we want to be liked by others
Not judging others quickly will save from misperceiving their actions
Make us of what you can control and take the rest as it happens
History doesn’t repeat itself it rhymes

[Linas Jokubaitis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atsitiktinai naršydamas „Instagram“ aptikau įdomų postą su ištraukomis iš knygos „Focus on What Matters“. Knygos pavadinimas mane sudomino ir pažadino viltį, kad joje rasiu atsakymus į klausimą, kas gyvenime yra svarbiausia. Būdamas 34 metų vis dar jaučiuosi klaidžiojantis ir nesuprantantis savo gyvenimo prioritetų :)).

Nors universitete lankiau filosofijos paskaitas, stoicizmo filosofijos žinios buvo išblėsusios. Tikriausiai praleidau tas paskaitas. Pasitelkęs „Google“ pagalbą, atradau, kad autorius remiasi žymiausių stoikų – Senekos, Marko Aurelijaus ir Epikteto – idėjomis. Knygos formatas – laiškų rinkinys – taip pat primena Senekos laiškus Lucilijui, kurie knygos autorių sužavėjo savo asmeniškumu ir aktualumu šiandienos žmogui.

Mane sužavėjo, kad knygoje nėra sudėtingų filosofinių išvedžiojimų. Autorius paprasta ir aiškia kalba perteikia stoikų filosofijos principus ir praktiškai pritaikomas vertybes, padedančias siekti gyvenimo balanso.

Knygoje pabrėžiama mintis, kad turime sutelkti dėmesį į tai, ką galime kontroliuoti, ir nukreipti savo resursus nuo to, kas nuo mūsų nepriklauso. Šis principas primena Stephen R. Covey knygos „7 efektyviai veikiančių žmonių principai“ pirmąjį principą – „Būk proaktyvus“.

Sutelkti dėmesį į tai, ką galime kontroliuoti, reiškia sutelkti dėmesį į savo vidinį pasaulį: savo mintis, jausmus, elgesį, vertybes ir tikslus. Būdami proaktyvūs, o ne reaktyvūs, galime sąmoningai rinktis, kur nukreipti savo energiją ir laiką. Valdydami savo vidinį pasaulį, įgyjame galią kontroliuoti savo likimą. Valdydami savo mintis, galime tinkamai reaguoti į išorinius iššūkius. Pavyzdžiui, susidūrę su stresine situacija, galime sąmoningai nukreipti savo mintis į teigiamus dalykus, tokius kaip problemos sprendimas ar pagalbos paieška. Taip pat galime nuspręsti nepasiduoti negatyvioms emocijoms, tokioms kaip pyktis ar baimė. Tokiu būdu galime pasiekti daugiau, gyventi prasmingesnį ir pilnavertiškesnį gyvenimą.

Knyga „Focus on What Matters“ rekomenduoju tiems, kurie:

Ieško būdų, kaip sutelkti dėmesį į tai, kas iš tiesų svarbu.
Nori išmokti valdyti savo mintis ir jausmus.
Siekia gyventi prasmingesnį ir pilnavertiškesnį gyvenimą.

[Aniruddha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple and straight to the point. Each chapter (letter) could be read randomly at any point.

[Deepak · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of those books that I will come back to re read later in life. Key notes from the book:

If you dont have a higher purpose, make the pursuit of knowledge your purpose.
Learning always creates positive energy. And it is okay if you do not apply all that you learn, because you will never know when you will end up applying the learning.

Seize to hope, seize to fear

Avoid looking into the future for too long

Operate from a place of equanamity

Focus on a personal project that you control (not others, not luck). Writing could be one; fitness could be another.

Dont try to have too many focus areas. Eg if work, family and fitness are focus areas, you might want to let go of something else like a rich social life.

Unhealthy mind - constantly worried about things outside of its control, inconsistent - randomly happy one day and sad another, insecure. Critical to have a mind that is composed irrespective of the situation.

Dont do things that do not align with your inner self.

Choose not to be harmed, and you will not be harmed. It is the stories we tell ourselves that we can control.

Be the same person in every situation. This is just a liberating way of living.

Make your own decisions. Take inputs from others, but do not let others decide for you.

Dont get attached to your plans. When something unexpected happens, be flexible and adjust.

Happiness = chase learning, be in the pursuit of learning.

Just take the next step. Dont fixate on the finish line.

Dont spend all your time between “here” and “there”. Be in the present, enjoy the today.

If you want to be successful at work, you need to pay a price. Do not begrudge this price to pay, or else you will be at inner conflict with yourself. And if you decide not to pay this price, do not expect the outcome either - that will be foolish.

Celebrating other people’s success than being jealous of it - this is a super underrated and overlooked quality.

Being in a constant state of dissatisfaction is the key reason for unhappiness. We forget that we also won the ovarian lottery - being born in a decent country / decent family etc

Practice precision - writing >> speaking

Assess at the end of the day - did you make the most of your day? Physical fitness, reading, work etc etc. If the answer to this question is yes, you are on the right path.

Keep your stoic approach to yourself. That way you do not piss off other people.

We should not be impatient. Impatience makes us treat people poorly

Get off Twitter. Lots of negative news, and most of the things are outside your control. People who consume a lot of news become passive

[Charvi Vitthal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very crisp and to-the-point book. I like the small bite-sized chapters of wisdom. Being a part of a middle class Indian family, with a mother who loves to read, I have seen many aspects of stoicism and minimalism throughout my life. Still, reading about them served to refresh my memory and reconnect me to my roots. Some teachings were new for me and I enjoyed reading them and the way of thinking described in the book. I took my time reading this book, written in bite-sized chapters of wisdom nuggets, and I might return to it again in the future. This book is a helpful reminder of stoicism and good thought/lifestyle practices that I feel would be helpful to me time and again, specially in moments of distress.

[Lily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each topic is brief and precise. When it comes to psychology or an ideology, I, as a reader, am usually focused on the gist of the whole discussion. Here, each letter was brief, which made it easier for me to read. Otherwise, I usually lose interest when the authors start long debates. Overall, it was an interesting read.

[Bhavyaa ꨄ︎ · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good one.

[Aastha Gwalani · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this is the kind of book which you can't mark as 'done'. (Similar to 'the daily stoic)
It is that book which you can keep near you and pull it up anytime to get you that warm emotional snuggle; a reminder in the form of short letters that life will always have elements beyond your control but living it by focusing on the things that really matter (to you) can make it a worthwhile stride.

Btw, my fav line from the book : History doesn't repeat, it rhymes!

[Tristan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This came at a pivotal point in my life. While nothing new if you're familiar with stoic principles, as someone who has never read an ounce of philosophy, this was the perfect introduction.

[Rohan Shrivastava · Rating 4 out of 5]

I recently finished reading Focus on What Matters by Darius Foroux and it was truly a refreshing experience.
The book is short, simple, and filled with deep wisdom that makes you pause and reflect.
It teaches how important it is to stop wasting energy on things that don’t really matter.
The main message is clear: focus your time, thoughts, and efforts on what truly matters to you.
It reminded me that life is short and we shouldn’t spend it pleasing others or chasing things we don’t even value.
The writing style is very simple and direct — no unnecessary fluff or complicated ideas.
Every chapter is short but meaningful, and each one gave me something new to think about.
It talks about avoiding distractions like overthinking, social media, and seeking validation.
It helped me understand that being productive is not about doing more, but doing what’s actually important.
The book also touches on mindset, peace of mind, discipline, clarity, and confidence.
It encourages you to build a life based on your values and let go of things outside your control.
I really liked how honest and practical the book is — it doesn’t try to sound smart, it just tells the truth.
One of my favorite lines was: “Every time you focus on something that doesn’t matter, you take energy away from what does.”
This book made me rethink how I use my time, especially where my attention goes every day.
It reminded me that saying no to distractions is just as important as saying yes to our goals.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone feeling lost, distracted, or mentally tired.
It’s a great guide to reset your life and focus only on what actually matters.
Overall, I loved it and I’ll definitely come back to it whenever I need clarity or direction.

[Maher Razouk · Rating 5 out of 5]

‏نحن لا نتحكم في معظم الأشياء في الحياة. سيكون هناك دائمًا قضايا تدعو للقلق. سواء كان ركودًا أو حرباً أو كارثة طبيعية أو احتجاجًا أو مشكلة اجتماعية، فلا يمكنك الهروب من الأشياء السيئة. عليك أن تتعلم اللامبالاة تجاه الأشياء الخارجة عن إرادتك والتي تؤثر على سعادتك.

Darius Foroux

[Hannah Maerix · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reminders I need bcos I’ve been disappointed and harsh on myself lately :”) Super love how it tackled both inner and outer journey !

[Reading_ Tamishly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This brought me mental peace. But yes I wanted it be better.

[Patricia Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must to live a peaceful life.

[Phoebe Stanford · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easy read. Nice vibes

[Viren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read so many books on stoics and their philosophy and this book only adds to their philosophy....Very lucidly, effortlessly application of stoics concepts into daily life....A must read.

[Rolee Agarwal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has the power to change how one looks at life. “You can only control a few things and to lead a happy life, it’s enough to focus on those”. The author had written it during pandemic lockdown of 2020 and even though times were different then, they aren’t any easy now. So much to learn from what the author says in the book and ideas from Stoicism but only if we could retain and implement those learnings in our life.

[Prabhakaran Elumalai]

Good one to waste your time!

[Amit Gandhi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a refreshing take on self-help—easy to read, clear, and genuinely engaging without the usual heaviness. Darius Foroux blends Stoic wisdom with relatable real-life examples, making it practical and accessible for everyday life.

One of the strongest takeaways?
👉 “You'll have a better life if you don't waste your energy on things you can't change.”

It leaves you with a sense of calm and clarity. A great starting point if you're curious about Stoicism—this book might just spark your interest to explore it further. Uplifting, focused, and thought-provoking.

[Kishan Sangani · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the things I loved about this book is the consiceness of the chapters. Human attention span is small and combined with fast paced life, the small chapters gives us important life lessons that you can consume anytime. And all the chapters are so relatable and brilliantly put. I wish to read this book again after a while to see how much of an impact it has on my life.

[Bighead_Monster · Rating 4 out of 5]

หนังสือที่ทำให้เราโฟกัสสิ่งสำคัญในชีวิตอย่างถูกวิธีด้วยปรัชญาสโตอิก ศาสตร์แห่งการปล่อยวาง ปล่อยวางให้ใจเบาแบบเข้าใจโลก ผ่านสถานการณ์ตัวอย่างที่ให้ข้อคิดและมาในรูปแบบจดหมาย ที่ทั้งอ่านเข้าใจง่ายและจะทำให้ชีวิตดีขึ้นได้ ควบคุมในสิ่งที่ตัวเราเองทำได้ ให้หันกลับมาทุ่มสุดตัวกับสิ่งที่ใช่เขวี้ยงทิ้งไปถ้าไม่ใช่เรา
.
หนังสือพัฒนาตัวเองเล่มนี้พาเราไปรู้จักที่มาที่ไปของปรัชญาสโตอิก (รวมถึงนักปรัชญา) ชูโรงความปล่อยวาง ให้คนเราได้โฟกัสกับเรื่องสําคัญจำเป็นในชีวิต ผ่านข้อคิดการใช้ชีวิตจากปรัชญาสโตอิก (มีมานานสองพันกว่าปีแล้ว) แต่ปรับให้มีความทันสมัย ประยุกต์มาจนเข้ากับบริบทสังคมปัจจุบันให้เข้าใจง่าย

เป็นประสบการณ์ในชีวิตผสมกับปรัชญาสโตอิกของผู้เขียนที่เรียบเรียงมาเป็นจดหมาย70ฉบับ เต็มไปด้วยวิธีคิด+กลยุทธ์ทางเลือกให้ปฏิบัติตาม แบ่งออกเป็นสองบทใหญ่ ในการมองและคิด คือบนโลกภายในกับโลกภายนอก โลกภายในคือจัดการอารมณ์ความคิดของตัวเราเอง ให้ได้รู้จักตนเองและตัดสินใจให้ดีขึ้น

ชอบที่เขาบอกให้ลองใช้คำว่า ฉันหวัง เปลี่ยนเป็น ฉันสงสัยแทน หวังว่าจะสอบติดเปลี่ยนเป็น สงสัยจังสอบติดคณะไหนแล้วจะเป็นยังไง ให้เราได้ทบทวน+สังเกตพฤติกรรม การโกรธที่ไม่คุ้มค่า การเข้มงวดไปก็ไม่ดี บางจุดมีบอกว่าคิดแบบนี้คือการหลอกตัวเองอยู่มั้ย หนังสือบอกว่าใช่ (ตรง ๆ เลย555) แต่มันได้ผลไง

ส่วนในบทโลกภายนอก เป็นภาพกระทบจากปัจจัยที่มาจากคนอื่น เพื่อน เศรษฐกิจ สังคม ให้ปรับตัวเข้าสังคมด้วยเส้นทางและมาตรฐานที่ตัวเองวางไว้เอง ปล่อยให้ทุกอย่างเป็นไปละทิ้งทุกสิ่งที่เป็นภาระทางความคิดและจิตใจไปเสีย ทำสิ่งที่เราควบคุมได้ ชอบการที่เขาให้เราเป็นพยานให้ตัวเองว่าเราเก่งแค่ไหน

ซึ่งพออ่านจบให้แง่คิดทุกด้านในชีวิต ตัวบทแต่ละบทมันมีความปลงที่ไม่ได้ปลง ปลงที่ยังสู้เพื่อใช้ชีวิตดังหวัง ไม่มีใครตกต่ำลงจากการพยายามทำให้ดีขึ้นได้ สำนวนแปลสมูทดีอ่านได้ง่าย เนื้อหาก็เป็นมิตรไม่ได้มาทรงปรัชญาเข้าใจยาก มีตัวอย่างให้เห็นภาพชัด ยกตัวอย่างสถานการณ์ต่าง ๆ มาประกอบให้ได้คิดตาม

ภาพรวมเล่มนี้ดีทีเดียว อ่านแล้วได้ข้อคิดเยอะมาก ตัวอย่างสถานการณ์ที่ยกมาก็อ่านง่ายไม่วิชาการจ๋า ให้ความสําคัญกับเรื่องที่จําเป็น ยกมาจากคำสอนก็จริงแต่ก็ไม่ใช่โทนสั่งสอน อ่านแล้วให้ได้ลองมองตามแนวคิด เพื่อเรียนรู้การสร้างภูมิคุ้มกันทางใจขณะที่เราอยู่ในยุคแห่งความวุ่นวายเช่นปัจจุบันนี้

วรรคที่ชอบ

- ต้องการที่จะเห็นอีกคนประสบความสำเร็จและมีความสุข สำหรับผมแล้วนี่คือมิตรภาพที่แท้จริง

- ความพยายามยามเป็นอาหารหล่อเลี้ยงจิตวิญญาณอันสูงส่ง

- จงอย่ากล่าวว่า ฉันสูญเสียบางสิ่งไป คุณแค่คืนสิ่งนั้นไปเท่านั้น

[Riya Joseph Kaithavanathara · Rating 5 out of 5]

" By celebrating other people's success like it's your own, you grow stronger."

BOOK: Focus on what matters
AUTHOR: @dariusforoux
GENRE: #motivation , #selfhelp
RATING: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

The author discovered stoicism in 2015, when he was facing a challenging time in his life. The author has felt influenced and inspired by philosophers like Seneca, Epictetus etc which leads to the book " focus on what matters" and I find it truly enlightening and focused on the purpose of altering our life the way it is going to be the most helpful and productive for us. The book explains simple topics that we all know in a calm and steady pace, which makes this book rightfully fall under the category of "self help" , as per the meaning of the word, so does every motivational books should be, it's the things we know but someone is helping us put it into perspective in a more focused or arranged manner, someone is reassuring and pointing out to us, to go in that direction we should have. The quotes and ideas in this book are so striking, I took 10 days to read this book, I was going in a steady and slow pace by bringing it into my work , as a way to calm myself down when difficult situations arise at work. And the book has thoroughly helped the same.

" You're better off , mentally and professionally by being really focused on the things that matter to you."

"Too many of us listen too much to what others say and think. In our endless quest to please the people in our lives , we become the product of what others want."

" No matter what happens in life, you will be okay. When you can go through life that way, nothing will have the power to hold your mind captive."

[Eugeniu C · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Do not waste time on what you cannot control.” Marcus Aurelius

I enjoyed reading this book very much, I got a good understanding of stoicism, it's philosophy and how it should be practiced. I was already familiar with the book Meditations by Marcus Aurelius but Darius takes a step further and explains those teachings. The author, excellently explains the teachings of stoicism, especially Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, and he relates the teachings to our modern world with good examples. The author provides different life situations and how the teachings of stoicism should be applied.

This book is focused on self improvement, on how to get the value of your life, focusing on what you control, to have a purpose in life and another important life principle we should practice is moderation. In Sweden we have this term 'lagåm', which perfectly explains the moderation principle.


Something else important that was covered, was the importance of our integrity, our morals and why they weigh more than other things. To be a man of integrity meaning having good morals, and they should not be sacrificed.

Something less captivating I found in this book, were that most of the examples Darius provided were from his life experience, some examples were very personal and I think they cannot really be related to readers life experience. I liked when he also provided examples of other well known people.

[Pooja S · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a beautiful collection of 70 letters on living well. As the title suggests, the book will help us understand what really matters in life. Focusing on what really matters doesn't mean detachment from worldly pleasures. It's all about balance. To give a better understanding, The letters are divided into two parts: The inner world (mastering your mind) and The outer world (mastering your destiny).

Before reading this book, one must know what Stoicism is all about. Stoicism is an ancient philosophy which flourished in Rome. A stoic strongly believes that we can't control the world around us but only how we respond to it with courage, discipline, justice and wisdom.

Thus Stoic is a person who is indifferent to pleasure as well as pain. The 3 famous stoics are Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus. Inspired from the letters of the great Stoic Seneca to his friend Lucilius on Stoic thoughts, the author Darius Foroux offers letters on almost all topics which will help us to lead a good and satisfying life.

It is truly a reminder on how to focus on the right things despite the chaos of daily life. The book also has beautiful and thoughtful illustrations. Definitely a must read.

[Lakshica · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the only book I’ve lost track of time and was wrecked when it was over.

It was not a romantic fantasy fiction or a gripping edge mystery thriller, but a simple non-fiction self-help book.

"Focus on What Matters" by Darius Foroux was exactly what I needed at this moment.

Anyone who is immersed in overwhelming thoughts about their past, future, or constantly grieving about something that is out of their control😔, then this book is a MUST-read.

Darius, a disciple of stoicism, vehemently preaches and practices the knowledge he acquired from the well-renowned stoic philosophers Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, and passes this 2000-year-old ancient practice to everyone around the globe.

This book, in particular, comprises a collection of letters inspired by the original works of Seneca, who accentuates the significance of focusing on what is under our control in our calamitous life🤯

This book has been in my TBR list for way too long and I am glad I am made the choice to read. More than reading it was more like a much needed conversation with a friend or a therapist… honestly I don’t know how to classify the narrator but it was a MUCH NEEDED convo🤌🏽

[Jesse Nyokabi · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭; 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭; 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭.”
―̳ ̳R̳o̳y̳ ̳T̳.̳ ̳B̳e̳n̳n̳e̳t̳t̳,̳ ̳

𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞?

Published March 4, 2020, this is a masterpiece book and one of my greatest reads for 2024.

While you might think this is a problem of the modern world, it’s a timeless issue.

Over 2000 years ago, the ancient Stoics talked about the same challenges we’re facing today, like:
• 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞?
• 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲?
• 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭?

The answers can be found in the philosophy of Stoicism. Stoicism Philosophy can be used to change our lives and careers.

Focus on What Matters is a collection of 70 letters/essays the author wrote about different aspects of life, from happiness, wealth, health relationships, and much more.

These letters, inspired by the original works of the Stoic philosopher Seneca, serve as reminders to focus on the right things in our chaotic lives.

The goal of the original “Letters from A Stoic” by Seneca was to share Stoic ideas with his friend, Lucilius, who had hedonistic tendencies and lived a busy life.

Focus on What Matters is inspired by those letters. It will show you.
• 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝
• 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲
• 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
• 𝐀 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞

In short, this book helps you to live well despite the challenges of daily life.

𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒:

1. Embrace Your Mortality. Memento mori, the Roman Stoic practice of contemplating one’s own mortality, might seem morbid, but Foroux reframes it as a powerful motivator. By reminding ourselves of our impermanence, we prioritize what truly matters and shed the trivial distractions that clutter our lives.

2. Focus on Your Sphere of Control. The Stoics emphasized differentiating between what we can and cannot control. Foroux urges readers to accept external circumstances while focusing on our own thoughts, behaviors, and reactions. This empowers us to navigate challenges with greater serenity and agency.


3. Choose Your Values, Act Accordingly. Living a fulfilling life starts with identifying your core values. Foroux emphasizes aligning your actions and decisions with these values, even when faced with difficulty or temptation. This creates a sense of purpose and integrity that transcends fleeting circumstances.

4. Turn Obstacles into Opportunities. Difficulties are inevitable, but the Stoics saw them as opportunities for growth and resilience. Foroux encourages readers to reframe challenges as chances to hone their character, develop new skills, and deepen their understanding of the world.


5. Practice Gratitude, Relinquish Negativity. Appreciating the good things in life, big and small, fosters contentment and well-being. Foroux highlights the importance of cultivating gratitude, actively seeking out reasons to be thankful, and letting go of envy, resentment, and other negative emotions.

6. Live in the Present Moment. The past is gone, the future uncertain; the only true reality is the present moment. Foroux encourages readers to practice mindfulness, quieting the mind’s chatter and fully engaging with the here and now. This fosters peace, clarity, and a deeper appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.


7. Contribute to Something Larger Than Yourself. Finding purpose beyond oneself is a key tenet of Stoicism. Foroux emphasizes the importance of contributing to something larger than yourself, whether through family, community, work, or a cause you believe in. This sense of connection fosters meaning and fulfillment.

8. Identify your priorities: Take the time to reflect on what truly matters to you and what you want to achieve in life. This clarity will help you make better decisions and allocate your time and energy effectively.


9. Eliminate distractions: Minimize or eliminate distractions that hinder your focus and productivity. This includes reducing time spent on social media, turning off notifications, and creating a conducive environment for deep work.

10. Practice essentialism: Embrace the concept of essentialism, which means focusing on the vital few things that bring the most value and impact to your life. Say no to non-essential tasks and commitments.


11. Set clear goals: Define clear and specific goals that align with your priorities. This will help you stay focused and motivated, as well as measure your progress along the way.

12. Develop a routine: Establishing a daily routine can help you create structure and consistency in your life. It allows you to allocate time for your priorities and reduces decision fatigue.

13. Embrace minimalism: Simplify your life by decluttering physical possessions, digital clutter, and unnecessary commitments. This will free up mental space and allow you to focus on what truly matters.


14. Practice mindfulness: Cultivate mindfulness by being fully present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts, emotions, and surroundings. This helps you stay focused and make intentional choices.

15. Prioritize self-care: Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Prioritize activities like exercise, proper nutrition, quality sleep, and relaxation to maintain your energy and focus.


16. Learn to say no: Be selective about the commitments and opportunities you take on. Saying no to non-essential tasks or requests allows you to protect your time and focus on what truly matters.

17. Continuously evaluate and adjust: Regularly review your priorities, goals, and commitments. Adjust as needed to ensure you stay aligned with what truly matters to you.

[Karuna Sinh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Focus on What Matters by Darius Foroux was my pick for the month of August.
The book introduced me to the ancient practice of Stoicism, a philosophy shaped by great thinkers like Epictetus, Seneca and Marcus Aurelius. It's remarkable that two thousand years ago, Stoics shared the philosophy that is still relevant in today's chaotic times.
It encouraged me to rewire my mind to seek pleasure in my thoughts and inner life, while building a healthier balance between work, life, relationships and happiness. In the end, my sanity is equally important!!!
In the book, the author emphasised that "Stoic wisdom is not meant for show, display or persuasion. It is a personal practice, a genuine effort to live better." Winning the mental challenge in any situation means half the race is already won!!!

[Veenit Mavani · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is a collation of Darius's editorials on Stoicism and the short non-prescriptive style of writing makes it a light yet joyful read. The 70 odd chapters cover a wider variety of topics ranging from aspects within you and outside you. Given the wide variety of topics covered, there is definitely something that would resonate with you and make you ponder and re-look at your current situation in new light. The book intentionally doesn't have a table of contents, since it is supposed to be read based on topics that would come in handy for you NOW!

Overall enjoyed the read, and served as a good primer on Stoicism.