Philip > Recent Status Updates

15 February

When we are in a dream we don't stop and think if it makes sense, we just go along with it. So why, then, do we take seriously dreams while we're awake, dreams of something bad happening or failing at something. Shake these things away as you do dreams.

14 February

We all have the intelligence to solve any problem and any task we face, but we often use our emotions instead. Let us focus on our intelligence and actually use it.

13 February

If we're cheating on a diet one day or smoking or drinking, instead of trying to stop, try to overindulge. Try to eat or smoke or drink all at once, and you'll see how you quickly regret it. Let abstaining be a pleasure and indulging be nauseous.

12 February

We should use stoicism to stay calm in difficult situations, but sometimes some situations require us to simply move away from them and preserve our energy for things that truly matter.

11 January

Power corrupts, but we do not know if it always does so, and if it corrupts to the same extent. Nero and Domitian were tyrant emperors, while Hadrian and Marcus Aurelius were restrained kings, which will you be to yourself and to others?

10 February

Anger is a powerful fuel, but a toxic one. Anger can help us overcome obstacles and improve ourselves, but the cost is too high to be worthwhile. Anger destroys us from within until there is nothing left but to consume at ourselves.

9 February

Do you get upset when something bad happens but you never knew about it? No, because you didn't know about it, so let's harness that power for things we do know about. Not everything must upset us.

8 February

When we throw things and break things over strong emotions - rage, depression, grief - is that helping or actually harmful? That is harmful and we need to stop and do something helpful.

7 February

Fear, paranoia, and a conspiratorial mind are often a dangerous and often backfire on the paranoid person leading to what they feared becoming true and what they fought against coming back to haunt them.

6 February

The wise man doesn't seek out strife and danger for no reason, but only endure and persevere through them for an appropriate reason.

5 February

Whenever an impulse arises in you, control it first before you act on it and think: Who is in control here? What principles are guiding me?

4 February

If you want to be invincible, you simply need to put everything outside your reasoning to one side and not get bothered by it.

3 February

When we get anxious, it's because of something outside our control. Next time you feel anxious ask yourself, is this helpful? is the anxiety in charge of me?

2 February

We are independent humans, we do not simply accept someone coming in and telling us what to do or how to do it. So then, why do we let our impulses boss us around and 'forcing' us to get mad, to argue, to eat unhealthily, or to get sad? Let us be in control of ourselves.

February
Passions and Emotions

1st February

Anger isn't strength. Why does a boxer try to goad the other into anger? Because they know that an opponent who is controlled by emotions - instead of controlling their emotions - is a weaker opponent, and therefore easier to beat.
Let's remain in control of our emotions and stop thinking anger is somehow 'masculine'.

31 January

Stoic philosophy is like medicine for the soul, so whenever we feel stressed or overwhelmed let us consult with it to be better.

30 January

You do not have to be informed about every last detail of the news, sports, gossip, or popular TV show. Don't be afraid to say 'I don't know' and you will gain more time for yourself and things that matter.

29 January

Choose today to stop overthinking and start doing your task ahead, you'll think about the rest when you come to it.

28 January

Pick a wise person to follow, philosopher or anyone, and do as they do, and importantly, don't do as they don't do.

27 January

Desires and aversions

Impulses to act or not to

Freedom from deception and composure

These three things are what any wise or good person must work on if they wish to improve, and not separately but together as they cannot be broken apart.

26 January

We should have a mantra, a short phrase, word, or even sound, that we can say in difficult moments to bring us back to stoic virtue.

25 January

What we need and care about determines what we must strive to do, so the more we want the more we have to work to achieve it and the less we can live with. So let us strive to want only the necessary.

24 January

Everything we read, read it as though the author was always questionable, because they are as humans. Do not accept anything at first reading, truly digest it, and if you do find it true, then embrace it completely.

23 January

No external material possession will fix our internal issues, and so no amount of wealth will fix ourselves. Remember this and you will avoid a lot of trying and failing.

22 January

What bad habit did I curb today? How am I better? Were my actions just? How can I improve?
The stoics ask themselves this every day.

21 January

Every morning, before starting your day, ask yourself the same tough questions.
What am I missing in getting rid of addictions?
How to be calm?
What am I?
What is asked of me?
How am I so far from serenity?
What did I do that was unfriendly or uncaring?
What did I fail to do in all of the above?

20 January

We may stray away from the principles of stoic philosophy, there's no shame in that, but that doesn't mean we can't pick it back up at any moment so why not not?

19 January

Our choices are the most important things in life, no matter the place where we make them.

18 January

Marcus Aurelius gives us some beautiful phrases to see the beauty even in places no one else does. Let's try to do that ourselves.

17 January

The job of the teacher is is to offer all the knowledge they have. The job of the student is to work on what's being taught. Do not use excuses of 'It doesn't matter' or 'I wasn't even trying'.