01/27/2026
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.”-Marcus Aurelius Deb and I study and put into practice Stoicism, an ancient philosophy that teaches us to focus
on what we can control, let go of what we cannot, and the goal is to respond to life with more
calm, clarity and intention. At its heart, Stoicism is about living with virtue, resilience, and
gratitude. Opportunities will always arise in life, sometimes challenging, that allow us to put in
the work. Ryan Holliday has written several books on the subject including “The Daily Stoic”
which has short daily ideas that are practical and relatable for everyday living. As an example, i
will read something that Ryan posted previously.
Seven Stoic Don’ts =
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. Don’t be overheard complaining-not even to yourself- Marcus Aurelius
Don’t talk more than you listen-2 ears one mouth- Zeno
Don’t tie your identity to things you own-because those things are fragile and can be taken
from you at any moment
Don’t compare yourself to others-comparison is the thief of joy-
Don’t suffer imagined troubles-it will either happen or it won’t- don’t suffer before you need
to-Seneca
Don’t judge other people- you mess up to
Don’t overindulge in food or drink-this is the idea of temperance or balance or the right
amount
Some great advise from Ryan at The Daily Stoic. Give these Don’ts a try and see how you feel:)
