Indeed, in the events of just the last few years, we have lived, like the Stoics, through all the hallmarks of history…extreme stress¹, adversity, chaos, and dysfunction. Life is tough…and it gets tougher. What did the Stoics do when this happened? They didn't stress. They didn't get scared. They turned to their philosophy and fell back on their training.
Because, as Seneca said, that's what it was there for, to offer counsel, advice, perspective. When all is lost, William Alexander Percy wrote of Stoicism, "it stands fast." The Stoics found confidence in their preparation. They knew that stressful situations are like the fire that forges gold. Even more, it is how gold is tested—whether it's real or counterfeit. And they knew the long history of this philosophy stands up well underneath unimaginable stress.
¹Inspired by these last few difficult years, we've assembled the best Stoic wisdom into an actionable course—Slay Your Stress: A Daily Stoic Challenge. So far it's been an incredible success—we heard from more people after its debut in 2020 than almost anything we've produced.
The new 20-day challenge, which includes 6 new days, is designed to equip you with the strategies and mindsets needed to reclaim your life from the negative effects of stress and anxiety. In addition to the most actionable ways to manage your stress and anxiety (backed by thousands of years of research and practice), there will be 3 live video sessions with Ryan Holiday.
Gregory Hays, one of Marcus Aurelius's best translators, writes, "If he had to be identified with a particular school, [Stoicism] is surely the one he would have chosen. Yet I suspect that if asked what it was that he studied, his answer would not have been 'Stoicism' but simply 'philosophy.'" He then notes that in the ancient world, "philosophy" was not perceived the way it is today. It played a much different role. "It was not merely a subject to write or argue about," Hays writes, "but one that was expected to provide a 'design for living'—a set of rules to live one's life by."
"There's so many things I've taken from working on these books. Even though they're children's books, it made me reread the Stoic writings and re-examine. For all practical purposes—I knew about Stoicism since high school—but really did not get into until you called me up for The Boy Who Would Be King. And then that became a deep dive. And I've got to say: in many ways, especially psychologically and just looking at life as it's getting crazier and crazier, it's been invaluable. It's been a lifesaver."
"As she became an internationally acclaimed author, Octavia Butler was often asked for her advice to young writers. She always said that the most important thing was to write every day, whether you feel like it or not. 'Screw inspiration,' she said."
