#379 Stoic Spas

Are More Like Hospitals (Check Yourself In Yet?)

In our last +1, we talked about how to give advice Seneca-style. Recall that he didn’t do it from a soapbox. He did with the humility of a friend in the hospital bed next to you.

(Pop quiz: You practice that approach yesterday in any potential advice-giving?)

Continuing our Stoics-in-a-hospital theme, how about a parallel idea from Epictetus?

Recall that Epictetus was a former slave turned philosopher-teacher to Rome’s elite young noblemen. He had a great teaching style. Super intense. Funny. No nonsense.

In The Discourses, he tells us (via one of his students who did the actual writing; thank you, Arrian) that his lectures should feel more like a trip to the HOSPITAL than a trip to the SPA. (Laughing.)

In other words, Epictetus considered effective philosophy (and certainly effective teaching of Stoic philosophy) to feel more than a little uncomfortable.

We need to be willing to cut through the stuff that isn’t working. And, sometimes that feels more like surgery than a massage.

So, Today’s +1.

Anything in your life that could use a little surgical removal?

Awesome.

I’m over here in a matching gown wishing you luck with your procedure as I engage in mine!

(Let’s do this!!)

Unlock this Heroic +1 (and over 1,000 more)!

Create your account to get more wisdom in less time. Personal development made simple so you can flourish in energy, work, and love. Today.

Sign Up Today