Introducing Simply Stoicism

Let’s start with the important stuff. Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading these words. Your time is valuable, important, and you could choose to spend it in 1,000 different ways. The fact that you choose to spend even a sliver of your time here in this niche corner of the digital world, reading about Stoicism and its potential to lead you toward a better life, is pretty incredible to me.

My name is Jon High. I’ve been reading about, practicing, and applying the lessons of Stoicism to my life for the past 10 years. I’m not being dramatic when I say I believe that Stoicism saved my life. And it continues to help me live a better, calmer, more fulfilling life every day.

My dream for this newsletter is that it gives you a compass for living a good life, simplifies ancient Stoic wisdom into actionable lessons and tips, and improves your life by even 1%.

Now, on to your first dose of Stoicism.

💡Stoic Lesson of The Week: What Even is Stoicism?

Picture this: You're having a perfectly good day when your coworker Dave (it's always Dave, isn't it?) spills his venti caramel macchiato all over you. And the best part? You have a big presentation in 30 minutes. Normal reaction? Internal screaming, followed by external screaming, followed by plotting Dave's social demise. But what if I told you there's a 2000-year-old philosophy that could help you look at your coffee-soaked self and think, "Well, this is unfortunate, but manageable" – and genuinely mean it?

That's Stoicism in action. Think of it as a mental framework that helps you navigate life's ups and downs with more grace and less stress. Pretty much, it’s the ancient guide to not losing your cool.

The ancient Stoics (including Marcus Aurelius – yes, the Roman emperor from Gladiator) believed that:

• We can't control events, but we can control our responses

• Most of our daily stresses are temporary and manageable

• True happiness comes from being a good person

• Our thoughts shape our experience of life

👊 How To Actually Use This:

When life throws you a curveball, try this three-step Stoic approach:

1. Pause. Take a breath. Create some space between the event and your reaction.

2. Get perspective: "How much will this matter in a month? A year?" (Spoiler: probably not)

3. Focus on what's in your control (your reaction) and let go of what isn't (Dave's caffeine-fueled butterfingers)

Think of it as developing an internal compass that helps you navigate emotional traffic jams.

📖 Story Time: The Emperor's Morning Struggle

Here's something relatable: Marcus Aurelius, emperor of Rome – essentially the ancient world's most powerful person – wrote in his journal about dealing with annoying people and struggling to get out of bed in the morning.

One day, feeling particularly unmotivated about his imperial duties, he wrote: "At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: 'I have to go to work – as a human being.'"

Imagine that. The most powerful guy in the world giving himself a pep talk about basic adulting. Ever think you’d find yourself relating to the emperor of Rome?

🤔 Takeaway:

Let’s dispel a common myth about Stoicism. It isn't about being an emotionless robot or pretending everything's cool when it's not. Instead, think of it as developing mental resilience – a practical approach to handling life's BS with more calm and less stress.

Next week: We'll explore techniques for developing present-moment awareness and emotional regulation using Stoic practices—fancy talk for how not to lose your shit.

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P.S. If this newsletter made you think (or smile… or cry), share it with someone who could use some philosophical life-proofing.