Thank you, Lou. You've given me something to mentally chew on... 🫂 Joy... what we tend to think of joy... is truly transitory. And when we don't feel it as often as we'd like, we tend to think that we're "failing at life." But contentment... That's something else altogether.
“But can you be fully content with your life, can you bravely face what life has in store from one day to the next, can you bounce back from every kind of adversity without losing a step, can you be a source of strength and inspiration to others around you? That’s Stoic joy — the joy that comes from purpose, excellence, and duty. It’s a serious thing — far more serious than a smile or a chipper voice.”
I think you've go the heart of it, Lou, when you write, "I think I may have been chasing happiness (or cheerfulness more like) all my life, when what I’m really after is what Seneca was talking about." That cell-deep feeling of what Seneca called "joy" is an internal thing, not a surface affect. And our culture does not encourage the kind of search for a life of meaning and purpose that can give rise to Seneca's joy. Yet here you are, finding your own path toward it. Kudos to you! And many blessings from my terriphilic corner of Substack.
I read somewhere, some time ago, that one reason (the reason?) our culture does not encourage that kind of "joy" is because it's hard to sell... not as an idea but as a commodity. Whereas there are tons of things for people to buy (and therefore for people to sell) to give us that surface-level happiness. Sounds true to my ears. Cheers always, Susan!
Sadly, that makes sense. It's also why physicians have been slow to adopt "Vitamin N" (time in nature) as a treatment for so many physical ills. Some physicians are writing prescriptions for time in nature, and it's making a different for their patients with things like depression, ADHD, high blood pressure and other chronic ills. But there's no way to charge for time in nature, so physicians don't get a kickback for prescribing it. Things don't make us happy or healthy, but they do make profits for the sellers. How messed up is that? Sigh.
I call myself an "active" student (practitioner, when I'm feeling confident about myself) of Stoicism and still, I find those principles hard to practice on the daily. ☺️ Cheers, Matthew!
My dad was a Stoic too, I think now. I see it also in my oldest brother! For myself, I’m working on the concept of radical acceptance to find peace and contentment in my daily living.
Thank you, Lou. You've given me something to mentally chew on... 🫂 Joy... what we tend to think of joy... is truly transitory. And when we don't feel it as often as we'd like, we tend to think that we're "failing at life." But contentment... That's something else altogether.
The word "contentment" doesn't sound as sexy as the others, but I think it's the real deal, the real goal. Cheers, Dawna!
This…
“But can you be fully content with your life, can you bravely face what life has in store from one day to the next, can you bounce back from every kind of adversity without losing a step, can you be a source of strength and inspiration to others around you? That’s Stoic joy — the joy that comes from purpose, excellence, and duty. It’s a serious thing — far more serious than a smile or a chipper voice.”
…is why I publish Living with Big Dreams.
Thank you, Lou. Your dad would be proud. ❤️
I think you've go the heart of it, Lou, when you write, "I think I may have been chasing happiness (or cheerfulness more like) all my life, when what I’m really after is what Seneca was talking about." That cell-deep feeling of what Seneca called "joy" is an internal thing, not a surface affect. And our culture does not encourage the kind of search for a life of meaning and purpose that can give rise to Seneca's joy. Yet here you are, finding your own path toward it. Kudos to you! And many blessings from my terriphilic corner of Substack.
I read somewhere, some time ago, that one reason (the reason?) our culture does not encourage that kind of "joy" is because it's hard to sell... not as an idea but as a commodity. Whereas there are tons of things for people to buy (and therefore for people to sell) to give us that surface-level happiness. Sounds true to my ears. Cheers always, Susan!
Sadly, that makes sense. It's also why physicians have been slow to adopt "Vitamin N" (time in nature) as a treatment for so many physical ills. Some physicians are writing prescriptions for time in nature, and it's making a different for their patients with things like depression, ADHD, high blood pressure and other chronic ills. But there's no way to charge for time in nature, so physicians don't get a kickback for prescribing it. Things don't make us happy or healthy, but they do make profits for the sellers. How messed up is that? Sigh.
I enjoyed the book and like the principles. Not sure if I have done well implementing them.
I call myself an "active" student (practitioner, when I'm feeling confident about myself) of Stoicism and still, I find those principles hard to practice on the daily. ☺️ Cheers, Matthew!
Love that book and all of Holiday's books and his exploration of Stoic thinking. Thanks for this!
Cheers!
My dad was a Stoic too, I think now. I see it also in my oldest brother! For myself, I’m working on the concept of radical acceptance to find peace and contentment in my daily living.
I wonder if your dad or brother would call themselves a Stoic? My dad probably wouldn't have. Cheers, Sally!
oh yes someone said the j word
Very thought provoking.
Cheers, Gail!