Practical Stoicism in daily life

We’ll meet outside the The Kiosk, opposite the Armagh Street footbridge entrance to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens. We’ll wander around the gardens and chat about applying practical aspects of Stoicism in daily life. You can grab a coffee from Lucky Duck café (next to The Kiosk), or a short stroll away at ilex café. You’re welcome to bring your kids along and we can stop by the playground and continue our conversation while they play. In Stoic tradition, if something disrupts the scheduled event, we’ll adapt. See Plan your visit to the Botanic Gardens for details on getting to the Gardens.

Purpose: We’ll discuss the first steps in putting the core concepts of Stoic philosophy into practice and how Christchurch Stoics can assist you to build resilience and live a fulfilling life.

Stoics philosophy is simple and practical, although the surviving texts don’t provide a step-by-step course of study. While it is necessary to learn some theory, putting the concepts and principles into practice (“doing the work”) is essential for you to get the benefits.

In our recent survey, respondents are interested the following types of meetings:

A practical workgroup, discussing the application of Stoic principles in daily life (100%)
Occasional workshop / training events (86%)
Book group, discussing the writings of the Stoics and modern authors (71%)
The ultimate aim of studying philosophy was to attain eudaimonia, which has a richer meaning than simply happiness. More literally, it implies “having one’s inner being in a good state.” Other modern translations include flourishing and well-being. It is attained by living a life in accordance with Nature, via the four cardinal virtues (excellences of character) of courage, practical wisdom, moderation, and justice (fairness).

As a pre-meeting exercise, consider this extract from first chapter of the Enchiridion (Handbook) of Epictetus (or listen to free audiobook version):

Some things are under our control [up to us], while others are not under our control [not up to us]. Under our control are conception, choice, desire, aversion, and, in a word, everything that is our own doing; not under our control are our body, our property, reputation, office, and, in a word, everything that is not our own doing. Furthermore, the things under our control are by nature free, unhindered, and unimpeded; while the things not under our control are weak, servile, subject to hindrance, and not our own. Remember, therefore, that if what is naturally slavish you think to be free, and what is not your own to be your own, you will be hampered, will grieve, will be in turmoil, and will blame both gods and men; while if you think only what is your own to be your own, and what is not your own to be, as it really is, not your own, then no one will ever be able to exert compulsion upon you, no one will hinder you, you will blame no one, will find fault with no one, will do absolutely nothing against your will, you will have no personal enemy, no one will harm you, for neither is there any harm that can touch you.

You might find the modern translation, The Urban Enchiridion (text and audio), to be easier to understand.