The Daily Stoic

[DISCLAIMER]

As Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT) is informed by Stoic philosophy, this blog entry is part of an ongoing series regarding a book entitled The Daily Stoic: 366 Meditations on Wisdom, Perseverance, and the Art of Living by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman.

The current blogpost is the first in this series. Regarding the introduction to The Daily Stoic, the authors state (page 9):

Indeed, it would be hard to find a word dealt a greater injustice at the hands of the English language than “Stoic.” To the average person, this vibrant, action-oriented, and paradigm-shifting way of living has become shorthand for “emotionlessness.”

Concerning this perspective, I stated in a blogpost entitled Close Enough:

It’s also worth noting that not everyone appreciates a Stoic approach to life. For instance, one source states:

Stoic-ness exists as a pillar of traditional masculinity alongside competitiveness, dominance, and aggression. The ‘ideal’ man is supposed to be rational and indifferent to crises at all times. However, the emotional labor of portraying a stoic, masculine ideal is a ticking time bomb for physical and mental distress.

One imagines the source vilifies Stoic principles while favoring irrationality and emotionality in the face of adversity. My Stoic reply to this interpreted stance is, so be it. In defense of Stoicism, a separate source states:

The events of the world may be put into two categories: those that we can control and those we cannot. Practicing Stoics recognize the difference and choose not to be affected by those events which are beyond their control. This puts their personal happiness in their own hands.

Stoicism empowers people to establish mastery over how they react to situations.

Regarding this perspective, the authors state (page 9), “Our goal with this book is to restore Stoicism to its rightful place as a tool in the pursuit of self-mastery, perseverance, and wisdom: something one uses to live a great life, rather than some esoteric field of academic inquiry.”

Addressing mental, emotional, and behavioral health (collectively “mental health”) care, REBT draws upon existentialist, humanist, and Stoic philosophy. In reference to the latter, I stated in a blogpost entitled A Philosophical Approach to Mental Health:

The work of Stoic philosophers which influenced REBT includes Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, Seneca, and others. Regarding these ancient philosophers, the late psychologist who developed REBT, Albert Ellis, stated:

My main influences were philosophical. I happened to have a hobby of philosophy since the age of 16. There were some cognitive influences but I really got my main theory that people largely upset themselves, from ancient philosophers, some of the Asians, but mainly from the Greeks and Romans.

The main philosophical technique used in REBT is unconditional acceptance (UA). Additionally, REBT makes use of scientific principles. For instance, the ABC model employs the scientific method. The former is generally abstract while the latter is a more concrete approach to wellness.

Rather than using psychoeducational lessons to teach people “emotionlessness,” “competitiveness, dominance, and aggression,” or to be “indifferent to crises at all times,” authors of The Daily Stoic state (page 10):

The [Stoic] philosophy asserts that virtue (meaning, chiefly, the four cardinal virtues of self-control, courage, justice, and wisdom) is happiness, and it is our perceptions of things—rather than the things themselves—that cause most of our trouble. Stoicism teaches that we can’t control or rely on anything outside what Epictetus called our “reasoned choice”—our ability to use our reason to choose how we categorize, respond, and reorient ourselves to external events.

I’ve served as a life coach and psychotherapist long enough at this point in my life to understand that people maintain different morals and ethics. Therefore, I find value in inviting people to consider Stoic virtues, though I don’t unproductively demand that they absolutely must do so.

Worth considering, I stated in a blog entry entitled Eudaimonia, “Regarding this ancient philosophical endeavor, one source states: Following Socrates and Aristotle, the Stoics were interested in eudaimonia – a life worth living or a flourishing life.”

Given this outlook – in consideration of the existentialist perspective regarding the impermanent and uncertain nature of life, as every living thing will one day die – one of my roles as an REBT practitioner is to teach people how to live. Of this, the authors state (page 10):

One of the analogies favored by the Stoics to describe their philosophy was that of a fertile field. Logic was the protective fence, physics was the field, and the crop that all this produced was ethics—or how to live. As Stoicism progressed, however, it focused primarily on two of these topics—logic and ethics.

This isn’t to suggest that REBT practitioners or people who put Stoic philosophy into practice have the “right” or “superior” method of living. Rather, such individuals think critically and adjust their perspectives accordingly. As an example, authors of The Daily Stoic ask (page 11):

“What is the best way to live?” “What do I do about my anger?” “What are my obligations to my fellow human beings?” “I’m afraid to die; why is that?” “How can I deal with the difficult situations I face?” “How should I handle the success or power I hold?”

By asking disputational questions of one’s own assumptions, a self-determined and autonomous individual may then consider how when undesirable Activating events occur and one unhelpfully Believes something about these situations, unpleasant Consequences will inevitably follow.

This ABC model approach to rational living, while scientific in its construct, incorporates UA into the method so that people can try to conclude their own answers to critical questions. Regarding this matter, The Daily Stoic authors state (page 11):

In their writings—often private letters or diaries—and in their lectures, the Stoics struggled to come up with real, actionable answers. They ultimately framed their work around a series of exercises in three critical disciplines:

The Discipline of Perception (how we see and perceive the world around us)

The Discipline of Action (the decisions and actions we take—and to what end)

The Discipline of Will (how we deal with the things we cannot change, attain clear and convincing judgment, and come to a true understanding of our place in the world)

By controlling our perceptions, the Stoics tell us, we can find mental clarity. In directing our actions properly and justly, we’ll be effective. In utilizing and aligning our will, we will find the wisdom and perspective to deal with anything the world puts before us.

It was their belief that by strengthening themselves and their fellow citizens in these disciplines, they could cultivate resilience, purpose, and even joy.

One thing I appreciate regarding this perspective is that the authors highlight how Stoics advocated “strengthening themselves and their fellow citizens.” Contrary to misconception narratives about Stoicism, the Stoics taught individuals how to live well within societies.

Thus, the REBT philosophical approach to mental health isn’t concerned with selfishness, narcissism, or indifference toward the plight of others. Rather, it focuses on building resilience when living with others. Addressing this matter in a blog entry entitled Cowboy Up, I stated:

One source states that “like Stoicism, REBT is a tough-minded philosophy that holds up well when your worst nightmare or adversity occurs.” As such, building resilience through the experience of suffering is something I appreciate.

In closing, authors of The Daily Stoic state, “Stoicism took aim at the unpredictable nature of everyday life and offered a set of practical tools meant for daily use,” and, “One day is as all days, as the Stoics liked to say” (page 11). With this outlook, I offer The Daily Stoic blog category.

If you’re looking for a provider who tries to work to help understand how thinking impacts physical, mental, emotional, and behavioral elements of your life—helping you to sharpen your critical thinking skills, I invite you to reach out today by using the contact widget on my website.

As a psychotherapist, I’m pleased to try to help people with an assortment of issues ranging from anger (hostility, rage, and aggression) to relational issues, adjustment matters, trauma experience, justice involvement, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety and depression, and other mood or personality-related matters.

At Hollings Therapy, LLC, serving all of Texas, I aim to treat clients with dignity and respect while offering a multi-lensed approach to the practice of psychotherapy and life coaching. My mission includes: Prioritizing the cognitive and emotive needs of clients, an overall reduction in client suffering, and supporting sustainable growth for the clients I serve. Rather than simply trying to help you to feel better, I want to try to help you get better!

Deric Hollings, LPC, LCSW

Photo credit, fair use

References:

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Hollings, D. (2023, October 2). Morals and ethics. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/morals-and-ethics

Hollings, D. (2024, April 22). On disputing. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-disputing

Hollings, D. (2023, September 3). On feelings. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-feelings

Hollings, D. (2024, June 17). On free will. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-free-will

Hollings, D. (2024, June 16). On virtue. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/on-virtue

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Hollings, D. (2024, May 8). Resilience. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/resilience

Hollings, D. (2025, January 15). Satisfaction. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/satisfaction

Hollings, D. (2024, May 26). Self-determination and autonomy. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/self-determination-and-autonomy

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Hollings, D. (2025, January 2). The choice is yours. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-choice-is-yours

Hollings, D. (2025, January 2). The distinction between law and justice. Hollings Therapy, LLC. Retrieved from https://www.hollingstherapy.com/post/the-distinction-between-law-and-justice

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