Stoicism

Stoicism is an ancient Greek philosophy that teaches the cultivation of inner peace, virtue, and resilience by focusing only on what we can control and accepting what we cannot. Founded by Zeno of Citium and later advanced by thinkers like Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, Stoicism emphasizes reason, ethical living, and emotional discipline. Rather than suppressing emotion, Stoicism encourages facing life’s challenges with clarity, courage, and composure—seeing obstacles as opportunities for growth and living in alignment with one’s values regardless of circumstance.

Rooted and Consequential: Stoic Wisdom for Life’s Transitions

June 2, 2025June 2, 2025 B. John 951 Views 0 Comments Contemplation, Praxis, Action

This entry is part 5 of 50 in the series Journey Through Stoicism

In a recent sermon titled Trusting God in Life’s Transitions, my pastor, Rev. Magrey deVega, offered a line that I had to write down: “Actions without contemplation are unrooted, and contemplation without action is inconsequential.” For me, this landed in the middle of a personal storm. I find myself in a significant life transition. I’ve been warned of a likely layoff. My company is a federal contractor, and with contracts drying up, so might my role. While I’ve technically reached retirement age, I’m still eight months shy of qualifying for my full benefits age. I love what I do. I’m healthy and engaged, and I still have more to offer. But I’m also not as financially prepared as I wish I were. And I know—painfully well—the ageism that exists in the job market. It’s a lot to sit with.

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Summum Bonum: Navigating Life by the Highest Good

June 1, 2025May 30, 2025 B. John 969 Views 0 Comments Kindness, Highest Good, Holiness

This entry is part 4 of 50 in the series Journey Through Stoicism

In a world that constantly shouts at us—“Buy this! Be that! Hurry up!”—It’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters. New trends, metrics, or moral panics are always trying to claim your time and energy. This raises a profound question: What is truly worth living for? The pursuit of the highest good is not simple. It demands something of us—sometimes a great deal. It requires saying no when saying yes would be easier. It calls for patience when the world rewards immediate reactions. It demands courage when fear would be much more convenient. But it is also freeing. When you let go of the need to gain everyone’s approval, avoid every mistake, or secure every possible outcome, you begin to live with more peace, not because your life is perfect, but because your intent is clear.

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The Obstacle Is the Way: Facing the Future When the Road Changes

May 30, 2025May 30, 2025 B. John 1005 Views 2 Comments Stoics, Stoicism, Job, Obstacles, Challenges, Encouragement

This entry is part 3 of 50 in the series Journey Through Stoicism

So this is where I stand: older, yes, but not done. Not stuck. Just at the next bend in the road. It’s not the one I expected. But I’m learning, little by little, to see it not as a detour but as a direction. If you’re in a similar place, wondering if you’re too late, too tired, too tangled in the “should haves,” let me offer this: You are not behind. You are not disqualified. You are standing right where your next beginning begins. “The obstacle is the way.”

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The Gift of Memento Mori

May 28, 2025May 30, 2025 B. John 3154 Views 3 Comments Friends, Family, life, Friendship, Memento Mori

This entry is part 2 of 50 in the series Journey Through Stoicism

That phrase—Memento Mori—means “remember that you must die.” It’s an old Stoic meditation, not meant to provoke dread but to awaken us… and remind us not to sleepwalk through our lives. The Stoic philosopher Seneca put it this way: “Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing.”