StoiCast With Max V. EP31 - Week Thirty One - Act With Reservation

StoiCast With Max V. EP31 - Week Thirty One - Act With Reservation

Sometimes we fail when we try to offer help. This can take a toll on us. Darnell has been politically active, working toward police accountability in his community. If it weren’t for his dedication to the issue, he would have quit by now. He’s talked to local politicians, organized a local activist group, and published a few op-ed pieces on the subject. But he still hasn’t seen significant movement. Though the Stoics realized that much of the world isn’t in our complete control, it didn’t stop them from trying to improve the world. How do Stoics act for the greater good despite setbacks?

StoiCast With Max V. EP30 - Week Thirty - Political Good

Whether reading the news or looking around your neighborhood, it’s not hard to see many things wrong with the world. Sometimes these problems can seem insurmountable. And sometimes they actually are. An assassination attempt didn’t stop Malala Yousafzai from continuing her work on education rights, whereas it may easily have stopped others. While we can’t all be Malala, we can do what we’re able to attempt to make the world around us a little better. This week, you’ll take a step or two in that direction.

StoiCast With Max V. EP29 - Week Twenty Nine - Review Your Actions

Have you ever had trouble falling asleep because you’re rehashing something you did earlier that day that you regret? Niamh has. She lost her temper at her husband for not taking care of the dishes yet again. Yes, she’d had a long day, and yes, he does neglect his share of things frequently. But instead of working things out, she turned to insults that clearly hurt him and that she now regrets. Niamh doesn’t normally act out like this, and she can’t help but berate herself about her loss of composure. Fortunately the Stoics have a method that allows you to look at and learn from, rather than dwell on, your past actions.

StoiCast With Max V. EP28 - Week Twenty Eight - Sage On Your Shoulder

It can be hard to know how to act without guidance. John could have used some when dealing with teenagers, who, he knew, could be a handful. Growing pains. Rebellion. It’s all part of the experience, right? But knowing this hasn’t helped John manage his son Brian’s recent troubles in school. Brian’s falling grades are concerning, but the fight Brian started with the guidance counselor today is beyond the pale. As John considers his son’s actions, his astonishment and anger rise. How can Stoicism help John with his anger and guide his reactions to his son’s behavior?

StoiCast With Max V. EP27 - Week Twenty Seven - Opposite Of Anger

When we’re angry, we may think that venting will help, partly because it often feels good to vent. This is exactly why Kofi started venting his anger—after a lifetime of keeping his feelings bottled up, releasing them felt good. But it had a nasty side effect, as with many things that can feel good: He started venting anger more and more, which led to strained relationships, in turn leading to more venting, creating a vicious cycle. Modern psychology and the ancient Stoics have similar explanations for why this vicious cycle occurs, and the Stoics offer several methods for countering it. This week, you’ll be exploring one of those techniques.