Author: donald

Time projection can be an easy way to use cognitive therapy at home I began practicing as a psychotherapist in the mid-1990s. I studied many different approaches. I used to train other therapists and became known as a psychological “techniques guy” because I was fascinated by the variety of psychological strategies and tactics we can… Continue reading Time Projection in Stoicism and CBT

What did Marcus Aurelius say about our reasons to be cheerful? Live your whole life through free from all constraint and with utmost joy in your heart… — Meditations, 7.68 Many people assume that ancient Stoic philosophers such as the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius were a grave and joyless lot. However, that’s a misconception. In… Continue reading Medium: Three Sources of Joy in Stoicism

In the fourth century BC, a giant was born among Athenian orators. When he spoke, it’s said his words struck listeners like the blazing thunderbolts of Zeus. And his name was… The Anus.Or rather, as a youth, the other children called him this, Batalus in Greek, because of his speech impediment, as Batalus could also… Continue reading Medium: The Father of Oratory

Contemplating love, loss, and mortality If you are kissing your child or wife, say that it is a human being [a mortal] whom you are kissing, for thus when they die, you will not be disturbed. — Epictetus This is of the most notorious passages in the ancient Stoic literature. It comes from the famous… Continue reading Medium: How to kiss like Stoicism?

[Socrates] was the first to go out as a soldier, when it was necessary, and in war he exposed himself to danger most unsparingly. — Epictetus Most people have heard of Socrates, the ancient Athenian philosopher. However, few of us visualize him as a soldier, despite the fact that it’s known for certain that he… Continue reading Poster Design: Socrates as Soldier

Social anxiety is the generic term that psychologists use to describe nerves about public speaking and other interpersonal situations. When I was a teenager, I was very anxious about speaking. I remember asking my older sister, Sheila, to call an employer for me about a job interview because I was too nervous to do it… Continue reading How to Improve Social Anxiety

There are several forthcoming virtual conferences on Stoicism, which you might be interested to know about. These are all nonprofit events, organized by volunteers. So please help spread the word by sharing the links with friends or groups online. Marcus Aurelius Anniversary Conference Virtual conference on the life and Stoicism of Marcus Aurelius, open to… Continue reading Forthcoming Stoicism Events

One of the most celebrated physicians and medical researchers of the ancient world, Galen of Pergamon, wrote a book about mental illness, called On Passions and Errors of the Soul. The passion considered most dangerous by Galen and other ancient writers is anger. That’s because anger is, in a sense, the most interpersonal of emotions. It poses… Continue reading Medium: How Stoicism Cures Anger