Stoicism 101 | Nancy Sherman

Stoicism 101 | Nancy Sherman

New episodes come out every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for free, with 1-week early access for Wondery+ subscribers.

---

What ancient Greeks and Romans figured out about stress reduction.

You may have heard about stoicism, in the common parlance, as having a stiff upper lip, sucking it up, grinning and bearing it, suppressing your emotions, etcetera. Or you may have heard of Stoicism, the ancient Greco/Roman philosophy, that has become the de rigeur set of life hacks among millennial self-optimizers.

In this episode, guest Nancy Sherman argues that Stoicism is way deeper than any of that. She will argue that, in fact, Stoicism is kind of the opposite of all the above. It's a way to truly know your patterns of thought and emotion.

Nancy Sherman is a Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University. She is an expert in ethics, the history of moral philosophy, moral psychology, military ethics, and emotions. Her most recent book is called Stoic Wisdom: Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience.

This episode is a rebroadcast from 2021: it's one of our most-listened episodes, and we thought it might be particularly useful in this time of election-related stress.

In this conversation, we:

  • cover the basics of Stoicism,
  • how and why capital "S" Stoicism is often misinterpreted,
  • a meditation practice called "premeditation of evils," which is far more practical than it may sound,
  • and another practice designed to make you feel "at home in the world".


Content Warning: There is a brief reference to suicide.


Related Episodes:

Ancient Strategies for Managing Stress & Anxiety | Ryan Holiday


Sign up for Dan's weekly newsletter here

Follow Dan on social: Instagram, TikTok

Ten Percent Happier online bookstore

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Our favorite playlists on: Anxiety, Sleep, Relationships, Most Popular Episodes


Full Shownotes: https://www.happierapp.com/podcast/tph/nancy-sherman-rerun

Additional Resources:


Episoder(1013)

Buddhist Monks On: Letting Go of Shame, The Opposite of Depression, and Dealing With Criticism | Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho

Buddhist Monks On: Letting Go of Shame, The Opposite of Depression, and Dealing With Criticism | Ajahn Kovilo and Ajahn Nisabho

Plus, staying sane in a crazy world, giving tough feedback, and how to orient to the dumpster fire of the news. Ajahn Kovilo Bhikkhu and Ajahn Nisabho are North American-born, Theravada monks who foun...

18 Mar 1h 11min

The Science of Emotion Regulation: Strategies for When You're Anxious, Angry, or Comparing Yourself To Others | Marc Brackett

The Science of Emotion Regulation: Strategies for When You're Anxious, Angry, or Comparing Yourself To Others | Marc Brackett

Yale emotional intelligence expert on how to deal with other people's emotions (and your own). Marc Brackett, Ph.D. is the author of Dealing with Feeling: Use Your Emotions to Create the Life You Want...

16 Mar 1h 8min

Anderson Cooper and Michelle Obama: Navigating Grief, Making Loss Less Lonely, and How to Know the People You Love Before It's Too Late

Anderson Cooper and Michelle Obama: Navigating Grief, Making Loss Less Lonely, and How to Know the People You Love Before It's Too Late

What Anderson learned from losing everyone he loved, what we owe our parents, and how grief shapes all of us--a conversation from the podcast "IMO." On IMO, siblings Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson ...

13 Mar 1h 11min

Five Ways to be Less Distracted | Shaila Catherine

Five Ways to be Less Distracted | Shaila Catherine

Practical Buddhist strategies to focus the mind.   Shaila Catherine is a dharma teacher and author of the book titled "Beyond Distraction: Five Practical Ways to Focus the Mind." She authored two addi...

11 Mar 1h 10min

The Neuroscience of Reducing Chronic Pain and Everyday Addictions | Eric Garland

The Neuroscience of Reducing Chronic Pain and Everyday Addictions | Eric Garland

Plus: How to "turn down the volume" on suffering, how to reframe your problems, and the clinical evidence for "stopping and smelling the roses."   Eric Garland, PhD, LCSW is Endowed Professor in Healt...

9 Mar 58min

How To Stop Getting Dragged Around By Your Anxieties, Thought Loops, and Insecurities | Sebene Selassie

How To Stop Getting Dragged Around By Your Anxieties, Thought Loops, and Insecurities | Sebene Selassie

Plus: How to find practices that work for you, what "mindfulness" actually means, and a new audiobook out now. Sebene Selassie has been meditating for decades, survived cancer three times, and still s...

6 Mar 21min

The Funniest Conversation You'll Ever Hear About Achieving Inner Peace | Pete Holmes

The Funniest Conversation You'll Ever Hear About Achieving Inner Peace | Pete Holmes

The comedian on: connecting instead of separating, feeling whole, and the upside of being an affirmation addict. Pete Holmes is a stand-up comedian, writer, and actor. He created and starred in HBO's ...

4 Mar 1h 10min

Harvard Business School Professor on Building Trust, Reducing Regret, and the Underrated Power of Oversharing | Leslie John

Harvard Business School Professor on Building Trust, Reducing Regret, and the Underrated Power of Oversharing | Leslie John

The brain benefits of self-disclosure, the costs of staying silent, and how to know what to reveal and when. Leslie John is the James E. Burke Professor of Business Administration at the Harvard Busin...

2 Mar 1h 10min

Populært innen Helse

fastlegen
hvordan-har-du-det-mann
lydartikler-fra-aftenposten
rss-gukild-johaug
psykodrama
relasjonspodden-med-dora-thorhallsdottir-kjersti-idem
rss-garne-damer
leger-om-livet
foreldreradet
morten-ramm-lar-kakla-ga-til-du-sovner
bak-fasaden-en-reise-i-livet-med-sykepleier-ine
hjernesterk
rss-sunn-okonomi
rss-lopedrommen
klimaks
helsetipspodden
hormonelle-frida
g-punktet
sinnsyn
biohacking-girls-din-podcast-for-optimal-helse