Stoicism & MGTOW, The Dynamic Duo

[LogibearParticipant 18]

Stoic Philosophy teaches the development of self-control as a means of overcoming destructive emotions. Learning to separate what you can and cannot control and then only concerning yourself with the latter to try and achieve tranquility is a key part of the philosophy. Just as MGTOW is opening minds and changing lives for the better, Stoicism has done much the same for some of the greatest men known to history. Famous Stoics such as Marcus Aurelius (Emperor of Rome from 161-180), Ulysses S. Grant (18th President of the United States) and countless others, all benefited greatly from the practices and principles of Stoicism. All of us MGTOW could learn something from this practical philosophy and integrate it to further enrich and fulfill our lives.

“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power or our will. ”
― Epictetus

[HitmanParticipant]

We have a number of stoic s here. .I am a novice at it..always learning tho..

[KeymasterKeymaster]

Way to make an entrance @logibear. Welcome to the Forums.

Logibear wrote:

“There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease worrying about things which are beyond the power or our will. ”
― Epictetus

Hitman wrote:

Always learning

Pity they don’t teach this life lesson early in school. My father was a great example of that (stoic). My mother is not. She worried about EVERYTHING before it happened. “But what if it snows. But what if it rains. But what if you go outside with wet hair. But what if a big fish bites your hook and pulls you under.” She really said that once. We have been making fun of her for that one ever since.

I swear to god, she is an expert at instilling paranoia worrying about things before they happen. It was one thing I had to consciously de-program myself to stop doing over many years. NOW she tries the same s~~~ and I might say “ok stop it” or “that’s enough” or “who cares”…and she thinks I’m being cruel.

It drives some people crazy when they can’t make you care about s~~~ before it happens. Enjoy watching them blow a fuse.

If you keep doing what you've always done... you're gonna keep getting what you always got.

[PistolPeteParticipant 27143]

Excellent post and excellent advice. Welcome Brother!

[Mr. ManParticipant 2916]

The more I read about stoicism the more interested in it I become. And that’s because of the men on this site.

Welcome, Logibear.

[LogibearParticipant 18]

@hitman

Hitman wrote:

We have a number of stoics here. .I am a novice at it..always learning tho..

I’m no expert either. It’s not about being able to blurt out stoic quotes at will. It’s about practicing the philosophy for yourself. That being said, I do recall a quote saying something to that effect.. I think Seneca or Epictetus said it hahaha.

Ryan Holiday’s books “The Daily Stoic”, “The Obstacle is the Way” and “Ego is the Enemy” are very helpful as they put the quotes and maxims of the Stoic philosophers into context. I also enjoyed “A Guide to the Good Life” By William B. Irvine. If you’re not into reading, I find audiobooks to work out awesome.

[LogibearParticipant 18]

Thanks Everyone!

[Mr. ManParticipant 2916]

Logibear wrote:

I also enjoyed “A Guide to the Good Life” By William B. Irvine.

I just bought this. Thank you for the recommendation. I also found this excellent blog authored by Massimo Pigliucci, How to Be a Stoic.

[LogibearParticipant 18]

Awesome! I’ll have to check it out.

[Freeman_KParticipant 3524]

Stoicism for me was a natural standpoint applied when faced with adversary, it is a good method but i believe it only works short term, it is too passive to apply it as a general life philosophy, for me at least, it is too taxing, it takes a toll with passing of time.

The choices we make, not the chances we take, determine our destiny

[LogibearParticipant 18]

Thank you @freeman_k for your input. I have yet to find it taxing personally. I find it liberating and comforting. Everyone is different. I’m interested in what aspects of stoicism you find not suited to your philosophy of life. This is a place for discussion after all.

[MutineerParticipant 1467]

Keymaster wrote:

Pity they don’t teach this life lesson early in school. My father was a great example of that (stoic). My mother is not. She worried about EVERYTHING before it happened. “But what if it snows. But what if it rains. But what if you go outside with wet hair. But what if a big fish bites your hook and pulls you under.” She really said that once. We have been making fun of her for that one ever since.

I swear to god, she is an expert at instilling paranoia worrying about things before they happen. It was one thing I had to consciously de-program myself to stop doing over many years. NOW she tries the same s~~~ and I might say “ok stop it” or “that’s enough” or “who cares”…and she thinks I’m being cruel.

It drives some people crazy when they can’t make you care about s~~~ before it happens. Enjoy watching them blow a fuse.

How did you manage to de-program? I do exactly the same thing as your mother. I’m an expert at immediately identifying what could go wrong in a given situation. It’s part of my OCD and an absolute curse.

Mostly i keep my thoughts to myself and drive myself crazy. If i share them, i want someone to make a joke of it and point out the absurdity. Unfortunately, my family are very good at feeding my anxieties.

"The secret to happiness is freedom... And the secret to freedom is courage." - Thucydides

[LogibearParticipant 18]

@mutineer, when I was a kid I used to worry about so many things a kid shouldn’t even think about. I remember it all changed when I listen to an audiobook before bed on sleepovers at a friends house. The short story was called “The Worry Box” By Patrick F. Mcmanus and read by George Irvine. Mcmanus writes outdoor humor type stories and when coupled with George’s narration it’s truly amazing. Anyways, “The Worry Box” solves this problem in a very helpful and humourous way. I suggest at least reading this story.

[MutineerParticipant 1467]

Logibear wrote:

@mutineer, when I was a kid I used to worry about so many things a kid shouldn’t even think about. I remember it all changed when I listen to an audiobook before bed on sleepovers at a friends house. The short story was called “The Worry Box” By Patrick F. Mcmanus and read by George Irvine. Mcmanus writes outdoor humor type stories and when coupled with George’s narration it’s truly amazing. Anyways, “The Worry Box” solves this problem in a very helpful and humourous way. I suggest at least reading this story.

Thanks for your input. I will definitely check it out. Anything is worth a try at this point. I could also do with a few laughs.

"The secret to happiness is freedom... And the secret to freedom is courage." - Thucydides

[LogibearParticipant 18]

You can find wisdom in humor. Best of luck.

[Nexus974Participant 36]

I am also a novice stoic who is drawn to the philosophy and it’s parallel with MGTOW. Thanks for the reading suggestions as I’m always out to learn more.

[LogibearParticipant 18]

“The chief task in life is simply this: to identify and separate matters so that I can say clearly to myself which are externals not under my control, and which have to do with the choices I actually control. Where then do I look for good and evil? Not to uncontrollable externals, but within myself to the choices that are my own…”

-Epictetus, Discourses, 2.5.4-5

January 1st from The Daily Stoic by Rayn Holiday

[Freeman_KParticipant 3524]

Logibear wrote:

Thank you @freeman_k for your input. I have yet to find it taxing personally. I find it liberating and comforting. Everyone is different. I’m interested in what aspects of stoicism you find not suited to your philosophy of life. This is a place for discussion after all.

Stoicism is ok but i came to realization that it is passive acceptance of your situation and something is obviously not really ok in that situation otherwise you wouldn’t have the need to apply stoicim.

In that context stoicism is very close to conformity and i have a huge disdain for conformity. Stoic is in a way just a conformist who is kidding himself that he is not conformist.

Mgtow is not stoicism or conformity, … it is saying please go f~~~ yourself to basically everyone you deem not important with their values, belief systems and expectations and is in that sense much more dynamic and powerful mindset.

The choices we make, not the chances we take, determine our destiny

[LogibearParticipant 18]

Stoicism is ok but i came to realization that it is passive acceptance of your situation and something is obviously not really ok in that situation otherwise you wouldn’t have the need to apply stoicim.

In that context stoicism is very close to conformity and i have a huge disdain for conformity. Stoic is in a way just a conformist who is kidding himself that he is not conformist.

Mgtow is not stoicism or conformity, … it is saying please go f~~~ yourself to basically everyone you deem not important with their values, belief systems and expectations and is in that sense much more dynamic and powerful mindset.

That is where you are wrong. Stoicism is not conformity in the slightest. It sounds like you haven’t even read the stoics at all. Stoicism is about taking control of your life through logic, reason and controlling emotions. It’s about taking obstacles and flipping them on their head, using them as a teacher and a means to your goals. It’s about putting yourself and your happiness above all else. It makes you a stronger person and a better person. Go read some books on the subject and contemplate their true meanings. MGTOW ONLY CAN BENEFIT FROM STOICISM.

[LogibearParticipant 18]

The Daily Stoic By “Ryan Holiday” not Rayn Holiday….My Bad.

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