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Focus on What Matters: A Collection of Stoic Letters on Living Well
Why is it so hard to live well amidst the chaos and noise? While you might think this is a problem of the modern world, it's a timeless issue.
2000 years ago, the ancient Stoics talked about the exact same challenges we're facing today,
How can we find inner peace?What does it take to be happy?Can we become more resilient?
The answers can be found in the philosophy of Stoicism. I've used the philosophy since 2014 to change my life and career.
Focus on What Matters is a collection of 70 letters/essays I wrote about different aspects of life, from happiness, wealth, health to relationships and much more.
These letters, inspired by the original works of the Stoic philosopher Seneca, serve as reminders to focus on the right things in our chaotic lives.
The goal of the original "Letters From A Stoic" by Seneca was to share Stoic ideas with his friend, Lucilius, who had hedonistic tendencies and lived a busy life.
Focus on What Matters is inspired by those letters. It will show you..
Simple thought exercises to become resilient and focusedHow to live in the present moment every dayAuthentic Stoic values for a life of happiness A way to build more discipline
In short, this book helps you to live well despite the challenges of daily life.
2000 years ago, the ancient Stoics talked about the exact same challenges we're facing today,
How can we find inner peace?What does it take to be happy?Can we become more resilient?
The answers can be found in the philosophy of Stoicism. I've used the philosophy since 2014 to change my life and career.
Focus on What Matters is a collection of 70 letters/essays I wrote about different aspects of life, from happiness, wealth, health to relationships and much more.
These letters, inspired by the original works of the Stoic philosopher Seneca, serve as reminders to focus on the right things in our chaotic lives.
The goal of the original "Letters From A Stoic" by Seneca was to share Stoic ideas with his friend, Lucilius, who had hedonistic tendencies and lived a busy life.
Focus on What Matters is inspired by those letters. It will show you..
Simple thought exercises to become resilient and focusedHow to live in the present moment every dayAuthentic Stoic values for a life of happiness A way to build more discipline
In short, this book helps you to live well despite the challenges of daily life.
206 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2022
About the author
Darius Foroux
16 books556 followersDarius Foroux (pronounced as Da-reeus Fo-roo) is the author of 7 books, and the creator of 6 online courses.
He writes about productivity, business, and wealth building. His ideas and work have been featured in TIME, NBC, Fast Company, Inc., Observer, and many more publications. Until now, more than 30 million people have read his articles.
He writes about productivity, business, and wealth building. His ideas and work have been featured in TIME, NBC, Fast Company, Inc., Observer, and many more publications. Until now, more than 30 million people have read his articles.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
March 6, 2024
I did not finish it. It is for hipsters discovering stoicism.
August 2, 2024
A very wonderful book. My key takeaways are as follows;
Cease to hope and you’ll cease to fear
I hope to get a new job- I wonder what my new job will look like
Every time you get angry you’re only harming yourself
Anything that doesn’t have a positive impact is useless
Don’t allow another person to make an opinion for you
Only consume things that have a positive impact in your life
When we achieve great things, we do great work and to do work we need to focus
By eliminating most things from your life for sometime you can make great progress
If you truly want to become great, it will require sustains greatness for a long period of time
When you have pain you have the resource of endurance within you
Spend on things that make you a better human
When you want to please everyone in your life you end up harming your own self worth
plan everything in life, just don’t get attached to it
Don’t wish for things to happen the way you like, instead welcome whatever happened as if you wanted it to happen
Life is more better when the present moment is your playground
Wisdom is about having meaning in your life
Dedicate your life to the persist of wisdom
We need to do the hard things to maintain the equilibrium
You never know when it’s your time to check out, so you better enjoy your stay
“Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily
Things are certainly easier when you have more money reach
Do something everyday that improves you and give it your attention
And yet don’t leave angry like them …be true to who you are; caring,sympathetic&kind, stay true to who you’re
Happiness is not only being able to live well with yourself…that’s the foundation
To desire pleasure is to accept pain,when you desire nothing you become emotionally free
Focus on what you control and be free
Success brings problems and breeds greed
Don’t be surprised when you go beyond your goal …keep rowing
Most human beings are obsessed with approval from other human beings because we want to be liked by others
Not judging others quickly will save from misperceiving their actions
Make us of what you can control and take the rest as it happens
History doesn’t repeat itself it rhymes
Cease to hope and you’ll cease to fear
I hope to get a new job- I wonder what my new job will look like
Every time you get angry you’re only harming yourself
Anything that doesn’t have a positive impact is useless
Don’t allow another person to make an opinion for you
Only consume things that have a positive impact in your life
When we achieve great things, we do great work and to do work we need to focus
By eliminating most things from your life for sometime you can make great progress
If you truly want to become great, it will require sustains greatness for a long period of time
When you have pain you have the resource of endurance within you
Spend on things that make you a better human
When you want to please everyone in your life you end up harming your own self worth
plan everything in life, just don’t get attached to it
Don’t wish for things to happen the way you like, instead welcome whatever happened as if you wanted it to happen
Life is more better when the present moment is your playground
Wisdom is about having meaning in your life
Dedicate your life to the persist of wisdom
We need to do the hard things to maintain the equilibrium
You never know when it’s your time to check out, so you better enjoy your stay
“Progress is not achieved by luck or accident, but by working on yourself daily
Things are certainly easier when you have more money reach
Do something everyday that improves you and give it your attention
And yet don’t leave angry like them …be true to who you are; caring,sympathetic&kind, stay true to who you’re
Happiness is not only being able to live well with yourself…that’s the foundation
To desire pleasure is to accept pain,when you desire nothing you become emotionally free
Focus on what you control and be free
Success brings problems and breeds greed
Don’t be surprised when you go beyond your goal …keep rowing
Most human beings are obsessed with approval from other human beings because we want to be liked by others
Not judging others quickly will save from misperceiving their actions
Make us of what you can control and take the rest as it happens
History doesn’t repeat itself it rhymes
February 11, 2024
Atsitiktinai naršydamas „Instagram“ aptikau įdomų postą su ištraukomis iš knygos „Focus on What Matters“. Knygos pavadinimas mane sudomino ir pažadino viltį, kad joje rasiu atsakymus į klausimą, kas gyvenime yra svarbiausia. Būdamas 34 metų vis dar jaučiuosi klaidžiojantis ir nesuprantantis savo gyvenimo prioritetų :)).
Nors universitete lankiau filosofijos paskaitas, stoicizmo filosofijos žinios buvo išblėsusios. Tikriausiai praleidau tas paskaitas. Pasitelkęs „Google“ pagalbą, atradau, kad autorius remiasi žymiausių stoikų – Senekos, Marko Aurelijaus ir Epikteto – idėjomis. Knygos formatas – laiškų rinkinys – taip pat primena Senekos laiškus Lucilijui, kurie knygos autorių sužavėjo savo asmeniškumu ir aktualumu šiandienos žmogui.
Mane sužavėjo, kad knygoje nėra sudėtingų filosofinių išvedžiojimų. Autorius paprasta ir aiškia kalba perteikia stoikų filosofijos principus ir praktiškai pritaikomas vertybes, padedančias siekti gyvenimo balanso.
Knygoje pabrėžiama mintis, kad turime sutelkti dėmesį į tai, ką galime kontroliuoti, ir nukreipti savo resursus nuo to, kas nuo mūsų nepriklauso. Šis principas primena Stephen R. Covey knygos „7 efektyviai veikiančių žmonių principai“ pirmąjį principą – „Būk proaktyvus“.
Sutelkti dėmesį į tai, ką galime kontroliuoti, reiškia sutelkti dėmesį į savo vidinį pasaulį: savo mintis, jausmus, elgesį, vertybes ir tikslus. Būdami proaktyvūs, o ne reaktyvūs, galime sąmoningai rinktis, kur nukreipti savo energiją ir laiką. Valdydami savo vidinį pasaulį, įgyjame galią kontroliuoti savo likimą. Valdydami savo mintis, galime tinkamai reaguoti į išorinius iššūkius. Pavyzdžiui, susidūrę su stresine situacija, galime sąmoningai nukreipti savo mintis į teigiamus dalykus, tokius kaip problemos sprendimas ar pagalbos paieška. Taip pat galime nuspręsti nepasiduoti negatyvioms emocijoms, tokioms kaip pyktis ar baimė. Tokiu būdu galime pasiekti daugiau, gyventi prasmingesnį ir pilnavertiškesnį gyvenimą.
Knyga „Focus on What Matters“ rekomenduoju tiems, kurie:
Ieško būdų, kaip sutelkti dėmesį į tai, kas iš tiesų svarbu.
Nori išmokti valdyti savo mintis ir jausmus.
Siekia gyventi prasmingesnį ir pilnavertiškesnį gyvenimą.
Nors universitete lankiau filosofijos paskaitas, stoicizmo filosofijos žinios buvo išblėsusios. Tikriausiai praleidau tas paskaitas. Pasitelkęs „Google“ pagalbą, atradau, kad autorius remiasi žymiausių stoikų – Senekos, Marko Aurelijaus ir Epikteto – idėjomis. Knygos formatas – laiškų rinkinys – taip pat primena Senekos laiškus Lucilijui, kurie knygos autorių sužavėjo savo asmeniškumu ir aktualumu šiandienos žmogui.
Mane sužavėjo, kad knygoje nėra sudėtingų filosofinių išvedžiojimų. Autorius paprasta ir aiškia kalba perteikia stoikų filosofijos principus ir praktiškai pritaikomas vertybes, padedančias siekti gyvenimo balanso.
Knygoje pabrėžiama mintis, kad turime sutelkti dėmesį į tai, ką galime kontroliuoti, ir nukreipti savo resursus nuo to, kas nuo mūsų nepriklauso. Šis principas primena Stephen R. Covey knygos „7 efektyviai veikiančių žmonių principai“ pirmąjį principą – „Būk proaktyvus“.
Sutelkti dėmesį į tai, ką galime kontroliuoti, reiškia sutelkti dėmesį į savo vidinį pasaulį: savo mintis, jausmus, elgesį, vertybes ir tikslus. Būdami proaktyvūs, o ne reaktyvūs, galime sąmoningai rinktis, kur nukreipti savo energiją ir laiką. Valdydami savo vidinį pasaulį, įgyjame galią kontroliuoti savo likimą. Valdydami savo mintis, galime tinkamai reaguoti į išorinius iššūkius. Pavyzdžiui, susidūrę su stresine situacija, galime sąmoningai nukreipti savo mintis į teigiamus dalykus, tokius kaip problemos sprendimas ar pagalbos paieška. Taip pat galime nuspręsti nepasiduoti negatyvioms emocijoms, tokioms kaip pyktis ar baimė. Tokiu būdu galime pasiekti daugiau, gyventi prasmingesnį ir pilnavertiškesnį gyvenimą.
Knyga „Focus on What Matters“ rekomenduoju tiems, kurie:
Ieško būdų, kaip sutelkti dėmesį į tai, kas iš tiesų svarbu.
Nori išmokti valdyti savo mintis ir jausmus.
Siekia gyventi prasmingesnį ir pilnavertiškesnį gyvenimą.
December 13, 2023
Each topic is brief and precise. When it comes to psychology or an ideology, I, as a reader, am usually focused on the gist of the whole discussion. Here, each letter was brief, which made it easier for me to read. Otherwise, I usually lose interest when the authors start long debates. Overall, it was an interesting read.
July 14, 2024
Simple and straight to the point. Each chapter (letter) could be read randomly at any point.
August 13, 2024
A very crisp and to-the-point book. I like the small bite-sized chapters of wisdom. Being a part of a middle class Indian family, with a mother who loves to read, I have seen many aspects of stoicism and minimalism throughout my life. Still, reading about them served to refresh my memory and reconnect me to my roots. Some teachings were new for me and I enjoyed reading them and the way of thinking described in the book. I took my time reading this book, written in bite-sized chapters of wisdom nuggets, and I might return to it again in the future. This book is a helpful reminder of stoicism and good thought/lifestyle practices that I feel would be helpful to me time and again, specially in moments of distress.
April 9, 2023
نحن لا نتحكم في معظم الأشياء في الحياة. سيكون هناك دائمًا قضايا تدعو للقلق. سواء كان ركودًا أو حرباً أو كارثة طبيعية أو احتجاجًا أو مشكلة اجتماعية، فلا يمكنك الهروب من الأشياء السيئة. عليك أن تتعلم اللامبالاة تجاه الأشياء الخارجة عن إرادتك والتي تؤثر على سعادتك.
Darius Foroux
Darius Foroux
April 1, 2024
Reminders I need bcos I’ve been disappointed and harsh on myself lately :”) Super love how it tackled both inner and outer journey !
May 1, 2024
This brought me mental peace. But yes I wanted it be better.
October 3, 2024
This came at a pivotal point in my life. While nothing new if you're familiar with stoic principles, as someone who has never read an ounce of philosophy, this was the perfect introduction.
January 6, 2024
I have read so many books on stoics and their philosophy and this book only adds to their philosophy....Very lucidly, effortlessly application of stoics concepts into daily life....A must read.
July 29, 2024
" By celebrating other people's success like it's your own, you grow stronger."
BOOK: Focus on what matters
AUTHOR: @dariusforoux
GENRE: #motivation , #selfhelp
RATING: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The author discovered stoicism in 2015, when he was facing a challenging time in his life. The author has felt influenced and inspired by philosophers like Seneca, Epictetus etc which leads to the book " focus on what matters" and I find it truly enlightening and focused on the purpose of altering our life the way it is going to be the most helpful and productive for us. The book explains simple topics that we all know in a calm and steady pace, which makes this book rightfully fall under the category of "self help" , as per the meaning of the word, so does every motivational books should be, it's the things we know but someone is helping us put it into perspective in a more focused or arranged manner, someone is reassuring and pointing out to us, to go in that direction we should have. The quotes and ideas in this book are so striking, I took 10 days to read this book, I was going in a steady and slow pace by bringing it into my work , as a way to calm myself down when difficult situations arise at work. And the book has thoroughly helped the same.
" You're better off , mentally and professionally by being really focused on the things that matter to you."
"Too many of us listen too much to what others say and think. In our endless quest to please the people in our lives , we become the product of what others want."
" No matter what happens in life, you will be okay. When you can go through life that way, nothing will have the power to hold your mind captive."
BOOK: Focus on what matters
AUTHOR: @dariusforoux
GENRE: #motivation , #selfhelp
RATING: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
The author discovered stoicism in 2015, when he was facing a challenging time in his life. The author has felt influenced and inspired by philosophers like Seneca, Epictetus etc which leads to the book " focus on what matters" and I find it truly enlightening and focused on the purpose of altering our life the way it is going to be the most helpful and productive for us. The book explains simple topics that we all know in a calm and steady pace, which makes this book rightfully fall under the category of "self help" , as per the meaning of the word, so does every motivational books should be, it's the things we know but someone is helping us put it into perspective in a more focused or arranged manner, someone is reassuring and pointing out to us, to go in that direction we should have. The quotes and ideas in this book are so striking, I took 10 days to read this book, I was going in a steady and slow pace by bringing it into my work , as a way to calm myself down when difficult situations arise at work. And the book has thoroughly helped the same.
" You're better off , mentally and professionally by being really focused on the things that matter to you."
"Too many of us listen too much to what others say and think. In our endless quest to please the people in our lives , we become the product of what others want."
" No matter what happens in life, you will be okay. When you can go through life that way, nothing will have the power to hold your mind captive."
March 8, 2024
“Do not waste time on what you cannot control.” Marcus Aurelius
I enjoyed reading this book very much, I got a good understanding of stoicism, it's philosophy and how it should be practiced. I was already familiar with the book Meditations by Marcus Aurelius but Darius takes a step further and explains those teachings. The author, excellently explains the teachings of stoicism, especially Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, and he relates the teachings to our modern world with good examples. The author provides different life situations and how the teachings of stoicism should be applied.
This book is focused on self improvement, on how to get the value of your life, focusing on what you control, to have a purpose in life and another important life principle we should practice is moderation. In Sweden we have this term 'lagåm', which perfectly explains the moderation principle.
Something else important that was covered, was the importance of our integrity, our morals and why they weigh more than other things. To be a man of integrity meaning having good morals, and they should not be sacrificed.
Something less captivating I found in this book, were that most of the examples Darius provided were from his life experience, some examples were very personal and I think they cannot really be related to readers life experience. I liked when he also provided examples of other well known people.
I enjoyed reading this book very much, I got a good understanding of stoicism, it's philosophy and how it should be practiced. I was already familiar with the book Meditations by Marcus Aurelius but Darius takes a step further and explains those teachings. The author, excellently explains the teachings of stoicism, especially Marcus Aurelius and Seneca, and he relates the teachings to our modern world with good examples. The author provides different life situations and how the teachings of stoicism should be applied.
This book is focused on self improvement, on how to get the value of your life, focusing on what you control, to have a purpose in life and another important life principle we should practice is moderation. In Sweden we have this term 'lagåm', which perfectly explains the moderation principle.
Something else important that was covered, was the importance of our integrity, our morals and why they weigh more than other things. To be a man of integrity meaning having good morals, and they should not be sacrificed.
Something less captivating I found in this book, were that most of the examples Darius provided were from his life experience, some examples were very personal and I think they cannot really be related to readers life experience. I liked when he also provided examples of other well known people.
July 9, 2024
This book is a beautiful collection of 70 letters on living well. As the title suggests, the book will help us understand what really matters in life. Focusing on what really matters doesn't mean detachment from worldly pleasures. It's all about balance. To give a better understanding, The letters are divided into two parts: The inner world (mastering your mind) and The outer world (mastering your destiny).
Before reading this book, one must know what Stoicism is all about. Stoicism is an ancient philosophy which flourished in Rome. A stoic strongly believes that we can't control the world around us but only how we respond to it with courage, discipline, justice and wisdom.
Thus Stoic is a person who is indifferent to pleasure as well as pain. The 3 famous stoics are Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus. Inspired from the letters of the great Stoic Seneca to his friend Lucilius on Stoic thoughts, the author Darius Foroux offers letters on almost all topics which will help us to lead a good and satisfying life.
It is truly a reminder on how to focus on the right things despite the chaos of daily life. The book also has beautiful and thoughtful illustrations. Definitely a must read.
Before reading this book, one must know what Stoicism is all about. Stoicism is an ancient philosophy which flourished in Rome. A stoic strongly believes that we can't control the world around us but only how we respond to it with courage, discipline, justice and wisdom.
Thus Stoic is a person who is indifferent to pleasure as well as pain. The 3 famous stoics are Marcus Aurelius, Seneca and Epictetus. Inspired from the letters of the great Stoic Seneca to his friend Lucilius on Stoic thoughts, the author Darius Foroux offers letters on almost all topics which will help us to lead a good and satisfying life.
It is truly a reminder on how to focus on the right things despite the chaos of daily life. The book also has beautiful and thoughtful illustrations. Definitely a must read.
January 25, 2024
This is the only book I’ve lost track of time and was wrecked when it was over.
It was not a romantic fantasy fiction or a gripping edge mystery thriller, but a simple non-fiction self-help book.
"Focus on What Matters" by Darius Foroux was exactly what I needed at this moment.
Anyone who is immersed in overwhelming thoughts about their past, future, or constantly grieving about something that is out of their control😔, then this book is a MUST-read.
Darius, a disciple of stoicism, vehemently preaches and practices the knowledge he acquired from the well-renowned stoic philosophers Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, and passes this 2000-year-old ancient practice to everyone around the globe.
This book, in particular, comprises a collection of letters inspired by the original works of Seneca, who accentuates the significance of focusing on what is under our control in our calamitous life🤯
This book has been in my TBR list for way too long and I am glad I am made the choice to read. More than reading it was more like a much needed conversation with a friend or a therapist… honestly I don’t know how to classify the narrator but it was a MUCH NEEDED convo🤌🏽
It was not a romantic fantasy fiction or a gripping edge mystery thriller, but a simple non-fiction self-help book.
"Focus on What Matters" by Darius Foroux was exactly what I needed at this moment.
Anyone who is immersed in overwhelming thoughts about their past, future, or constantly grieving about something that is out of their control😔, then this book is a MUST-read.
Darius, a disciple of stoicism, vehemently preaches and practices the knowledge he acquired from the well-renowned stoic philosophers Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius, and passes this 2000-year-old ancient practice to everyone around the globe.
This book, in particular, comprises a collection of letters inspired by the original works of Seneca, who accentuates the significance of focusing on what is under our control in our calamitous life🤯
This book has been in my TBR list for way too long and I am glad I am made the choice to read. More than reading it was more like a much needed conversation with a friend or a therapist… honestly I don’t know how to classify the narrator but it was a MUCH NEEDED convo🤌🏽
July 10, 2024
“𝐃𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐚𝐢𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭; 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭; 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐭 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭.”
―̳ ̳R̳o̳y̳ ̳T̳.̳ ̳B̳e̳n̳n̳e̳t̳t̳,̳ ̳
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞?
Published March 4, 2020, this is a masterpiece book and one of my greatest reads for 2024.
While you might think this is a problem of the modern world, it’s a timeless issue.
Over 2000 years ago, the ancient Stoics talked about the same challenges we’re facing today, like:
• 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞?
• 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲?
• 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭?
The answers can be found in the philosophy of Stoicism. Stoicism Philosophy can be used to change our lives and careers.
Focus on What Matters is a collection of 70 letters/essays the author wrote about different aspects of life, from happiness, wealth, health relationships, and much more.
These letters, inspired by the original works of the Stoic philosopher Seneca, serve as reminders to focus on the right things in our chaotic lives.
The goal of the original “Letters from A Stoic” by Seneca was to share Stoic ideas with his friend, Lucilius, who had hedonistic tendencies and lived a busy life.
Focus on What Matters is inspired by those letters. It will show you.
• 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝
• 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲
• 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
• 𝐀 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞
In short, this book helps you to live well despite the challenges of daily life.
𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒:
1. Embrace Your Mortality. Memento mori, the Roman Stoic practice of contemplating one’s own mortality, might seem morbid, but Foroux reframes it as a powerful motivator. By reminding ourselves of our impermanence, we prioritize what truly matters and shed the trivial distractions that clutter our lives.
2. Focus on Your Sphere of Control. The Stoics emphasized differentiating between what we can and cannot control. Foroux urges readers to accept external circumstances while focusing on our own thoughts, behaviors, and reactions. This empowers us to navigate challenges with greater serenity and agency.
3. Choose Your Values, Act Accordingly. Living a fulfilling life starts with identifying your core values. Foroux emphasizes aligning your actions and decisions with these values, even when faced with difficulty or temptation. This creates a sense of purpose and integrity that transcends fleeting circumstances.
4. Turn Obstacles into Opportunities. Difficulties are inevitable, but the Stoics saw them as opportunities for growth and resilience. Foroux encourages readers to reframe challenges as chances to hone their character, develop new skills, and deepen their understanding of the world.
5. Practice Gratitude, Relinquish Negativity. Appreciating the good things in life, big and small, fosters contentment and well-being. Foroux highlights the importance of cultivating gratitude, actively seeking out reasons to be thankful, and letting go of envy, resentment, and other negative emotions.
6. Live in the Present Moment. The past is gone, the future uncertain; the only true reality is the present moment. Foroux encourages readers to practice mindfulness, quieting the mind’s chatter and fully engaging with the here and now. This fosters peace, clarity, and a deeper appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.
7. Contribute to Something Larger Than Yourself. Finding purpose beyond oneself is a key tenet of Stoicism. Foroux emphasizes the importance of contributing to something larger than yourself, whether through family, community, work, or a cause you believe in. This sense of connection fosters meaning and fulfillment.
8. Identify your priorities: Take the time to reflect on what truly matters to you and what you want to achieve in life. This clarity will help you make better decisions and allocate your time and energy effectively.
9. Eliminate distractions: Minimize or eliminate distractions that hinder your focus and productivity. This includes reducing time spent on social media, turning off notifications, and creating a conducive environment for deep work.
10. Practice essentialism: Embrace the concept of essentialism, which means focusing on the vital few things that bring the most value and impact to your life. Say no to non-essential tasks and commitments.
11. Set clear goals: Define clear and specific goals that align with your priorities. This will help you stay focused and motivated, as well as measure your progress along the way.
12. Develop a routine: Establishing a daily routine can help you create structure and consistency in your life. It allows you to allocate time for your priorities and reduces decision fatigue.
13. Embrace minimalism: Simplify your life by decluttering physical possessions, digital clutter, and unnecessary commitments. This will free up mental space and allow you to focus on what truly matters.
14. Practice mindfulness: Cultivate mindfulness by being fully present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts, emotions, and surroundings. This helps you stay focused and make intentional choices.
15. Prioritize self-care: Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Prioritize activities like exercise, proper nutrition, quality sleep, and relaxation to maintain your energy and focus.
16. Learn to say no: Be selective about the commitments and opportunities you take on. Saying no to non-essential tasks or requests allows you to protect your time and focus on what truly matters.
17. Continuously evaluate and adjust: Regularly review your priorities, goals, and commitments. Adjust as needed to ensure you stay aligned with what truly matters to you.
―̳ ̳R̳o̳y̳ ̳T̳.̳ ̳B̳e̳n̳n̳e̳t̳t̳,̳ ̳
𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐬𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐝𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐧𝐨𝐢𝐬𝐞?
Published March 4, 2020, this is a masterpiece book and one of my greatest reads for 2024.
While you might think this is a problem of the modern world, it’s a timeless issue.
Over 2000 years ago, the ancient Stoics talked about the same challenges we’re facing today, like:
• 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐞?
• 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲?
• 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭?
The answers can be found in the philosophy of Stoicism. Stoicism Philosophy can be used to change our lives and careers.
Focus on What Matters is a collection of 70 letters/essays the author wrote about different aspects of life, from happiness, wealth, health relationships, and much more.
These letters, inspired by the original works of the Stoic philosopher Seneca, serve as reminders to focus on the right things in our chaotic lives.
The goal of the original “Letters from A Stoic” by Seneca was to share Stoic ideas with his friend, Lucilius, who had hedonistic tendencies and lived a busy life.
Focus on What Matters is inspired by those letters. It will show you.
• 𝐒𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐞𝐱𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐞𝐝
• 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐝𝐚𝐲
• 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐢𝐜 𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬
• 𝐀 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞
In short, this book helps you to live well despite the challenges of daily life.
𝐊𝐄𝐘 𝐓𝐀𝐊𝐄𝐀𝐖𝐀𝐘𝐒:
1. Embrace Your Mortality. Memento mori, the Roman Stoic practice of contemplating one’s own mortality, might seem morbid, but Foroux reframes it as a powerful motivator. By reminding ourselves of our impermanence, we prioritize what truly matters and shed the trivial distractions that clutter our lives.
2. Focus on Your Sphere of Control. The Stoics emphasized differentiating between what we can and cannot control. Foroux urges readers to accept external circumstances while focusing on our own thoughts, behaviors, and reactions. This empowers us to navigate challenges with greater serenity and agency.
3. Choose Your Values, Act Accordingly. Living a fulfilling life starts with identifying your core values. Foroux emphasizes aligning your actions and decisions with these values, even when faced with difficulty or temptation. This creates a sense of purpose and integrity that transcends fleeting circumstances.
4. Turn Obstacles into Opportunities. Difficulties are inevitable, but the Stoics saw them as opportunities for growth and resilience. Foroux encourages readers to reframe challenges as chances to hone their character, develop new skills, and deepen their understanding of the world.
5. Practice Gratitude, Relinquish Negativity. Appreciating the good things in life, big and small, fosters contentment and well-being. Foroux highlights the importance of cultivating gratitude, actively seeking out reasons to be thankful, and letting go of envy, resentment, and other negative emotions.
6. Live in the Present Moment. The past is gone, the future uncertain; the only true reality is the present moment. Foroux encourages readers to practice mindfulness, quieting the mind’s chatter and fully engaging with the here and now. This fosters peace, clarity, and a deeper appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.
7. Contribute to Something Larger Than Yourself. Finding purpose beyond oneself is a key tenet of Stoicism. Foroux emphasizes the importance of contributing to something larger than yourself, whether through family, community, work, or a cause you believe in. This sense of connection fosters meaning and fulfillment.
8. Identify your priorities: Take the time to reflect on what truly matters to you and what you want to achieve in life. This clarity will help you make better decisions and allocate your time and energy effectively.
9. Eliminate distractions: Minimize or eliminate distractions that hinder your focus and productivity. This includes reducing time spent on social media, turning off notifications, and creating a conducive environment for deep work.
10. Practice essentialism: Embrace the concept of essentialism, which means focusing on the vital few things that bring the most value and impact to your life. Say no to non-essential tasks and commitments.
11. Set clear goals: Define clear and specific goals that align with your priorities. This will help you stay focused and motivated, as well as measure your progress along the way.
12. Develop a routine: Establishing a daily routine can help you create structure and consistency in your life. It allows you to allocate time for your priorities and reduces decision fatigue.
13. Embrace minimalism: Simplify your life by decluttering physical possessions, digital clutter, and unnecessary commitments. This will free up mental space and allow you to focus on what truly matters.
14. Practice mindfulness: Cultivate mindfulness by being fully present in the moment and paying attention to your thoughts, emotions, and surroundings. This helps you stay focused and make intentional choices.
15. Prioritize self-care: Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Prioritize activities like exercise, proper nutrition, quality sleep, and relaxation to maintain your energy and focus.
16. Learn to say no: Be selective about the commitments and opportunities you take on. Saying no to non-essential tasks or requests allows you to protect your time and focus on what truly matters.
17. Continuously evaluate and adjust: Regularly review your priorities, goals, and commitments. Adjust as needed to ensure you stay aligned with what truly matters to you.
November 17, 2023
If you are already have some good exposure to stoic philosophy, this book may have nothing new to offer. However the author had done a nice job in presenting the ideas. I enjoyed reading this one( though I have read about stoicism before from books/online article)
I think I would periodically revisit this book, not to read from cover to cover, but just to skim through chapters
I think I would periodically revisit this book, not to read from cover to cover, but just to skim through chapters
December 18, 2024
Thanks to this book I am now more interested in the path of the Stoic. I like the format of addressing us readers its knowledge and experience through the format of open letters. Every chapter felt like invitation to take a step back and make the choice to live wholehearted life with intellectual clarity.
Read
June 25, 2024It's a pleasant and good read. The short book is full of good stories on how to live life stoically. You can finish it in a couple of days or even in one day. Learned a lot about the ancient philosophers and stoicism from this book.
July 22, 2024
A good starting point to learn about stoic philosophy. Quite a few takeaways that must be implemented in anyone's daily life to reap its benefits. In my mind, it is broadly about accepting the fact that mother nature is above all. Good to see how spirituality and stoicism go hand in hand.
July 30, 2024
Excellent book for the person who wants to learn how to getaway of the daily hustle and focus on the determined task and to learn to live in the present. Have a kickstart and you would indulge in those pages to turnaround.
January 29, 2024
Excellent read on stoic way of life
February 11, 2024
Its a good choice to read this book
February 15, 2024
Highly recommend!
March 3, 2024
There's no more important thing that not being attached to something.
March 22, 2024
Self help at its best
April 1, 2024
A great read. Nice perspective on how to live life better. Not everyone can follow. But that’s the beauty. Not all are alike!
April 15, 2024
If you want to be introduced to Stoicism, this is the good to pick up. Author has done a fabulous job in compiling all the Stoic wisdom and in a format that is easier to read.
May 6, 2024
I’ve really been off my reading game but finally finished this book. It was an easy read covering multiple different topics about stoicism. Recommend for sure.
May 9, 2024
An excellent and a quick read...Each letter in this book teaches you something....
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