The Stoic Gym (2024)

02/08/2024

THE STOIC GYM is pleased announce the publication of
THE STOIC, August 2024 Edition

Theme:
STOICISM AND GUILT

Musonius Rufus
The best protection for old age 2

Massimo Pigliucci
Nine life lessons I learned in my sixty years 5

The Stoic Gym
Our magazine for Stoic practitioners: Prokopton 6

Brandon Tumblin
Stoicism in a toxic workplace 7

STOICISM AND GUILT
Glenn Citeroni
Stoic lessons on guilt 8

John Kuna
Feeling guilt can make you a better person 10

Greg Sadler
Using guilt to steer away from our failing 11

Karen Duffy
Tattoo you 12

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world
Our advisory board

Get your free subscription here.
https://thestoicgym.substack.com/subscribe

02/07/2024

THE STOIC GYM is pleased announce the publication of
THE STOIC, July 2024 Edition

Theme:
Facing Adversity

Chuck Chakrapani
Adversity and resilience

Marc Epsen
A Stoic toolkit for facing adversity

The Stoic Gym
Our NEW magazine: Prokopton

Brandon Tumblin
Strength training as a metaphor

Harald Kavli
Using roles to deal with adversity

John Kuna
Stone sharpens steel

Greg Sadler
Indifference is not the Stoic way

Ronald W. Pies
Gratitude and Marcus Aurelius

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world
Our advisory board

Get your free subscription here.
https://thestoicgym.substack.com/subscribe

01/06/2024

THE STOIC GYM is pleased announce the publication of
THE STOIC, June 2024 Edition

Theme:
STOICISM AND EVERYDAY LIFE

Chuck Chakrapani
Stoicism and everyday

Book review
Epictetus’ Encheiridion

The Stoic Gym
Our NEW magazine: Prokopton

Brandon Tumblin
Four things to do every day

Karen Duffy
Everyday virtues

John Kuna
Stoic in the small moments

Greg Sadler
Dealing with everyday things

Ronald W. Pies
Gratitude and Seneca

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world
Our advisory board

Get your free subscription here.
https://thestoicgym.substack.com/subscribe

30/04/2024

THE STOIC GYM is pleased announce the publication of
THE STOIC, May 2024 Edition

Theme:
Pleasure and the Stoics

Chuck Chakrapani
Pleasure and the Stoics

The Stoic Gym
Our NEW magazine: Prokopton

Brandon Tumblin
On not robbing oneself of joy

Karen Duffy
Please, please me

John Kuna
Don’t feel bad about feeling good

Andrew Perlot
The question that clears your brain

Piotr Stankiewicz
Stoics, Epicureans, and pleasure

Ronald W. Pies
Gratitude in Epictetus’ writing

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world
Our advisory board

Get your free subscription here.
https://thestoicgym.substack.com/subscribe

01/04/2024

THE STOIC GYM is pleased announce the publication of
THE STOIC, April 2024 Edition

Theme:
Mindfulness and the Stoics

Chuck Chakrapani
A train ride to mindfulness

The Stoic Gym
Our NEW magazine: Prokopton

Brandon Tumblin
Mindfulness as a Stoic value

Karen Duffy
Being mindful amid the mad rush

John Kuna
At this very moment

Greg Sadler
Three key aspects of Stoic mindfulness

Piotr Stankiewicz
Stoicism and mindfulness go hand in hand

Ronald W. Pies
Key principles of Stoicism

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world
Our advisory board

Get your free subscription here.
https://thestoicgym.substack.com/subscribe

24/02/2024

THE STOIC GYM is pleased announce the publication of
THE STOIC, March 2024 Edition

Theme:
Change and the Stoics

Chuck Chakrapani
Change and the Stoics

The Stoic Gym
Announcing our NEW magazine: Prokopton

Brandon Tumblin
Change is the only constant

Tanner Campbell
Turn and face the strange (change)

John Kuna
Death, change, and the Stoics

Greg Sadler
You can change if you choose to

The Stoic Gym
The Stoics on change

Ronald W. Pies
Gratitude in Stoicism

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world
Our advisory board

Get your free subscription here.
https://thestoicgym.substack.com/subscribe

28/01/2024

THE STOIC GYM is pleased announce the publication of
THE STOIC, February 2024 Edition

Theme:
Stoic care

Chuck Chakrapani
Stoic care

The Stoic Gym
Announcing our NEW magazine: Prokopton

Karen Duffy
Who cares? Stoics do

John Kuna
When to let go

Tanner Campbell
Changing our perspective on concern (and care)

Harald Kavli|
Caring for yourself, caring for others

Brandon Tumblin
The middle ground when caring as a Stoic

Piotr Stankiewicz
Stoic care and the dichotomy of control

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world
Our advisory board

Get your free subscription here.
https://thestoicgym.substack.com/subscribe

26/12/2023

THE STOIC GYM is pleased announce the publication of
THE STOIC, January 2024 Edition

Theme:
Stoic harmony

Chuck Chakrapani
A tap on my shoulder

The Stoic Gym
Announcing our NEW magazine: Prokopton

Andi Sciacca
My ongoing journey towards harmony

Greg Sadler
Understanding Stoic harmony

John Kuna
Stoic harmony and love

Meredith Kunz
Stoic harmony: Virtue over possessions

Tanner Campbell
Living in harmony

Brandon Tumblin
Understanding Stoic harmony through music

Marc Smit
Stoic harmony through gardening

Piotr Stankiewicz
Harmony as coherence and consistency

Karen Duffy
Three cheers for anxiety!

Greg Lopez
Seeking harmony in chaos

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world
Our advisory board

Get your free subscription here.
https://thestoicgym.substack.com/subscribe

03/12/2023

THE STOIC GYM is pleased announce the publication of
THE STOIC, December 2023 Edition

Theme:
Stoic essence

Chuck Chakrapani
Stoic essence

The Stoic Gym.
Announcing our NEW magazine: Prokopton

Oliva Hajioff
An undiluted joy

S. Aikin & W. Stephens
Six core Stoic themes

Andi Sciacca
Stoic essence: Play your part well

John Kuna
Stoic essence: Be a good person

Tanner Campbell
Stoic essence: Excellence, control, and concern

Brandon Tumblin
Stoic essence: Having the right intention

Piotr Stankiewicz
Stoic essence: Discipline

Karen Duffy
Stoic essence: Amor fati

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world
Our advisory board

Get your free subscription here.
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

29/10/2023

THE STOIC GYM is pleased announce the publication of
THE STOIC, November 2023 edition.

Theme: STOIC RESPONSIBILITY

Chuck Chakrapani - Stoic responsibility
Various - Quotes on responsibility
Andi Sciacca - Meditations on responsibility
John Kuna - What we owe others, we owe ourselves
Tanner Campbell - Righteous indignation vs. the right action
Meredith Kunz - Stoic responsibility as a parent of teens
Brandon Tumblin - The responsibility to be strong
Piotr Stankiewicz - On responsibility in Reformed Stoicism
Karen Duffy - Living in the present

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world
Our advisory board

Get your free subscription here.
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

30/09/2023

THE STOIC GYM is pleased announce the publication of
THE STOIC, October 2023 edition.

Theme: STOIC STRENGTH

Chuck Chakrapani
Stoic strength: Having inner dignity

Various
Stoic strength: Quotes on inner dignity

Andi Sciacca
Stoic strength: Facing difficulties

John Kuna
Stoic strength: Gaining character, not charisma

Meredith Kunz
Stoic strength: Being ‘Kenough”

Piotr Stankiewicz
Stoic strength: Using your domain of control

Greg Sadler
Stoic strength:” Enduring and renouncing?”

Brandon Tumblin
Meditating as a Stoic

Special article
Anthony A. Long
What is honourable?

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world
Our advisory board

Get your free subscription here.
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

04/09/2023

Achieving Total Freedom

Is total freedom achievable in spite of the problems we face in life? The Stoics definitely believed so and gave us some practical ways to achieve complete freedom.

In this third and final blog, Dr. Chuck Chakrapani analyses four areas that concern most of us: Freedom from the past and the present, freedom from envy, freedom from other people’s opinions, and freedom from the fear of illness and death. He concludes with the observation that all things that enslave us have the same structure. Once we understand it, we will be on our way to total freedom.

You can read the full blog at https://thestoicgym.com/blogs/view/total-freedom-part-3-how-to-achieve-total-freedom

27/08/2023

TOTAL FREEDOM: PART 1. WHY ARE WE NOT FREE?

By Chuck Chakrapani

Most of us believe that if we achieve financial freedom, political freedom, or freedom from pain, we will be free. The Stoics disagreed. You may gain financial freedom, but you can also lose it. Or you may compromise your principles to please the person who has the power to make it happen. You may also pay dearly for it in terms of your health, or relationships. You can gain political freedom, but the country you run to may affect you negatively in other ways. Your chronic pain can go away, but there is no guarantee that it won’t return. Or something else can take its place. We have seen these things happen. And yet, the Stoics believed that you can be totally free, irrespective of your condition. In this three-part series, Chuck Chakrapani explains the Stoic concept of total freedom and how to achieve it. This part deals with the reason we are not free. The reasons include our fears of the past and the future, fear of what others might think, fear of illness and death, and the fear of not measuring up. You can read the entire blog here: https://thestoicgym.com/blogs/view/total-freedom-part-1-why-are-we-not-free

26/08/2023

The Stoic Gym is pleased to announce
THE STOIC, September 2023 edition

THEME: THE FREEDOM OF THE STOIC

Editorial - The freedom of the Stoic
Chuck Chakrapani - Ten traits of a free person
Santara Gonzales - Our freedom is up to us
Andi Sciacca - The freedom to act, feel, and let go
Piotr Stankiewicz - Degrees of freedom
Olivia Hajioff - Freedom from imagined grief
Karen Duffy - Freedom from fear of death
Brandon Tumblin - Freedom through detachment
Tanner Campbell - Can an atheist believe in a Stoic god?

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world
Our advisory board

Get your free subscription here.
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

06/08/2023

Paths to Stoic Joy - 2. How to be joyful?

Last week, we explored the causes of our lack of joy. In this week’s blog Chuck Chakrapani identifies the factors that make us joyful from a Stoic perspective: Joy of everyday things, eliminating things that stand between us and joy, and understanding the urgency of a happy life. These factors of joy are supported by extensive quotes from Stoic literature.

You can read the entire article here: https://thestoicgym.com/blogs/view/stoic-joy-2-how-to-find-joy

30/07/2023

Paths to Stoic Joy - 1. Why are we not joyful?

Few of us experience joy on an ongoing basis. Sure we have periods of happiness, usually when we achieve something or get something. But soon we get used it and we back to our natural level of happiness.

According to Stoicism there are three principal reasons why we are not joyful: we confuse temporary pleasures with joy, we are preoccupied with the past and the future and we constantly postpone living.

In this insightful blog Dr. Chuck Chakrapani explores in detail the causes of lack of joy. (In the second part of the article, he will explore how we can be joyful. Read the full blog here: https://thestoicgym.com/blogs/view/stoic-joy-1-why-are-we-not-joyful

29/07/2023

The Stoic Gym is pleased to announce the publication of
THE STOIC August Edition

In this issue…

Editorial: Paths to Stoic joy
Chuck Chakrapani: Joy through everyday experiences
Tanner Campbell: Joy through virtue
Andi Sciacca: Joy through awareness
Greg Sadler: Joy through remembrance of things past
Brandon Tumblin: Joy through contemplating death
Piotr Stankiewicz: Joy through a relaxed attitude

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world

Get your free subscription here.
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

01/07/2023

THE STOIC GYM
Is pleased to announce the publication of
THE STOIC, Journal of The Stoic Gym, July 2023 edition

THEME: Stoicism in everyday life

When bodily pain bothers us. Chuck Chakrapani
When our health is challenged. Tanner Campbell
When things don’t go according to plan. Andi Sciacca
When bad things happen to other people. Greg Sadler
When we are not present. Brandon Tamblin
When our views are coloured by our past. Piotr Stankiewicz
When we are stuck in traffic. John Kuna
Paradise is a library. Karen Duffy & Francis Gasparini

Get your free subscription here.
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

28/06/2023

9 WAYS TO DEAL WITH BODILY PAIN. PART 2

When we are in pain, we are bothered by three things: We are bothered by bodily pain, we are afraid that we might die, and we are worried that when our body is in pain, we cannot enjoy our sensory pleasures.

We’ve discussed bodily pain previously; today, let’s focus on the second two things – fear of death and loss of sensory pleasures.

You can read the second part of Chuck Chakrapani's blog on pain here: https://thestoicgym.com/blogs/view/9-ways-to-deal-with-bodily-pain-part-2

25/06/2023

9 WAYS TO DEAL WITH BODILY PAIN. PART 1

The ancient Stoics, especially Seneca, had some very specific ideas about the nature of pain and how to deal with it. Here are their suggestions on how to cope with bodily pain.

1. Know that pain is manageable. Pain is either sharp or chronic. Sharp pain doesn’t last too long, and we get used to chronic pain. So, both are manageable.

2. Do not add your opinion to the pain. Pain is bearable until we add our opinion to it – “this is terrible!” So, we should stop thinking that pain is terrible. It is something we will have from time to time as long as we have a body.

3. Don’t relive the past or be afraid of the future. Memories of past pain and fear of future pain make our current pain much worse than it is. We should avoid adding to our pain this way.

4. Distract yourself. We can also distract ourselves. Instead of thinking about our pain, we can think of other things.

5. Cultivate mental pleasures. We should remember that our mind is unaffected by our body’s illness. So, cultivate pleasures of the mind rather than of the body.

6. Heed advance warnings. Recurring pains also give us warning. We can take precautions against them, including taking preventive medications.

7. Stand up to your pain. We should not be too quick to give in to our illness. When we stay strong our pain is decreased.

8. Think positively. When we have bodily pain, let us remind ourselves that we have bodily pain because we have a body. We can be glad about that. (Epictetus, Discourses)

9. Think of pain as normal. When we treat pain as something normal rather than as something terrible, we are unlikely to be bothered too much by it. (Marcus Aurelius, Meditations)

These points are explored in greater detail in Chuck Chkarapani's two part blog at TheStoicGym.com. You can read part one of the blog: https://thestoicgym.com/blogs/view/9-ways-to-deal-with-bodily-pain-part-1

24/06/2023

THE STOIC
Journal of The Stoic Gym
To be published next week.

THEME: Stoicism in everyday life
When bodily pain bothers us. Chuck Chakrapani
When our health is challenged. Tanner Campbell
When things don’t go according to plan. Andi Sciacca
When bad things happen to other people. Greg Sadler
When we are not present. Brandon Tamblin
When our views are coloured by our past. Piotr Stankiewicz
When we are stuck in traffic. John Kuna
Paradise is a library. Karen Duffy & Francis Gasparini

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

21/06/2023

STOIC THOUGHTS ON SAVING TIME

Stoics believed that we are given just this one thing – time. Time is what our life is made of. Whether we live to be 100 years old or die young, it doesn’t matter. Once we use up our allotted time, we have nothing. We need to leave behind everything: the things we have accumulated, our money, our loved ones, our friends, things we fought for in this world, and everything else.

You can read the complete blog by Chuck Chakrapani
https://thestoicgym.com/blogs/view/the-importance-of-time

22/05/2023

The Stoic Gym
THE STOIC, June 2023 edition
To be published next weekend

Chuck Chakrapani
Stoic reflections

Greg Sadler
On caring

Tanner Campbell
Keeping your cool while travelling

Piotr Stankiewicz
Your own room or the entire world?

Seneca
Living a fearless life

Brandon Tumblin
Accepting the way of nature

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

29/04/2023

The Stoic Gym is pleased to announce
THE STOIC, May 2023 edition
Now available

Chuck Chakrapani
On being grateful

Karen Duffy
Go unstuck yourself

Tanner Campbell
How does a Stoic get to the Carnegie Hall?

Meredith Kunz
If you cannot be a sage, should you even try?

Seneca
How to live with yourself

Brandon Tumblin
Why you shouldn’t complain

Regular features
Stoic every day
Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

22/04/2023

The Stoic Gym is pleased to announce
THE STOIC, May 2023 edition
To be published next weekend

Chuck Chakrapani
On being grateful

Karen Duffy
Go unstuck yourself

Tanner Campbell
How does a Stoic get to the Carnegie Hall?

Meredith Kunz
If you cannot be a sage, should you even try?

Seneca
How to live with yourself

Brandon Tumblin
Why you shouldn’t complain

Regular features
Stoic every day
Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

02/04/2023

THE STOIC GYM is pleased to announce the publication of
THE STOIC magazine, April 2023 issue

Theme: STOIC THOUGHTS

Chuck Chakrapani
Thoughts on living and dying

Book Review
365 Ways to be More Stoic

Karen Duffy
Thoughts on writing letters

Tanner Campbell
Thoughts on making Stoicism accessible

Meredith Kunz
Thoughts on seeing clearly

Seneca
Thoughts on gratitude

Brandon Tumblin
Thoughts on cynicism

Regular features
Stoic every day
Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

26/03/2023

The Stoic Gym is pleased to announce
THE STOIC, April 2023 edition
To be published the next weekend

Theme: STOIC THOUGHTS

Chuck Chakrapani
Thoughts on living and dying

Book Review
365 Ways to be More Stoic

Karen Duffy
Thoughts on writing letters

Tanner Campbell
Thoughts on making Stoicism accessible

Meredith Kunz
Thoughts on seeing clearly

Seneca
Thoughts on gratitude

Brandon Tumblin
Thoughts on cynicism

Regular features
Stoic every day
Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

27/02/2023

THE STOIC GYM is pleased to announce the publication of
THE STOIC magazine, March 2023 issue

Theme: STOIC ANSWERS

IN THE ISSUE …
Chuck Chakrapani.
Stoic answers

Book Review
Journal like a Stoic

Sharon Lebell
Why be citizens of the world?

Tanner Campbell
Does it matter where you live?

Ende Harte.
How to think about death?

Seneca
How to live with your fears?

Brandon Tumblin
Good intentions: the only thing that matters?

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

01/01/2023

The Stoic Gym is pleased to announce the publication of
THE STOIC, New Year 2023 issue
Theme: STOIC JOURNALING
Available now!

Chuck Chakrapani. It’s our fifth year
Book Excerpt. Journal Like a Stoic by Brittany Polat
Ende Hart. A three-pronged approach to journaling
Meredith Kunz. The habit of writing down
Karen Duffy. Write what you know
Brandon Tumblin. Using journaling to achieve your goals

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION HERE
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

25/12/2022

The Stoic Gym is pleased to announce
THE STOIC, New Year 2023 issue

Theme: STOIC JOURNALING
To be published next weekend

Chuck Chakrapani. It’s our fifth year

Book Excerpt. Journal Like a Stoic by Brittany Polat

Ende Hart. A three-pronged approach to journaling

Meredith Kunz. The habit of writing down

Karen Duffy. Write what you know

Brandon Tumblin. Using journaling to achieve your goals

Regular features
Stoic every day. Stoic quotes for every day of the month
Stoic fellowships around the world

GET YOUR FREE SUBSCRIPTION HERE
https://bit.ly/stoicsubscribe

The Stoic Gym