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stoic

Στοά (Stoa, “the porch”)
Calm and steady no matter what happens

Stoics were named after a porch in Athens where Zeno taught. They practiced staying calm and acting well.

The story

Zeno taught in Athens at the Stoa Poikilē, the 'Painted Porch', around 300 BC. His followers were named after the porch. They trained themselves to stay calm and act well whatever happened.

The Texas version

A rancher watching hail flatten the crop, then saying 'Well, let's fix the fence.' Stoic.

Use it at work

A customer churns. Be stoic: feel it, learn the lesson, call the next one.

Practice it in Skepsis

More from “Live Like a Stoic”

dichotomy of controlSplit life into what you control and what you don'tdicho / tomin two + cuttingaretēBeing excellent at your purposeeudaimoniaA flourishing, well-lived lifeagōnA contest or struggleschoolA place for learningostracizeTo shut someone out of a groupeurekaA shout of sudden discovery