#63 - Enchiridion Ch 4: How to Stop Being Surprised By Life: Death by Paper Cuts, Swinging Snakes, Budget Hotels & The History of Bathing

#63 - Enchiridion Ch 4: How to Stop Being Surprised By Life: Death by Paper Cuts, Swinging Snakes, Budget Hotels & The History of Bathing

October 6, 2025 · 30 min · Season 4 · Episode 63

About this episode

Bruce and Justin discuss how to manage life's annoyances through Stoic philosophy.

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Modern Meditations, Bruce and Justin turn a weekend of budget hotels, dollar rental cars, $12 orange juice, and marathon gels into a masterclass on Stoic expectations. Drawing on Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and M. Scott Peck, they explore how life’s annoyances, whether waiting in line, traffic tailgaters, or bitter cucumbers, become easier to bear when you anticipate difficulty instead of assuming bliss is normal. From the rugby coach’s snake parable ...

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Hosts: Bruce, Justin Stohlton

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