Collaborating with Reality: The Stoic Art of Being Present | 378

About this episode

This episode discusses the importance of being present in life by embracing discomfort and working with reality.

Far too often we’re never really in the moment. Maybe we’re stuck ruminating in the past over what we wished would have happened, or projecting out into the future our hope of what will happen. Maybe we distract ourselves with our phones, with entertainment, or alcohol or drugs. Anything that can relieve boredom or the discomfort of our present reality. But what if you leaned into that boredom? What if embracing discomfort is the key to really experiencing your life? In this episode I want to about the importance of being present in your own life by working with reality, rather than against it. “Caretake this moment. Immerse yourself in its particulars. Respond to this person, this challenge, this deed. Quit evasions. Stop giving yourself needless trouble. It is time to really live; to fully inhabit the situation you happen to be in now.” — Epictetus

People in this episode

Host: Erick Cloward

Topics covered

• being present
• Stoicism
• embracing discomfort
• mindfulness
• living in the moment

Keywords

• Stoic philosophy
• mindfulness
• present moment
• boredom
• discomfort

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