Live Like A Stoic Week is happening for the second year. It will be taking place from November 25 to December 1. Everyone who is interested in Stoicism, or who practices it today, is encouraged to take part, get involved in an event or activity, and help spread the word.
Last year, Stoic Week attracted participants in schools, universities and philosophy clubs around the world, and generated articles in the Guardian, Independent, The Philosopher’s Magazine and the Huffington Post. We want to make this year’s Stoic Week even bigger.
How you can get involved:
We’d love it if, once again, Stoic Week events take place all over the world. This could be as simple as organizing a discussion on Stoicism in your local cafe or pub. It could mean local clubs, schools or philosophy departments organizing a debate on a Stoic question or theme, such as ‘can philosophy be a form of therapy?’ or ‘is virtue sufficient for happiness?’ If you’re a teacher or a lecturer, you might get your class to discuss Stoicism and to consider some of the Stoics’ practical techniques for changing our emotions.
We’re organizing a public event in London on Saturday November 30. Details, programme and registration is here: www.stoicismforlife.com
It would be great if any bloggers interested in Stoicism used the week as an opportunity to share their own experience of Stoicism. Has it helped you? Do you think it has relevance in modern life? Which ideas or exercises have you found particularly helpful? Write a blog post or make a YouTube video, and be sure to mention Stoic Week and to help spread the word. Send Patrick Ussher or another project member the link, and we’ll share it with our followers.
You can also get involved in our annual study of the practical effects of Stoic techniques. Pick a technique or spiritual exercise from the Stoic Handbook, and then try it out every day, keeping note of the impact on your beliefs, emotions and actions. Then fill in the Stoic questionnaire we provide, and send it back to us. You might also want to share your experience more informally via a blog or YouTube video. We’re working on the Stoic Handbook now and will have it finished by early November.
If you’re a teacher and are interested in doing a class or workshop on Stoicism, here are some practical ideas and exercises you might find useful.
The week is organized by the Stoicism and Therapy project, which is run out of Exeter University. The project brings together classicists, philosophers, psychotherapists and journalists, who share an interest in the practical and therapeutic use of Stoicism today. Project members include Professor Christopher Gill and Patrick Ussher from Exeter University, Dr John Sellars from Birkbeck University, psychotherapists Tim LeBon and Donald Robertson, CBT psychotherapist and author Gill Garrett, and Jules Evans from Queen Mary, University of London. You can watch a video featuring the project members here.
We hope Stoic Week will increase public interest in Stoicism, and bring its therapeutic power into people’s lives.
Looking forward to it.
[…] Stoicism to try out, and a good reason to do so with an event that really appeals to me – ‘Live like a Stoic week’ which challenges those who would put good intentions into practice to write a journal of their […]
Just recently read Jules’ book. This would seem like the ideal opportunity to practice stoicism. Hope to get involved.
Thanks Alan, thanks Steven. It would be great if you could take part!
We’re beginning to organize a group, some university techers and students, here in Chihuahua (Northern part of Mexico) to participate in this exercise. Looking forward to the experience and to the incoming Manual. Thanks for having this site, with its immensly valuable contents and its Stoic spirit of cosmopolitanism.
Gilberto
Gilberto, Many thanks for your kind comments about the Stoicism Today site, and fantastic to read that you will be participating from Mexico. Let’s keep growing the Stoic spirit of cosmopolitanism! 🙂
[…] committed to raising public awareness of Stoicism as a life-improving resource. We’re organising Live Like A Stoic Week (Nov 25 – Dec 1), and trying to get people involved in Stoic events all over the world. We’re preparing a handbook […]
Is Stoicism easier when life is more challenging?
My wife and I each have late stage cancer and in many ways life has never been simpler, nor decisions easier to make. We only do that which we choose to do and choosing is so much easier when life is reduced to its essentials. Looking back to busy working lives just reminds us how trivial so many “issues” were in those days and how much energy we could expend on the most minor of setbacks.
In fact, it almost seems a gift of the disease that life is now so different, enabling us to be so much more positive even in the face of a bleak outlook.
Oh, by the way, my wife did a PGCE at Exeter many years ago.
A wonderful example of Stoicicm and reflections about life we should all pay heed to.
My personal beliefs do not see a bleak outlook at passing on and I would hope you can be open minded if not optimistic about the next stage of your journey (together no doubt).
With love to you both, Alan.
Yes, thank you very much for sharing your story, and for inspiring us.
All the best
Jules