Chakrapani - Unshakable Freedom

Unshakable Freedom: What They are Saying

Choose this book

Chuck Chakrapani reveals for modern eyes what the ancient Stoics knew: True freedom comes from choosing wisely. Heres an aligned piece of advice choose this book.

Robert Cialdini PhD,

Author Influence and Pre-suasion

Fast, interesting, and it works

Chuck Chakrapani brings Stoic philosophy to the world of today, the world in which we live, love, compete, win, lose, but never escape. Our world. The early Stoics and those who succeeded them have much to teach, but it takes a thoughtful writer to give us this wisdom in the way WE NEED TO LEARN. Chuck is one of those writers. Read this book ...its fast, interesting, but most of all it WORKS.

Dr. Howard Moskowitz,

Chief Science Officer, Mind Genomics Advisors

A timely and readable reminder

We live in a time when happiness and autonomy are commonly equated with higher levels of and options for consumption. This little book is a timely and readable reminder that the path to enjoyment and independence lies elsewhere.

Thomas Dunk PhD,

Dean, Faculty of Social Sciences, Brock University

Unshakable Freedom: What They are Saying

[This book] can change your life for good

Unshakable Freedom is a wonderful guide to those who want real freedom and peace in a complex and challenging world. It also vividly portrays many of the leaders and prominent people who have found success by following these principles. It really can change your life for good.

Ashref Hashim,

President, The Blackstone Group

For greater productivity, prosperity and inner peace

In Unshakable Freedom , Chuck identifies that the only thing stopping us from being happy is ourselves. The Stoic tenants outlined, if followed, will lead to greater productivity, prosperity, and inner peace for the reader. Thanks to Chuck for the inspiration!

Dr. Kara Mitchelmore,

CEO, Marketing Research & Intelligence Association

Immediately practical

Chuck Chakrapani has written this wonderful book of timeless, immensely practical messages to help us generate powerful real-world impact and remind us how to stay free and appreciative. Unshakable Freedom provides an immediately practical lesson to gain freedom and personal power.

Sabine Steinbrecher,

CEO, The Learning Library

Unshakable Freedom: What They are Saying

Designed to improve quality of life

Unshakable Freedom is about finding peace of mind. Stoic philosophy is a tool to address daily travails - big and small. The author has proposed techniques designed to lead to freedom, happiness, and a better quality of life. I recommend that you go through the book slowly, absorb, and practice.

Naresh Malhotra

CEO Global, Novatrek

A Fortunate Storm

A Companion Volume to Unshakable Freedom

U nshakable Freedom is based on Stoic teachings.

But how did Stoicism come about?

Three unconnected events a shipwreck in Piraeus, a play in Thebes, and the banishment of a rebel in Turkey connected three unrelated individuals to give birth to a philosophy. It was to endure two thousand years and offer hope and comfort to hundreds of thousands of people along the way.

The Fortunate Storm is the improbable story of how Stoicism came about. You can get a FREE COPY of the e-version of this book at the link below:

http://www.TheStoicGym.com/fortunatestormfree

Unshakable

Freedom

ancient stoic secrets

APPLIED TO MODERN LIFE

Chuck Chakrapani, PhD

The Stoic Gym Publications

Copyright 2016 by Chuck Chakrapani.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law. For permission requests, please contact: www.ChuckChakrapani.com

The Stoic Gym

A Standard Research Systems Imprint

For bulk ordering and rights permissions requests, please visit http://thestoicgym.com.

First Edition.

ISBNs

Print: 978-0-920219-18-8

ePub: 978-0-920219-19-5

Mobi: 978-0-920219-20-1

PDF: 978-0-920219-21-8

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Dont you know that freedom is a glorious thing of great worth?

EPICTETUS

introduction

The Festival of Life

I have this purpose: to complete you, to free you from restraint, compulsion, hindrance, to make you free, prosperous, and happy ... And you are here to practice these things.

Epictetus[1]

F

or most of us, freedom is an ideal not really achieved in our everyday life. We try to keep our jobs, to live within a limited income, not to offend others, and to avoid unnecessary arguments. We worry about life passing us by, about our jobs, our children, and our parents. We dont even realize how unfree we are while we go on with life, walking on eggshells.

Anxiety about the future, fear of illness and old age, and constant replaying of the past keep us trapped. When we are free to choose, the choice seems to be between two unattractive alternatives. Do we want to continue in our miserable job or face unemployment? Do we want to argue with our spouse or invite a boring couple for dinner?

As Thoreau observed, The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.[2] Wheres the freedom in that?

We are robbed of our liberty not only by everyday life problems, but also by terrorists, the government, the economy, society, our jobs, and a hundred other obligations. Is freedom still possible?

Yes, say the Stoics. Stoicism was founded around 2,300 years ago. Following that, Stoicism flourished in Greece and Rome for about five centuries. There are many misconceptions about Stoicism, such as Stoics are humorless, they internally suffer and dont show it, they are emotionless, etc. Yet the Stoics discovered a way of life based on personal freedom, which was joyful and serene no matter what else was going on around them.

If you would like to be free from all things that enslave you, Stoics say they can show you how. No one can take away your freedom without your permission. Not terrorists, nor the government, the economy, society, your job, your obligations, the past, your family, or your spouse.

If we clearly understand what is under our control and what is not, we can achieve freedom simply by exercising our control. We dont need to wait for anyone to do anything. We dont have to make a million dollars or ten; to run away from where we are. We dont need anyones permission, and we dont need to change anyone. We have all we need to achieve freedom. It is as simple as that.

Stoics didnt mince their words. They didnt hedge their bets. Just listen to Epictetus: I have this purpose: to complete you, to free you from restraint, compulsion, hindrance, to make you free, prosperous, and happy... And you are here to practice these things.[3]

Thats a big promise. Not an empty one, either. People have practiced Stoicism for over two thousand years and found that it worked for them. Since I picked up a copy of the Stoic Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, book Meditations when I was in my teens, Stoicism has provided me comfort throughout my life. It offered me solace when I was troubled, encouraged me when things looked bleak, and steadied me when I wobbled, even though I have been an inconsistent and imperfect practitioner of the philosophy.

Stoicism is not an exclusive philosophy open only to a few. It is open to anyone. So why is the books subtitle Ancient Stoic Secrets? The Stoic techniques are secrets only because so little of Stoicism is known to the general public, in spite of its resurging popularity.