Matthew Van Natta - The Beginners Guide to Stoicism: Tools for Emotional Resilience and Positivity

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Interior and Designer: Julie Schrader

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courtesy of Christy Radonich Van Natta.

ISBN: Print 978-1-64152-721-7 | eBook 978-1-64152-722-4

Thank you, Christy, for your love, encouragement, and more patience than can be deserved. Thank you, Freyja, for hugs and songs and wonder. And a thank-you to the Stoic community for years of thoughtfulness and support.

CONTENTS

A decade ago, I discovered Stoicism and never stopped practicing. The Stoic way of thinking has reshaped my life and given me emotional resilience, a positive outlook, and the desire to change my community for the better. Ive gained these benefits from my longtime practice. I learned how to build Stoic skills from a variety of books, an online community, and trial and error. Its my expectation that this guide will help you move forward at a quicker pace than I did, by providing a clear path upon which to travel.

I have lived with an anxiety disorder since my late teens. For too many years, it went untreated and wreaked havoc on my relationships and my professional life. In my early 30s, I sought out professional help and learned a variety of practices from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) that worked and became constant tools in my mental life. Stoicism first drew me in because of the many similarities between the Stoic outlook and the therapy I had practiced. Later I would learn that there was a historical connection between the two. The difference was that CBT helped calm my thoughts, while Stoicism gave them direction. Stoicism helped me choose who I wanted to be and gave me the means to become that person. The process is ongoing, rewarding, and worth sharing.

Stoicism says you can thrive in lifeno matter your circumstances. With this guide, you will learn to focus on the things you can control so your actions are impactful, and you arent wasting your time on that which you cant change. You will become more open and accepting of others and, at the same time, have the courage to stand up for yourself and your beliefs. Your emotional life will benefit as you cultivate positivity and overcome negative thinking. You will become your best self and learn to live a life of harmony.

I have been an instructor for most of my adult life. When I took up Stoicism, it felt natural to share what I was learning. I began with my blog, Immoderate Stoic. I later created a podcast, Good Fortune, in homage to one of my favorite Marcus Aurelius quotes, Here is the rule to remember in the future, When anything tempts you to be bitter: not, This is a misfortune but To bear this worthily is good fortune. Both of these have been well received by the Stoic community and continue to help those who want to live a philosophical life. My teaching focuses on the practical. How can Stoicism help you right here, right now?

This guide is no different. You dont need a background in philosophy to benefit from its teachings. In the days when Stoicism developed, philosophy helped people live meaningful lives. The Stoic teachers provided an ethical basis for action in an often confusing and challenging world. Stoicism helps you get things done. You will learn to take control of your mental and emotional life. You will cultivate the skills needed to direct your actions in positive ways that help both you and everyone with whom you interact. If you are interested in gaining tools to sustain your happiness during all the ups and downs of life, youve come to the right place.

Stoicism trains you in a new way of thinking. I will lead you through this process step-by-step. Each chapter will build on the last. You will gain a firm foundation before you receive more information. Every chapter will also include practical lessons. You will get useful mental tools from the very beginning and, as you continue, their uses become even more apparent and powerful.

provides an overview of Stoicism as a philosophy and delves into its history. You will gain the context necessary to understand the goals of Stoic teaching. The framework of Stoicism will start to become clear.