How to become invincible:
What is stoicism? Reaping the upsides of life, and creating a framework in which anything which attempts to damage you actually benefits and strengthens you.
For example, let us assume that real life was an RPG or a video game, Diablo II analogy to real life. Imagine as if your character was a Paladin, and whenever an enemy attacked you, your hit points, and your skills would actually increase. This is my notion of stoicism.
Why stoicism?
To me, stoicism is the best philosophical framework to deal with the maladies of life. For myself personally, studying stoicism, and reading the letters of Seneca helped me tremendously become more confident, and epic.
However, we must know and acknowledge that stoicism is not the end goal. Stoicism is simply a path, a technique and a means toward something greater.
What is the end goal?
To me, life experimentation, human physiology, philosophy, entrepreneurship, innovation, art creativity photography, digital things, the Internet, etc.
For example, stoicism will greatly help you in street photography. Why? I believe the 99% of street photography is simply conquering fear and hesitation. If you could apply a stoic mindset to street photography, you will thrive.
Stoicism and entrepreneurship
Another application is towards entrepreneurship and innovation. I believe the 99% of entrepreneurship and innovation is conquering the fear of risk and failure. If we could stoic strategies to become more risk loving, we are wise.
What is the end goal of stoicism?
It seems that Seneca and the Stoic philosophers were obsessed with virtue for the sake of virtue. What is virtue? For men, it means to become the apex manliness.
However, this is where I feel that stoicism falls short. To seek virtue for the sake of virtue seems to be inconsequential. Once again, stoicism should be seen as a means toward a certain desired end, not the end itself.
So how do I become a stoic?
Simply put, if you’re interested in building your mind and body to become unconquerable, you are already a stoic. To borrow the words of Anna, you have always already been a stoic.
What should I do with my invincibility?
Imagine like having a bulletproof vest for your chest, and also your mind and your soul.
My simple thought is channel and harness your stoic power to go even harder on your publications on philosophy, whether it be email newsletter, blog, vlog, etc.
Anger?
I thought; better to be angry than sad. Why? Anger is an affirmative, stimulating emotion, whereas sadness is a depressive one. Even like Eminem said —
I hate to admit this, but I think I’m actually happier when I’m angrier.
If you get angry, or you’re angry, assuming you have high testosterone, low body fat percentage, and high muscle mass, anger is actually one of our most wise tools. Why? When we get angry, we perceive an injustice, which teaches us between right and wrong.
For example, I think it is actually very very wise to become aggressive and combative when necessary.
For example, in modern day life, we are taught that it is bad to be “defensive”. However, to be defensive, and to focus on defense might be one of the most intelligent strategies.
For example in football, American football, I think it is true that defense wins games. Or, when it comes to the US military, there is a reason why they call it the department of defense, not the department of offense. Even their website URL is Defense.gov.
Even the notion of “avenger”, comes from the notion of being a defender. To defend yourself, your family, your nation could be one of the greatest things one can do. For example, if we think about the spartan 300, their goal wasn’t to just go out and conquer every other nation. Their simple goal was to defend Sparta from king Xerxes and his Slave army. Sparta just wanted to be left alone.
Should you defend yourself?
It depends. For example, imagine like you were the dragon from the Lord of the rings, and there is this annoying poodle which keeps barking at you. In situations like that, maybe it is best to just ignore the poodle, or, you might not even hear it.
Therefore a simple stoic strategy:
Become more deaf to others.
For example, if somebody says something that super annoying, or triggers you, maybe the best strategy is just pretend like you didn’t hear it. And if they ask you whether you heard them, just lie and say you didn’t hear them. And just walk away.
What should I do if I’m just sad?
My thought is a lot of sadness is physiological. For example, let us assume that you sleep 8 to 12 hours a night, spend a lot of time outdoors in the direct sun, go to the gym every day, chat with your buddies, make new friends, lift heavy weights, hype yourself up, and eat lots of meat, How can one be sad?
Another thought: I have never met a depressed person who walks 30,000 steps a day.
Theory:
Depression as a physiological phenomenon which originates in the body, not the mind.
Mental depression is simply an offshoot of bodily physical depression.
Because let us consider, people who are clinically depressed literally cannot get out of bed. Therefore, this is a physiological phenomenon.
Stoic exercises
We all know that in order to become stronger, one must lift heavier weights, and exercise regularly. I say daily is best.
Some stoic exercises:
- The next time you get really angry, whether it be your wife, your partner, etc., wait at least 24-48 hours before responding. I I learned this concept from Plato, who said that he would wait at least 24 hours before beating his slave.
- What would a demigod do? This could be a good line of thinking when it comes to life situations.
- The next time you get really really angry, just walk to the local gym, and proceed to lift very very heavy weights. Don’t go home until you’ve calm down.
- Seek to empathize with other people, which means understand their mind and situation, and don’t hate or resent them for it. Give them the cold shoulder. However you’re not giving them the cold shoulder out of punishment, rather, just to protect your own zen stoic calm.
- Whenever you hear bad news, or something bad happens to you think yourself, how can this benefit me 10 years from now? Is this misfortune, actually may be one of the most fortunate things which has happened to me in my life? For example, me getting laid off and made redundant from my first job out of college, actually was the stimulus which helped me pursue my passion full-time for a living.
Which stoic philosophers should I read?
I say: Seneca, Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, Epicurus, Diogenes the Cynic, Heraclitus, Democritus, etc.
Now what?
If you have any mental melodies, or things you want to discuss, have a chat with Zen of Eric Why App? Facebook messenger chat bot.
For anybody who criticizes Facebook, I still think that Facebook is a net positive for society, as it has allowed me to build this.
Conquer it all
EK:
- Conquer Boston
- Conquer Innovation in Berkeley
- Conquer Zen in Hadong South Korea
Stoic Equipment
- Weight lifting chalk, both the powder form which comes in a ball, as well as the liquid chalk. Just buy whatever is cheap and convenient on Amazon.
- License to Train Lululemon shorts // Metal Vent Lululemon T-shirt: Think of your clothing as armor. Also, this will allow you to lift weights and go heavy anytime anywhere.
- Vibram 5 finger shoes — EL X model
- No car
- No home
- iPhone SE: You don’t get afraid of it scratching, or someone stealing it. Use and abuse it.
- iPad Pro (smaller one)
- RICOH GR IIIX x ERIC KIM WRIST STRAP MARK II
- HENRI SHOULDER STRAP
- HENRI WRIST STRAP PRO
Moar in EK SHOP
Stoic sayings
- “Perhaps one day we will look back at this misfortune event, and look at it with delight and laughter.” – Odysseus in the odyssey, after half his men got eaten by the Cyclops
- “I am so grateful for all the wonderful conversations we’ve had in our life“. (Epicurus talking to one of his best friends, near the end of his life.)
- “What doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.” – Nietzsche
“Ars longa, vita brevis.” – Seneca
ERIC
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STOICISM 101
Become invincible:
- How to Ignore
Pretend like you didn’t hear them - Bad Stoic Strategies
- The Stoic Way of Dealing With Unpleasant or Miserable People
- HOW TO BECOME A STOIC
- Stoicism Stunts Our Power?
- Stoicism is Mental Resistance Training
- STOIC STRATEGIES.
- How to Become Fearless
- Extreme Stoicism
- Ethics are Aesthetic
- Indifference to Pain or Suffering
- When is Stoicism Good? When is Stoicism Bad?
- Why Others Criticize or Insult You
- True Difficulty
- What if Covid Never Goes Away?
- SUPER STOIC
- Anti-Hedonism
- HOW TO CONQUER FEAR
- ANTI FEAR
- It is the Duty of the Strong to Help the Weak
- The Goal is to Become Stronger
- HYPER STOICISM
- HYPER HERO
- TRANSFORM EVERY DOWNSIDE INTO AN UPSIDE
- STOICISM x Child’s Mind
- The Art of Manly Virtue
- Resistance Makes Us Stronger!
- DON’T LIVE IN FEAR
- Emotions are Good
- Conquer Your Anger
- BLACK EAGLE
- DIFFICULTY AWAKENS YOUR INNER-GENIUS.
- STOICISM IS ARMOR FOR THE MIND
- The Spartan-Stoic Lifestyle
- How I Conquered Fear
- HOW TO CURE FEAR.
- LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL.
- The Upside of Poverty
- How I Became Me
- THE WILL TO POWER, OR THE WILL TO FEAR?
- ATTACK REALITY
- Living *THROUGH* History
- How to Fear Less
- Fear is the Ultimate Contagious Disease
- STOICISM FOR DUMMIES
- Don’t Be Scared!
- WHAT CAN YOU CONTROL, WHAT CAN YOU NOT CONTROL?
- HOW YOU CAN CONQUER FEAR
- YOU’RE STRONGER THAN YOU THINK YOU ARE.
- EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
- WHY AREN’T THINGS WORSE?
- My Philosophy on Masculinity
- A Riskier Life is a Better Life #philosophy #stoicism
- How to Creatively Flourish in Life
- Introduction to Stoicism
- How to Become Stronger
- How to Conquer Depression With Photography
- What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Stronger
- How to Respect Yourself
- How to Believe in Yourself
- How to Steer Fear
- How to Conquer Pessimism
- How to Conquer Anxiety
- How to Overcome Your Fear of People
- How to Be Optimistic
- Why I Don’t Take My Anger Seriously
- HOW TO BECOME MORE POWERFUL
- POSITIVITY.
- HOW TO BECOME SUPERHUMAN
- How to Give a Fuck Less
- ALL IN.
- Why I Cut My Dad Out of My Life.
- Your iPhone Only Has 5% Battery Left.
- How not to give a FUCK about your REPUTATION
- WHAT IS A HUMAN?
- HAPPINESS.
- The Regret Minimization Framework in Photography and Life
- How to Be a HERO
- Conquer Your Fears by Making Fear Your Slave
- Rule Circumstances; Don’t Let Your Circumstances Rule You
- How to Love Yourself
- How to Turn Shit into Gold
- Your Parents Fuck You Up
- Immortality
- What Kills You Makes You Stronger
- How to Be Patient
- How to Conquer Anger
- How to Bounce Back in Life
- How to Overcome Resistance
- Nothing Unlimited is Good; Nothing Good is Unlimited
- You Have No Limits
- Can 1’s and 0’s Hurt You?
- The Envious Moment is Flying Now
- Tomorrow We’ll Sail the Wide Seas Again
- How to Forgive Others
- Focus on Your Actions, Not the Results
- Everything Will Be Alright
- How to Be a Stoic Street Photographer
- How to Be a Spartan Photographer
- How to Overcome Your Fears in Life
- How to Stop Worrying in Life
- How to Use Photography as Self-Therapy
- How to Free Your Soul From Disturbance
- 3 Stoic Techniques that Can Help You Gain Tranquility
- Can People Weaker than You Hurt You?
- Does a Doctor Get Angry at a Crazy Patient?
- Own Nothing
The Stoic Masters
Learn from the master stoics: