How to Journal Like a Stoic (GUIDE)

Introduction to Journaling

In this video, the speaker shares three techniques from historic philosophers that helped him get into journaling. He emphasizes the importance of reflecting on one's inner life and feelings rather than just documenting daily activities.

Why Journaling is Important

• Journaling allows for reflection on one's inner life and feelings.

• Great artists and thinkers throughout history kept journals.

• The act of journaling can transform one's days.

Overcoming Writer's Block

The speaker shares three techniques from historic philosophers that helped him overcome writer's block when starting a journal.

Keeping it Private

• Keep your journal private, like a romance.

• Writing an honest and unpublishable journal that nobody reads but you is ideal.

Reflecting, Not Documenting

• Don't treat journaling as documenting your life.

• Write about how you felt about things rather than what happened at specific times.

Epictetus' Technique: Reflect on Yesterday

• Begin each day by reflecting upon yesterday.

• Write down how you spent yesterday without any precise time, then write down how you would have preferred to spend it.

Seneca's Technique: Confront Your Fears

The speaker shares Seneca's technique for confronting fears through journaling.

Examining Your Day in the Evening

• Seneca wrote his journals in the evening.

• He examined his entire day and went back over what he had done and said, hiding nothing from himself and passing nothing by.

Writing Down Your Fears

• Write down a thing that scares you or gives you anxiety.

• Be very precise and keep it short.

Marcus Aurelius' Technique: Self-improvement

The speaker shares Marcus Aurelius' technique for using journaling for self-improvement.

Meditations

• Marcus Aurelius used journaling for self-improvement.

• His journal, "Meditations," is the most famous of all time.

Reflect on Your Actions

• Reflect on your actions and how you can improve.

• Use your journal as a tool for self-reflection and improvement.

Articulating Your Principles

In this section, the speaker discusses the importance of articulating one's principles and values.

Importance of Articulating One's Principles

• Marcus Aurelius believed that it is important to articulate the qualities that we wish to attain.

• Try to find the highest ideals that you can imagine by imagining a hero of yours and writing down what exactly in that person you admire.

• Articulating your principles is particularly useful when going through a difficult time because it gives you hope and strength to fight.

Examples of Journaling Artists and Thinkers

• The speaker shares some examples of journaling artists and thinkers such as Eugene Delacroix, Virginia Woolf, Soren Kierkegaard, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Surreal.

• The speaker encourages viewers to start journaling as it did for him a decade ago.

Conclusion

In conclusion, articulating one's principles is essential for personal growth and development. By finding the highest ideals that we can imagine, we can better understand our values and beliefs. Additionally, journaling can be a helpful tool for self-reflection and artistic development.