The Daily Stoic: The Book That Is Helping Me Grieve My DadHonestly Jamie

Because the grief is around 24/7 and stoicism puts a logical feeling around it…

I have to give credit where credit is due! I first heard about The Daily Stoic over on The Skinny Confidential (she’s seriously amazing if you don’t already follow Lauryn/listen to her podcast), and I was honestly intrigued a long time ago but decided to buy a copy in April, just a few days after my Dad’s 72nd birthday, ironically.

So what makes it amazing?

Essentially you read one page a day (they’re dated) and get a mini “lesson” on stoicism.

Stoicism: an ancient Greek school of philosophy founded at Athens by Zeno of Citium. The school taught that virtue, the highest good, is based on knowledge; the wise live in harmony with the divine Reason (also identified with Fate and Providence) that governs nature, and are indifferent to the vicissitudes of fortune and to pleasure and pain.

I took philosophy in college but, clearly, I don’t remember much since I only took one class…but what I always did love about philosophy is that it feels like you’re playing a game of chess with your brain. The great philosophers ask a lot of questions; why did we do that? Why did we feel that way? Why are we offended? Why do we complain? You end up in kind of a therapy session with yourself and for me, personally, I almost always can resolve any feelings of self-doubt, anger, sadness, etc. but applying logic to the problem.

Anywho, I posted the below photo of June 4th’s lesson on IG Stories because it seriously helped me on a morning that I was seriously missing my father and was feeling really, really sad and out of control of my own life.

A LOT of you replied and had a lot of questions about the book and I totally get that. I feel like there are just so many “self-help” type books and half of them are total bullshit and end up being thrown in the donation pile while only being half-read (#guilty).

Ryan DM’d me and said he was “honored” that his book was helping me through such a tough time in my life and it made me really think about how quickly my mood can change after reading the daily lesson.

This is what we’re here for.

The way that Ryan explains Seneca’s quote just feels logical, right?. And, quite honestly, the lesson applies to any sadness you have in your life, not just death. They say that by following the teachings of stoicism, you find serenity, self-knowledge, and the resilience that you need to live well. I’m officially a convert now.

I read each lesson every morning, and when I forget I just skip to the accurate date since I’ll likely be re-reading this book over and over again each year. I really can’t recommend this book enough to anyone dealing with some serious shit…or even small shit cause, you know, feelings are feelings and we are all evolving, changing and growing humans!