Stoic Philosophy as Rational and Cognitive Psychotherapy
Why should modern psychotherapists be interested in philosophy, especially ancient philosophy? Why should philosophers be interested in psychotherapy? There is a sense of mutual attraction between what are, today, two thoroughly distinct disciplines. However, arguably it was not always the case that they were distinct.
This book traces the origins of modern cognitive behavioral therapy, noting a clear analogy with ancient philosophy. Robertson skillfully combines the clinical experience of therapy and the academic grasp of philosophy to write in depth.
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Most store food is “stored” food that’s meant to transport well and have a long shelf life; healthy, nutritious food doesn’t last long! The best way to make food last a long time is to strip the nutrients from it and package it! Natural Whole Food is Best!
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Vegetarians are far less susceptible to western diseases and premature death due to disease than traditional western diet consumers! Although, Flexitarians (nearly vegetarian in their approach to diet) show the same positive health effects. Those who eat a lot of animal proteins simply don’t fair as well in their long-term overall health; more medical care, medications and disease! On the other hand, a Whole Food Diet is superior to a Vegetarian Diet although both carry great health benefits. We can discuss nutritional approaches in more detail here!
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What you believe, what you value and what you seek in life is where the answer (Health) or problem (Disease) lies!
Question your believes! Are they rational, are they accurate or simply handed down from somewhere else? Are they a fairytale, a fantasy? Do they make you healthier or sicker? Are your personal believes random with no coherence or consistency? Should you learn more about a subject so that you know instead of simply believe?
Question your values! Why be scared when you can work to be brave? Why overindulge when you can practice self control? Why nurture anger, when you can have peace of mind? Why be superficial when you can be profound? Why not work to be thoughtful and patient of others and less absorbed?
Question what you think is important in life! Do I need a fancier version of something I already have? Do I ignore, treat poorly or put off the people who mean the most to me? Do I see strangers and ignore them or treat them with fairness and compassion? Am I working toward wisdom or simply wasting time chasing things of no consequence?
There’s a very strong connection between our personal philosophy (how we interpret and react to the world around us and what we think is important in life) and our mental and physical health! A random, greedy, self absorbed, pessimistic, toxic, irrational, hostile personal philosophy will eventually lead to disease and mental discomfort. To know what is good, bad and indifferent in this world is no small thing, its everything! In other words, wrong beliefs will make you sick! We can work on that here!
You can catch bitterness, pessimism, cold-heartedness and failure just as easily as you can catch patience, optimism, kindness and success. Good health and bad health, you can catch that too. In other words, be careful who you spend your time with and where you spend it!
This new guide to finding a happier way of life draws on the ancient wisdom of the stoics to reveal lasting truths and proven strategies for enhanced well-being. By learning what stoicism is, you can revolutionize your life, learning how to – properly – ‘seize the day’, how to cope in the face of adversity, and how to come to terms with whatever situation you’re in
Vegetables (and fruits to a lesser degree) are a richer source of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and fiber than any other category of food. Animal tissue (or meat from the muscles of animals) contain far fewer vitamins and minerals, less essential fatty acids, high levels of saturated fat and cholesterol and contain zero health enhancing fiber (soluble or insoluble).
Keeping the body and mind fit is only appropriate since its employed in everything we do! Yet, the vast majority of us busy ourselves with anything and everything but this…
Personally, I enjoy indoor machines, but there’s one common mistake that many participants make when choosing to work indoors and that’s based on the concept of convection.
Without adequate airflow (similar to sitting outside on a hot, still day) we overheat quickly, leading to less intensity, shorter duration and a feeling of misery. Consequently, we no longer want to train indoors which is a convenient way to get the job done.
Fans built into stationary machines and ceiling fans are mostly inadequate. What’s needed? A standard floor fan that covers the majority of our bodies while we exercise in place. This will naturally lead to greater enjoyment and more consistency with your indoor training.
Alain de Botton’s bestselling The Consolations of Philosophy–later made into a six-part TV series–has helped popularize ancient philosophy and especially the work of Seneca. This superb volume offers the finest translation of Seneca’s dialogues and essays in print, capturing the full range of his philosophical interests. Here the Stoic philosopher outlines his thoughts on how to live in a troubled world. Tutor to the young emperor Nero, Seneca wrote exercises in practical philosophy that draw upon contemporary Roman life and illuminate the intellectual concerns of the day. They also have much to say to the modern reader, as Seneca ranges widely across subjects such as the shortness of life, tranquility of mind, anger, mercy, happiness, and grief at the loss of a loved one. Seneca’s accessible, aphoristic style makes his writing especially attractive as an introduction to Stoic philosophy, and belies its reputation for austerity and dogmatism. This edition combines a clear and modern translation by John Davies with Tobias Reinhardt’s fascinating introduction to Seneca’s career, literary style, and influence, including a superb summary of Stoic philosophy and Seneca’s interpretation of it. The book’s notes are the fullest of any comparable edition.
The majority of males get their health and fitness information from magazines that are full of professional bodybuilders and muscular models who use steriods, as well as other illegal chemicals to achieve their desired look. Not only are these fitness role models typically using drugs to obtain their facade of health and fitness they’re frequently pedaling strength training routines that are literally a figment of someone’s imagination. Choose your health and fitness information wisely.
Excited to get started with a “new” personal trainer?
How about building a long-term, on-going relationship with your “new” personal trainer?
Be careful here…
The personal-training industry has high rates of employee turnover, meaning that your newly found personal trainer is likely to be gone in the near future. One, because the definition of personal trainer is so loosely defined in the fitness industry today, setting a very low standard and two, because this position is frequently filled by those who are waiting for something better to come along with no real intention or capacity to be a professional.
Look for certifications from ACSM or NSCA, a degree in health and fitness and on-going participation in sports and athletics.
Your personal trainer should know how to stay motivated, year after year, as well as injury free.
If they can’t do that for themselves how are they going to do that for you?
Happiness for People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking!
Self-help books don’t seem to work. Few of the many advantages of modern life seem capable of lifting our collective mood. Wealth―even if you can get it―doesn’t necessarily lead to happiness. Romance, family life, and work often bring as much stress as joy. We can’t even agree on what “happiness” means. So are we engaged in a futile pursuit? Or are we just going about it the wrong way?
Looking both east and west, in bulletins from the past and from far afield, Oliver Burkeman introduces us to an unusual group of people who share a single, surprising way of thinking about life. Whether experimental psychologists, terrorism experts, Buddhists, hardheaded business consultants, Greek philosophers, or modern-day gurus, they argue that in our personal lives, and in society at large, it’s our constant effort to be happy that is making us miserable. And that there is an alternative path to happiness and success that involves embracing failure, pessimism, insecurity, and uncertainty―the very things we spend our lives trying to avoid. Thought-provoking, counterintuitive, and ultimately uplifting, The Antidote is the intelligent person’s guide to understanding the much-misunderstood idea of happiness.
