- The Tonic
- Posts
- Stoic Setup
Stoic Setup
You can’t script events, only your judgments of them. Master that lever and freedom expands even in constraint.
Seth Thomas
June 28, 2025
“Man is disturbed not by things, but by his opinion about things.” - Epictetus (via Donald Robertson)
Good Morning. Stoic negative visualization—imagining loss before it occurs—paradoxically increases appreciation and prepares composure if reality bites.
Dichotomy of control is the decision tree: exert energy only where influence exists; let the rest float downstream. Stress evaporates in categories beyond reach.
Modern cognitive-behavioral therapy lifts directly from Stoic texts; changing thought frames changes emotional outcomes.
Today’s Challenge
List today’s worries; draw a line through everything outside your control and revisit the remainder with action verbs.
🧠 Fascinating Stimuli:
Disclosure: Some of the links in this newsletter are affiliate links, which means we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase. These earnings help us continue investing in the newsletter to keep bringing you valuable content every week—thank you for your support!