PNTV: Discourses by Epictetus (

[@ShiurKahn2]

The funny thing is that often it's difficult to control your own choices. We are creatures of habit, of impulse, of emotion. We get swept up in the moment and before we realize it, we have made a mistake, an error, an ill tempered response. All of us are prone to irrationality. We all fall prey to our emotions from time to time. What the Stoics preach is that we take responsibility for our emotions, that we keep them in check when necessity calls. We are to use what psychologists and neuroscientists call the "Top Down" approach to handle our emotional response (meaning: suppressing Limbic System activity [emotions] with logical reasoning from the Prefrontal Cortex). This, however, takes a great deal of conscious effort and is not something that the brain naturally does. It uses system two thinking to override system one reactions. The good news is that this can be accomplished, but it takes A LOT of practice. Just like mindfulness meditation, you need to show up every day to practice in order to develop this uncanny superpower.

[@followyourideas]

In Stoic terms you have to use prosoche which means constant diligent attention.

[@Concatenate]

I think the Stoics accept that we are creatures of habit, impulse, and emotion. Also, that we do make snap judgments and mistakes. Part of Stoic thought involves learning from mistakes and forgiving yourself for something that happened in the past because you can't control the past anyway. We have to constantly remind ourselves to approach every situation (stimulus) with our best of intentions (response). Also, I don't think Stoicism wants us to suppress emotions but rather choose appropriately what emotions to engage in (so to speak). Perhaps I'm being self-contradicting, it's almost like a logical approach to feeling, lol. It's just that our response shouldn't be anger or sadness (basically choosing an "evil" emotion) since we are to endeavor towards happiness and joy (even in the face of adversity or difficulties).

[@facesmasher4216]

ShiurKahn2 - sorry but after i initially started to read your coment, and after i saw your super extra long statement, i can't continuos its reading because something so simple that could be explained with 3 or 4 simple words you have extended it indefinetily for no reason any how, i think you should study the basic philosophical principles to grasp what is really happening in real life and you could explain the world around you

[@Kim-jo8px]

It will take time but will not be hard. Because for stoics "hard" is a judgement.

[@FerReelDoe]

Love, love, love it! Exactly what I needed to hear, which is how I feel after everyone of your videos lol! Thank you for all you do, Sir!!

[@CanalShivathai]

Awesome, enjoyed so much the way you explained the concepts.

[@InPursuitOfArt]

Wow Brian... definitely Olympian style effort going into your channel again :) Thank you so much for sharing!

[@HeroicBrian]

Big smile and big thanks! :) Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@silverstar1305]

I'm totally fascinated by the stoics and their most elegant responses to the challenges of their lives. It takes a lot of discipline, self-control and energy to react like a stoic in hard times. Basically, without fundis (physical, mental and spiritual conditioning in daily practice sessions in the "104% strech-zone") I don't really see how someone can do this.

[@itayshorek6872]

You're awesome Brian! Super valueble, Great work!

[@HeroicBrian]

You're awesome Itay! Thanks for the note! -Zak | Team Optimize Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@ronithestoic3702]

Hi Brian , just found your channel. Amazing work, very grateful to be here. All the best

[@cheejudo]

Great presentation. I have been reading Meditations, and just ordered discourses because of this video. My philosophy, which I embarked upon just recently, has been to incorporate each of these teachings one by one. I'm trying to train myself to stop worrying about things which are out of my control. We'll see how it goes.

[@hambredesaber2914]

All your notes on stoicism are specially good. Keep it on!

[@HeroicBrian]

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[@followyourideas]

Can't wait for stoicism 101

[@HeroicBrian]

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[@chrisginoc]

@@HeroicBrian Brian, quick question. What's the name of your blackboard in your videos?

[@jackmagpusao671]

This was great! Inspiring

[@HeroicBrian]

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[@pfurlong2003]

Thank you I really needed that great work!!

[@Mo.Faried]

You are awesome (Y) Keep the good work. Stoicism helped me much and especially Epictetus's discourse and I couldn't summarize them like you did. Thanks :)

[@Concatenate]

Great video, I'm working on myself to have a better attitude and find stoicism to be a great way to approach it. I'm also very religious and while there's great guidance given in the Bible about living life and dealing with things, I find stoic philosophy to talk about the "how" more often.

[@786humaira1]

Nice Brian, thanks for the upload

[@anastasiayurkevich467]

great job, great video! my favorite idea was the first one about Hercules and embracing challenges. it gave me a totally different view on the difficulties I am going through right now: they are actually forming my personality! wow!!😃

[@HeroicBrian]

AWESOME!! You got this. :) Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@Rms317]

Great Video!

[@jesseblaskovits64]

Great lesson, thank you.

[@gilstillalive]

Amazing video!

[@Mauitaoist]

A great intro to Epictetus.

[@skillstotransform]

Great job, thanks

[@DJSTOEK]

💘

[@HeroicBrian]

:) Zak | Team Optimize Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@sreeprakashneelakantan5051]

Brian, we well explained 👌

[@HeroicBrian]

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[@neildbarker]

Thanks for your summary. I have read Aurelius' Meditations many times, but haven't yet read Epictetus - next on my list!

[@HeroicBrian]

Awesome. You'll love him! :) Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@Concatenate]

Epictetus is hilarious, you'll totally dig it.

[@rajpareek2989]

Figs and greatness

[@VideoArtist]

Great video! Hey Brian, you might like Eric Thomas' The Secret to Success' he's a classic stoic, from homeless in Detroit to earning his PhD

[@Concatenate]

ET is great. He talks to lots of inner city kids and tells them they can overcome all obstacles with changing how they think.

[@joshray2117]

BOOK RECOMMENDATION: YOU ARE NOT YOUR BRAIN BY JEFFREY SCHWARTZ M.D & REBECCA GLADDING M.D

[@HeroicBrian]

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[@agreybrown4990]

Playlist

[@HeroicBrian]

Nice idea! Thank you for your note! :) -Zak from Team Optimize Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@gt4748]

"A true stoic is unlikely to find himself "floating down" to a mob that he had just bombed," my friend says after watching this. That is, virtue is subjective I suppose.

[@ryokan9120]

Unfortunately, the penguin version of the book translated by Dobbin that you're reviewing is heavily abridged. There is a much better complete version published by Oxford World's Classics- ISBN 9780199595181. It's masterful.

[@cheejudo]

I saw your reply to an Amazon customer about this, lol. Small world!

[@farheenshanilshah7804]

Epictetus is different from other two stoic philosopher.

[@HeroicBrian]

Thanks for the note! -Zak | Team Optimize Optimize is now free! Sign up/tell your friends! www.optimize.me

[@blackmetalmagick1]

it's epi-cte-tus not epic-tetus

[@dbsk06]

Not sure why this channel hasn’t blown up prob bc majority of KZbin audience is too dumb

[@HeroicBrian]

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