Follow-through

In The Enchiridion, by Epictetus, entry 29, there is a piece of advice that applies greatly to me, perhaps more than any other piece of advice in the entire manual: 

In everything you do consider what comes first and what follows, and so approach it. Otherwise you will come to it with a good heart at first because you have not reflected on any of the consequences, and afterwards, when difficulties have appeared, you will desist to your shame.

In all endeavors it is not the first step that counts for the most, but the following steps that bring plans to fruition. How many are the projects planned, pondered, developed, and started but never seen through to the end? When beginning, have the end in sight, but stay focused on the path, on the individual steps required to achieve that goal. But first, pick worthy goals that challenge but do not require a new man for you must do the work with what you have. 

This blog, and the included website (www.stoicfreedom.com), were started in a flurry of activity that covered approximately one day. But now it's necessary to follow-through and do the work; sustain the energy over the 52 weeks I set for myself. Is this a worthwhile undertaking? Is this something I can apply my energy towards? I believe so. Keep well.

A Beginning

Today is August 17, 2016 and I have decided to go on a journey of self-discovery by writing about my experience applying the principles of Stoicism to my daily life. 

I have been reading Stoic texts (primarily Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius plus a few contemporary authors such as William Irvine) for around the past 15 years without ever developing a methodical way to apply them as guides to my life. I am not sure how that will look, but I have an idea that will allow me to apply some rigor to this philosophical experiment. 

I just realized that The Manual of Epictetus is divided into 53 entries which works out to just over one per week in a 52 week year. What if I studied each entry of the Manual within a given week and applied it to my life in a cumulative fashion? That is, in week 10 I will be applying entries 1 through 10 and in my final week I will be applying all of the entries. 

I won't be going at this alone. Along with the Stoic texts, I plan on using additional texts and, hopefully, guidance from others I meet along the way. Ideally, and this will be the difficult part, I will work to start, or join, a Stoic Café where I can get additional help. Here I go! 

Update: This idea was completely changed as I gave more thought to the setup of The Manual. I also read a noted classical scholar, A. A. Long, that said we should not focus on The Manual but rather seriously study The Discourses. With that in mind, I realized that a week per entry wouldn't work. Instead, I am going to read The Discourses to understand the concepts and apply them to my life. It will be more about exploring and applying these ideas and then relating them in a journalistic fashion. I will read and then observe myself and the world and, hopefully, offer some insights that aren't too trivial. Keep well.