I listen to the Art of Manliness podcast. He frequently discusses stoicism. I know about Seneca as one of the leaders of the movement. Ryan Holliday is noted to be an author that puts out a lot of work on the topic. To me, stoicism sounds like a "meh" way of approaching life. Don't get emotional, head down, do your work without expecting pats on the back, etc. But I think I am misinterpreting it, or at least not thinking of applying it correctly. Any insights, thoughts, input??
I think it is a situational thing, or an approach to take, more than a way to live your life every day. Also, I see a difference in that you "have" emotions, but choose not to show them, not that you don't have an emotional reaction to things. If you have ever had to make funeral arrangements for somebody you care about, for example, you have to "be the grown up" or "man up" or whatever to get through that with a clear head. I've seen it carried to the extreme with some relations of the generation or two previous to mine. They missed out on a lot of things in life in my opinion. A good mix in that regard is probably Kimi Raikkonen. But, he is more following Finnish Sisu than Stoicism. Similar, but different. The whole "expecting a pat on the back" thing that is rampant today is more a low self-esteem thing than anything else. Not that it isn't nice to get one every now and again, but expecting it always is another story.
Listen or read ‘The Practicing Stoic’ It breaks it down and takes away the formal structure. I’m not selling it, just saying this will break it down so you have a basic understanding of what it is.
Look up Epictetus, Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, and Courage Under Fire by James Stockdale. (PS, every time I say Epictetus I can't help but think of Dolly Parton.) Edit: also the Book of Job.
I listen to the Everyday Stoic YouTube channel, find some value in it. Not like to be emotionless, but to not be as apt to let other people's bullshit effect my inner happiness. Or if I do get triggered to get back to my baseline as soon as possible.