There was a reason. There was a reason we did that reading. There was a reason we did that journaling. There was a reason we looked at those historical examples, listened to those stories of the greats and the not-so-greats. There was a reason we challenged ourselves—against the cold, running up that mountain, lifting those weights, resisting those urges.
We were training.
We were training for this moment—this moment in time, but also this ordinary moment in our life. You know, the one where it feels like everything is falling apart and terrible…but also the one where the person next to us is being really, really annoying. We were training for this argument with our spouse or a friend. We were training for the way our boss was going to screw us over. We were training for this email. We were training for being tired and burnt out.
We were training so these things could happen and we could still keep our cool.
Seneca relates the story of what Cato the Younger did when, visiting the baths in Rome one day, he was shoved and struck. Once the fight was broken up, he simply refused to accept an apology from the offender: "I don't even remember being hit." There's the story of Marcus Aurelius, betrayed by his most trusted general in a coup, and not even being bothered by it. They could "settle this affair well and show to all mankind," he told his soldiers, "that there is a right way to deal even with civil wars."
That's what Stoicism is, right? The ability to look at it all in the 'calm light of mild philosophy,' the ability to not be rattled or driven into a rage—to not even remember being hit, to not be provoked into overreaction. Some people think Stoicism is 'indifference' or apathy, but it isn't. It's the ability to deal with emotionally charged situations and not let your emotions drive you into a fit or a frenzy, to help you not say or do things you might regret.
Life is difficult. People are obnoxious. Stuff is going to piss you off. But can you keep your cool anyway? Can you stay good when surrounded by bad, kind when surrounded by cruelty? Can you keep your eyes on the prize? Our job is not to lose our temper. Our job is to stay focused on solutions, to keep doing what is right.
As a means for you to better do that job, as a kind of tool in emotionally charged moments to help keep your cool, we created the Daily Stoic Pause & Reflect Medallion. Carry it in your pocket, hold it in your hand, and train yourself to respond calmly and lightly whenever your temper tempts you to do otherwise.
Forged with intention from premium metal by one of America's oldest custom mints (operating since 1882), the Daily Stoic Pause & Reflect Medallion serves as a physical reminder of your commitment to mastering your emotions. Each medallion arrives in a thoughtfully designed box with an explanatory card—making the Daily Stoic Pause & Reflect Medallion an ideal gift for anyone who struggles with their temper or seeks to cultivate greater emotional resilience in their life.
Carry it in your pocket or bag, and when you feel your temper rising, use this simple but powerful tool to interrupt the cycle of emotion before it takes control.
For those committed to truly mastering their emotions, we're offering a powerful bundle: The Pause & Reflect Medallion paired with our comprehensive Taming Your Temper course at $20 OFF. While you train with the course's Stoic wisdom and practical exercises, the medallion becomes your daily companion to cultivating a calm, measured response to life's frustrations and people's difficulties.
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