Podcast Summary: "Stoicism 101 | Nancy Sherman" on 10% Happier with Dan Harris

Date Posted: Originally aired in 2021
Host: Dan Harris
Guest: Nancy Sherman, Professor of Philosophy at Georgetown University
Topic: Exploring the depths of Stoicism beyond common misconceptions

Introduction to Stoicism

In this enlightening episode of 10% Happier with Dan Harris, host Dan Harris delves deep into the ancient philosophy of Stoicism with esteemed guest Nancy Sherman. Contrary to the common perception of Stoicism as merely "sucking it up" or maintaining a "stiff upper lip," Sherman elucidates the profound and nuanced aspects of this Greco-Roman philosophy.

Dan Harris begins by highlighting the prevalent misunderstanding of Stoicism:

"Stoicism in the common parlance, as you know, having a stiff upper lip or sucking it up, or grinning and bearing it, suppressing your emotions..." (00:00)

Understanding True Stoicism

Nancy Sherman counters the superficial view by explaining that Stoicism is much deeper and more comprehensive:

"Stoicism is way deeper than any of that. It's a way to truly know your patterns of thought and emotion..." (00:00)

She emphasizes that Stoicism resembles early cognitive behavioral therapy, focusing on understanding and managing emotions rather than suppressing them.

Key Principles of Stoicism

1. Virtue and Connection

Sherman underscores that Stoicism is fundamentally about virtue and fostering connections within a globally connected world. The Stoics were pioneering cosmopolitans who believed in the importance of being good individuals within a larger community.

"It's about virtue. It's about being good and being good in a world where we're connected globally..." (06:23)

2. Misinterpretations of Stoicism

Dan Harris probes the common misinterpretations, noting the modern embrace of "capitalist stoicism," especially among self-optimizing young men, which often sidelines virtues and promotes unhealthy notions of self-reliance.

"They are leaning into the suck it up ethos of it and not looking enough at virtue and vulnerability." (11:05)

Sherman agrees, explaining that contemporary takeaways often misrepresent Stoicism by emphasizing inner strength and neglecting the philosophy's emphasis on community and resilience through social support.

"They have to figure out how to deal with having a lot too much and, you know, ego's exploding..." (11:05)

3. Stoic Practices for Modern Resilience

Nancy Sherman introduces three core Stoic practices designed to cultivate resilience and virtue:

a. Journaling Ego Bruises

Inspired by Seneca, Stoics practice reflecting on daily adversities to temper their ego and reevaluate their responses.

"At the end of the day after his wife had gone to sleep running through all of the ego bruises he suffered during the day." (25:49)

Sherman illustrates this with personal examples, such as handling hurts from family interactions by analyzing underlying attachments and misjudgments.

"So it's just like you against yourself trying to figure out what are some of the demons you have to face..." (25:49)

b. Premeditation of Evils

This practice involves envisioning worst-case scenarios to prepare mentally and emotionally, reducing the shock if adverse events occur.

"You imagine what would be the worst possible outcome, and you try to live with it for a while..." (62:09)

Sherman relates this to real-life applications, such as preparing for sudden changes or losses, and emphasizes its role in building emotional cushions.

"They are rehearsing the bads as a way of anticipating and putting a bit of a cushion around you..." (65:36)

c. Mental Reservation

Stoics practice "hedging their bets" by incorporating flexibility into their plans, allowing for adaptability in the face of uncertainty.

"It's a kind of hedging your bets... stick an if clause in there or an unless clause." (68:37)

This practice promotes resilience by preventing over-attachment to specific outcomes and encouraging adaptive strategies.

"It's a kind of agility... Practice mental agility." (71:11)

4. Circles of Connection

Sherman introduces the Stoic practice of expanding one’s circles of empathy and connection, likening it to modern compassion and loving-kindness meditation.

"They think it's a way of diminishing a bit, the importance of yourself, reducing your ego investment..." (47:46)

By visualizing concentric circles of empathy, individuals can cultivate a sense of global citizenship and interconnectedness.

"They have a way of making the connection more vivid for yourself through this practice of bringing outer circles closer to the center." (41:57)

Stoicism vs. Eastern Philosophies

A significant portion of the discussion compares Stoicism with Buddhism, highlighting both similarities and differences. While Buddhism emphasizes selflessness and the absence of a core self, Stoicism focuses on reason as the guiding force in life.

"They have a kind of selflessness that's just not Greek and Roman or Stoic..." (38:16)

However, both philosophies advocate for empathy, community, and the cultivation of mental disciplines to navigate life’s challenges.

Addressing Historical Context: Stoicism and Slavery

Dan Harris raises a critical question about the Stoics' acceptance of slavery, prompting Sherman to confront the complexities of historical Stoicism.

"How would the Stoics square that with their warm embrace of slavery?" (56:22)

Sherman acknowledges the problematic aspects, explaining that while some Stoic writings advocated for humane treatment of slaves, they operated within the societal norms of their time. She emphasizes the importance of contextualizing historical practices while extracting valuable psychological insights.

"Whenever you're dealing with complicated texts from complicated periods, you can't cancel it out... you have to put it in context." (56:51)

Practical Applications of Stoic Practices

Sherman provides actionable steps for integrating Stoic principles into daily life:

1. Morning Meditation: Quieting the mind through non-discursive meditation to set a reflective tone for the day.
2. Evening Journaling: Reviewing daily interactions and emotional responses to identify and mitigate "sticky attachments."
3. Visualization Exercises: Engaging in premeditation of evils to prepare for potential challenges.
4. Expanding Empathy: Regularly practicing the circles of connection to foster global citizenship and empathy.

"Ich think of it as behavior modification approach and be warily cautious in avoiding, but don't, don't cling so that you can't let go." (38:07)

Conclusion: Embracing Stoicism for a Resilient Life

The episode concludes with Sherman reiterating the essence of Stoicism as a balanced approach to life—one that embraces emotional intelligence, communal connections, and virtuous living. She encourages listeners to adopt Stoic practices not as a means of suppression but as tools for enhancing personal and communal resilience.

"They believe in changing the lens that you're wearing because you may be distorting the world... it's not just a philosophy of resignation and acceptance." (56:22)

Dan Harris wraps up by directing listeners to Sherman’s works for those interested in further exploration:

"You can check out my conversation with Ryan. Thank you to everybody who worked so hard on this show." (75:15)

Notable Quotes

• Nancy Sherman (06:23): "It's about virtue. It's about being good and being good in a world where we're connected globally."
• Dan Harris (11:05): "Are you seeing that some people are really leaning into the suck it up ethos of it and not looking enough at virtue and vulnerability?"
• Nancy Sherman (25:49): "It's just like you against yourself trying to figure out what are some of the demons you have to face and are they as bad as they might be otherwise?"
• Nancy Sherman (62:09): "So that's a great way of putting it. They go in for a bit of shock and awe."
• Nancy Sherman (68:37): "Stick an if clause in there or an unless clause. This will be my plan. Unless..."

Further Resources

• Books by Nancy Sherman:

  • Stoic Ancient Lessons for Modern Resilience
  • Stoic Warriors
  • Stoic Wisdom

• Website: nancysherman.com

This comprehensive exploration of Stoicism with Nancy Sherman provides listeners with a rich understanding of the philosophy's true essence, distinguishing it from modern misinterpretations, and offering practical tools for cultivating a resilient and virtuous life.