E8 Have I found the Meaning of Life? (Stoicism) - Deep conversations for learning English through philosophy

English and Beyond: Advanced English for Fluency & Communication

If something bad happens to you, how should you react? Should you fully express your emotions or try to stay detached? Is grief always bad? Is happiness always good?

In this episode, César and I take a deep dive into Stoicism, the ancient philosophy that teaches us how to navigate life’s highs and lows with balance and resilience. We discuss:

🛡️ What Stoicism is and where it comes from
🧠 How it helps us handle emotions and uncertainty
😌 Whether it’s possible (or even desirable) to stay ‘calm’ at all times
🔄 Why modern ideas of resilience are surprisingly similar to Stoicism

We also challenge some common misconceptions, like whether Stoicism means ignoring emotions entirely. Can we really detach ourselves from pain and joy? Or do our emotions give meaning to life?

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