#003: Make Yourself A Temperate Companion

There was once a great traveler who had traveled across the world, seeking adventure and knowledge. He had crossed deserts, sailed across oceans, and climbed the highest mountains. But despite all his experiences, he felt dissatisfied and unfulfilled. Like many of us, he was looking to scratch an itch he couldn't find.

One day, he came across Socrates and complained to the philosopher about all the places he had been and all the things he had seen, yet he still felt empty and unhappy.

Socrates listened patiently to the traveler's complaints and asked him a simple question: "Why do you wonder that traveling does not help you, seeing that you always take yourself with you? Have you ever stopped to consider that it is not the places you have been that have left you feeling unhappy, but rather the state of your own mind?"

We all know that great traveler. Perhaps it is ourselves. We know people who can fill libraries with their experiences and stories. Yet, like the traveler in the story, they remain unhappy and unfulfilled.

Seneca reminds us that "he that would make his travels delightful must make himself a temperate companion."

But how can you make yourself a "temperate companion"? Here is some advice from the Stoics.

Marcus Aurelius says, "Study the will of your nature and be solicitous (curious) about nothing else." You must continuously look inward, observe your nature, learn who you are, and grow from that place.

Epictetus says the three areas (known as the three disciplines) in which a person who would be wise must train:

1. Desires and Aversions: You must train yourself only to want what is in your control and avoid (fear) only things under your control.

2. Action: You should control your impulses to act and not to act and remain centered if things don't work out.

3. Assent: You should learn to evaluate your perceptions of situations, how you react to them, and the conclusion you reach. The Stoics say you should pause, think about your response, and not let your impulses be your master.

As Matthew J. Van Natta puts it in The Beginner's Guide to Stoicism, these disciplines are an exercise program for your brain. They train your mind to maximize your happiness in every situation.

Stoic philosophy emphasizes cultivating a mindset focused on inner peace and wisdom rather than external experiences.

Becoming a temperate travel companion to yourself means focusing less on the external aspects of travel and more on the inner journey of self-discovery and personal growth - cultivating an unshakable mindset in the face of external changes and circumstances. It means practicing mindfulness and self-discipline and seeking experiences to help you become better, wiser, and more compassionate.

With this mindset, every journey becomes an opportunity for growth and self-discovery, and every destination becomes a place of peace and fulfillment.

This newsletter is about cultivating a mindset of inner peace, wisdom, and self-improvement while on the road. I invite you to join me in my journey of becoming a Stoic on the road. I will share my experiences, questions, and ponderings. And I encourage you to take up your journey as well.

What does it mean for you to be a Stoic nomad?

See you on the road.