🌷 Start Here!
Welcome. I’m glad you’re here.
If you’re new to What Is Stoicism?, this page will help you understand what this publication is, how to use it, and where to begin.
You don’t need any prior knowledge of Stoicism. You just need a willingness to reflect and practice a little each day.
What this publication is for
What Is Stoicism? exists to help you practice Stoicism, not just read about it.
Stoicism is an ancient philosophy, but its value is deeply practical:
it helps us meet everyday life with more clarity, steadiness, and perspective.
This publication is designed for people who want:
A calmer, more intentional start to the day
Practical tools for dealing with stress, uncertainty, and strong emotions
A way to live Stoic ideas, not just admire them
How to use What Is Stoicism?
You don’t need to read everything.
You don’t need to “catch up.”
And you don’t even need to agree with every idea.
Stoicism works best when it’s treated as a daily practice, not a body of information.
That’s why this publication is structured the way it is.
If you’re a free subscriber
As a free subscriber, you’ll receive Sunday Snippets—a weekly email that collects useful Stoic ideas, passages, and resources.
This is a gentle way to:
Become familiar with Stoic concepts
Reflect once a week without pressure
Explore whether Stoicism resonates with you as a way of life
If you’re short on time or simply curious, this is a good place to start.
If you’re a paid subscriber
Paid subscribers receive Micro Morning Meditations every weekday.
These are short, structured Stoic practices designed to fit into even the busiest mornings—usually in 10 minutes or less.
Each meditation includes:
A brief Stoic reflection
A simple guided meditation
A short journaling prompt
Together, these form a daily mental reset, a way to start the day grounded, focused, and less reactive.
Many subscribers use this in place of:
Meditation apps
Morning journaling
Unrealistic habit streaks
Scattered Stoic reading
In addition, paid subscribers receive Lucky’s Letters, a monthly series of fictional advice letters that explore everyday problems through a Stoic lens with warmth and humour.
Where should I begin?
Here are three simple ways to start, depending on your preference:
1. Start small
Read the next Sunday Snippets email when it arrives.
Notice which ideas stay with you during the week.
2. Start practicing
If you’d like Stoicism to become part of your daily routine, the Micro Morning Meditations are designed exactly for that.
You don’t need to do them perfectly—just consistently.
3. Start anywhere
If you’re browsing the archive, pick one piece that speaks to you and spend a few minutes reflecting on it. Stoicism doesn’t require linear progress.
A simple way to begin
If you’d like a little more structure, I’ve put together a First 7 Days of Stoic Practice—a short, self-paced introduction designed to help you experience Stoicism as a daily practice.
There’s no challenge, no pressure, and no requirement to do it all at once. Just one small reflection per day.
👉 Your First 7 Days of Stoic Practice
A note on expectations
Stoicism isn’t about becoming emotionless, detached, or “always calm.”
It’s about:
Responding rather than reacting
Clarifying what’s in your control
Letting go of what isn’t
Making small, steady improvements over time
Progress here is quiet and cumulative. No hacks, no hustle culture, no isolation.
Final thought
You don’t need to change your life overnight.
You don’t need to master Stoicism to benefit from it.
A little attention each day goes a long way.
If you’d like to receive new posts and explore this practice at your own pace, you’re very welcome to subscribe—free or paid.
All the best,
Allan