Stoicism: Meditations, Letters from a Stoic and The Obstacle Is the Way

Breni's Stoicism path starts with the original Stoic writers and ends with modern daily practice. There are 4 courses: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius, Letters from a Stoic by Seneca, The Obstacle Is the Way, and The Daily Stoic. The first two are taught from the public domain translations themselves. Learners practise the dichotomy of control, rehearsing setbacks, and reframing problems, with a short reflection after each idea.

  • 4 courses
  • 47 learning objectives
  • Level: beginner
  • Language: English
  • Price: Subscription, free trial

What you will be able to do

  • Separate what is in your control from what is not
  • Reframe a setback with perception, action and will
  • Explain the main ideas of Meditations in your own words
  • Apply Seneca's advice on time, fear and reading
  • Run a short Stoic morning and evening review

Full curriculum

Part 1 · The original Stoics

1. Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: Think Like a Stoic Emperor

Use the private notes of a Roman emperor to steady your own judgement. Units, in order: Who Marcus Aurelius was and why he wrote; What is in your power and what is not; Your judgements, not events, disturb you; Working for the common good; Everything changes and passes; Starting the day ready for difficult people.

  • — Who Marcus Aurelius Was
    Learn about the Roman emperor who wrote private notes.
    • Life as Emperor
    • Why He Wrote
  • — What Is in Your Power
    Focus on your own actions and keep your mind calm.
    • Controlling Your Mind
    • Things Not in Power
  • — Judgements Disturb You
    Realize that your own thoughts about events cause distress.
    • Thoughts Cause Pain
    • Dropping Complaints
  • — Working for Common Good
    Cooperate with others because humans are made to work together.
    • Made for Cooperation
    • Social Duty
  • — Everything Changes
    Accept that all things pass away quickly and transform constantly.
    • Constant Change
    • A Short Life
  • — Ready for Difficult People
    Start your morning ready to meet ungrateful and difficult people.
    • Meeting Difficult People
    • Kindness to All

2. Letters from a Stoic by Seneca: Use Your Time Well

Apply Seneca's letters to time, fear, reading and contentment. Units, in order: Saving your time; Reading deeply, not widely; Avoiding the crowd; Groundless fears; Practising poverty; Travel will not cure an unsettled mind.

  • — Saving Your Time
    Learn how to hold every hour in your grasp and value time.
    • Guard your precious time
    • Recognize time as wealth
  • — Reading Deeply Not Widely
    Focus on standard authors and digest their works slowly.
    • Avoid reading too many books
    • Digest your daily thoughts
  • — Avoiding The Crowd
    Stay away from large crowds and bad public spectacles.
    • Stay away from crowds
    • Reject harmful public games
  • — Overcoming Groundless Fears
    Stop suffering more often in imagination than in reality.
    • Stop imagining false troubles
    • Test your fears calmly
  • — Practising Poverty
    Test yourself with cheap fare to be ready for fortune.
    • Test your mind with poverty
    • Master your daily needs
  • — Travel Cannot Cure Discontent
    Change your soul instead of changing your climate or location.
    • Your faults travel with you
    • Focus on inner freedom

Part 2 · Modern practice

3. The Obstacle Is the Way by Ryan Holiday: Turn Problems Into Progress

Use perception, action and will to work through a real obstacle. Units, in order: Where the idea comes from in Marcus Aurelius; Perception: see the obstacle clearly; Action: persistent, small steps; Will: accept what you cannot change; Amor fati: loving what happens.

  • — Marcus Aurelius and the Origin
    Learn where the core idea comes from in ancient Rome.
    • The famous quote
    • The king and the boulder
  • — Perception: See the Obstacle Clearly
    Control your perspective and view problems with calm objectivity.
    • Objective mindset
    • Context and framing
    • Grace and poise
  • — Action: Persistent, Small Steps
    Take intentional and directed action to solve problems.
    • Directed action
    • The minimum viable product
    • Manageable tasks
  • — Will: Accept What You Cannot Change
    Build inner will and resilience for times of defeat.
    • The power of will
    • Bear and forbear
  • — Amor Fati: Loving What Happens
    Embrace and love everything that happens in your life.
    • Meaning of amor fati
    • Accepting suffering
    • The yes-sayer

4. The Daily Stoic by Ryan Holiday and Stephen Hanselman: Practise Stoicism Every Day

Build a short daily Stoic practice. Units, in order: What Stoicism is and is not; The dichotomy of control; Premeditatio malorum: rehearsing what could go wrong; Memento mori: remembering you will die; Journaling and the evening review.

  • — What Stoicism Is and Is Not
    Learn what Stoicism truly means for real life.
    • Defining Stoicism
    • Common Misconceptions
  • — The Dichotomy of Control
    Separate what you can change from what you cannot.
    • Separating What You Control
    • Letting Go of Externals
  • — Premeditatio Malorum
    Rehearse possible troubles to prepare for setbacks.
    • Imagining Bad Events
    • Building Inner Strength
  • — Memento Mori
    Reflect on your mortality to live fully today.
    • Remembering You Will Die
    • Living in the Present
  • — Journaling and Evening Review
    Write down daily thoughts and examine your actions.
    • The Habit of Journaling
    • Reviewing Your Day

Sample: Meditations by Marcus Aurelius: Think Like a Stoic Emperor

The opening tier, (Who Marcus Aurelius Was). Learn about the Roman emperor who wrote private notes.

Life as Emperor

Discover when Marcus Aurelius lived and ruled as Roman emperor.

Why He Wrote

Understand why he wrote personal notes for self guidance.

Questions about Stoicism: Meditations, Letters from a Stoic and The Obstacle Is the Way

What is Stoicism in simple terms?

Stoicism is an ancient Greek and Roman philosophy that teaches you to focus on what you control and to judge events calmly. The Breni path teaches it through four books.

What is the dichotomy of control?

It is the Stoic idea, taught by Epictetus, that some things are up to us, such as our judgements and actions, and others are not. The Daily Stoic course practises it.

Which Stoicism book should I start with?

The path starts with Meditations, because it is short, personal and in the public domain. Seneca's letters follow, then two modern books on daily practice.

Is Breni affiliated with Ryan Holiday or Daily Stoic?

No. Breni is not affiliated with the authors, Daily Stoic or the publishers.

Do I get a certificate?

Yes, finishing all 4 courses earns a Breni certificate of completion.

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