Stoicism Is a Practice—Not Just a Philosophy

📺 Watch the Full Interview:

My Notes & Reflections on This Conversation

Ancient Stoics didn’t just sit around debating ideas—they trained their minds rigorously, using structured exercises to develop resilience, emotional control, and wisdom.

Who Is Donald Robertson?

For those unfamiliar with him, Donald Robertson is one of the leading voices in modern Stoicism. He is a cognitive-behavioral therapist (CBT) and author of several books on Stoicism, including:

How to Think Like a Roman Emperor – A deep dive into the life and philosophy of Marcus Aurelius.
The Philosophy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy – Explores the connections between Stoicism and modern psychology.

Robertson has been instrumental in reviving practical Stoicism—helping people move beyond theory and apply Stoic principles in everyday life.

The Forgotten Truth About Stoicism

1️⃣ Stoicism Was Never Meant to Be Just a Philosophy

One of the most surprising things Donald mentioned in our conversation is that for many years, academic philosophers studied Stoicism purely as an intellectual pursuit.

They analyzed the texts.
They debated the ideas.
But they never practiced them.

This seems completely absurd when you realize that Stoicism is first and foremost a way of life. Marcus Aurelius, Epictetus, and Seneca didn’t write philosophy just to be read—they wrote it as a training manual for the soul.

"Don’t explain your philosophy. Embody it." – Epictetus

Yet, for decades, Stoicism was treated as a dead academic subject—something to be studied in universities rather than practiced in daily life.

That has finally changed. Today, most people drawn to Stoicism are trying to actively use it—but many still don’t know where to start.

2️⃣ Stoicism Requires Mental Training—Like Weightlifting for the Mind

Donald makes an interesting comparison: Practicing Stoicism is like training in the gym.

Reading about weightlifting won’t make you strong.
Reading about meditation won’t make you mindful.
And reading about Stoicism won’t make you resilient.

Ancient Stoics didn’t just think about philosophy. They trained their minds daily using specific psychological exercises.

📌 Here’s what this training looked like:

The View from Above – A mental exercise where you zoom out and see your problems from a cosmic perspective.
Cognitive Distancing – Learning to separate your thoughts from reality and question your assumptions.
Memento Mori – Regularly contemplating your mortality to sharpen your focus on what truly matters.

These exercises were not optional for Stoics. They were essential.

3️⃣ The Most Overlooked Stoic Practice: The View from Above

One of the simplest yet most powerful Stoic exercises is called The View from Above.

This technique was used by Marcus Aurelius daily. It involves imagining yourself from a great height—first above your city, then your country, then Earth itself.

The goal?
To realize how small our problems are in the grand scheme of things.

“Think of yourself as dead. You have lived your life. Now, take what’s left and live it properly.”
— Marcus Aurelius, Meditations

🛠 How to Practice The View from Above (2-Minute Exercise):

1️⃣ Close your eyes and visualize yourself above your current location.
2️⃣ Expand your view—see your entire town, then your country.
3️⃣ Keep going higher until you see the Earth as a whole.
4️⃣ Now, reflect: How big is your problem, really?
5️⃣ Open your eyes and return to your life with fresh perspective.

This simple practice instantly reduces stress, anxiety, and ego-driven worries.

💡 Donald Robertson suggests that if you’re unsure where to start with Stoicism, start here. It’s one of the easiest and most accessible exercises with immediate benefits.

Key Takeaways from This Conversation

✅ Stoicism is not a passive philosophy—it’s a mental training system.
✅ Many academic philosophers missed the point for decades—they studied Stoicism but didn’t live it.
✅ Ancient Stoics trained like athletes—using structured psychological techniques.
✅ If you want to actually practice Stoicism, start with The View from Above.

Final Thought

It’s easy to read about Stoicism and feel good—but that’s not the goal.

The goal is to train your mind, develop resilience, and actually embody the philosophy in your daily struggles.

👉 If you haven’t already, watch the full conversation here:

I’d love to hear from you—what’s one Stoic practice you actually use in your daily life? Let me know in the comments!