Reasons Not to Worry

How to Be Stoic in Chaotic Times

De: Brigid Delaney

Narrado por: Blazey Best

In this heartfelt and soul-searching work, brimming with warmth, humor, and insight, the beloved Guardian columnist spends a year exploring how to pursue a rich and meaningful life, turning to the wisdom of the Stoics for insights into the deepest questions of existence.

Like many people today, Brigid Delaney was searching for answers to timeless questions: How can we be good? Find inner peace? Properly grieve? Tame our insecurities, such as the fear of missing out? Determine what truly matters?

Centuries ago, the Stoics pondered many of these same questions. And so, at an important inflection point in her own life, Brigid decided to let these ancient philosophers be her guide. Brigid is rash where the Stoics are logical; she runs on chaos, while the Stoics relinquish control of things beyond their reach. Over the course of a year, she dedicated herself to following the wisdom of Seneca, Epictetus, and Marcus Aurelius. She hoped to discover how best to live—how she could use the wisdom of these ancient thinkers to navigate life in the modern world.

In Reasons Not to Worry, Brigid shares what she learned, showing us how we, too, can draw on the Stoics to regain a sense of agency and tranquility and find meaning in our lives. From learning to relinquish control to cultivating daily awareness of our mortality to building community, Brigid’s insights are very funny and very wise.

Stoicism can be a tough medicine to swallow, but no longer. Thoughtful, timely, surprisingly practical, and filled to the brim with ways to learn how best to be in the world, Delaney’s guide provides compelling and sensible reasons not to worry.

©2023 Brigid Delaney (P)2023 HarperCollins Publishers

Extraordinary

Ancient wisdom for modern times told in the setting of a memoir. I have read several books on Greek philosophy, this one is the best by far.

Modern interpretation of stoicism

This book did a great job of using stoicism in modern day conditions for every situation you can think of.

Loved it

Very inspiring and down to earth. I look forward to putting stoicism into my every day life

Really enjoyed!

I just discovered Stoicism recently and this is a fantastic book to start. The author really brings Stocism into today and how to apply these ancient Virtues into today’s challenges.

Best stoic book I have listened to all year

What a wonderful and accessible stoic text. Nice to hear a female and modern perspective on ancient stoic philosophy.

Relateable

At first i thought was not going to like, but stuck work it. Glad I did. Well articulated, authentic, sustainable, current. High on the list of stoicism and the need to study and practice forklift changing and liberating results.

Autonomous

Pretty straightforward and clear interpretation of STOICISM. Great book for a young buck. So when adversities come up he or she will have a grasp of handling thing with clarity.

A deeper understanding of stoicism.

I enjoyed the book. It's chapters and examples were interesting and considered modern concepts of living ie social media etc.

The Cycle of Life and Death

Brigid Delaney writes about the Stoics’ belief in the cycle of life and death. Our ultimate mortal death should be the reason we live our lives in the present everyday. She explains clearly that the Stoics made sure to follow the principles of simply so that they could experience daily tranquility and avoid frustrations that could distract us from our only goal in life; which is to live life peacefully until we die. What I’m taking from this book is 3 simple questions:

1. Can you control it?
If what you are dealing with is outside the control of your character, your actions and reactions to others or your perception of yourself… then the answer is no. We spend so much of our time and energy trying to control what people think of us. What type of life opportunities “should” come our way and type of life we believe we are destined to live. At the end of the day, your most important asset and goal is to create a character that you are proud of.

2. Can you live without it?
We as humans need very few things to survive and to have happiness. Those things are going to be food/water, shelter, clothing, community, and safety. Everything outside of that, including wealth, power, money, and beauty are all what we call preferred indifferences. Meaning where we would prefer to have those things if we didn’t ever get those things it wouldn’t mean that we failed in life. Because all life can all be boiled down to those few basic needs and death. Living a life of satisfaction is living a life of happiness and tranquility.

3. Can it be worse?
The answer is yes, it can always be worse. Whenever you are thinking about the next best thing in your life, know that the place that you are in right now, in the present, is better than the place you were in the past. There is always a situation or a place or status that is worse off than the one that you’re currently living. Remember this when you are wishing and hoping for more. Remember to have gratitude for what life has currently gifted you. Use negative visualization to rid of hedonic wants.

Lastly, I’d like to thank author, Brigid Delaney, for providing her readers with the tool bag needed for a tranquil life. I’ve let go of a lot of unnecessary weight because of this read and I can’t thank her enough!

Rambling but little advice

The chapter “How to be relaxed” ironically had no recommendations on how you relax. The whole chapter was about why it’s better to be relaxed than too happy or too sad. Not very helpful