Curious Soul Philosophy
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Our Values
    • What is Philosophical Counseling?
    • What to Expect in a Workshop
    • Rogue Philosophers Video Chats
  • Counseling
    • Philosophical Counseling with Monica
    • Counseling for Academics
    • Counseling for Gymnasts
    • Rates & Policies
  • Workshops
    • Workshops
    • Upcoming Workshops >
      • The Search for Meaning
      • Ethics & Sports
    • Past Workshops >
      • Crash Course in Ethics
      • Anger and Forgiveness
      • Nonviolent Communication
      • How to Live Philosophically
      • Buddhism
      • Buddhism in Action
      • Taoism
      • Existentialism
      • Feminism & Freedom
      • History of Sexuality
      • Ethics and Nature
      • Alienation
      • Alienation 2
      • William James: Meaning, Faith & Science
      • Philosophy of Dialogue
      • Roots of Democracy
      • Ethics of Authenticity
      • Color Conscious
  • Retreats
    • Retreats
    • Past Retreats >
      • Spring Retreats
      • Day Retreat
  • News/Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • About
    • About
    • Our Values
    • What is Philosophical Counseling?
    • What to Expect in a Workshop
    • Rogue Philosophers Video Chats
  • Counseling
    • Philosophical Counseling with Monica
    • Counseling for Academics
    • Counseling for Gymnasts
    • Rates & Policies
  • Workshops
    • Workshops
    • Upcoming Workshops >
      • The Search for Meaning
      • Ethics & Sports
    • Past Workshops >
      • Crash Course in Ethics
      • Anger and Forgiveness
      • Nonviolent Communication
      • How to Live Philosophically
      • Buddhism
      • Buddhism in Action
      • Taoism
      • Existentialism
      • Feminism & Freedom
      • History of Sexuality
      • Ethics and Nature
      • Alienation
      • Alienation 2
      • William James: Meaning, Faith & Science
      • Philosophy of Dialogue
      • Roots of Democracy
      • Ethics of Authenticity
      • Color Conscious
  • Retreats
    • Retreats
    • Past Retreats >
      • Spring Retreats
      • Day Retreat
  • News/Blog
  • Contact

Next Workshop on The Stoics and Overcoming Anxiety

8/13/2017

0 Comments

 
Dear Curious Souls,
We're gearing up for our final workshop in our How to Live Philosophically series.  We've traced the spirit of philosophy back to Socrates and his unrelenting examination of popular values, his enthusiastic effort to discuss what the good life really is, and his attempt to overcome mere opinion and seek truth.  We then followed the thread of what the philosophical life means in Plato's ultimate dialogue on love -- the Symposium -- where we discovered how the examined life has everything to do with learning how to love genuinely, learning which objects are most worthy of our desire, and how to approach them in the ways that will bring about happiness.

Now we turn to the Stoics, who pick up on a particular line of Socratic thinking and develop it into a holistic life-practice. The Socratic inspiration behind Stoic philosophy is that the only thing that can really harm you is yourself -- that is, your own bad deeds.  We should focus not on what others do to us, nor the accidents that befall us, but on our own actions, reactions, and character.  

In our workshop on the Stoics we will read the Enchiridion (or "manual") by Epictetus, which works through questions of what is in our control, what we should care most about, and what we should learn to let go of.  The goal for the Stoics is to overcome the anxiety produced by many of our strongest passions (fear, anger, attachment, loss, grief) and to bring about a healthy tranquility in the soul. We will also read selections from a book by William Irvine, a contemporary scholar of the Stoics, who focuses on the kinds of everyday exercises we should practice to bring about tranquility.  The book is called "A Guide to the Good Life: The Ancient Art of Stoic Joy" and it is a very friendly read for a broad audience.

I hope to see you at the next workshop!

Join us to:
  • Consider what is really in your control
  • Learn to let go of angst-producing thoughts and emotions
  • Practice habits of visualization and self-control
  • Increase fortitude in the face of the unknown future

3 Saturdays: August 26, Sept, 2, 9, 2:30-4:30 p.m. at Palio Espresso and Dessert House in SE Portland.
Learn more and register here.
0 Comments

    Author

    Monica Vilhauer, Ph.D. is the founder of Curious Soul Philosophy. She designs and leads workshops and retreats that approach philosophy as a way of life. She also offers one-on-one philosophical counseling for adults.

    Archives

    May 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    September 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    December 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    March 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    December 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    October 2016
    July 2016

    Categories

    All
    Books For Curious Souls
    Philosophical Counseling
    Philosophy In The News
    Retreats
    The Questioning Gymnast
    Why Philosophy Matters Blog
    Workshops

    RSS Feed

Philosophical Counseling with Monica Vilhauer in the news:

Article about philosophical counseling in Oprah Magazine
Oprah Magazine
Article about philosophical counseling in VICE
VICE

What Our Clients Are Saying
​
​

"Monica meets you on every level: She’ll readily engage with any abstract ideas you have about the world or the self, and analyze those ideas with you, but she also has a way of making you feel that she viscerally understands the difficulty of the situations you’re describing. When I talk to her, I have the feeling that I’m talking to someone who is very present, who is on my side, and who has also fought to be able to live her own life on her terms."
"Conversations with Monica feel non-hierarchical. She is working through the questions with you, not diagnosing you or analyzing you."
"I get the sense that philosophical counseling for Monica is an extension of who she is. These difficult topics are a part of her own life, and she is comfortable talking about what is uncomfortable."

Contact Us

    Join our Mailing List!

Submit