A Guide to The Good Life

Few books have impacted my life to the same degree as A Guide to the Good Life. It takes Stoic philosophy and translates it into practical tips for how to improve your overall psychological well-being.

The Right Book at the Right Time

I discovered this book early in my reading career and it introduced me to both stoicism and the art of living. I actually see a clear divide between who I was before vs. after reading this book.

Adopting the stoic ideas from this book resulted in:

1. Hedonic Adaptation

Imagine you get the "thing" you desired for a long time. The following weeks and months the newness starts to fade. With enough time the initial appreciation is gone.

This is Hedonic Adaptation. After working hard to get what we want, you quickly lose interest in what you worked so hard to attain.

This book introduced me to some interesting stoic countermeasures: Negative Visualization & Voluntary Discomfort.

2. Negative Visualization

Make a habit of imagining, as vividly as possible, the loss of possessions and loved ones. This will help you appreciate things and people more fully. This might sound macabre, but let's face it — nothing is forever, no one is immortal.

3. Voluntary Discomfort

Practice depriving yourself of what you have to appreciate its real value. Build resilience and toughen up beforehand for occasions of misfortune.

• 🔸 Sleep on the floor
• 🔹 Don't drink for a day
• 🔹 Underdress for cold weather
• 🔸 Read comment sections online to elicit anger & practice equanimity
• 🔹 Emulate poverty by dressing in shabby clothes
• 🔸 Turn down wine when offered (even in pandemics & war 😉)

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