logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2024
15m 34s

Facing Mortality: A Stoic Death Meditati...

JON BROOKS
About this episode

Send us a text

In this episode, we delve into the profound Stoic philosophy surrounding death. Join us for a guided meditation that will help you confront and accept mortality, diminish the fear of death, and find peace in the natural cycle of life and death.

Learn to focus on what truly matters and live a life of tranquility and resilience.

Key Takeaways:

  • Understanding the Stoic Perspective on Death
    • Confronting mortality and its inevitability
    • Quotes from Epictetus, Marcus Aurelius, and Seneca
  • Exercise: Sit with Your Fear of Death
    • Addressing the root cause of anxieties
    • Reflecting on the impact of death on your life's story
  • Visualizing Your Life
    • Contemplating the transient nature of personal details and experiences
  • Imagining Different Timeframes
    • Considering your actions with ten years, one year, and one day left to live
  • Visualizing Your Own Death
    • Contemplating decay and the state of non-existence before birth
  • Filling Your Heart with Love
    • Practicing compassion and reflecting on love
  • Combining Compassion with Contemplation
    • Balancing anxiety work with love and compassion

Quotes Highlighted in the Episode:

  • "Some things are within our power, while others are not." – Epictetus
  • "You have power over your mind—not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength." – Marcus Aurelius
  • "He who fears death will never do anything worthy of a living man." – Seneca
  • "It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters." – Epictetus
  • "Consider that before long you will be nobody and nowhere, nor will anything which you now behold exist, nor one of those who are now alive." – Marcus Aurelius
  • "Death is a release from all suffering." – Seneca
  • "When you arise in the morning think of what a privilege it is to be alive, to think, to enjoy, to love." – Marcus Aurelius
  • "Make the best use of what is in your power, and take the rest as it happens." – Epictetus

Support the show

Resources

Up next
Jun 23
The Complete Daily Stoic Meditation: Repeat Daily (2025)
Send us a textFree SPQR Stoic Reset Kit — 5-min audio + 1-page protocol to stop anxiety spirals fast. → stoichandbook.co/toolkit Resources Stoic Handbook Premium Stoic Anxiety Mastery Stoic Handbook Newsletter 
12m 29s
Jun 4
Stoicism in 3 Minutes: Master Your Emotions with Erick Cloward
Send us a textJoin Erick Cloward, Stoic author and host of The Stoic Coffee Break Podcast, as he shares how Stoicism transformed his approach to emotions and reactivity. In this 3-minute clip, learn practical Stoic wisdom to stay calm and focused in any situation!💡 Key Takeaways ... Show More
5m 5s
May 21
I Am The Pilot, Not The Turbulence — 5-Minute Stoic Reset
Send us a textIn just five minutes, this guided meditation uses a precise 4-2-6 breath and Stoic detachment to separate your calm center from external chaos. By grounding in the body, naming the “turbulence,” and repeating “I am the pilot, not the turbulence,” you’ll instantly re ... Show More
6m 8s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
Why Stoicism Teaches Us to Be Prepared for Death (Meditations 3.8)
In this episode, I explore Meditations 3.8 and the idea of preparing for death—not as a morbid fascination, but as a necessary step toward living justly and without fear. Marcus Aurelius describes the Stoic sage as someone unshaken by fate, someone who meets the end of life witho ... Show More
20m 18s
Jan 2025
Death and the Choice to Live Wisely (Meditations 3.3)
In this episode, I reflect on Meditation 3.3 from Marcus Aurelius’ Meditations, exploring its central themes: the inevitability of death, the futility of fearing it, and the Stoic imperative to live well while we can. Marcus reminds us that even the most accomplished and revered ... Show More
17 m
Oct 2024
Living Without Fear: Lessons on Death & Purpose (Meditations 2.11)
In this episode, I discuss Meditation 11 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reminds us to live each moment as if death could come at any time, encouraging a focus on living virtuously. Marcus addresses the nature of death and the existence of gods, framing them in ... Show More
26m 43s
Nov 2024
Accepting Mortality: Marcus Aurelius on the Purpose of Death (Meditations 2.12)
In this episode, I discuss Meditation 12 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the transient nature of life, death, and the things we often fear or desire. Marcus emphasizes that everything in the Universe is impermanent, including our bodies, desires, and ... Show More
16m 43s
May 14
Stoic Actions for Anxious Minds
This episode explores how anxiety can quietly hold us back from the things that matter most—and how Stoic wisdom offers a path through it.Drawing on insights from Epictetus and Marcus Aurelius, we look at how changing our judgments, not just our circumstances, empowers us to act ... Show More
5m 19s
Aug 2024
Start paying attention, or else (Meditations 2.2)
In today’s episode, we explore Meditations 2.2 by Marcus Aurelius, diving into the Stoic understanding of our bodies, the concept of the “god” in Stoicism, and the relationship between our physical body, life-sustaining breath, and rational mind. Marcus identifies these three par ... Show More
31m 27s
Nov 2024
How Stoicism Frames Life, Death, and the Importance of Living Well (Meditations 2.14)
In this episode, I examine Meditation 14 from Book 2 of Meditations, where Marcus Aurelius reflects on the nature of time and the present moment. Marcus emphasizes that we cannot lose the past, as it no longer exists, nor the future, as it has yet to arrive. The only thing we can ... Show More
19m 12s
Apr 21
Stoic Advice for Handling Setbacks, Insults, and Death | William Irvine
How to boost your psychological immune system, the stoic way. William “Bill” Irvine is the emeritus professor of philosophy at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He is the author of eight books that have been translated into more than twenty languages, including Guide to th ... Show More
1h 14m
Dec 2024
Why the Stoics Urge Us to Act Before Time and Reason Fade (Meditations 3.1)
Today we begin Book 3 of Meditations by Marcus Aurelius. Meditation 3.1 reminds us that our time is limited—not just by death, but by the potential loss of our rational faculty as we age. Marcus writes that even if life continues, our ability to reason, comprehend, and adapt to e ... Show More
18m 22s
Apr 2020
231 | Stoicism
Joshua talks about stoicism, what it means to live a good life, and different philosophies for living with author and professor William B. Irvine, and they answer the following questions: Is stoicism applicable to all cultures? (10:05) How do I explain the benefits of stoicism to ... Show More
39m 31s