The Stoicism: How the Wisdom of Socrates Can Help You Build Resilience and Overcome Anything Life Throws at You

“To know thyself is the beginning of wisdom.”
—Socrates

What’s the secret to lasting happiness? How do you gain the resilience needed to weather life’s inevitable storms? What can you do when you’re feeling anxious, depressed, stressed, or burned out by life? For ancient philosophers like Socrates, Marcus Aurelius, Zeno, and Epictetus, these questions were more than mere musings—they were key elements of a school of thought called Stoicism.

In The Stoicism Workbook, you’ll learn how thinking like Socrates—and using the Socratic method of questioning or self-inquiry—can help you identify what truly matters in your life, and build the resilience needed to go out and get it! Combining ancient philosophical wisdom with modern psychology, this practical self-help workbook will help you think flexibly, maintain inner peace, adapt to difficult situations, and improve your overall mental health and well-being. You’ll also discover how the core Stoic virtues—wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance—can be your compass as you navigate an increasingly uncertain world.

Stoicism isn’t about being emotionless in the face of pain or suffering. It’s about giving yourself space for reflection before reacting. It’s about seeing opportunities in everyday challenges, which in turn makes you stronger and more resilient. It’s about wielding the power to decide to what extent sadness, pain, and anger affect you.

These are the keys to lasting happiness. Let this workbook guide you to learn more, and put this ancient wisdom into practice every day.

Scott Waltman, PsyD, is a practicing Stoic, and international cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) trainer. He was a Global Ambassador for the World Confederation of Cognitive and Behavioural Therapies. He is a board member of the International Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and president-elect of the Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Therapies (A-CBT). He is coauthor of Socratic Questioning for Therapists and Counselors. He lives in San Antonio, TX.

R. Trent Codd III, EdS, is vice president of clinical services in the Carolinas for Refresh Mental Health. Prior to assuming his current position, he was executive director of the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Center of Western North Carolina, a multidisciplinary group practice specializing in the provision of evidence-based mental health care, a practice he founded in 2001. In addition, he is a diplomate, fellow, and certified trainer/consultant for the A-CBT, and a board-certified behavior analyst (BCBA). Codd has authored and coauthored several peer-reviewed publications and books, including Socratic Questioning for Therapists and Counselors. He lives in Asheville, NC.

Kasey Pierce is a writer, editor, and Stoic columnist from the Metro Detroit, MI, area. She was a freelance content editor on Donald Robertson’s Verissimus, editor of Tim LeBon’s 365 Ways toBe More Stoic, and a recurring speaker at Stoicon-X Women. A graduate of business leadership studies, she was a speaker at Plato’s Academy Centre’s Ancient Philosophy for Modern Leadership conference. Pierce is passionate about broadening Stoicism’s appeal, and feels CBT practices are the most efficient way of applying the ancient philosophy to everyday life.