Robert Greene on Stoicism: A Guide to More Inner Calm and Contentment

Last updated: February 3, 2026

Stoicism is an ancient philosophy that is surprisingly practical in modern life. Especially if you often experience stress, overthink, doubt yourself quickly, or feel like you constantly have to perform. The core is not that you stop feeling anything. The core is that you learn to respond more calmly, choose more clearly, and live more from your values.

If you would like to watch a video after reading that sums this up well, here are two options with Robert Greene:

Robert Greene on the Wisdom of the Stoics (Daily Stoic, YouTube): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7pYtvo2u3I

Robert Greene on the Wisdom of the Stoics (The Daily Stoic, Spotify): https://open.spotify.com/episode/30AFHTXrE346mrGhprpIE2

Please note: this article is meant as inspiration, not medical advice. If you feel stuck or your low mood, anxiety, or stress becomes too heavy, contact your GP.

What is Stoicism, in one sentence?

Stoicism says: focus on what you can influence, accept what you cannot change, and live consciously according to your values.

For anyone who wants to read more deeply, these are two strong overviews:

Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stoicism: https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/

Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stoicism: https://iep.utm.edu/stoicism/

5 Stoic principles that can make your life easier

1) The dichotomy of control

Some things are within your influence, others are not. Stoicism helps you see that difference more quickly.

Exercise, 2 minutes
Write down two columns:

In my control: my choices, behaviour, words, preparation, boundaries

Outside my control: what others think, outcomes, timing, the past

Your energy goes to the first column.

One original text that explains this very clearly is Epictetus’ Enchiridion:
https://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html

2) Acceptance is not giving up

Acceptance means: this is what it is, so I stop fighting reality. That creates space for the next step.

Important nuance
Acceptance does not mean that you have to tolerate everything. If something is unhealthy or unsafe, you can still set boundaries or seek help. Acceptance mainly means seeing clearly, so you can act better.

3) Virtue is moral quality, not simply “something that makes you happy”

In your older text, virtue was described as something that makes you feel very happy. In Stoicism, “virtue” mainly means acting wisely. Think of courage, justice, self control, and practical wisdom. It is about the kind of person you want to be, even when life is difficult.

You can read more about this Stoic view of virtue in both encyclopedias above:
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/
https://iep.utm.edu/stoicism/

4) Acknowledge emotions first, then respond

Stoicism is sometimes seen as suppressing emotion, but the classical focus is more on examining your judgment. For example: which thought is making me spiral into stress right now?

Mini exercise, 30 seconds
Say to yourself:

I feel stress

My mind is telling a story

I choose my next step

That is often enough to step out of the automatic reaction.

5) Fulfilment often comes from contribution and growth

This connects beautifully to something you already mentioned: real fulfilment usually feels deeper than quick stimulation. Stoicism points you toward a life of meaning: growing in character, adding value, and doing what feels right according to your values.

That also connects beautifully to why Like Charlie exists: openness and connection around mental health, and starting and continuing the conversation.

4 Stoic exercises you can already try today

Exercise 1: Morning intention

Choose one sentence for today, for example:

Today I choose calm in my response

Today I choose honesty, even when it feels uncomfortable

Today I focus on effort, not perfection

Exercise 2: Premeditatio malorum, thinking ahead without panicking

Calmly ask yourself: what could go wrong, and what will I do then?
Not to become negative, but to prepare your resilience.

Exercise 3: Evening reflection, 3 questions

What went well

What went less well, and what can I learn from it

What is one thing I can do better tomorrow

Exercise 4: View from above

Zoom out for a moment. How important will this be in a week, a month, or a year?
This often takes some pressure off the moment.

What this has to do with Like Charlie

Like Charlie is here to make mental health easier to talk about and to encourage open conversations. Stoicism can help with that by offering practical language for calm, boundaries, resilience, and meaning.

View all story print T shirts:
https://www.likecharlieclothing.com/collections/t-shirts

Discover the question card game to make real conversations easier:
https://www.likecharlieclothing.com/collections/vragenspellen

Read our story and find out who Charlie is:
https://www.likecharlieclothing.com/pages/het-verhaal

FAQ about Stoicism

Is Stoicism the same as becoming emotionless?

No. It is about learning to pause, check your judgment, and respond more consciously.

Does Stoicism help if you feel a lot of stress or anxiety?

It can help as a practical way to sort out what you can and cannot influence. If your symptoms are heavy or continue for a long time, professional support is wise.

Which Stoic text is the most accessible?

Epictetus’ Enchiridion is short and very practical.
https://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html

Is Stoicism only about the individual, or also about other people?

Stoicism strongly emphasises contribution, justice, and responsibility towards others as well. See the overviews here:
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/
https://iep.utm.edu/stoicism/

Sources and further reading

Stoicism overview, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/stoicism/

Stoicism overview, Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy
https://iep.utm.edu/stoicism/

Epictetus, Enchiridion, online text
https://classics.mit.edu/Epictetus/epicench.html

Marcus Aurelius, Meditations, online text
https://classics.mit.edu/Antoninus/meditations.html

Robert Greene, conversation about Stoicism, The Daily Stoic (Spotify)
https://open.spotify.com/episode/30AFHTXrE346mrGhprpIE2

Robert Greene, Stoicism video (YouTube)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7pYtvo2u3I