🌳 The Stoic Guide to Goals (That Actually Work)

Set resolutions you'll actually keep this year...

Author

Jon High
December 30, 2024 • Estimated Reading Time: 4 minutes

💭 Quote of the Week

❝

"Don't just say you have read books. Show that through them you have learned to think better, to be a more discriminating and reflective person. Books are meant to be used, not just used up."

- Epictetus

(Pretty sure if Epictetus were around today, he'd say the same thing about New Year's resolutions.)

💡 Stoic Lesson of the Week

Let's be honest: Most New Year's resolutions have the life expectancy of a snowman in summer. By February, that gym membership is gathering dust and those productivity apps are just expensive notification generators.

Here's the thing - the Stoics would have hated our modern goal-setting advice. Not because they were against self-improvement (these were people obsessed with getting better), but because we're doing it completely backward.

"First say to yourself what you would be; then do what you have to do."

- Epictetus

The Stoics knew something crucial: Goals aren't about the outcome - they're about who you become in pursuit of them. That six-pack abs goal? It's not really about the abs. It's about becoming someone who shows up consistently, respects their health, and keeps their promises to themselves.

Most people set goals like they're writing a shopping list. The Stoics set goals like they're designing their character.

🎯 How to Actually Use This

The Stoic Goal-Setting Framework:

Before setting any goal, ask:

  • Is this actually in my control? (Spoiler: "Get promoted" isn't. "Do excellent work" is.)

  • Who do I need to become to achieve this?

  • Would I still do this if no one could ever know about it?

Turn Outcomes into Actions: 

Instead of: "Lose 20 pounds" Write: "Make choices a healthy person would make every day"

Instead of: "Get promoted" Write: "Do work I'm proud of, consistently"

Instead of: "Find a relationship" Write: "Become someone worth dating"

Try This Now: 

Take your biggest goal. List 3 daily actions that someone who has achieved that goal would do. Start there.

📖 Story Time

Cato the Younger, a famous Roman Stoic, had an interesting habit. In a time when wealthy Romans wore expensive purple robes, he wore plain, dark clothes. When asked why, he said he wanted to be criticized for his character, not his clothes.

But here's the kicker - he would occasionally wear bright red shoes. Why? To practice not caring what others thought. His goal wasn't to blend in or stand out - it was to build immunity to public opinion.

That's Stoic goal-setting in action. He wasn't focused on external validation; he was systematically building the internal qualities he valued.

🤔 Takeaway

Your goals aren't a to-do list - they're a "to-become" list. Focus on the daily actions and let the outcome take care of itself.

Your Weekend Challenge: List your resolutions. Next to each one, write "To become someone who..." and complete the sentence. That's your real goal.

Question to ponder: If no one could ever know about your achievements, which goals would you still pursue?

Now, go forth and crush your new year’s goals like a Stoic 💪 

🔗 Interesting Reads & Listens

Some of my favorite resources and content I found on the internet this week...