Suspend your judgement (Greek Ataraxia)

The Stoics had a fascinating perspective on withholding judgment, which they called "epoché" or suspension of judgment. This was central to their philosophy of achieving tranquility and wisdom.

The Stoics taught that we should avoid forming hasty opinions about things that are outside our direct knowledge or control. Epictetus emphasized that we suffer not from events themselves, but from our judgments about events. When we rush to label something as "good" or "bad," "fair" or "unfair," we often create unnecessary emotional turmoil.

The Stoics distinguished between what they called "impressions" (initial thoughts that arise) and "assent" (our choice to accept those impressions as true). They advocated being very careful about which impressions we give our assent to, especially regarding things we can't directly verify or influence.
This wasn't about becoming passive or indifferent, but rather about being more discerning. They believed that by suspending judgment on matters beyond our control, we could focus our mental energy on what we can actually influence - primarily our own choices, actions, and responses.
The goal was to achieve a state called "ataraxia" - a kind of unshakeable calm that comes from not being at the mercy of every passing opinion or interpretation we might form about external events.

Come, sit with us. Hear the echoes of ancient voices—Stoic philosophers who taught not how to escape life’s tempests, but how to sail through them with grace.
Together, we learn to welcome our circumstances, to sculpt our desires, and to root ourselves in the cardinal virtues: wisdom, justice, courage, and temperance—timeless beacons for a well-lived life.
You will not leave unchanged.
Come, and be part of it.

This weeks meetup will be at Healthspan Fit in San Jose.
This will also be a planning session for our year-end Stoic Day event.

Healthspan Fit
2477 Forest Avenue
San Jose

Gerry & James
510-358-0866