The Communal Stoic: Emotional Resilience Beyond the Self

Title: The Communal Stoic: Emotional Resilience Beyond the Self
Speaker: Eryk Jan Grzeszkowiak, Chair Scotland Stoics
📍 Location: Garnethill Multicultural Centre, 21 Rose St, Glasgow G3 6RE
🕒 Doors open: 13:00 | Meeting time: 13:30 – 15:00
☕ Refreshments: Complimentary tea and coffee will be available, with an optional donation.
🎟️ Cost: Free
Join us for our next Glasgow Branch meeting, open to all HSS members, supporters and anyone who shares humanist values! This month's meeting will feature a speaker as well as updates on the society’s recent activities.

Event Description:
What can ancient philosophy teach us about modern mental health? Join Eryk Jan Grzeszkowiak, Chair of the Scotland Stoics, as he explores the benefits of Stoic philosophy for mental health and emotional resilience, focussing on how its principles can be applied in daily life to manage stress, anxiety, and uncertainty. It will also address a common misconception of Stoicism as a solitary or purely individualistic practice. Instead, the talk will examine how classical Stoic texts emphasise the importance of community, interconnectedness, and our responsibilities to others, offering a more relational understanding of the philosophy.

About the Speaker:
Eryk Jan Grzeszkowiak is a lecturer in genetics and genetic genealogy at University College Cork and the University of Limerick. He is a blogger with *GenealogiaGenetyczna.com*, the first Polish blog on genetic genealogy, and an accredited investigative genetic genealogist with over a decade of experience. Eryk has designed and delivered university courses on human genetics and ancestry research and regularly speaks at national and international genealogy conferences. His work bridges science and public understanding, combining his academic background in genetics with a passion for accessible education.

He is the founder and chair of the Scotland Stoics, a registered Scottish charity dedicated to promoting Stoic philosophy and way of life. In recent years, the organisation has grown to over 500 online members and has established active Stoic communities in Edinburgh, Glasgow and Dundee. Through public events, author talks and regular meetups, The Scotland Stoics fosters self-improvement, lifelong learning, and meaningful connection. It offers a friendly, supportive, and inclusive space for anyone interested in Stoicism - regardless of background or experience.

Image credit: Digital illustration created using AI tools by OpenAI, 2025. For illustrative purposes only.