Reflections
Stoic insights, career advice and actionable ideas.
Latest Reflections
If you’ve read the other essays in The Foundations Series, it’s a safe assumption that you’re serious about exploring Stoicism. And… read more
So, rational agency. Let’s tackle this beast right now, because it’s a big one: human beings can make decisions. The more… read more
This essay is about respecting reality and, at first glance, it might seem unnecessary. I can see responses falling into one… read more
Collapse I never sought Eudaimonia. On the 23rd of March, 2019, sitting in the kitchen with a pounding headache caused by… read more
Ah, the dreaded performance review. One of the most dispiriting aspects of work is having our output rated negatively. It stings,… read more
Many of our problems at work don’t come from the right things going wrong, but from chasing the wrong things altogether.… read more
Category: Stoicism and Work Sounds like a terrible idea, but in this case, there’s real merit in it. It’s a form… read more
Category: The Inner Life Ah, the story. Everyone talks about it, but few ever notice just how much power it holds.… read more
How can work be so exhausting when you’re just sitting at a desk, sending emails? Grafting down a mine is exhausting;… read more
October 21, 2025 by Matt Category: Stoicism & Work Have you ever experienced the sensation that you’re skiving at work, while… read more
October 2025 by Matt There’s a quiet kind of misery that creeps into modern work – the half-done project you swore… read more
The rise of chaos Things are getting chaotic out there. I’m talking about the socio-political situation, of course, but also the… read more
Ambition is useful. Disappointment is not. Here is a Stoic way to pursue big goals without turning your life into a… read more
How resilient is your career? Everyone is subject to the external shocks that can see us lose our jobs, whether that’s… read more
Most of us have worked with someone who seems determined to ruin our day. Every day. The client who wants a… read more
On Stoic strength in a culture of sensitivity There’s a strange kind of prestige attached to being offended these days. Not… read more
On learning when to listen – and when to take a step back. We live in a culture that treats emotions… read more
Most people don’t mean to perform. But give them an audience, and they do. They defend ideas they don’t fully believe.… read more
On working with people who don’t value logic, and keeping your peace in the process. There’s a line from Epictetus that… read more
And how you can be bored too! I live a boring life. Of course, I don’t find it boring, but I… read more
On ambition, self-worth, and learning how to measure the right things. Have you ever been in a situation where the numbers… read more
You can’t avoid the game – but you can decide how to play. For many people, office politics is one of… read more
Why trying to control everything at work leads to worse results – and what to focus on instead Work often feels… read more
This is My Truth When you tell people you’re drawn to Stoicism, they often jump to conclusions. It’s not uncommon to… read more
And a New Home for Rational Thinkers Something is wrong. For the past several decades, Western cultures have gone adrift –… read more