You’re Not Stoic. You’re Avoiding the Work.

Most people think stoicism means staying silent and feeling nothing.But what if real stoicism means feeling everything — and still choosing your response?

In this episode, we break down a raw Reddit post that calls out how modern stoicism is being misused. We explore what stoicism really means, why it’s misunderstood, and how emotional mastery—not avoidance—is the real flex.

From Kobe Bryant’s discipline to personal moments with anxiety, parenting, and failure, we unpack how stoicism shows up in real life—not just in ancient quotes.

This isn’t a lecture. It’s a mirror.

🔥 What We Explore:

• Why most people misunderstand Stoicism
• The difference between feeling less and feeling everything — without being controlled by it
• How avoidance gets repackaged as “discipline”
• Kobe Bryant, anxiety, parenting, and emotional control in real life
• A fresh take on what it means to take action when life hits hard

🧠 Whether you’ve been misusing Stoicism or trying to understand it better, this episode is a raw, unfiltered reflection on what strength actually looks like.

⏳ Timestamps

00:00 – The Myth of Stoicism: Why It’s Misunderstood

01:18 – Reddit Post Breakdown: “Stop Using Stoicism to Become an Emotionless Punching Bag”

03:07 – Is Stoicism Growth or Hiding?

04:32 – Kobe Bryant, Obsession, and Silent Strength

06:25 – Personal Story: Parenting and Emotional Restraint

08:57 – Stoicism and Anxiety: Learning to Respond, Not React

11:08 – What the Philosophers Really Meant

12:55 – Reddit Comments: Control, Delusion, and Mountain Metaphors

15:39 – Kobe’s Story & The Journey as the Goal

18:46 – Delusion vs. Desire: Knowing Your Path

19:52 – The Captain of the Ship: Best Stoic Analogy

22:07 – Emotional Mastery, Not Emotional Shutdown

24:11 – Marcus Aurelius, Death, and True Perspective

25:17 – Final Reflections: Presence, Peace, and Progress

🔔 Subscribe for more uncomfortable truths, raw conversations, and reflections that challenge the norm.

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💀 Learn more at: https://secretdeathwish.com/blog/

🎥 Credits

Clips included in this podcast are used for commentary and transformative educational purposes under YouTube’s fair use guidelines:

• "What is Stoicism?" – TED-Ed (used at 0:24) From TED-Ed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9OCA6UFE-0
  

• "Kobe Bryant on Stoicism & Self-Mastery" – Daily Stoic (used at 3:40) From Daily Stoic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9MHYHqD2Zpg
  

All rights belong to the original creators. These clips are credited respectfully and used to support discussion, critique, and learning.

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