"Not to assume it's impossible because you find it hard. But to recognize that if it's humanly possible, you can do it too."
-Marcus Aurelius
Providing the above, poignant quote, Paul Domenick reminds us that he has dedicated significant time to the study of stoicism, particularly the words of Marcus Aurelius and Seneca. Join Paul and I as we explore the merits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT), the "communication crisis" facing culture, and how to access our "inner wise selves."
Domenick describes his own journey with stoicism, illustrating that he practices the philosophy which he preaches.
Further, Paul articulates the merits of personal journaling, an art with which your correspondent is professionally familiar. Paul shares excerpts from his journaling curriculum, co-written by Aion Media Co's own @Pathtomanliness, Ryan Felman.
Listen for these 4 tips from Paul, toward the end of the podcast, and fill in the answers!
1. Try to start being more ___ and ___see the task as an end itself, not just a means.
2. Start pushing past your perceived___. Write an extra page or paragraph that you normally wouldn't.
3. Question ___ that you have throughout the day.
4. Visualize yourself ___ before you expect to see external results. Ask yourself '___?' Challenge the meanings you attach to events!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Follow Paul:
Twitter: @PaulMDomenick
"The Path to Journaling" Course: https://gumroad.com/l/journaling
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resources Mentioned:
The Tools: 5 Tools to Help You Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower--and Inspire You to Live Life in Forward Motion by Phil Stutz and Barry Michels
How to Think Like a Roman Emperor: The Stoic Philosophy of Marcus Aurelius by Donald Robertson
Articles Discussing Therapeutic Usage of Journaling:
Pennebaker, J. W., Kiecolt-Glaser, J. K., & Glaser, R. (1988). Disclosure of traumas and immune function: health implications for psychotherapy. Journal of consulting and clinical psychology, 56(2), 239.
Smyth, J. M., Johnson, J. A., Auer, B. J., Lehman, E., Talamo, G., & Sciamanna, C. N. (2018). Online Positive Affect Journaling in the Improvement of Mental Distress and Well-Being in General Medical Patients With Elevated Anxiety Symptoms: A Preliminary Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR mental health, 5(4), e11290.
Ullrich, P. M., & Lutgendorf, S. K. (2002). Journaling about stressful events: Effects of cognitive processing and emotional expression. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 24(3), 244-250.
