stoicism |

When I began this journey of 50 for 50 I knew exactly what I wanted to achieve, yet my approach was vague. I jumped in enthusiastically, tackling tasks at random and celebrating early victories. But around the six-month mark, things shifted. The initial easy wins faded, leaving me in what can generously be described as a slog.

At this turning point, I paused to reflect. My loose methodology—guided by unwritten rules—needed structure. I combed through my notes, carefully identifying successful behaviors and pinpointing obstacles. I had my insights, but what now?

Influencers often have catchy acronyms for their frameworks, so I brainstormed names. Nothing stuck until I revisited an earlier entry that emphasized the concept of finishing strong—pushing forward even when victory seemed uncertain. That resonated deeply, inspiring the creation of the finish STRONG framework for goal setting and achievement.

Let’s dive into this empowering framework:

Start Small – Commit to doing just one thing each day to progress your goals. Even on your busiest days, five minutes is enough: read a page, sketch a quick idea, jot down tomorrow’s task. This daily action trains your mind, signaling that your goals matter. Eventually, you’ll instinctively feel the need to keep progressing, and skipping a day will feel like something vital is missing.

Transform Habits – Humans thrive on habits, which makes them powerful tools for change. Start small, choosing manageable habits. The book “Atomic Habits” emphasizes how tiny, incremental changes lead to remarkable transformations. Its key lesson—align your habits with your desired identity—deeply impacted me. While I learned that habits often take longer than the popularly cited 30 days to solidify, persistent effort eventually made these behaviors automatic, seamlessly integrating them into my daily routine.

Rebuild Mindset – Among the framework’s elements, mindset is pivotal. To achieve significant goals, you must reinvent how you see yourself—not as someone who might succeed, but as someone who will succeed. Shifting your self-perception eliminates room for hesitation. My mindset transformation was personal; embracing stoicism profoundly changed my worldview, strengthening my resolve and clarity.

Overcome Obstacles – Despite meticulous planning, setbacks are inevitable. Injuries, overwhelming workloads, illnesses, family obligations—each can derail your progress. But it’s not the obstacles themselves, rather your response, that defines your journey. “The Obstacle is the Way” articulates this beautifully: viewing challenges as opportunities to build resilience and strength. Its three-part framework—clearly perceiving obstacles, taking decisive action, and wholeheartedly accepting difficulties—helps cultivate an unwavering spirit and determination.

Never Quit – You will face moments of deep frustration, when progress stalls or even reverses. Giving up becomes tempting, rationalized by thoughts like, “Who would care if I quit?” The answer is simple: You would care. Abandoning your goals creates subtle self-doubt, convincing you that you lack perseverance. Resist that temptation. Slow down, adjust your timeline, but never surrender. Persistence ensures you ultimately achieve the greatness you envisioned.

Gather Data – Tracking progress became essential in my journey. Initially, I relied on a notebook (OneNote) for quick notes and recaps, keeping everything organized. But it was the Google Sheet that truly elevated my motivation. Each goal had its own tab, and a summary sheet visually tracked my progress through checkboxes and color-coded progress bars. Seeing bars turn blue at 100% completion sparked excitement, reinforcing accountability and highlighting areas needing immediate attention.

This finish STRONG framework transformed my approach from chaotic optimism into structured success, ensuring every step forward was intentional, meaningful, and enduring.

Life, as it turns out, isn’t actually short—it’s just that most of us waste it. That’s the central argument of On the Shortness of Life by Seneca, a work that has remained startlingly relevant despite being written nearly 2,000 years ago. While the ancient Roman philosopher was addressing the concerns of his time—politicians chasing power, merchants obsessed with wealth, scholars lost in trivial studies—his words feel just as applicable in an age of social media, endless notifications, and the modern obsession with productivity. Seneca’s message is simple: we have more than enough time to live a meaningful life, but we squander it on distractions, meaningless pursuits, and worrying about things that don’t matter.

Unlike many modern self-help books that focus on “time management,” Seneca isn’t concerned with squeezing more hours into the day. His argument isn’t that we need to be more efficient—it’s that we need to be more intentional. He criticizes people who spend their lives chasing wealth, fame, or leisure without ever stopping to consider what truly matters. His famous warning that “it is not that we have a short time to live, but that we waste much of it” cuts through the excuses we use to justify our lack of fulfillment. We complain about not having enough time, yet we spend hours on trivial distractions, indulging in gossip, worrying about status, or numbing ourselves with entertainment. Sound familiar? Swap out the Roman baths and political scheming for Instagram feeds and Netflix binges, and suddenly, Seneca could be writing about modern life.

What makes On the Shortness of Life so powerful is that it’s not just a critique of wasted time—it’s a call to action. Seneca urges us to take ownership of our lives, to stop living as if we have unlimited time ahead of us. He warns against the trap of “living for the future,” something that resonates strongly with modern readers. How many people tell themselves they’ll be happy after they get the promotion, after they buy the house, after they retire? Seneca sees this as one of the greatest delusions—people plan for a future they might never even reach while neglecting the present, the only time they actually own. His solution is simple but profound: live fully now. Engage deeply in what truly matters, cut out meaningless pursuits, and treat every day as valuable rather than assuming you’ll always have more time.

When comparing Seneca’s advice to modern Stoic practices, there’s a striking overlap. Today’s Stoic thinkers—whether it’s Ryan Holiday’s The Daily Stoic or William B. Irvine’s A Guide to the Good Life—echo many of the same themes. Both ancient and modern Stoicism emphasize the importance of focusing on what we can control, avoiding distractions, and valuing time as our most precious resource. However, while modern Stoic methods often include structured routines, journaling, and practical exercises to cultivate mindfulness, Seneca’s approach is more direct: stop wasting time, recognize your mortality, and live with purpose.

One of the biggest differences between ancient and modern Stoicism is the way we approach productivity. In today’s world, self-improvement is often tied to efficiency—how can I get more done in less time? How can I maximize my schedule? Seneca would likely argue that this mindset still misses the point. It doesn’t matter how much you accomplish if what you’re accomplishing isn’t meaningful. Modern Stoicism often incorporates methods like digital detoxing, setting daily priorities, and practicing gratitude—things that align with Seneca’s philosophy but are packaged in a more structured way. The key takeaway from both approaches is the same: be intentional about how you live, because time is the one thing you can never get back.

Perhaps the most chilling reminder in On the Shortness of Life is Seneca’s observation that most people don’t even realize they’re wasting their lives until it’s too late. He warns that many people only understand the value of time when they’re near death, looking back with regret at how much of their existence was spent on things that didn’t matter. This is where his writing transcends philosophy and becomes something of a wake-up call. His words force the reader to ask uncomfortable but necessary questions: If I were to die tomorrow, would I be satisfied with how I’ve spent my time? Am I prioritizing things that truly bring meaning, or am I letting life slip by in trivial pursuits?

In a world that constantly demands our attention, where distractions are engineered to be irresistible and busyness is worn like a badge of honor, Seneca’s wisdom is more important than ever. Modern Stoic practices may provide tools to help us implement his advice, but the fundamental lesson remains unchanged: life is only “short” if you fail to use it well. The challenge isn’t to find more time—it’s to stop giving it away to things that don’t matter.

Tag stoicism

The STRONG framework

On the Shortness of Life