> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://wiki.stoicfellowship.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://wiki.stoicfellowship.com/wiki/exercises.md).

# Stoic Exercises

{% hint style="warning" %}
These exercises found on this wiki are incomplete. I am still working to fill them out in a consistent manner. I'm not there yet, but I'm hoping that these will be useful even in the current form. This is a long-term project, so please be patient as I work to improve what is here. - Kindly, Mike.
{% endhint %}

**Stoic exercises** are practices of attention, judgment, desire, action, and reflection. Their aim is not merely to feel calmer, but to train the ***prohairesis*** — the faculty of moral choice — so that we respond to life according to reason, virtue, and nature.

In Greek, this kind of training can be called ***askêsis***: disciplined practice. A related term is ***meletaó***, rehearsal or practice, especially the rehearsal of Stoic principles so they are ready “at hand” when needed.

In their book *Epictetus's Encheiridion*, Scott Aikin and William O. Stephens explain the Stoics had two types of exercises: anticipation and endurance. The exercise of anticipation steels oneself for expected adveristy, while the exercise of of endurance is about maintaining (or regaining) control of reason while facing adversity (p. 133). I propose there is a third type: exercise of perspective. One can use this to shift their perspective about a situation either during or after the event. These exercises are linked below. You'll also find some tools and methods to makes these exercises actionable and a focused area for conversational ethics and social conduct.

**A useful practical structure:**

1. [**Exercises of Anticipation**](/wiki/exercises/exercises-of-anticipation.md) — before difficulty occurs.
2. [**Exercises of Endurance**](/wiki/exercises/exercises-of-endurance.md) — while difficulty is happening.
3. [**Exercises of Perspective**](/wiki/exercises/exercises-of-perspective.md) — to see events from a truer scale or angle.
4. [**Tools & Methods**](/wiki/exercises/tools-and-methods.md) — reusable methods that support many exercises.
5. [**Conversational Ethics**](/wiki/exercises/conversational-ethics.md) — speech, social conduct, and discipline in public life.


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