Stoicism: becoming the best version of you

Delivered over 10 weeks, our Stoicism: Becoming the Best Version of You training course teaches practical and evidence-lead techniques to help you reach your full potential.

Learn skills to foster both your professional and personal development, including:

• Identifying key values
• Working towards SMART goals
• Overcoming obstacles
• Developing key qualities including compassion, wisdom, self-control, courage and self-compassion.

This self-development course blends key elements of Stoicism, ancient philosophy, mindfulness and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).

Who is it for?

Everyone can benefit from self-reflection and personal development. If you are interested in philosophy, psychology theory or well being you will enjoy this course.

Timetable

This course takes place every Thursday at 18.30 for 10 weeks. No class 2/6/2022.

Benefits

• Take positive steps towards self-improvement and fulfilment at home and in work
• Learn from a qualified and practising life coach
• Taught in small groups
• Awarded a City, University of London certificate

The 10-week course will cover:

Week one: Introduction: developing the best version of you

• Introduce the main themes of the course
• What is Stoicism and what is meant by "the best version of me"
• Setting personal course goals
• Course overview
• What is meant by “the good life”?

Week two: Starting to move towards the best version of you

• Behavioural Activation
• Baby Steps
• SMART+ Goals.

Week three:Overcoming Obstacles to Behaviour Change – Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

• What is CBT?
• Learning the STOPP technique
• How CBT helps you become a better version of you.

Week four: Thinking Fast and Slow & Mindfulness

• Kahneman’s Thinking Fast and Slow theory
• How mindfulness can help
• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy.

Week five: Virtues & Strengths

• Identifying own VIA strengths
• What are the cardinal virtues
• How strengths and virtues are related.

Week six: Wisdom, Stoicism and the role of practical philosophy

• Types of wisdom
• How to become wiser
• What is Stoicism and how it is not the same as Stoicism?
• The evidence base for Stoicism
• How to be Stoic.

Week seven: Self-compassion & compassion

• What are self-compassion and compassion?
• The benefits of self-compassion
• Compassionate Mind Training.

Week eight: Self-control & willpower

• The psychology of self-control and willpower
• Marshmallows, fallible resources and Ulysses
• Evidence-based ways to increase self-control.

Week nine: Courage and grit

• Courage and associated qualities - persistence and grit
• How to develop courage
• How to develop grit.

Week ten: Conclusions

• Opportunity to re-take the inventories to learn how much change has occurred.
• Key course themes will be summarised and next steps discussed.
• How to develop habits to maintain what has been learnt on the course.

Note: This is indicative of likely content and is subject to change

You will be set reading in between classes and will be encouraged to discuss these ideas in class. Practical exercises are given to aid self-development and you have the option of giving a short presentation in class.

There is no official assessment, but you will gain most from the course through commitment to reading homework and participation in class.

The short courses at City are not accredited, but you will be awarded an official City, University of London certificate if you attend at least 70 percent of the classes.

We do not ask for any formal qualifications to enrol on the Stoicism short course.

English requirements

You will need a good level of spoken and written English to enrol on this course.