At the heart of Stoicism is the understanding that the art of living is the most important art we can master. As Irvine explains, “According to Epictetus, the primary concern of philosophy should be the art of living: Just as wood is the medium of the carpenter and bronze is the medium of the sculptor, your life is the medium on which you practice the art of living.” By helping our children see their lives as the raw material with which they can intentionally craft a masterpiece, we inspire them to take an active, creative role in shaping their character and experiences.

One of the core Stoic virtues is the idea of living in accordance with our nature as rational, social beings. The Stoics defined virtue as using our rationality to fulfill our social duty – to live as we were designed to live. As Irvine writes, “To be virtuous, then, is to live as we were designed to live; it is to live, as Zeno put it, in accordance with nature.” We can help our children develop this sense of authentic alignment by encouraging them to look within and discover their unique gifts, passions, and purpose. By creating a learning environment that nurtures their natural strengths and interests, and challenges them to grow in wisdom and compassion, we empower them to become who they were truly meant to be. Regular self-reflection, goal-setting, and virtues-based discussions can support them in intentionally cultivating their best selves.

At QMAK, our emphasis on “Question More, Action Knowledge” aligns beautifully with the Stoic focus on practical wisdom and applied philosophy. Like the Stoics, we encourage a questioning, reflective approach to life and learning. We want to empower our kids to examine their lives with curiosity and purpose, and to courageously live out their deepest values and aspirations.

The Stoics developed an array of powerful psychological techniques to help them live with tranquility and joy. Their overarching goal was to attain a state of contentment and appreciation for life that was grounded in their own rational choices, rather than dependent on external circumstances. One such practice is that of negative visualization – intentionally contemplating the loss of what we hold dear in order to truly appreciate it. Irvine explains, “The Stoics recommended that we spend time imagining that we have lost the things we value—that our wife has left us, our car was stolen, or we lost our job. Doing this, the Stoics thought, will make us value our wife, our car, and our job more than we otherwise would.”

We can teach our children this gratitude-enhancing technique by encouraging them to regularly reflect on and savor the people, experiences, and things that enrich their lives. By consciously imagining their absence, and then celebrating their presence, they develop a profound appreciation for the abundance surrounding them. A daily gratitude practice, such as keeping a joy journal or sharing appreciations around the dinner table, can make this a regular part of family life.

Other valuable Stoic practices include the trichotomy of control (distinguishing between what we can and cannot control), internalizing goals (focusing on our own actions and character rather than outcomes), self-denial (voluntarily embracing discomfort to build resilience), and meditation (reflecting on our progress and areas for growth). By integrating these techniques into our homeschooling lifestyle, we give our children a toolbox of skills for finding joy and thriving in the face of life’s challenges.

It’s important to remember that Stoicism is a path of continual practice and progress, not a destination of instant perfection. The Stoics saw their philosophy as an ongoing art of living, a craft to refine over the course of a lifetime. By framing it as a growth journey, we encourage our children (and ourselves) to keep practicing and improving day by day, celebration our progress while learning from our missteps.