1 00:00:00,560 --> 00:00:06,880 Epicurus is one of the most important figures in  the history of philosophy, as well as of science.   2 00:00:08,000 --> 00:00:14,320 He is less known than Plato or Socrates, but,  nonetheless, his teachings are precious and   3 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:22,640 timeless. He lived between 341 to 270 BC, and  wrote more than 300 works during his lifetime.   4 00:00:23,600 --> 00:00:29,840 Most of his work has been lost, but what  remains is extremely relevant even today.   5 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:36,400 In science, he was one of the first to describe  the natural world as made of atoms and he rightly   6 00:00:36,400 --> 00:00:41,360 understood that all the natural phenomena  are in fact based on the movement of atoms.   7 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:47,440 Also, he strongly stressed the importance  of basing our beliefs on empirical evidence   8 00:00:47,440 --> 00:00:52,160 and logic. In philosophy, he was  part of the hedonist movement   9 00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:56,080 and he was most famous for his skillful  insights into the concept of happiness,   10 00:00:56,640 --> 00:01:04,400 starting his own School of Happiness, also known  as Epicurean hedonism or simply Epicureanism.   11 00:01:05,680 --> 00:01:10,960 If stoics believed that living justly and  virtuously is the highest good and that we should   12 00:01:10,960 --> 00:01:16,800 be indifferent to pleasure and pain, Epicureanism  believed that we should seek to maximize the   13 00:01:16,800 --> 00:01:23,360 pleasures in life. There were some rumors that in  his school people lavished themselves in orgies,   14 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:30,400 luxury and decadence, but these rumors were  unfounded. Epicurus didn’t have any interest   15 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:35,920 in orgies and expensive meals. His idea  of pleasure is far from the classical one.   16 00:01:36,960 --> 00:01:41,760 He departed from the classical school of hedonism  for which pleasure is the highest good, adding   17 00:01:41,760 --> 00:01:47,440 that the pleasure of the mind, not the pleasure  of the senses, is the true ‘highest good’.   18 00:01:48,640 --> 00:01:53,600 He believed that the greatest happiness comes  from reducing suffering, achieving an inner   19 00:01:53,600 --> 00:02:01,040 state of peace which he called ataraxia. Ataraxia  means being content with simple things in life,   20 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:06,160 like having philosophical conversations about  the meaning of life, in your small garden,   21 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:13,120 with your best friends. According to Epicurus,  the pleasure from pursuing wisdom is the highest   22 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:17,840 form of pleasure, and the most valuable as it  is the one that leads us to true happiness.   23 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:24,880 To understand more about Epicurus’ teachings and  how we can apply them into our own lives, here are   24 00:02:24,880 --> 00:02:36,080 8 life lessons from the philosophy of Epicurus: 1. Be content with little  25 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:41,920 Epicurus said: “Do not spoil what you  have by desiring what you have not;   26 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:47,360 remember that what you now have was once  among the things you only hoped for.”   27 00:02:49,120 --> 00:02:55,360 Epicurus is somehow similar to stoics when he  advises us to settle for a tranquil kind of life,   28 00:02:55,360 --> 00:03:01,120 instead of rushing to stress ourselves to achieve  impossible things. For that, we should limit the   29 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:07,280 responsibilities we take on ourselves, as much as  possible. We should do the minimum work required   30 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:13,920 for the job we have, we should not learn things we  never apply in life, we should buy only things we   31 00:03:13,920 --> 00:03:19,440 really need, we should spend time with only  the people who are really precious to us.   32 00:03:21,120 --> 00:03:25,040 Live to learn a minimalist life  and your happiness will be assured.   33 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:30,320 For example, if you have a busy social  life, going out to parties every weekend,   34 00:03:30,320 --> 00:03:36,880 buying too much stuff like expensive apartments  and cars, it is time to make a change: reduce the   35 00:03:36,880 --> 00:03:41,840 number of friends you regularly interact with to  only a few close ones that really matter to you,   36 00:03:42,480 --> 00:03:47,360 and make more time for them. Avoid spending  money on things you do not really need:   37 00:03:47,920 --> 00:03:54,400 for example, buying a $300 brand-name T-shirt or  borrowing money from the bank to buy a luxury car,   38 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:59,540 even when you can barely pay the rent. If you complain all the time that you do   39 00:03:59,540 --> 00:04:04,080 not have the things you want or that you have  less than your neighbour, you will spoil even   40 00:04:04,080 --> 00:04:09,120 the few things you do have because you won’t be  in the right mindset to really appreciate them:   41 00:04:09,760 --> 00:04:13,440 for example, if you wish to have that  expensive car like your neighbour,   42 00:04:13,440 --> 00:04:18,080 you start to resent your current car, until  eventually you stop caring what your current car   43 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:23,600 looks like, you will stop washing and maintaining  it regularly, making it less pleasant to drive,   44 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:29,680 and making your life miserable as a result. Trying to be content with little might feel   45 00:04:29,680 --> 00:04:34,560 odd at the beginning, but soon you will  realize how much more peaceful and calm   46 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:40,000 and, ultimately, how happy you are. You will  realize that you already have everything you   47 00:04:40,000 --> 00:04:46,320 really need in life - a roof above your head,  food to eat, a few good friends, good health,   48 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:52,240 a job in which you feel you are contributing  to society. By learning to appreciate this,   49 00:04:52,800 --> 00:04:56,560 the power of gratitude will make  you feel happy without effort.   50 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:06,160 2. Study philosophy all your life Epicurus tells us:   51 00:05:06,800 --> 00:05:12,800 “Let no one delay the study of philosophy  while young nor weary of it when old..”   52 00:05:13,920 --> 00:05:19,520 For Epicurus, philosophy, the love  of wisdom, is the key to a good life.   53 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:25,520 Through studying philosophy, we learn how  to use reason in all of our activities.   54 00:05:26,240 --> 00:05:32,240 We learn to rely less on luck and more on our  capacity of self-control, of making the right   55 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:38,960 decisions in life. Thus, through reason we can  live a more peaceful life, with less stress.   56 00:05:40,160 --> 00:05:46,240 Epicurus identified the main causes of  unhappiness as the fear of death, and punishment.   57 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:53,040 Also, he believed the anxieties we have lead us  to want more, to desire too many things in life.   58 00:05:53,920 --> 00:05:58,560 Studying philosophy would reduce such  anxieties, helping us understand that   59 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:03,360 there is only this life to live, that  there is no punishment in the afterlife,   60 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:10,720 that we are allowed to pursue mental and  physical pleasures here on Earth, in this life.   61 00:06:12,000 --> 00:06:17,120 Philosophy, as a discipline, is the study  of the fundamental nature of knowledge,   62 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:22,640 reality, and existence. In theory,  when we acquire such knowledge   63 00:06:22,640 --> 00:06:28,800 we would know how to be happy. Through learning  philosophy, we can develop our rational faculties   64 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:33,840 and learn to make better decisions. We  can create our own system of ethics,   65 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:38,640 we can finally understand the  principles of living a happy life.   66 00:06:40,160 --> 00:06:44,640 If you think that your 21st Century  life is too busy with social media,   67 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:49,360 a difficult job, too many commitments and  that you do not have time to study philosophy,   68 00:06:50,000 --> 00:06:54,880 you will probably end up living an anxious  life, permanently stressed, feeling that   69 00:06:54,880 --> 00:07:00,800 your life does not have a clear meaning and,  ultimately, this may lead you to an unhappy life.   70 00:07:01,840 --> 00:07:08,160 Being happy can be an accident. But if you  study philosophy, it can become a certainty.   71 00:07:10,240 --> 00:07:18,080 3. Learn to rely on yourself In the words of Epicurus: “It   72 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:23,680 is folly for a man to pray to the gods for that  which he has the power to obtain by himself..”  73 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,680 Epicurus’ philosophy often  tends to be materialistic,   74 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:36,480 attacking the concept of god. If god is  all-powerful, evil cannot be explained;   75 00:07:37,760 --> 00:07:45,600 if god cannot eradicate evil, then he is not  powerful; if god can eradicate evil but doesn’t,   76 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:53,200 he is not benevolent. Epicurus’ simple logic is an  inspiration to stop relying on an invisible force,   77 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:56,960 praying to it, but rather to  start relying on ourselves,   78 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:04,720 to build a life that we really want to live. Nowadays, even in secular societies,   79 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:09,440 many people believe in Karma or the Law of  Attraction, thinking that there are some   80 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:16,960 invisible forces out there which can make justice  for us. However, in Epicurus’ view, this is folly   81 00:08:16,960 --> 00:08:23,680 as well. Contrary to this, one might argue that if  we do not fear gods or other cosmic entities, then   82 00:08:23,680 --> 00:08:30,720 there is no objective reason to live justly. For  such problems, Epicurus said that living justly,   83 00:08:30,720 --> 00:08:39,264 prudently, honourably means living pleasurably. If  you do not live justly, you will always fear you   84 00:08:39,264 --> 00:08:45,920 will be caught and this will disrupt your peaceful  state of mind, leading to anxiety and unhappiness.   85 00:08:46,800 --> 00:08:52,640 Thus, we should strive to do no harm to  anybody even if justice is nothing in itself.   86 00:08:53,520 --> 00:08:58,240 Relying on yourself involves a certain kind  of ethics and a confidence in the laws of   87 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:03,760 your land and your community. Through the social  contract, you can have something of a guarantee   88 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:09,600 that the probability of you being harmed is  small as long as you respect the rules. Thus,   89 00:09:09,600 --> 00:09:13,920 instead of believing in gods and putting  your trust in them to solve your problems,   90 00:09:13,920 --> 00:09:18,800 you should rely on logic, good lawyers  and the justice system of your country,   91 00:09:18,800 --> 00:09:22,880 and do what you can to be a good  citizen by respecting the laws.   92 00:09:24,240 --> 00:09:28,560 If, for example, you were the victim of  discrimination in your workplace, do not   93 00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:35,200 blindly hope that God or a karmic law will punish  the wrong-doer, but rather report the case to a   94 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:40,320 higher authority whether that be upper-management  of the company, or another institution which   95 00:09:40,320 --> 00:09:47,600 deals with discrimination cases. Learn to rely on  yourself and do the right actions here on Earth,   96 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:55,600 without expecting supernatural interventions. 4. Develop courage through adversity  97 00:09:56,800 --> 00:10:03,840 To quote Epicurus: “You don't develop courage  by being happy in your relationships everyday.   98 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:08,640 You develop it by surviving difficult  times and challenging adversity..”   99 00:10:10,240 --> 00:10:16,160 Epicurus considered that to obtain happiness  one needs courage, moderation and several other   100 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:22,320 virtues. In order to build a life of happiness,  you will need courage: courage to go against   101 00:10:22,320 --> 00:10:27,760 the flow, courage to refuse a high paid job  which comes with too many responsibilities,   102 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:32,320 courage to distance yourself from a  group of friends who make you unhappy.   103 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:39,840 Through every difficulty we face, we become  stronger, more courageous, more able to face   104 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:45,920 similar difficulties in future. For example, you  live in a family home and are the primary income   105 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:51,360 source. You get offered a better job, but it  means relocating to a new city or country.   106 00:10:52,080 --> 00:10:57,600 While considering your options, your house catches  fire, destroying virtually all your possessions.   107 00:10:58,400 --> 00:11:01,600 While this event will feel like  a complete disaster at the time,   108 00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:06,480 it will make you stronger in the long run. It will make you realize that your life   109 00:11:06,480 --> 00:11:11,360 does not depend on a location, that  your home is wherever your family is,   110 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:16,400 and you will develop greater courage should you  ever need to relocate to another place in future.   111 00:11:17,600 --> 00:11:23,200 Courage develops through difficult times and we  need to appreciate even those challenging moments,   112 00:11:23,760 --> 00:11:29,200 because those are the moments which make us  stronger and the stronger we are, the easier it   113 00:11:29,200 --> 00:11:36,080 will be to bounce back and be happy again. 5. Get great friends  114 00:11:37,600 --> 00:11:43,360 Epicurus noted that: “Of all the means which  are procured by wisdom to ensure happiness   115 00:11:43,360 --> 00:11:49,600 throughout the whole of life, by far the most  important is the acquisition of friends.”   116 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:55,760 In spite of the fact that Epicurus often  advocated for the idea of self-sufficiency,   117 00:11:55,760 --> 00:12:00,320 he also acknowledged the importance of  cultivating lasting friendships in life.   118 00:12:01,360 --> 00:12:07,360 Epicurus described friendship in very high terms,  highlighting the altruistic attitudes one can   119 00:12:07,360 --> 00:12:14,160 have towards friends. Epicurus even said that the  wise man is sometimes willing to die for a friend.   120 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:19,920 He also said that without friends life  is solitary and vulnerable to perils.   121 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:25,440 Many communities of Epicureans were formed  out of his followers, spreading themselves   122 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:30,400 all around the Mediterranean Sea, later  transforming into Christian monasteries.   123 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:36,640 These communities of Epicureans can be  seen as embodying the ideal of friendship;   124 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:40,800 everybody lived there in friendly  conviviality with each other.   125 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:47,120 The first Epicurean school and community  was called The Garden, welcoming people   126 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:53,200 from all walks of life. It was one of the first to  demand slaves to be treated as any other humans.   127 00:12:54,080 --> 00:13:00,960 Also, women were welcomed to discuss philosophy  like any man. They were named courtesans and had a   128 00:13:00,960 --> 00:13:08,240 special status in society, enjoying freedoms which  married women didn’t have. Epicurean communities   129 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:13,280 helped each other to become better people, to  overcome their character flaws and trust and   130 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:20,240 honesty were highly respected; there was also  a high respect for each other’s personality.   131 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:25,600 Friendships are often created based on a  common need, but the most important aspect of   132 00:13:25,600 --> 00:13:32,080 a friendship is the process of sharing. It is very  important to have someone to whom we can turn to,   133 00:13:32,080 --> 00:13:39,760 to share our deepest fears, secrets and goals in  life. Building friendships takes time. We need   134 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:45,040 to do it step by step, gradually revealing  more aspects of ourselves to new friends.   135 00:13:46,080 --> 00:13:51,040 In time, when we acquire a sufficient number  of friends, we can form a small community,   136 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:56,320 the same as an Epicurean one, in which everybody  is friends with everybody else, in which people   137 00:13:56,320 --> 00:14:02,720 share common interests and goals. In practice,  with platforms like Meetup, anyone can start a   138 00:14:02,720 --> 00:14:09,200 community based on a particular interest, a hobby,  be it a literature club, a sports club, or, yes,   139 00:14:09,200 --> 00:14:16,240 even a philosophy club! Start small, with a small  group and advance slowly, making your life more   140 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:23,920 pleasant friend by friend. 6. Do not try to be popular  141 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:30,800 Epicurus once remarked: “I never  desired to please the rabble.   142 00:14:30,800 --> 00:14:36,640 What pleased them, I did not learn; and what I  knew was far removed from their understanding.”   143 00:14:38,400 --> 00:14:44,080 Contrary to Plato and Aristotle, who encouraged  philosophy lovers to participate in politics,   144 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:50,640 Epicurus was against investing time in politics,  in social life, saying that social dynamics will   145 00:14:50,640 --> 00:14:57,040 only leave you anxious. He affirmed that it  is better to live being unknown by society,   146 00:14:57,040 --> 00:15:04,720 only known by a few friends, but the best ones. However, living in the twenty-first century,   147 00:15:04,720 --> 00:15:10,320 it is very hard to avoid being exposed due to  the fact that we are all now on social media.   148 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:16,880 We are constantly bombarded by temptations to  show ourselves off online, to get as many likes   149 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:23,360 as possible. Now, everyone can become a little  influencer, a low-key celebrity in their own   150 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:29,600 social media bubble-universe. Studies made on  the impact of social media on teenagers proved   151 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:35,680 that social media activities increase anxiety and  even the number of teenagers committing suicide.   152 00:15:36,720 --> 00:15:42,320 We need to minimize our exposure to social  networks as much as we can, we should use   153 00:15:42,320 --> 00:15:47,760 them only when really necessary - like for  connecting with former highschool colleagues,   154 00:15:47,760 --> 00:15:53,200 wishing a distant relative happy birthday or  sharing truly important moments in our lives with   155 00:15:53,200 --> 00:15:59,360 our close ones like graduating or having a child.  Sharing a picture of your breakfast - no matter   156 00:15:59,360 --> 00:16:05,840 how delicious - would not count as important. Also, do not bend your personality to fit a   157 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:12,320 certain group: for example, if you are a writer,  do not write just to sell to many people,   158 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:18,480 but write on topics that really interest you.  This way, you will be your more authentic-self   159 00:16:18,480 --> 00:16:24,160 and the right readers will come to you.  Otherwise, you will live a life of anxiety,   160 00:16:24,160 --> 00:16:29,840 always worried about how the audience will react  to your work and this is not a life of happiness.   161 00:16:31,040 --> 00:16:36,720 Epicurus believed that there is no meaning in  pleasing the masses, hence one should strive   162 00:16:36,720 --> 00:16:42,480 for authenticity in order to reduce anxiety  and increase the happiness in your life.   163 00:16:44,240 --> 00:16:51,840 7. Don’t fear death Epicurus posits: “Death,   164 00:16:51,840 --> 00:16:58,960 the most awful of evils, is nothing to us,  seeing that, when we are, death is not come,   165 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:07,040 and, when death is come, we are not..” We all fear death, it is common fear.   166 00:17:08,000 --> 00:17:14,400 Even the idea of our life ending makes us feel  uncomfortable. However, Epicurus was harsh with   167 00:17:14,400 --> 00:17:20,400 people who spend too much time thinking about  death. He considered that as long as we are alive,   168 00:17:20,960 --> 00:17:26,720 death does not exist. Epicurus didn’t  believe in an afterlife himself, however   169 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:32,240 he did believe that a part of our anxiety comes  from the belief that we have made an unpleasant   170 00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:38,960 afterlife for ourselves. That we are afraid not  of death itself, but of the process of dying.   171 00:17:40,400 --> 00:17:47,280 For Epicurus, our mind is only a group of atoms  which dissolves when we die. If death is our   172 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:53,360 annihilation, then it represents nothing to us,  it does not affect the living. For death to be   173 00:17:53,360 --> 00:18:01,040 bad to somebody, that somebody must exist, but  when we are dead, we don’t exist anymore. Thus,   174 00:18:01,040 --> 00:18:06,560 there is no point in fearing something that,  when it comes, we will not be a part of.   175 00:18:07,360 --> 00:18:14,320 Thus, It is foolish to worry about death -  think of it instead as enjoying your life now.   176 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:20,160 For Epicurus, the most important thing in  life is happiness and to achieve happiness,   177 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:26,000 we need to reduce suffering, including the  suffering from contemplating the idea of dying.   178 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:32,320 To be happy, we should focus only on things  we can control, like improving our health,   179 00:18:32,320 --> 00:18:39,040 avoiding negative people, eating more healthily,  participating in sports and so on. Make a list of   180 00:18:39,040 --> 00:18:43,760 everything you can do to strengthen your body  and limit the time you think about death.   181 00:18:44,560 --> 00:18:50,080 Spend more time with your dear ones, appreciate  them while they are alive, do not wait until   182 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:56,240 they are dead to appreciate them. Do not let the  death of loved ones or the fear of your own death   183 00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:03,360 cloud your life. Learn to enjoy your life moment  by moment, be grateful that you are still alive,   184 00:19:03,360 --> 00:19:07,520 respect your body, practice sport  daily, and eat more healthily.   185 00:19:08,640 --> 00:19:13,280 Life is meant to be lived by enjoying it, not  by thinking what happens when it is over.   186 00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:23,840 8. Strive to achieve peace of mind In our final quote from Epicurus for this video   187 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:30,640 he says: “Tranquil pleasure constitutes  human beings' supreme good.”   188 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:36,160 Epicurus identified 3 main mistakes  we make regarding happiness.   189 00:19:37,360 --> 00:19:43,760 The first one is that we equate happiness with  friendship and sexual relationships. In reality   190 00:19:43,760 --> 00:19:50,240 happiness does not go hand in hand with passionate  love, which often involves the very selfish desire   191 00:19:50,240 --> 00:19:55,600 to possess another person, invoking  feelings of jealousy which leads to anxiety,   192 00:19:55,600 --> 00:20:01,840 and unhappiness. Regarding friendships,  most of our connections are not that strong.   193 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:08,640 As we grow older, many of us often don’t see our  closest friends enough, as work and family life   194 00:20:08,640 --> 00:20:14,480 tend to become more important. We need something  more solid in order to become truly happy.   195 00:20:15,440 --> 00:20:21,600 The second mistake is that we equate happiness  with money and fame, but in reality too much   196 00:20:21,600 --> 00:20:28,000 money and fame eventually leads to frustration  and anxiety. Real happiness comes when you work   197 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:34,080 with a small group of trusted people to make  a positive impact in the lives of others.   198 00:20:34,080 --> 00:20:40,640 The third mistake is that we chase after luxurious  things, to possess as much ‘stuff’ as possible.   199 00:20:41,360 --> 00:20:47,840 This also does not lead to happiness, because  what we really want is a sense of calm and peace.   200 00:20:49,120 --> 00:20:54,720 Epicurus proposes a simpler kind of life  and he used the concept of ataraxia,   201 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:59,760 which is the purest form of happiness,  meaning the absence of fear and anxieties.   202 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:08,880 Ataraxia literally means “imperturbability” or  “tranquility”. For Epicurus, ataraxia is the end   203 00:21:08,880 --> 00:21:15,520 goal of life. Epicurus stated that pleasure is the  highest good and mental pleasures are higher than   204 00:21:15,520 --> 00:21:21,280 the physical pleasures. If we remove physical  pain from our lives we achieve what is known   205 00:21:21,280 --> 00:21:28,160 as the state of aponia. If we remove the mental  disturbances we achieve the state of ataraxia.   206 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:34,400 To achieve happiness, you need to focus more on  increasing the pleasant moments in your life,   207 00:21:34,400 --> 00:21:37,440 particularly the mental  pleasures, with minimal effort.   208 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:44,000 The closest state to ataraxia is when you feel  peace with yourself, with others and with the   209 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:49,840 world in general. According to Epicurus, all you  need is to have a group of friends and a garden.   210 00:21:50,640 --> 00:21:56,000 Such a life spent discussing philosophy under the  palms of a tree with your dear friends is a life   211 00:21:56,000 --> 00:22:02,400 lived in ataraxia. You can also achieve such a  state of inner peace by practicing meditation,   212 00:22:02,400 --> 00:22:07,200 mindfulness, accepting the good, the  bad and the ugly present in your life,   213 00:22:07,920 --> 00:22:12,480 making peace with your past, forgiving  yourself and others for any mistake,   214 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:17,120 and developing compassion for  any human being in your life.   215 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:24,080 If you enjoyed this video, please do make sure to  check out our full philosophies for life playlist   216 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:29,040 and for more videos to help you find success and  happiness using ancient philosophical wisdom,   217 00:22:29,040 --> 00:22:37,760 don’t forget to subscribe.  Thanks so much for watching.