Bonolo's Balance: Life, Soccer & Stoicism

In a pivotal moment of legal drama, as a prosecutor, Andrea Freeman sets a 10-minute timer on her phone to make her case to the jury. This simple but powerful action demonstrates strategic thinking and emotional control, offering us insights into Stoic principles that can be applied beyond the courtroom. One of the key lessons in Stoicism is the importance of focusing on the present moment and directing all of our energy toward the task at hand. By setting a 10-minute timer, Freeman doesn’t allow herself to be distracted or overwhelmed by the passage of time. She recognizes the importance of the present moment, understanding that she has a limited opportunity to make an impact. This mirrors the Stoic practice of focusing only on what’s within our control, our effort in the present, rather than being consumed by what is beyond our influence, like the passage of time or the final outcome. This insight teaches us that efficiency and effectiveness are often achieved when we limit ourselves...

  Yes, we are prepared for everything, well, so we think. How can one prepare for what they do not know will happen. We do think about the worst-case scenario. However, one of the most significant stoic figures (Seneca) advises us not to borrow suffering, suffer before we need to, and suffer in anticipation of things. Look at things as they are right now. One of the stoic traits I found fascinating was in Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist when I saw the camel driver not suffering in imagination nor anticipation of possible obstacles. He told Santiago, "When I am eating, that is all I think about. If I'm on the march, I just focus on marching. If I have to die, it will just be as good a day as any other". This is because he did not live in his past or future but in the present moment.  Stoicism has helped me master living in the present moment, hence carpe diem . There is more to life than the past or future; the moment one decides to live and embrace the moment fully, on...

  Stoicism and Life Insights from the Myth of Sisyphus The myth of Sisyphus has always intrigued me. Condemned by the gods to push a boulder up a mountain only for it to roll back down, Sisyphus is trapped in an endless cycle of labour that seems utterly pointless. At first glance, this story feels like the ultimate metaphor for the absurdity and meaninglessness of life. But when I reflect on it through the lens of Stoic philosophy, I realize there’s so much more to learn from his plight. I’ve often found myself in situations that feel as pointless as Sisyphus’s eternal task. Whether it's immense training, back-to-back matches, or facing obstacles that seem to keep reappearing, it's easy to feel like I’m just pushing a boulder up a mountain—only for it to roll back down. But here’s the thing: Stoicism teaches me that life is full of struggles I can’t avoid, and can’t control everything that happens to me. What I  can control is how I choose to respond. The Stoic philoso...

  This is the most dangerous of the obstacles. It has a saintly aura, removing joy and conquest. But if you believe in yourself and are worthy of the thing you fought so hard to get, then you become an instrument of God, you help the soul of the world, and you understand why you are here. I had seen people commit silly mistakes when their goal/personal calling was within their grasp; they tried to control what was not in their control, suffered more in imagination than in reality and never reached their goal even when it was a step away. Fear has always been a powerful emotion that holds me back. Whether it's the fear of failure, the unknown, or what might go wrong, it’s easy to let it paralyze me. But what if we could learn to face our fears instead of avoiding them? Stoicism has taught me how to transform fear into something useful to propel me forward. I want to share how Ryan Holiday's Stoic teachings and Santiago from Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist have shaped my und...

  I often reflect on the idea that the “ideal wise man is sufficient unto himself in all things.” It’s a concept rooted in Stoic philosophy, and I’ve realized how relevant it is to my life and how I approach challenges, whether on the soccer field or in everyday situations. I’ll start with a quote from Epictetus: “It’s not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters.” This perfectly captures what the Stoics mean when they say we should focus on what we can control—our thoughts, reactions, actions, while accepting that the rest is beyond us. So, I’ve been asking myself: How much of my happiness and peace of mind do I really owe to external things? To the opinions of others or the circumstances around me? What would it look like if I could be genuinely content, no matter what? When I first stumbled upon Stoic ideas, I was intrigued by this notion of self-sufficiency ( autarkia ). To the Stoics, it doesn’t mean rejecting relationships or avoiding society but fi...