The Philosophy of Self-Improvement

Virtuous Habits

Brett McKay and Anna Schaffner explore how both Eastern and Western philosophies emphasize the cultivation of virtuous habits. Confucianism and Aristotelian virtue ethics both advocate for developing oneself into a person who naturally performs virtuous actions through consistent practice and rituals. Anna highlights that Aristotle's goal was for virtues to become internalized and automatic, distinguishing between those who struggle to be virtuous and those who naturally embody virtue 1.

By performing rituals, you actually experience emotions like deference and humility, making them genuine rather than theatrical.

--- Anna Schaffner

This approach aims for long-term transformation, where virtuous actions become second nature 1.

   

Self-Control

The discussion then shifts to the importance of self-control in ancient self-improvement models. Anna explains that self-control was crucial for maintaining temperance and balancing individual desires with community needs. The Stoics, for instance, emphasized controlling emotions through rational assessments of external events, a concept still relevant in modern cognitive behavioral therapy 2.

Acceptance and commitment therapy combines cognitive behavioral models with Eastern ideas of acceptance, letting go, and mindfulness.

--- Anna Schaffner

However, she notes that extreme self-control can be energy-draining, advocating for a balance between control and acceptance 2.