Ben Aldridge – författare

Seriously Happy is a highly practical self-help guide exploring 10 life-changing lessons based on teachings of the ancient philosophers.YA readers are encouraged to discover how Stoicism can improve your mental resilience; the calming, meditative influence of Zen; the decision-making prowess of Aristotle or the confidence-boosting ideas of the Cynic philosophers.As a young man, author Ben Aldridge struggled with debilitating anxiety and self-doubt, until he discovered Stoicism and other philosophies which helped him restore balance, peace and contentment in his life. In this book, Ben shares over 20 practical challenges rooted in ancient philosophy that will power up your focus and confidence, improve your critical thinking, build mental resilience, and embrace happiness. The text is accompanied by gorgeous illustrations by Michelle Brackenborough.The challenges are based on ancient philosophical ideas – such as ‘shame attacking’, facing your fears, and appreciating the small things in life – as well as the ancient arts of Tai-Chi, Qi-Gong and meditation. Seriously Happy shows how to harness the power of ancient philosophies to deal with the real-world stress and anxieties of today.Learn to master a growth mindset and face your fears with fun tasks and challenges such as 'the banana walk', inspired by Cynic philosophers.Get curious, question everything, and power up your critical thinking like Socrates. Learn how to make good life choices inspired by Aristotle’sGolden Mean. Train your mind and embrace discomfort with cold-water therapy or digital fasting like Buddhist teachers.Increase your mental resilience by keeping a setback diary like the Stoics.Power up your focus & concentration with a walking meditation inspired by Zen philosophy.Protect your wellbeing by practising Tai Chi and being in nature like the Taoists.Be calm, be confident, and be (seriously) happy!

Drawing on the theoretical roots of the Stoics, Buddhism, popular psychology and CBT, Ben has created a unique programme that anyone can follow. Join Ben on his journey from anxious mess to back in control. This book is packed with fun and practical challenges that readers can try themselves, all in the name of self-improvement! Thanks to having undertaken these challenges himself, Ben now has an unusual selection of hobbies, a host of interesting new skills, some fantastic dinner party stories and plenty of wonderful experiences... and most importantly he now feels calmer, healthier, happier and more at peace.Split into three types of activity – mental, physical and skilful – the challenges range from climbing a mountain to sleeping on a beach in a bivvy bag in a storm to having a conversation in Japanese. Follow Ben in learning how to pick a lock, how to solve a Rubik’s Cube in under a minute and how to memorize the order of a deck of cards after seeing it only once (the ultimate party trick). Along the way, he's eaten some repulsive insects, whilst also creating a new morning routine that freed up the time to write this book. Try out Ben's challenges ... or create some of your own, with the help of the challenge tracker!

“The more we value things outside our control the less control we have” EpictetusEvery one of us will encounter tough times. There’s no escape. This is what it means to be human. But what if there was a way to make these tough times easier?Enter Stoicism.This ancient Greek philosophy has a lot to offer that is as relevant today as it was 2000 years ago – its guiding purpose was to help us to live better lives. The Stoic Golden Rule was that “we can’t control external events, but we can choose how to respond to them”. This idea can have a profound effect on how we exist in the world.Taking Stoic philosophy into the everyday, practical philosopher and adventurer Ben Aldridge, explores the 10 key Stoic guiding principles and how they can help you build a more resilient life.This book isn’t just for philosophizing – it’s a book for doing.Ben also shares a host of challenges that you can use to put Stoicism into practice. These include:Creating your own anti-bucket listIntentionally experiencing voluntary discomfortCultivating a non-judgemental approach to lifeContemplating your own mortality (Memento Mori)“You have the power over your mind – not outside events. Realize this, and you will find strength” Marcus Aurelius